Hard Copy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
| Hard Copy | |
|---|---|
| Format | newsmagazine |
| Starring | Terry Murphy (1989-1998) Barry Nolan (1990-1998) Kyle Kraska (1998-1999) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | syndication |
| Original run | September 11, 1989 – May 28, 1999 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Hard Copy was a tabloid news television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. Hard Copy was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence. Entertainment Tonight and Hard Copy are both produced by Paramount Television, now called CBS Paramount Television.
Contents |
[edit] Reputation for sensational reporting
As investigative news shows and daytime talk shows began to get more and more sensational, Hard Copy was created by Metromedia Television veterans Mark Monsky and John Parsons Peditto, who told original staffers that the idea was to "combine the stories of 20/20 with the production techniques of MTV." It didn't work out quite that way. Monsky and Parsons left the show relatively quickly, and the format became pure tabloid, with the few serious reports far outnumbered by the titillating and sensational stories.
In 1991–1993, in its third and fourth seasons, the show was under the direction of executive producer and A Current Affair creator Peter Brennan and a team of Fox Television tabloid veterans that included producers Burt Kearns and Neal Travis and reporter Rafael Abramovitz. Under their control, Hard Copy devolved into the canonical example of sensational, and not always accurate, reporting. Hard Copy was a source of parody on The Simpsons in the episode "Homer Badman" as Rock Bottom, a show which clearly misrepresents facts in order to create scandal.
The original hosts of Hard Copy were Alan Frio and Terry Murphy from 1990-1998; Barry Nolan joined later, and, in the show's final season, current KFMB sports director Kyle Kraska became the host.
[edit] 1996 celebrity boycott
In 1996, upon learning the connection between Hard Copy and Entertainment Tonight, actor George Clooney refused to appear on ET. Paramount executive Frank Kelly caved in to Clooney's pressure by signing a contract vowing never to include Clooney in a Hard Copy story. Nevertheless Hard Copy shortly ran a story about Clooney and his then-girlfriend, Celine Balidran. That same year, Clooney organized a celebrity boycott of both shows, which was supported by Whoopi Goldberg, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Frank Sinatra, Demi Moore, and Steven Spielberg.
[edit] Cast
- Alan Frio: Host (1989–1991)
- Barry Nolan: Host (1990–1998)
- Terry Murphy: Host (1989–1998)
- Kyle Kraska: Host (1998–1999)
- Jerry Penacoli: Reporter (1996–1999)
- Pat Lalama: Reporter (1996–1999)
- Edward Miller: Reporter (1996–1999)
- Doug Bruckner: Reporter
- Rafael Abramovitz: Correspondent
- Diane Dimond: Reporter
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Hard Copy at the Internet Movie Database
