Jason Kennedy the next on-air talent to leave E! after 16 years, says he wants to 'explore new opportunities'.

by Thinus Ferreira

Jason Kennedy is the next E! (DStv 124) talent to exit NBCUniversal's increasingly-dimming entertainment channel saying he is pursuing new opportunities after 16 years.

E! cancelled its biggest draw, Keeping Up with the Kardashians with the Calabasas-based Kardashian-clan in California that will be doing a new reality TV series for Disney+; with E! News, In the Room and Pop in the Morning that all got cancelled, and red carpet host Ryan Seacrest who quit last month.

Jason Kennedy joined E! and E! News in 2005 and eventually became the co-anchor of E! News next to Giuliana Rancic.

In a statement, Jason Kennedy says "I've had the time of my life at E!. Most recently, I loved being the host of In the Room, but Covid made it impossible to capture interviews with celebrities in a more personal setting, so I have decided to explore new opportunities".

"I'm leaving with a grateful and full heart thinking about my experience, and the lifelong friendships I've made along the way at E!. I have a slate of exciting projects that I've been working on and I can't wait to share with you soon."

ALSO READ: After 14 years Ryan Seacrest exits as E!’s red carpet host, says he's decided to move on 'to new adventures'.

ALSO READ: Keeping Up with the Kardashians on E! cancelled after 14 years.

ALSO READ: E! News on E! Entertainment cancelled after 29 years; Pop of the Morning and In the Room also axed as remaining E! studio shows move back to Los Angeles in cost-cutting move.

CANCE!LLATION SHOCKE!R. E! News on E! Entertainment cancelled after 29 years; Pop of the Morning and In the Room also axed as remaining E! studio shows move back to Los Angeles in cost-cutting move.

by Thinus Ferreira

After 29 years E! News on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) has been cancelled just 8 months after the show's production and studio was moved in January this year from Los Angeles to New York.

The entertainment news show that has been a veritable TV institution for decades, is over.

Along with E! News, Pop Of the Morning, as well as Jason Kennedy's celebrity interview show, In the Room have also been cancelled. E! is also moving all remaining studio production back to Los Angeles.

Variety on Tuesday night first reported E! News' cancellation, citing NBCUniversal that runs E! as a pay-TV channel that is "looking to streamline its programming and restructure internally to create more efficiencies".

The dramatic impact of the global Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic also played a role with E! News and other E! shows that went off the air in mid-March 2020 for months, similar to what happened in South Africa and in the TV industries in several other countries. E! News only recently returned to the E! schedule.

Lilliana Vazquez and Scott Tweedie have been the E! News co-anchors since January 2020 after Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kenny left E! News in late-2019 after producer Tammy Filler who joined E! as new news operations boss decided to move E!'s studio news shows to New York from 2020.

South African viewers got their first glimpse of the orange-and-white E! News Daily as it was then known, when M-Net (DStv 101) and e.tv in the late 90's acquired the show and would programme individual insert strips or episodes as filler programming, while it had Jules Asner and Steve Kmetko as the co-hosts - with a  goldfish.

E! News Daily morphed into the red-letter E! News Live with John Burke. From 2006 E! News Live became E! News with Ryan Seacrest and Giuliana DePandi (later Rancic) who took over as the new co-anchors.

In interviews over the years, Giuliana spoke several times of how E! News was on the verge of cancellation at E! in 2005 when she agreed to become the managing editor of the show, with a tight deadline from E! bosses to lift ratings for the show that faced the axe. She managed to save it.

After Ryan Seacrest left as co-anchor, Giuliana Rancic first had Terrence Jenkins, and then Jason Kennedy as co-hosts.

Catt Sadler stood in as co-anchor when Giuliana was away or on leave, but in December 2017 Catt Sadler announced that she had left, slamming E! over allegations of gender discrimination and unequal pay for women.

When Giuliana Rancic left E! News in mid-2015, Maria Menounos took over as co-host, but after 3 years Giuliana was back next to Jason as the co-hosts since September 2018. Both said goodbye when the show's production and studio moved from Los Angeles to New York from January 2020.

Lilliana Vazquez and Scott Tweedie have anchoring E! News since January for the past 8 months.

