Access Hollywood, formerly known as Access from 2017 to 2019, is an American weekday television entertainment news program that premiered on September 9, 1996. It covers events and celebrities in the entertainment industry. It was created by former Entertainment Tonight executive producer Jim Van Messel, and is currently executive produced by Maureen FitzPatrick and directed by Richard Plotkin. In previous years, Doug Dougherty, Christopher A. Berry and Kim Anastasia directed the program. Access Hollywood primarily focuses on news in the music, television, and film industries. History Access Hollywood has aired nationally on various local stations, most of them affiliates of NBC, in the United States since September 9, 1996. It was previously produced by NBC Studios and has changed distributors over the years, first with New World/Genesis Distribution, then 20th Television (after News Corporation bought New World), followed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution who still distributes the show today via barter ad-sales, and then to NBC Enterprises when the network started up its own syndication division. Today, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, in association with NBC's owned-and-operated station KNBC has been solely responsible for its production and distribution since 2004. Warner Bros. continues its involvement with the program by having responsibilities for barter ad sales for Access Hollywood. On September 13, 2010, Access Hollywood began broadcasting in high definition. On May 1, 2012, NBCUniversal Television Distribution announced it would renew Access Hollywood for three additional years through the 2014–15 season. The program changed its name to simply Access on December 11, 2017. On August 22, 2019, it was officially announced that Access and Access Live will receive an on-air refresh for their 24th and 10th seasons, respectively, with new names, logos, graphics and theme music, starting on September 9. Access returned to its original Access Hollywood name and begin airing live in the East Coast, with Access Live also rebranding as Access Daily. The program would also debut a second spin-off in the fall entitled All Access— which features long-form reports on true-crime and human interest stories and air initially on six NBC owned-and-operated stations. Former Extra host Mario Lopez also joined all three programs as co-host. On April 12, 2021, Access Hollywood and Access Daily renewed for a three additional seasons through 2025. On-air staff Current on-air staff Anchors Kit Hoover – anchor (2010–present) Mario Lopez – anchor (2019–present) Scott Evans – anchor/weekend anchor (2019–present; previously served as senior correspondent