Hard Copy (TV program)
 |
| Hard Copy | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Terry Murphy (1989-1998) Barry Nolan (1990-1998) Kyle Kraska (1998-1999) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | syndication |
| Release | 1989 – 1999 |
Hard Copy was a tabloid news television show that ran in syndication from 1989 to 1999. Hard Copy was aggressive in its use of questionable material on television, including gratuitous violence. Entertainment Tonight and Hard Copy are both produced by Paramount Television, now called CBS Paramount Television.
Reputation for bad reporting
As investigative news shows and daytime talk shows began to get more and more sensational, Hard Copy combined the two formats to create a news program that specialized in celebrity scandals, corporate conspiracies, and bizarre cult practices. In 1990-1993, in its second third and fourth seasons, the show was under the direction of executive producer and A Current Affair creator Peter Brennan and a team that included producers Burt Kearns and Neal Travis and reporter Rafael Abramovitz. After the team left the show in 1993, Hard Copy devolved into the canonical example of sensational reporting and shameless television programming. Hard Copy was a source of parody on The Simpsons in the episode "Homer Badman" as Rock Bottom, a show which clearly misrepresents facts in order to create scandal.
The original hosts of Hard Copy were Barry Nolan and Terry Murphy from 1990-1998; in the show's final season, current KFMB sports director Kyle Kraska became the host.
1996 Celebrity boycott
In 1996, upon learning the connection between Hard Copy and Entertainment Tonight, actor George Clooney refused to appear on ET. Paramount owner Frank Kelly caved in to Clooney's pressure by signing a contract vowing never to include Clooney in a Hard Copy story. Nevertheless Hard Copy shortly ran a story about Clooney and his then girlfriend, Celine Balidran. That same year, Clooney organized a celebrity boycott of both shows, which was supported by Whoopi Goldberg, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, Frank Sinatra, Demi Moore, and Steven Spielberg.
Cast
- Alan Frio.....Host (1989-1991)
- Barry Nolan.... Host (1990-1998)
- Terry Murphy.... Host (1989-1998)
- Kyle Kraska... Host (1998-1999)
- Jerry Penacoli.... Reporter (1996-1999)
- Pat Lalama.... Reporter (1996-1999)
- Edward Miller.... Reporter (1996-1999)
- Doug Bruckner.... Reporter
- Rafael Abramovitz.... Correspondent
- Diane Dimond.... Reporter