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 directed by Robert Silverstein (in previous years, Doug Dougherty and later Christopher A. Berry directed the program). Access Hollywood primarily focuses on news in the music, television, and film industries.

It began broadcasting on September 9, 1996 and is nationally syndicated in the United States. In 2003 a British version of the show began production and in an Irish version began in 2006 airing on the now defunct Channel 6. In Canada, CTV airs this program since September 1, 2008.

Hosts and correspondents

In the United States, the current hosts are Billy Bush (who also serves as the show's announcer and an uncredited senior executive producer) and Nancy O'Dell, with Tony Potts, Shaun Robinson and Maria Menounos as correspondents. Previous correspondents include Amy Powell, Rawley Valverde, Tim Vincent and Jeff Probst.

Spice Girl and former Dancing with the Stars contestant Melanie B is now a correspondent for the Dancing with the Stars weekly backstage interviews.

Previous hosts include Giselle Fernandez, Larry Mendte and Pat O'Brien, who hosted the show alongside O'Dell until late 2004, when he left to host the Entertainment Tonight spin-off The Insider. Giselle Fernandez and Larry Mendte were the shows original hosts when it debuted in 1996. Mendte also co-hosted the weekend edition with Nancy O'Dell.

In the United Kingdom, the show was hosted by Kate Garraway and Vincent. In the Republic of Ireland, the show was hosted by Jenny Buckley.

Distributors throughout the years

The program is produced by NBC and has changed distributors over the years, first with New World Television, followed by 20th Television (after News Corporation bought New World), then Warner Bros. Television, and finally to NBC Enterprises when the network started up their own syndication division. Today, what is now NBC Universal Television Distribution is solely responsible for its production and distribution.

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 for The N and Nickelodeon. The programs also does entertainment segments for NBC's cable news channel, which are titled Access MSNBC.

Access Across America

In 2005, Access Hollywood went on a month-long roadtrip they 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 NBC Studios in Burbank, former home of The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson.