Access Hollywood

Access Hollywood is a weekday television entertainment news program covering events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently produced by Robert Silverstein and directed by Richard Plotkin. In previous years, Doug Dougherty, Christopher A. Berry and Kim Anastasia directed the program. Access Hollywood primarily focuses on news in the music, television, and film industries.

Logo used from 2007 to 2015

History

Access Hollywood has been nationally syndicated in the United States since September 9, 1996. It was previously produced by NBC Studios and has changed distributors over the years, first with New World Television, then 20th Television (after News Corporation bought New World), followed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution, and then to NBC Enterprises when the network started up its own syndication division. Today, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, in association with NBC's owned-and-operated station KNBC has been solely responsible for its production and distribution since 2004. Warner Bros. continues its involvement with the program, now being responsible for barter ad sales for Access Hollywood.

On September 7, 2010, Access Hollywood began broadcasting in high definition.^[1] On May 1, 2012, NBCUniversal Television Distribution announced it would renew Access Hollywood for three additional years through the 2014-15 season.^[2]

On-air staff

Current

Anchor

• Billy Bush - anchor/voice-over/executive producer (2004–present)

Correspondents

• Tim Vincent - correspondent (2005–present)
• Kit Hoover - co-host & correspondent (2010–present)
• Jill Martin - guest correspondent (2011–present)

Former

• Larry Mendte - weekday/weekend anchor (1996–1997, now a public-affairs host for two TV stations in the Northeast and a host at WABC radio)
• Giselle Fernández - weekday anchor/correspondent (1996–1999)
• Nancy O'Dell - weekend/weekday anchor/correspondent (1996–2009, now at Entertainment Tonight)
• Pat O'Brien - weekday/weekend anchor/correspondent (1997–2004, later at The Insider)
• Jeff Probst - correspondent (1996–1998; now currently the host of Survivor)
• Tony Potts - weekend anchor/correspondent (1999–2011)
• Steven "Cojo" Cojocaru - fashion correspondent (2000–2003, later at Entertainment Tonight)
• Maria Menounos - correspondent (2005–2011, now at Untold With Maria Menounos on E!)
• Michelle Beadle - correspondent (2012–2014)
• Shaun Robinson - correspondent/weekend anchor (1999–2015)

Segments

• AH Nation, which is a viewer's choice allowing a choice of which stories will be carried in the show.
• In Case You Missed It, a recap of the previous night/weekend in pop culture, including film, television and music.
• Watch This, suggestion segment of films and shows to watch by the show's correspondents and critics.
• The Final 45, a closing credits segment with a quick rundown of the day's news.
• Access Express, a segment matching the defunct Entertainment Tonight segment "Real or Rumor?" where stories are confirmed or debunked.

Access Across America

In 2005, Access Hollywood went on a month-long roadtrip called Access Across America while the studio underwent a major overhaul. The show's new set was done in pastel colors with a modern flair, separating its look from other similar shows, including rival Entertainment Tonight. The new look also included a brand-new graphics package. Access Hollywood is taped at Studio 1 at The Burbank Studios (formerly NBC Studios) in Burbank, former home of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Currently with Days of Our Lives, it was one of two remaining NBC-produced programs as of 2014 originating from Burbank; Access Hollywood is expected to move to Universal City and Universal Studios Hollywood sometime later in the year as NBC's operations continue to combine in Universal City.

Spin-offs

The program has had some short-lived spinoffs in the last few years, including AMC Access for the AMC channel, and Real Access (the first teen-oriented entertainment news program, and the only attempt so far at an entertainment news program aimed at teens on television) for The N and Nickelodeon. The network most recently produced the African-American oriented TV One Access for the TV One cable channel. The programs formerly did entertainment segments for NBC's cable news channel titled Access MSNBC, though these have been withdrawn as MSNBC's news coverage has become mainly political.

Access Hollywood Live

A spinoff of Access Hollywood, called Access Hollywood Live, debuted on September 13, 2010 in high definition. The daytime talk show, hosted by Billy Bush and Kit Hoover (who also serves as a correspondent on the flagship program), features entertainment news stories and in-studio guests. The program was initially seen only on NBC owned-and-operated stations in six markets^[3] and Fox owned-and-operated stations in six other major markets,^[4] all on stations that already carry the flagship series; since September 2011, the program also began being distributed to non-network owned stations that also carry the flagship series.

Access Hollywood Live was originally recorded at NBC Studios in Burbank, California. The show currently aired in two locations, 10 Universal City Plaza in Universal City, California in Summer 2015 and at Studio 1A in Rockefeller Center, in New York City. On May 1, 2012, along with Access Hollywood's renewal for three additional seasons, NBCUniversal Television Distribution announced it would give Access Hollywood Live a third season renewal for the 2012-13 season.^[2]

International versions

In Canada, Rogers Media's OMNI Television airs the US version of Access Hollywood Live while independent station CHCH began airing the half hour weekday US version in fall 2014; Bell Media channel CTV Two used to air the half hour weekday US version since fall 2011 but it was discontinued in 2013.

The United Kingdom version began in 2003 hosted by Kate Garraway and Vincent.

There was a short-lived national version for the Republic of Ireland on the TV3 Group's defunct Channel 6 hosted by Jenny Buckley from 2006.

Spoofs

• The show was parodied in the show Arthur in the special Arthur, It's Only Rock N' Roll when a spoof named Access Elwood interviewed the band U Stink.
• In the South Park episode "Free Hat", a show airs called "Excess Hollywood" with a look-alike of then host Pat O'Brien.
• Craig Ferguson often parodies Access Hollywood on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in a segment called Access Extratainment Tonight (a portmanteau of Access Hollywood, Extra and Entertainment Tonight) with Ferguson as "Barney Slash".
• In The Simpsons Movie, the show is mentioned in an argument between Homer and Marge.
• In The Simpsons episode Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder, when (then) hosts Pat O'Brien and Nancy O'Dell guest star as hosts of Access Springfield

References

External links

• AccessHollywood.com - Official Access Hollywood Website
• AccessHollywoodLive.com - Official Access Hollywood Live Website
• Access Hollywood at the Internet Movie Database
• Access Hollywood Live at the Internet Movie Database
• Access Hollywood at TV.com
• Real Access at TV.com