Mary Hart is preparing to bid farewell to Entertainment Tonight – and Nancy O'Dell has been named as her successor.
"I remember watching Entertainment Tonight when it first premiered and dreaming about working for the show someday," O'Dell says. "I am honored to be the one chosen to fill a TV legend's seat and I hope I can do her proud!"
Over the summer, Hart, 60, announced her plans to leave the show in 2011 after nearly 30 years on ET.
"Leaving this job was not an easy decision, but knowing I will pass the baton to Nancy O'Dell makes that decision much easier," Hart said Monday. "Nancy is a talented and respected entertainment correspondent. We have spent many years working on opposite sides of the celebrity battlefield and I know the show will flourish with Nancy as co-anchor."
O'Dell, 44, who served as co-anchor of Access Hollywood for 13 years, will join ET as a special correspondent in January. She'll then take on the role of co-host, alongside Mark Steines, after Hart finishes out her final season on the show.
Nancy O’Dell (Access Hollywood) and Carson Kressley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) will co-host the new OWN series Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search For The Next TV Star that will debut in January.The new competition series is from Mark Burnett (Survivor) and will involve a nationwide search to find TV’s next big star. The winner will receive his or her own talk show that will air on OWN.
O’Dell and Kressley will work with 10 finalists, who were selected from more than 15,000 entrants. Each will participate in a veritable “host boot camp” in which they compete by booking interviews, researching story ideas, and completing screen tests.Each episode will also feature a celebrity judge.“I am so thrilled, grateful and excited to be a part of Your OWN Show,” said Kressley in a statement. “Not only do I get to inspire and be inspired by an amazing group of very talented contestants, I will also have the privilege of working with seasoned pros like Nancy O’Dell, Mark Burnett, and of course, my hero, Oprah Winfrey. How lucky am I?!”
Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell has left her job two years before her contract expires. Her last show was this past week.
"The original member of the Access Hollywood family, co-anchor and respected broadcast journalist Nancy O'Dell, has chosen to leave the show after 13 years," says a statement from her rep. "O’Dell appreciates NBC’s cooperation as she begins this next chapter in her career. Even though she will be leaving for a new opportunity, this decision is based totally on Nancy’s desire to take her career to the next level and is completely amicable. She will continue on with projects as a broadcast entertainment journalist."
A source saud O’Dell has been uncomfortable for the past several months with what she sees as the show's more sensational direction. "She has spent a lot of years building respect in the entertainment community and celebrities trust her," says the source. "She's known as the nice and classy girl. She values that."
Prior to the show, O’Dell spent seven years as a news anchor and investigate reporter. As for what she’s doing next, O’Dell has yet to make an announcement. Her next scheduled broadcast appearance will be as the host of the Tournament of Roses Parade live on NBC on New Year’s day.
O’Dell is married to business executive Keith Zubchevich. They are parents to daughter Ashby, 2. She’s also the step-mom to sons Tyler, 14, and Carson, 10.
Singer Jewel and Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell are withdrawing from participating in Dancing with the Stars, ABC announced Thursday.
Both women have suffered knee injuries during rehearsals in recent weeks. Jewel, who originally was told she had tendonitis, was actually diagnosed with a fractured tibia in both legs. O’Dell has a torn meniscus that will require surgery.
“Both Nancy and Jewel were training hard. They just threw themselves into it,” Dancing executive producer Conrad Green tells People. “It’s rather unfortunate that people the most committed to the show were doing harm to their bodies. I believe both injuries came from overtraining, particularly in the early stages.”Green says he’s convinced that the women’s fitness levels (both are avid fitness enthusiasts) may have ultimately done them in.
“This is now three fit women, if you include Misty May-Treanor from last season, who had to withdraw from the show,” Green says. “Perhaps people who are fitter throw themselves into it with more wild abandon. I really feel for them and we may need to take a look at [how hard people train] in the future.”
In a press release issued by the network, both women expressed their regret in having to pull out of the competition days before the season was about to begin.
“When the doctors told me my injuries were so severe that I couldn’t walk, let alone compete, I was devastated that I couldn’t continue the show,” Jewel said. “I have every intention of being at Dancing with the Stars this season supporting my husband, Ty [Murray], and his partner, Chelsie [Hightower]. I hope to be back on the show in the future.”
“Beyond disappointment doesn’t even being to describe how I feel about not being able to continue on Dancing with the Stars,” O’Dell says. “It has been one of my favorite shows since Season one! But I have torn the meniscus in my knee in two places, which requires surgery. Dancing with the Stars was a great experience. I’ll miss working with my partner, Tony Dovolani, and all the other wonderful people on the amazing production that is Dancing with the Stars.”
Green says both women hope to come back to the show and give the ballroom another try. Meantime, Green confirms that “casting changes” will be announced live on the season eight premiere on Monday, March 9th.
Mary Hart is preparing to bid farewell to Entertainment Tonight – and Nancy O'Dell has been named as her successor.
