“THE INSIDER” DEBUTS PANEL FORMAT AND INTRODUCES CORRESPONDENT CHRIS JACOBS AS ITS SIXTH SEASON PREMIERES
(Los Angeles, CA, September 14, 2009) – Today, CBS Television Distribution’s The Insider will begin its highly anticipated 6th season from its state of the art home at CBS Studio Center.
This season, The Insider will introduce an innovative panel format with host Lara Spencer moderating a discussion over the day’s most talked about headlines with correspondents Samantha Harris and Chris Jacobs in a segment entitled, “What Side Are You On?” A fourth panelist will rotate through well-known comedians and newsmakers, including Nicey Nash and reality star Sharon Osborne, already on board for premiere week. Additionally, viewers will see a new set and graphics to complement the panel format.
”It’s a natural evolution for our television show,” said Linda Bell Blue, executive producer of The Insider and companion show Entertainment Tonight. “In addition to reporting the news, The Insider will now give viewers opinionated and edgy information with distinct points of view.”
Correspondent Chris Jacobs joins The Insider after three seasons as co-host of TLC’s popular automotive make-over show, “Overhaulin’.”
In 2008, after 25 years based at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight along with The Insider moved their entire base of Los Angeles operations to brand new state of the art soundstages at CBS Studio Center and marked a milestone in television history as the first syndicated newsmagazines to be produced in HD.
Based on the Entertainment Tonight segment of the same name, The Insider premiered in 2004 as the highest-rated debut of any newsmagazine in syndication since 1996.
Currently in its 6th season, The Insider is produced and distributed by CBS Television Distribution in Studio City, Calif. Linda Bell Blue is Executive Producer. D.J. Petroro is Co-Executive Producer. Lara Spencer is Host and Moderator; Samantha Harris and Chris Jacobs are Correspondents.
