Hard Copy

infobox television
show_name = Hard Copy


caption =
format = Infotainment
runtime = 30 minutes
starring = Terry Murphy
(1989-1998)
Barry Nolan
(1990-1998)
Kyle Kraska
(1998-1999)
country = USA
network = Syndication
first_aired = September 11, 1989
last_aired = May 28, 1999

"Hard Copy" is an American tabloid news television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. "Hard Copy" was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence. "Entertainment Tonight" and "Hard Copy" are both produced by Paramount Television, now called CBS Paramount Television.

Reputation for sensational reporting

In the late 80's, as investigative news shows and daytime talk shows were changing their formats and style, "Hard Copy" was created by Metromedia Television veterans Mark Monsky and John Parsons Peditto, who told original staffers that the idea was to "combine the stories of "20/20" with the production techniques of MTV."Fact|date=August 2008 This would be the show's format at launch, but it was quickly abandoned due to ratings concerns. Monsky and Parsons Peditto would leave the series within the first season, and the show took on a hard tabloid format after their departure, with stories featuring outrageous content or titilation being featured much more than serious topics, along with graphics in bold and large fonts, and MTV-style camera work. In 1991–1993, in its third and fourth seasons, the show was under the direction of executive producer and "A Current Affair" creator Peter Brennan and a team of Fox Television tabloid veterans that included producers Burt Kearns and Neal Travis and reporter Rafael Abramovitz. Under their control, "Hard Copy" devolved into the canonical example of sensational, and not always accurate, reporting. "Hard Copy" was a source of parody on "The Simpsons" in the episode "Homer Badman" as "Rock Bottom", a show which clearly misrepresents facts in order to create scandal.

The original hosts of "Hard Copy" were Alan Frio and Terry Murphy from 1990-1998; Barry Nolan joined later, and, in the show's final season, current KFMB sports director Kyle Kraska became the host.

1996 celebrity boycott

In 1996, upon learning the connection between "Hard Copy" and "Entertainment Tonight", actor George Clooney refused to appear on "ET". Paramount executive Frank Kelly caved in to Clooney's pressure by signing a contract vowing never to include Clooney in a "Hard Copy" story. Nevertheless "Hard Copy" shortly ran a story about Clooney and his then-girlfriend, Celine Balidran. That same year, Clooney organized a celebrity boycott of both shows, which was supported by Whoopi Goldberg, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Frank Sinatra, Demi Moore, and Steven Spielberg.

Cast

*Alan Frio: Host (1989–1991)
*Barry Nolan: Host (1990–1998)
*Terry Murphy: Host (1989–1998)
*Kyle Kraska: Host (1998–1999)
*Jerry Penacoli: Reporter (1996–1999)
*Pat Lalama: Reporter (1996–1999)
*Edward Miller: Reporter (1996–1999)
*Doug Bruckner: Reporter
*Rafael Abramovitz: Correspondent
*Diane Dimond: Reporter

ee also

*Infotainment
*Tabloid
*TMZ on TV

External links

*imdb title|id=0096605|name=Hard Copy
*Tv.com show|id=1168|title=Hard Copy