3000 West Alameda
Burbank, Calif. 91523
Phone: 818/526-7000
Editor's Note: When it comes to Access Hollywood, we have some good news and very welcomed advice: pitch, pitch, pitch. These producers don't only look to PR specialists for leads and story ideas; they actually field calls on a regular basis. The show has an entertainment format and producers and bookers are always looking for ways of covering the chic and the cheeky in new ways.
| Sections |
Films, TV, Music: You can rest assured that if it's TV, feature films or music, Access Hollywood is going to have its nose in it. |
| Producers |
Senior Segment Producer for Music: Karen Fields-Hutton Phone: 818/526-7000 Fax: 818/526-7001 Senior Segment Producer for TV: Senior Segment Producer for Feature Films: |
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Days to contact/ Days to avoid |
Producers, staffers and the 20 bookers who work on the show are very busy during the morning as they gear up for daily taping which takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Pacific time. |
| Methods | What's preferred are faxes, followed by general mail. Make your pitches brief and to the point, as you're likely to be left behind if they're long-winded and cumbersome. This is a media outlet that works under very tight deadlines and at a frenetic pace. |
| Comments | These producers don't mind follow-up calls but they want to have something in writing before they begin a conversation with you. |
| Sections |
Fashion & Publishing: The program hits on everything from what's happening at George to who the up-and-coming models are. |
| Producers |
Senior Segment Producer for Fashion and Publishing: (handled out of the New York office) Jeneine Doucette Phone: 212/332-3140 Fax: 212/332-3141 Address: 10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 820, New York, N.Y. 10020 |
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Days to contact/ Days to avoid |
Like those in Burbank, Access Hollywood newshounds in New York are tougher to get hold of in the morning but remember to factor in the time difference. However, a pitch in the a.m. may mean they'll have more time to mull it over before they're overloaded with info. |
| Methods | Try a fax first, then general mail, then a follow-up call. If you want to attempt a cold call to pass along background info., a source's name or a recommended resource, make sure you make it worth these folks' time and relevant to what they cover. |
| Comments | The word that's come down from these producers that's key to whether your pitch will fly or not is how familiar you are with the program. Refrain from "catch-all" pitches. |
| Sections |
News: What falls here is anything that doesn't come under the umbrella categories listed above. |
| Producers |
News Producer: Anita Devi Phone: 818/526-7000 Fax: 818/526-7127 |
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Days to contact/ Days to avoid |
Mornings and early afternoon are "crunch" times. Try later in the day. |
| Methods | Once again, it's faxes first and never e-mail. |
| Comments | This 9-month-old entertainment program relies on PR pitches. One staffer told us: "We spend all day on the phone talking to people" - including PR specialists and execs. |