expert: date=December 2007

Entertainment Tonight is a daily television entertainment news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. The show makes the claim that it is "the most watched entertainment newsmagazine in the world" (though by what measures this claim is verified is unknown). It is the longest-running entertainment news program, with its first broadcast on September 14, 1981, and was the first syndicated program distributed via satellite. It was announced on January 30, 2006, that Entertainment Tonight has been renewed through the 2011–2012 season, which will be the show's 31st season. On September 8, 2008, the program began to air in high definition with the move of the program from their longtime home at Stage 28 on the Paramount Studios lot lot to the CBS Studio Center.

Format

In its current form, Entertainment Tonight airs as half of a one-hour entertainment news block that also includes a spin-off, The Insider. Three versions of the show are compiled and made available to broadcasters: a "standalone" version, a version for stations that air The Insider just beforehand, and one for those that air The Insider immediately after.

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.

Background

Veteran television producer Al Masini, coming off his success with the 1970s television hit Solid Gold, was the program's creator. Masini initially hired managers and producers from local news stations such as original managing editor Jim Bellows, formerly of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. Early on, many discussions were held with producers, creators, and directors about what kind of program ET should be. Andy Friendly was the show's original producer, establishing the program's unique look, sound, pace and reporting style. He put together a diverse staff ranging from former rock roadies to veteran television reporters of the Vietnam War era—some of whom continued to work on the show for more than twenty years.

Controversy

In the early years, Entertainment Tonight, following a PM Magazine format, consisted primarily of behind-the-scenes coverage of the latest movies, music, and television; but during the 1996–97 season ET began to include more sensational fare, featuring paid exclusive interviews with controversial and infamous newsmakers of the day, including:

• 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.