Is E! News looking to replace the face of the network? On the heels of Giuliana Rancic signing a deal to keep her at the entertainment news network through 2016, E! signs-on Maria Menounos to do exactly what Giuliana does — host, interview and star in reality TV.
G and her husband Bill Rancic, have been talking about moving permanently to Chicago for years, so did E! finally listen to the rumblings and decide they needed someone on hand to eventually step into the giant hole that would be left if G was to really leave? And let's face it, you could not do much better than Maria Menounos.
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If Maria is the eventual replacement for Giuliana remains to be seen. At this point, the network is just thrilled to have them both. “Giuliana has been an important part of the E! family for 12 years now and we are thrilled to extend her overall deal with the network,” said president of network strategy and E! News Cyndi McClellan told the Hollywood Reporter. “Giuliana brings not only a wealth of experience to the air, but also a fun, relatable and candid energy that makes her a fan favorite amongst E! viewers and incredibly popular across the entertainment community.”
Giuliana Rancic not only hosts E! News and Fashion Police, but also handles most of the E! live red carpet coverage, does an in-depth interview show and stars on Giuliana & Bill. No wonder she looks like she keeps getting skinnier and skinnier — she has no time to eat!
Speaking of G&B, that is where it has been well documented that the couple plans to eventually settle in Chicago — which is pretty far from E! headquarters.
But, signing Maria Menounos could also just be a good plan all around — even if G stays at the network. Maria has tons of experience from Entertainment Tonight and Extra, she has a funny, hit reality show and Ryan Seacrest has yet to sign a contract to stay at E! past this year. Could you imagine G and Maria tag-teaming the red carpet?
According to the Hollywood Reporter, under the new deal, Maria "will host a new hour-long entertainment news series — Untold With Maria Menounos — and join the cable network's Live From E! as well as specials and appear across multiple platforms. The deal, which is for both talent and producing roles, also includes a first-look agreement with Menounos' Underman/Omegagirl production company for series, specials and other projects across all platforms."
"To be able to host, report and produce for an entire network, one that spans globally no less, is thrilling," Menounos said to the Hollywood Reporter. "I'm excited to exercise my talents on both sides of the camera as my partner, Keven Undergaro, and I have many projects to bring to the network through Underman/Omegagirl. I'm equally excited to join a team of hosts and producers that are amongst the finest in our industry."
TELL US! DO YOU THINK E! IS PLANNING FOR A FUTURE WITHOUT G? DO YOU THINK MARIA IS A GOOD FIT FOR THE NETWORK?
[Photo Courtesy: FayesVision/WENN.com]
