Layoffs have hit Access Hollywood as a result of the E! News linear TV show ending, The Hollywood Reporter is told. It’s a bit complicated, but we’ll explain.
As THR previously reported, E! News was canceled in July after 34 years; the show’s final episode aired on Thursday. Going forward, Terrace Studios will be home to two TV shows, Access Hollywood and Access Daily.
Today’s layoffs come as a result of the E! News cancellation. As a result of three shows now being two, several members of the stage and technical crew who worked across all three programs have been let go. A source tells THR that there “may” have been a few Access-only staffers who fell victim to the efficiencies.
But with E! News over, it just makes logical (and business) sense to attribute Friday’s layoffs to the remaining programs, Access Hollywood and Access Daily.
The daily E! News series launched in 1991. The show had a two-year hiatus during COVID.
E! News is still ongoing as a digital brand.
Some (now-former) E! News TV correspondents will go to NBCUniversal spin-off company Versant, THR was told over the summer.
NBCU has split itself in two. The NBC broadcast network, the studios, Peacock and Bravo will stay as key pieces of NBCU; all of the rest (USA Network, Syfy, E!, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen and Golf Channel, plus digital businesses Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes and Golf Now) will make up new company Versant, led by CEO Mark Lazarus
Cable channel E! still airs (some) original programming, like Botched Presents: Plastic Surgery Rewind and Honestly Cavallari: The Headline Tour, as well as acquired content. The network recently announced upcoming series Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane and E!’s Dirty Rotten Scandals. The network remains a destination for red carpet coverage as well as January’s Critics Choice Awards.
