ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT

'''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.
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.
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.
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

Background

Paid exclusives interviews and paparazzi

Hosts

Lead hosts

Previous co-hosts and correspondents

''Entertainment Tonight'' in other countries

Footnotes

References

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.

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. ^[1]
#Attorney Howard K. Stern from the Anna Nicole Smith paternity controversy. ^{[2] [3]}
#Additionally, ''ET'' has also aired exclusive coverage of stories related to Anna Nicole Smith, including her daughter as well as Smith's funeral. ^[4]
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''. ^[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.

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''.
''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

★ Eric Burns

★ Lisa Canning

★ Bobby Colomby

★ Leanza Cornett

★ Leeza Gibbons

★ Bob Goen

★ Gerry Grant (special correspondent during the OJ 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 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. 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 correspondants like Ness, Stéphanie Pillonca, Génie Godula and Jonathan Lambert.

Footnotes

1. 'ET' Ponies Up for Letourneau Wedding, ''Zap 2 It'', April 28, 2005
2. Howard K. Stern Lived Off Anna Nicole Smith, ''Wild Starz'', February 21, 2007
3. DID ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT PAY FOR STERN INTERVIEW?, ''ContactMusic.com'', February 13, 2007
4. On the Heels of Anna Nicole's Death, Tragedy at The Insider, ''Jossip'', February 8, 2007
5. Stardom is double-edged sword for private Clooney, ''CNN Showbiz'', December 13, 1996
6. CLOONEY TUNE:THE 'ER' STAR TAKES ON TABLOID TV, ''Entertainment Weekly'', November 8, 1996

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.