Entertainment Tonight is a daily television entertainment news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada, on the Nine Network in Australia and on UBC Inside in Thailand. The show is the most popular and longest-running entertainment news program, with its first broadcast on September 14, 1981, and was the first syndicated program distributed via satellite.
Contents
1 In relation to The Insider
2 Canadian, weekend and radio versions
3 Competition
4 Background
5 Paid exclusives interviews and paparazzi
6 Hosts
6.1 Special correspondents
6.2 Lead hosts
6.3 Previous co-hosts and correspondents
7 Entertainment Tonight in other countries
8 Footnotes
9 References
In relation to The Insider
In its current form, it is half of a one-hour entertainment news block that also includes its spin-off, The Insider. Three versions are available—a “standalone” version, a version for stations that air The Insider just beforehand, and one for those that air The Insider immediately after.
Canadian, weekend and radio versions
In Canada, Entertainment Tonight Canada is broadcast instead of The Insider.
ET Weekend (formerly known as Entertainment This Week), a one-hour weekend edition, is also produced. Originally a recap of the week’s news, most or all episodes now have some sort of special theme. ET Radio Minute, a daily radio feature, is syndicated by Westwood One.
Competition
Despite stiff competition from Access Hollywood, Extra, and newcomer TMZ (and Showbiz Tonight and E! News on cable), Entertainment Tonight still remains one of the Top 10 highly-rated programs in the syndication ratings. As of the early stages of its twenty-seventh season, its daytime TV rankings have gone back and forth from fourth and fifth place, due to the competing ratings of the popular Judge Judy court show.[1][2]
It was announced on January 30, 2006, that Entertainment Tonight has been renewed through the 2011–2012 season, which would be the show’s 31st season.
Background
Andy Friendly was the show’s original producer establishing the program’s unique look, sound, pace and reporting style. Friendly put together a diverse staff ranging from former rock roadies to veteran television reporters of the Vietnam War—some of whom continued to work on the show for over twenty years. Veteran television producer Al Masini was the program’s creator, coming off his success with the 1970s television hit Solid Gold. Masini initially hired managers and producers from local news stations like original managing editor Jim Bellows, formerly of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. Early on in the program’s history, numerous discussions were held as producers, creators, and directors attempted to figure out what type of program ET would be and just how ‘newsy’ the program would get.
Paid exclusives interviews and paparazzi
Since the 1996-97 season, Entertainment Tonight switched from primarily covering behind-the-scenes coverage of the latest movies, music, and television shows to include stories based on sensationalism. For example, ET has featured paid exclusive interviews with controversial and infamous newsmakers. Among those who have been interviewed by ET:
Disgraced Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding, who became notorious for her role in the conspiracy to physically attack rival Nancy Kerrigan at a 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships practice session.
Amy Fisher and Joey and Mary Jo Buttafuoco, reunited following the latter Buttafuoco’s infamous 1992 assault by Fisher.
Convicted child molester Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau getting married.[3]
Attorney Howard K. Stern from the Anna Nicole Smith paternity controversy.[4][5]
Additionally, ET has also aired exclusive coverage of stories related to Anna Nicole Smith, including her daughter as well as Smith’s funeral.[6]
In 1996, television actor George Clooney boycotted Entertainment Tonight to protest the presence of intrusive paparazzi after Hard Copy did an expose on his love life violating an agreement he had with Paramount, which produced the tabloid show as well as Entertainment Tonight.[7] In a letter he sent to Paramount announcing plans to boycott the program he wrote that he would encourage his friends to do the same.[8] Clooney ended his boycott, but Entertainment Tonight has continued to frequently broadcast video and photography taken by paparazzi stalkers of celebrities.
Hosts
It is currently hosted by Mary Hart and Mark Steines with several correspondents, including Jann Carl (who co-hosts the weekend edition with Kevin Frazier), Leonard Maltin, Steven Cojocaru, and Thea Andrews.
On October 9, 2006, Mary Hart renewed her contract with Entertainment Tonight.
Special correspondents
Entertainment Tonight also has special correspondents that report on special features for the show. Paula Abdul is a special correspondent for ET’s coverage of American Idol, and Dancing with the Stars had correspondents for the second season (Tatum O’Neal) and third season Lisa Rinna. Marcia Clark is a special correspondent for high profile trials and the red carpet at awards shows.
Lead hosts
Ron Hendren, Marjorie Wallace and Tom Hallick (1981)
Ron Hendren and Dixie Whatley from 1981 to 1982
Ron Hendren and Mary Hart from 1982 to 1984
Mary Hart and Robb Weller from 1984 to 1986
Mary Hart and John Tesh from 1986 to 1996
Mary Hart and Bob Goen from 1996 to 2004
Mary Hart and Mark Steines from 2004 to present
Previous co-hosts and correspondents
Army Archerd (1981 pilot only)
Nina Blackwood
Chris Booker
Mindy Burbano
Eric Burns
Lisa Canning
Bobby Colomby
Steven “Cojo” Cojocaru (fashion correspondent)
Leanza Cornett
Leeza Gibbons
Bob Goen
Gerry Grant (special correspondent during the O.J. Simpson trial)
Alan Hemberger (weekend ET with Dixie Whatley, now anchor at KHCW)
Ron Hendren
Don LaFontaine (voice over)
Robin Leach
Chrishaunda Lee (who still does voice overs for this show today)
Maria Menounos (who left ET in 2005 to join Access Hollywood)
Vanessa Minnillo
Julie Moran
Al Owens (Reporter and fill-in anchor from 1984-1987)
Carlos Ponce
Tony Potts (now with Access Hollywood)
Selina Scott (correspondent for London)
John Tesh
Robb Weller
Dixie Whatley
Chris Wragge (now at WCBS-TV in New York)
Entertainment Tonight in other countries
Entertainment Tonight UK, hosted by Irish celebrity Amanda Byram, launched in January 2005 on satellite/cable pay TV channel Sky One (which additionally airs each US episode a day or two after its American showing).
ET Canada, a Canadian version, was launched on the Global Television Network on September 12, 2005 with host Cheryl Hickey and lead correspondent Rick Campanelli; it airs back-to-back with the American version in most Canadian markets.
Entertainment Tonight was produced by Australia’s Nine Network during the 1990s. It was presented by Richard Wilkins and Marie Patane. Journalist Terry Willesee also guest hosted. The show was essentially a mix of locally produced stories, and ones imported from the main American program. It ended in 2000 and was replaced by the American version. The American show is now shown at 3 p.m. It also airs on the cable channel Bio. with its sister program The Insider.
Entertainment Tonight was aired in France under the name “Exclusif” and was hosted by Thierry Clopeau (1998), Emmanuelle Gaume (1998-2000), Flavie Flament (2000-2001), Valérie Bénaïm (2001-2002) and Frédéric Joly (1998-2002). There were several correspondents like Ness, Stéphanie Pillonca, Génie Godula and Jonathan Lambert.
