Maria Menounos, who co-hosts Extra with Mario Lopez, shows some leg (Angelina-style) in a mermaid-blue strapless gown.
E! Network is expanding its news programming lineup, signing Extra host Maria Menounos to a multiyear deal.
Under the pact, the host, journalist, author, producer and reality show star will host a new hourlong 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.
“As we continue to expand E!’s dynamic news programming lineup, we’re so excited to have Maria join the E! team to help drive the growth and expansion of E! as the global entertainment news leader,” said Cyndi McClellan, E! president of network strategy and E! News. “With her undeniable charisma and deep industry relationships, Maria has a huge fan following as one of the premier entertainment news personalities in Hollywood today. While conceiving Untold, we always thought Maria was the ideal host because of her varied experiences not only in entertainment, but also in global reporting. We’re thrilled to bring her talents to the network and to collaborate with her as we create and develop exciting new programming together.”
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Hosted on location, Untold is described as a fresh and fun approach to celebrity and trends. The series will cover an array of topics including Gen Y Royals, the rise of heroin in Hollywood, the popularity of electronic dance music and the rise of some reality stars from their humble beginnings. Each episode will comprised three extensive individual stories, as well as additional segments such as celebrity sound-off and pop culture minute.
“To be able to host, report and produce for an entire network, one that spans globally no less, is thrilling,” Menounos said. “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.”
Menounos comes to E! from Telepictures, where under an overall deal she served as an Extra co-host and had roles in series including Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers and more.
Menounos’ credits include Oxygen’s reality series Chasing Maria Menounos, Extra, Nightly News, the Today show and Access Hollywood. She’s also hosted a digital talk series and founded online broadcast network AfterBuzz TV and more. Her onscreen credits include Louie, Entourage, Tropic Thunder, One Tree Hill and The Mindy Project. The author is repped by WME and Morris Yorn.
The news comes a day after E! News anchor and red-carpet fixture Giuliana Rancic extended her pact with the NBCUniversal-owned network through April 2016.
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