October 30, 2008

CableFAX Program Awards, Hall of Fame: E! True Hollywood Story, E!

E! True Hollywood Story will reach the 500- episode milestone next year. Cyndi McClellan, EVP, research and programming strategy, Comcast Entertainment Group, and Jeff Shore, SVP, production, E! Studios, discuss its success.

CFAX: The Magazine: Why has E! THS survived?

McClellan and Shore: Because interest in celebrities and pop culture is such an important category, particularly for our younger viewers, and the biography format is scarce. The show remains true to its motto: "The Story You Haven’t Heard."

CFTM: How do you pick who and what to profile?

M&S: We scan headlines. A committee generates titles based on who we think has a great story, who might participate and who is relevant.

CFTM: Favorite E! THS shows? And is there someone you’re dying to profile?

M&S: Our favorites include Demi Moore, Oprah, the Brady Bunch, "JFK’s Last Days" and Rebecca Schaeffer (our first show). We are dying to profile Justin Timberlake, Brad Pitt and Clay Aiken.

Return to 2008 CableFAX Program Awards table of contents.