They’re pre-recorded entertainment news programs! Which is quite a pickle when you have late-breaking entertainment news that these shows (Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Access Hollywood, Extra Access Hollywood Tonight) can’t cover. Well, for the Eastern and Central time zones, at least. Not too sure how it works on the West Coast.
Take Thursday night, for example. All of the pre-recorded Hollynews programs were focused on the death of Farrah Fawcett, which was announced fairly early in the day(though, to be fair, Access Hollywood did feature Michael Jackson’s cardiac arrest in their rumor segment). When the news of Jackson’s death came from way out in left field these shows weren’t prepared. So, when fans tuned in to hear the latest about MJ’s death all they got was coverage of Farrah’s (which, I guess, is okay since the news of Farrah’s death was totally overshadowed by Michael’s).
This brings up the question as to whether these programs are still relevant, other than to make money for their distributors. Sure, they’re okay to watch when nothing much is going on. But, when breaking news takes place they’re almost useless. Especially when interested parties can go to websites like EW.com, People.com, TMZ.com, or even this site for more up-to-date information. Heck, they could even go to E! and watch the Ryan Seacrest reporting the news live, which he did this Thursday.
This is just another example of how untimely terrestrial television has become with the increasing use of the Internet. Perhaps it’s time for shows like Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight to either say good-bye, or migrate themselves into another environment that would allow them to report breaking news quicker. In fact, since the delivery of news is so instantaneous these days, maybe it’s time for all syndicated news-related series to disappear. Then, we’ll have more room for reality shows like Kate Gosselin – Bachelorette.
Clacked by Richard Keller 
on Jun 27, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
At one point while I was channel surfing, I noticed Fox and CNN discussing MJ while multiple entertainment channels were focused on Mark Sanford. This felt quite humorously backward.
I agree with Anon. Entertainment television shows were relevant when the demarcation between real time news and celebrity reporting existed. However, now that CNN, MSNBC, and all Prime Time News networks incorporate entertainment news (including Brittany’s breakdown, Mariah’s marriage, etc.) which wouldn’t have happened as frequently, say 15-20 years ago, makes pure entertainment shows less relevant, unless they start covering politics i.e. The Daily Show. However, as opposed to appealing to the lowest common denominator, I wish television news and CNN would follow E!s example in covering less entertainment (i.e. banning Heidi & Sp) and return to their roots, actual news.
One thing I had forgotten about that night was that The Tonight Show and Late Night are prerecorded. So, imagine my realization and somewhat disappointment when I tuned in to find out they were not talking about it. I was kind of interested in finding out what O’Brien and Fallon had to say about Fawcett and Jackson. I guess they’ll be a little behind on their news.
Hum…
I’d agree if it weren’t for TDS and CR. I know those aren’t entertainment news programs but they aren’t really “real” news either, they are pre-recorded and honestly I couldn’t care less… I mean it happens all the time there that they can’t report on something that just happened and really changes the take on a segment they do. It’s a matter of money and some things you simply can’t report live.
Besides, I’d like to refer you guys to this:
https://picturesforsadchildren.com/blog/famous.png
As if the specials the regular networks aired weren’t pre-produced. And as if what they reported on their nightly news was in any way newsworthy. I mean you report the death of a celebrity like this:
– S/he’s dead
– 2 minute highlight reel
– 2 minute reaction from family members
And then you go back to politics and world news. I really can’t believe the BS that went on here. As if it’s really necessary to fill whole 30 minute news programs with this. The person is dead, there’s nothing to add if it’s because of natural causes.
Again, I feel like “Idiocracy” is happening and I hated that movie.