Access Hollywood

Did You Know?

• Mario Lopez joined Access Hollywood as co-host on September 9, 2019, after previously hosting Extra.
• The spin-off All Access, which featured long-form true-crime reports, aired from September 2019 to June 2021.

History

Since September 9, 1996, Access Hollywood has been broadcast nationally on local stations, primarily NBC affiliates. Its production and distribution history includes several changes: initially produced by NBC Studios and distributed by New World/Genesis Distribution, then 20th Television after News Corporation acquired New World, followed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (which still handles barter ad sales), and later NBC Enterprises. Since 2004, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, alongside NBC’s owned-and-operated KNBC, has managed production and distribution. High-definition broadcasts began on September 13, 2010. On May 1, 2012, the show was renewed for three more years through the 2014–15 season. It was renamed simply Access on December 11, 2017. On August 22, 2019, a refresh was announced for the 24th season: the original Access Hollywood name returned, East Coast episodes aired live, and Access Live became Access Daily. Mario Lopez joined as co-host. All Access, a true-crime spin-off, ended in June 2021. Renewals came on April 12, 2021, for four seasons through 2025, and again in 2024 through 2026. On March 13, 2026, NBCUniversal cancelled both Access Hollywood and Access Daily as part of ending all its first-run syndication programs; new episodes will run until September 2026.

Segments

Access Hollywood offers several recurring segments. Access Hollywood Nation lets viewers decide which stories appear. In Case You Missed It provides a pop culture recap covering film, television, and music from the previous night or weekend. Watch This features recommendations from the show’s correspondents and critics. The Final 45 closes the show with a quick news rundown. Access Express confirms or debunks stories, similar to the former Entertainment Tonight segment Real or Rumor?. In 2005, the show took a month-long road trip called Access Across America while its studio was renovated. The new set featured pastel colors and a modern look, along with a fresh graphics package, distinguishing it from competitors like Entertainment Tonight. The program was originally taped at Studio 1 in Burbank, California, once home to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In 2015, it moved to Universal City, California, at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Spin-offs

The program has had several short-lived spin-offs, including AMC Access for the AMC channel, Real Access for The N and Nickelodeon, and TV One Access for the TV One cable channel. The programs formerly did entertainment segments for NBCUniversal's cable news channel titled Access MSNBC, but these were withdrawn as MSNBC's news coverage became mainly political. A spin-off called Access Hollywood Live debuted on September 13, 2010, hosted by Mario Lopez and Kit Hoover, featuring entertainment news stories and in-studio guests. It was initially seen only on NBC owned-and-operated stations in six markets and Fox owned-and-operated stations in six other major markets. The show changed its name to Access Live on December 11, 2017, and to Access Daily on September 9, 2019. In 2022, it was renamed Access Daily with Mario & Kit. Access Daily was originally recorded at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California, and since June 2015 has broadcast from 10 Universal City Plaza in Universal City, California. On May 1, 2012, Access Hollywood Live received a third season renewal for the 2012–13 season. On April 12, 2021, the show was renewed for three additional seasons through 2025, and in June 2024 it was renewed through 2026.

Spoofs

The show has been spoofed across various TV programs. In the Arthur special "Arthur, It's Only Rock n' Roll," a parody called Access Elwood interviews the band U Stink. The South Park episode "Free Hat" features Excess Hollywood, hosted by a Pat O'Brien look-alike. BoJack Horseman also parodies it as Excess Hollywood, later shortened to Excess after BoJack steals the D from the Hollywood Sign. On The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, a recurring segment titled Access Extratainment Tonight features Ferguson as "Barney Slash." In The Simpsons Movie, the show is referenced during a fight between Homer and Marge in Alaska. The Simpsons episode "Hello Gutter, Hello Fadder" has hosts Pat O'Brien and Nancy O'Dell guest star as the hosts of Access Springfield.