Access Hollywood

Access Hollywood is a daily entertainment news show that first aired on September 9, 1996. For a two-year stretch between 2017 and 2019, it was simply called Access. The program covers celebrity news and events, with a focus on music, television, and film. It was created by Jim Van Messel, a former executive producer of Entertainment Tonight. The current executive producer is Maureen FitzPatrick, and Richard Plotkin serves as director.

The show originally aired on local stations across the U.S., most of which were NBC affiliates. Its production and distribution have shifted over time: it started with NBC Studios and was distributed by New World/Genesis Distribution, then 20th Television, followed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (which still handles barter ad sales), and later NBC Enterprises. Since 2004, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, in partnership with NBC-owned KNBC, has been solely responsible for production and distribution. The program began broadcasting in high definition on September 13, 2010. In May 2012, it was renewed through the 2014–15 season.

The name changed to Access on December 11, 2017. On August 22, 2019, it was announced that Access and its spin-off Access Live would get a refresh for their 24th and 10th seasons, respectively, starting September 9. The show returned to the name Access Hollywood and began airing live on the East Coast, while Access Live was rebranded as Access Daily. A second spin-off, All Access, debuted that fall, featuring long-form true-crime and human-interest stories on six NBC-owned stations. Former Extra host Mario Lopez joined all three programs as co-host; All Access ended in June 2021. On April 12, 2021, Access Hollywood and Access Daily were renewed through 2025, and in 2024, they were extended through 2026. On March 13, 2026, NBCUniversal announced both shows would be canceled as part of ending all first-run syndication programs, with new episodes continuing until September 2026.

Current on-air staff includes anchors Kit Hoover (since 2010), Mario Lopez (since 2019), and Scott Evans (since 2019, previously a senior correspondent from 2015). Correspondents are Zuri Hall (weekend anchor since 2019), Jason Kennedy, and Tim Vincent (European correspondent since 2005). Former staff include Michelle Beadle, Billy Bush, Steven "Cojo" Cojocaru, Giselle Fernández, Liz Hernandez, Jill Martin, Larry Mendte, Maria Menounos, Natalie Morales, Nancy O'Dell, Pat O'Brien, Amy Powell, Jeff Probst, Tony Potts, Shaun Robinson, Sibley Scoles, and Liliana Vazquez.

The show features several regular segments: Access Hollywood Nation (viewer-chosen stories), In Case You Missed It (a pop-culture recap), Watch This (recommendations from correspondents and critics), The Final 45 (a closing news rundown), Access Express (fact-checking stories), and Access Across America (a 2005 month-long road trip during a studio overhaul). The new set, introduced after the road trip, used pastel colors and a modern design. The show was taped at Studio 1 at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California, formerly home of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Along with Days of Our Lives, it was one of two remaining NBC-produced programs at that location.