Colonel William A. Phillips

Access Hollywood, formerly known as Access from 2017 to 2019, is an American weekday television entertainment news program that premiered on September 9, 1996. It covers events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel and is currently executive produced by Maureen FitzPatrick 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

Last logo from the first Access Hollywood era, from 2015 to 2017.

Access Hollywood has aired nationally on various local stations, most of them affiliates of NBC, 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/Genesis Distribution, then 20th Television (after News Corporation bought New World), followed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution who still distributes the show today via barter ad-sales, 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 by having responsibilities for barter ad sales for Access Hollywood.

On September 13, 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]

The program changed its name to simply Access on December 11, 2017.[3]

On August 22, 2019, it was officially announced that Access and Access Live would receive an on-air refresh for their 24th and 10th seasons, respectively, with new names, logos, graphics and theme music, starting on September 9. Access returned to its original Access Hollywood name and begin airing live in the East Coast, with Access Live also rebranding as Access Daily. The program also debuted a second spin-off in the fall entitled All Access — which featured long-form reports on true-crime and human interest stories and aired initially on six NBC owned-and-operated stations. Former Extra host Mario Lopez also joined all three programs as co-host.[4] It aired its last episode in June 2021.[5]

On April 12, 2021, Access Hollywood and Access Daily renewed for a three additional seasons through 2025.[6]

On-air staff

Current on-air staff

Anchors

  • Kit Hoover – anchor (2010–present)
  • Mario Lopez – anchor (2019–present)
  • Scott Evans – anchor/weekend anchor (2019–present; previously served as senior correspondent from 2015 to 2019)

Correspondents

Former on-air staff

Segments

  • Access Hollywood 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 was taped at Studio 1 at The Burbank Studios (formerly NBC Studios) in Burbank, California, former home of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. With Days of Our Lives, it was one of two remaining NBC-produced programs as of 2014 originating from Burbank; On 2015 Access Hollywood moved to Universal City, California and Universal Studios Hollywood as NBC's operations continued to combine in Universal City.

Spin-offs

The program has had some short-lived spin-offs 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 NBCUniversal's cable news channel titled Access MSNBC, though these have been withdrawn as MSNBC's news coverage has become mainly political.

Access Daily with Mario & Kit

A spin-off of Access Hollywood, called Access Hollywood Live, debuted on September 13, 2010. The daytime talk show - currently hosted by Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover, features entertainment news stories and in-studio guests. The program was initially seen only on NBC owned-and-operated stations in six markets[7] and Fox owned-and-operated stations in six other major markets,[8] 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. The show airs live at 11:00 am Eastern Time (8:00 am in Los Angeles where the studios are located). The show changed its name to Access Live on December 11, 2017, and again to Access Daily on September 9, 2019. In 2022, the show was renamed Access Daily with Mario & Kit and Evans was no longer a co-host but still with the show as a correspondent.

Access Daily was originally recorded at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California; it currently broadcasts from 10 Universal City Plaza in Universal City, California, where it has been recorded since June 2015. On occasion, the program broadcasts shows on location outside Studio 1A on the Today plaza at 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] On April 12, 2021, the show renewed for a three additional seasons through 2025.[6]

All Access

A second spin-off, entitled, All Access premiered on September 9, 2019, and featured long-form reports on true-crime and human interest stories and aired initially on six NBC owned-and-operated stations. The show was hosted by Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover and Scott Evans with Sibley Scoles as correspondent. On October 2, 2019, Zuri Hall joined as co-host.[4] On March 11, 2021, it was announced that the show had been canceled and the last episode would air in June.[5]

International versions & airings

In Canada, Rogers Sports & Media's Omni Television airs the United States version of Access Live while Independent station CHCH-DT began airing the half hour weekday United States version in fall 2014; Bell Media channel CTV 2 used to air the half hour weekday United States 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 Ireland on the channel previously named "Channel 6", hosted by Jenny Buckley from 2006.

Spoofs

See also

References

  1. ^ Billy Bush & Kit Hoover To Co-Host 'Access Hollywood Live' . Access Online, August 18, 2010, retrieved March 6, 2011
  2. ^ a b 'Access Hollywood' Renewed for Three Years Amid Staff Pay Cuts (Exclusive), The Hollywood Reporter, May 1, 2012.
  3. ^ "New Name, Higher Ratings For 'Access'". TVNewscheck. 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b Petski, Denise (2019-08-22). "'Access Hollywood' Franchise Expands With New Series 'All Access' For Fall Premiere On Select NBC-Owned Stations". Deadline. Retrieved 2019-08-24.
  5. ^ a b Low, Elaine (March 11, 2021). "'All Access' Canceled, Last Episodes to Air in June (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  6. ^ a b Low, Elaine (2021-04-12). "'Access Hollywood,' 'Access Daily' Renewed Through 2025". Variety. Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  7. ^ Kevin Downey: NBC O&Os Add 'Access Hollywood Live'. TVNewsCheck.com, March 2, 2010, retrieved March 6, 2011
  8. ^ Six Fox O6Os Sign On For 'Access Live'. TVNewsCheck.com, March 9, 2010, retrieved March 6, 2011

External links