Linda Bell Blue Headshot - P 2013
Courtesy of Entertainment TonightAfter 19 years as executive producer of Entertainment Tonight, Linda Bell Blue is departing her role as executive producer earlier than originally planned — making a transition to president of the newly created Entertainment Tonight Studios. The move was announced Tuesday by Armando Nunez, president/CEO of CBS Global Distribution Group.
Blue will be replaced as executive producer of the top-rated syndicated entertainment news magazine by DJ Petroro and Linda Fuller, and her new job will be to oversee the creation of ET-branded series and specials for cable, broadcast and digital platforms.
STORY: EP Linda Bell Blue Departing ‘Entertainment Tonight’ After 19 Years
“I am excited to take the esteemed and well-established ET name to the next level,” Bell Blue said. “It has long been a passion of mine to grow ET in a way that will continue to engage audiences and fortify the brand as the authority in entertainment news. I am eager to utilize the vast amount of resources we have at ET to create compelling programming viewers will love.”
Blue was originally set to depart ET in September 2014. And while she wills start her new job immediately, she will continue her duties at ET through the end of the season — leaving for good in June, at which point Petroro and Fuller will take over full time.
“We have created Entertainment Tonight Studios to serve the unending thirst for pop-culture-themed content and to continue to expand the stellar ET brand,” said Nunez. “We’re also happy to have DJ and Linda leading ET. They’ve both been instrumental to the show’s success over the years and will continue to uphold the quality programming ET delivers every night.”
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Petroro joined CBS Television Distribution in 2004 to help launch The Insider as senior producer and writer. He was promoted to co-executive producer in 2006 and oversaw the production of the show until he made the transition to ET in September 2012. Prior to CBS, Petroro worked as a supervising producer for NBC’s Access Hollywood from 1996-2004.
Fuller joined ET in 1989 as an associate director and became a director. She was promoted to weekend producer before serving as senior producer. Prior to ET, she worked at ABC News, 20/20 and Good Morning America/World News This Morning in New York. She later moved to Los Angeles and worked for Hollywood Close-Up, Hard Copy and Secrets and Mysteries before joining ET.
Bell Blue also serves as executive producer of omg! Insider (formerly The Insider), which premiered in 2004.
