Entertainment newsmagazine Extra is set to continue.
The veteran syndicated series, co-hosted by Mario Lopez and Maria Menounos, has been renewed by stations, including those owned by NBC, through the 2016-17 season. Currently in its 19th season, Extra is now the second longest-running entertainment news magazine on U.S. television behind only Entertainment Tonight.
In a twist designed to keep the show fresh as it competes with a growing field of entertainment news outlets on air and online, Extra has pushed for an interactive “event” feel with its co-hosts reporting in front of a live audience from the show’s location at The Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles. The series, far softer and lighthearted than Warner Bros.' TMZ on TV, has become known for such segments as “Extra, Extra,” “Now Trending and “Rumor Control.”
“Extra has over the past two decades established itself as a brand known for delivering advertising-friendly, consumer-engaging entertainment and pop culture news day in and day out,” Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution president Ken Werner said in a statement announcing the news Tuesday.
Added Telepictures Productions president Hilary Estey McLoughlin: "At the heart of Extra's enduring success is its first-rate storytelling driven by its top- notch talent and producing team, led by the one and only Lisa Gregorisch. And the show has now evolved into a daily 'event,' bringing a unique perspective to the most-talked about topical stories across pop culture while on location wherever news is breaking.”
Extra will continue to air on eight NBC-owned stations in top markets such as New York (WNBC), where viewership in the key adults 25-54 demo was up 9 percent between the November and February sweeps period, Los Angeles (KNBC), up 11 percent, and San Francisco (KNTV/N), up 17 percent. In addition, the series has been sold to stations including Hearst, Gannett, Belo, Sinclair and CBS. Gregorisch-Dempsey serves as Extra's long-tenured Senior EP, while Theresa Coffino and Jeremy Spiegel executive produce. Extra is produced by Telepictures Productions and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.
Email: Lacey.Rose@THR.com; Twitter: @LaceyVRose
