TMZ on TV

Did You Know?

• In Canada, TMZ is shown on E!.
• In Australia, the show aired on GO! from August 9, 2009, until September 2015.
• In the Philippines, Jack TV aired the show until the network's closure in April 2020.

Format

The weekday edition of TMZ on TV runs as a half-hour program, while a one-hour weekend edition compiles selected stories from the previous week's weekday episodes. On major holidays, a weekday episode may adopt a format similar to the weekend edition, featuring a compilation of past stories around a theme, such as celebrities who have been bad or good in the past year. Unlike most entertainment news programs, TMZ on TV does not use anchors in a studio or correspondents; instead, most story packages are delivered by an announcer, and in-studio segments are taped during a morning staff pitch meeting at TMZ's Jefferson Boulevard headquarters, with some staffers delivering pieces themselves. The series presents most stories humorously, with tongue-in-cheek jokes and double entendres, though serious entertainment stories like a celebrity death are treated with a serious tone. Pieces often use archived clips from television and movies for comedic effect or to reference an entertainer's project. Many segments employ a "man on the street" question-and-answer format associated with paparazzi, and some TMZ videographers ask celebrities extremely trivial or bad questions.

On-air cast

Harvey Levin serves as executive producer, and Charles Latibeaudiere is co-executive producer. Adam Glyn is a comedian and camera guy from NYC. Ben Mankiewicz, a former co-host of The Young Turks, currently hosts weekend daytime film presentations on Turner Classic Movies. Deborah D Greene from Tampa FL works in life insurance and hosts a YouTube channel about cats. Teresa Strasser is a comedian and co-host of The Adam Carolla Show. Countess Marina von Bismarck is a comedian and celebrityologist on VH1 and Logo Gossip Queens. Anthony Scaramucci was a guest host for one episode after his dismissal as White House Press Secretary.

Criticism

In 2007, TMZ faced backlash after it was accused of buying stolen materials linked to the fourth Indiana Jones movie. IESB reported that photos and budget documents had been taken from Steven Spielberg’s office. TMZ.com allegedly acquired some of these items and planned to feature them on its TV show until Paramount’s lawyers stepped in. Following IESB’s report, the October 3, 2007, episode of TMZ on TV aired details about the film’s production budget.

Parodies

A pornographic parody of TMZ, titled TM Sleaze, was released by 3rd Degree Films in 2009, starring Ron Jeremy, Lisa Ann, Tori Black, and Faye Reagan. Comedian Mikey Day performed a sketch called "JMZ" on The Jay Leno Show in 2009 and later on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from 2010 to 2014, where he and his crew chase celebrities into bizarre situations. "Weird Al" Yankovic included a song called "TMZ" on his 2011 album Alpocalypse. The 2016 Inside Amy Schumer episode "Madame President" opened with a parody titled "AMZ." A Progressive Insurance commercial spoofed the show as "Look! Famous People!," with photographers snapping spokeswoman Flo and catching her with a man who is actually a potential customer.