Entertainment Tonight
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Entertainment Tonight | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | News |
| Creator(s) | Al Masini |
| Starring | Mary Hart (1982–present) Mark Steines (2004–present) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | N/A |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Linda Bell Blue |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Syndicated |
| Original run | September 4, 1981 – present |
| Links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Entertainment Tonight is a daily television entertainment news show that is syndicated by CBS Paramount Domestic Television 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.
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 TV reporters of the Vietnam War—some of whom continued to work on the show for over twenty years. 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.
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.
Despite stiff competition from Access Hollywood and Extra (and Showbiz Tonight and E! News on cable), Entertainment Tonight still remains one of the Top 10 highly-rated programs in the syndication ratings.
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.
Contents |
[edit] Paid exclusives & paparazzi
Since the mid 1990s Entertainment Tonight switched from primarily covering behind-the-scenes of the latest movies, music, and television shows to sensationalism.
Paid exclusive interviews with controversial and infamous people appear such as disgraced Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding, Amy Fisher and Joey and Mary Jo Buttafuoco reunited, convicted child molester Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau getting married, and Howard K. Stern from the Anna Nicole Smith paternity controversy as well as exclusive coverage of Smith's daughter and Smith's funeral.[1] [2] [3] [4]
In 1996, television actor George Clooney boycotted Entertainment Tonight to protest 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.[5] 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.[6] Clooney ended his boycott, but Entertainment Tonight has continued to frequently broadcast video and photography taken by paparazzi stalkers of celebrities.
[edit] 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), Carlos Ponce, Vanessa Minnillo, Leonard Maltin, Steven Cojocaru, and Thea Andrews.
On October 9, 2006, Mary Hart renewed her contract with Entertainment Tonight.
Paula Abdul is a special correspondent for ET's coverage of American Idol and Tatum O'Neal for the second season also for the third season Lisa Rinna of Dancing with the Stars. Marcia Clark is a special correspondent for high profile trials and the red carpet at awards shows.
[edit] 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
[edit] Previous co-hosts and correspondents
- Army Archerd (1981 pilot only)
- Nina Blackwood
- Chris Booker
- Eric Burns
- Lisa Canning
- Steven Cojocaru "Cojo"
- Leanza Cornett
- Leeza Gibbons
- Bob Goen
- Ron Hendren
- Robin Leach
- Chrishaunda Lee (who still does voice overs for this show today)
- Maria Menounos (who left ET in 2005 to join Access Hollywood)
- Julie Moran
- John Tesh
- Robb Weller
- Dixie Whatley
- Chris Wragge
[edit] 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 some markets).
- Entertainment Tonight was produced by Australia's Nine Network during the 1990s. It was presented by Richard Wilkins and Marie Patanie. 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. Interestingly, as the American show was broadcast at 11:30 a.m. prior to the inception of the local version, Australia's Entertainment Tonight went to air in the morning in the same timeslot, before moving to 5p.m. The American show is now shown at 3 p.m.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ 'ET' Ponies Up for Letourneau Wedding, Zap 2 It, April 28, 2005
- ^ Howard K. Stern Lived Off Anna Nicole Smith, Wild Starz, February 21, 2007
- ^ On the Heels of Anna Nicole's Death, Tragedy at The Insider, Jossip, February 8, 2007
- ^ DID ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT PAY FOR STERN INTERVIEW?, ContactMusic.com, February 13, 2007
- ^ Stardom is double-edged sword for private Clooney, CNN Showbiz, December 13, 1996
- ^ CLOONEY TUNE:THE 'ER' STAR TAKES ON TABLOID TV, Entertainment Weekly, November 8, 1996
[edit] References
- ET is the title of a track by rapper Necro on the album Street Villains Vol. II, on which he shares top billing with Ill Bill.
[edit] External links
- Official Entertainment Tonight Website
- Entertainment Tonight at the Internet Movie Database
- Video of ukulele and melodica duet playing the ET theme song
- Jump The Shark - Entertainment Tonight
- TV.com - Entertainment Tonight
- TWoP Forums › Entertainment Tonight
- The Entertainment Tonight/Insider Group
- The '80s TV Theme SuperSite
- Entertainment Tonight Forum - topix.net
Categories: Entertainment news shows | First-run syndicated television programs | 1981 television program debuts | 1980s American television series | 1990s American television series | 2000s American television series | Infotainment | Sky One programmes | Television series by CBS Paramount Television