Longtime E! News viewers will remember Ted Casablanca who did Hollywood gossip and "blind items" in his "The Awful Truth" segment, as well as Kristin dos Santos, E!'s resident TV expert who brought viewers news about television.

E! News correspondents who rose to fame through the show over the years range from Samantha Harris and Ken Baker, to Zuri Hall, Marc Malkin, Nina Parker and Melanie Bromley.


ALSO READ: TV CRITIC's NOTEBOOK. As E! marks 15 years in South Africa as a TV channel on DStv, here are 15 things that E! brought into my life that I'm thankful for.

E! News on E! switching in 2020 from Los Angeles and prime time to New York and becoming a morning show as dozens of staffers are let go; new shows added to E!.

E! (DStv 124) is changing its weekday E! News done from Los Angeles in the United States from a prime time show to a morning show from 2020 that will be produced from New York, with up to 25 staffers who are getting retrenched.

In a statement, the channel supplied by NBCUniversal International Networks (NBCUIN) and carried on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service in South Africa and across Africa and that has broadcast the day-after's episode of E! News on the channel at 19:00 for many years, announced that E! News will become a 07:00 morning show done from New York.

According to industry reports from the United States, dozens of E! News staff on Los Angeles, some of whom have been with the show for over a decade, started to cry when they were told they're losing their jobs following a meeting on Tuesday.

It's not clear when or if Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kennedy as two main E! News co-anchors doing the show from Los Angeles, will move to New York.

E! News, currently broadcast in more than 160 countries around the globe, will according to E! "evolve into a morning show at 07:00 out of 30 Rock in New York. The series will continue to feature the most talked-about stories in entertainment in a fast-paced, social and entertaining way that's tailored to a young, hyper-connected audience."

"The move to a morning time slot will allow fans to get their pop culture updates first thing in the morning and offer insights on celebrity stories that will unfold throughout the day."

In its statement, E! says it will expand its entertainment news programming with further "new hours of original weekday content" in 2020.

Tammy Filler, the executive vice president & editor-in-chief of E! News who joined E! in May 2019, will lead the channel's linear news expansion, which will include a variety of pop culture commentary formats, an in-home celebrity interview series, a weekly review show, as well as the New York-based E! News morning and daytime news series.

E! says the Nightly Pop series will expand to four nights per week and that the daytime series Daily Pop will continue to be broadcast on weekdays.

"The linear expansion complements E! News' tremendous multi-platform growth as the leading entertainment news source for millennial women," says E!

"The E! News footprint is unparalleled, and our growth continues with this investment in more edgy, comedic, personality-driven linear programming," says Tammy Filler.

 "We undoubtedly live in a 24/7 world where entertainment news is just a click away but what our viewers crave is analysis, commentary and point-of-view that goes deeper than a headline. We are leaning into what is uniquely E! and building on our success with a second home in New York and more hours of coverage."

In 2020 E! will add In the Room (working title) as a new series that will take viewers inside celebrity homes for in-depth interviews and conversation around their latest projects, products, passions and more.

Pop of the Morning (working title), similar to the LA-based Daily Pop but done from New York, will feature a panel of personalities delivering irreverent and unfiltered conversations centred around the buzziest entertainment news stories of the day.

BingE! Club (working title) will be a new weekly review series that will discuss what TV shows, movies, music, social sensations, viral videos and more that pop culture fans should be binge-watching.

E! says it is also "developing two additional celebrity and pop culture commentary formats to be broadcast in 2020" but didn't name or describe these shows.

Watch-guide: 2018's coverage of the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on E!, M-Net, Twitter, Facebook and IMDb.

Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kennedy will co-host E! Entertainment's coverage of the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, with M-Net that will broadcast the awards show, as well as special coverage on Twitter, Facebook and IMDb.

Coverage on E! Entertainment will start on Monday night at 22:30 South African time with Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2018 Emmy Awards with Kristin Cavallari from Very Cavallari, stylist Brad Goreski, the pop culture personality Nina Parker and E! correspondent Kristin Dos Santos.

They will count down 18 of the most anticipated stars and Emmy nominees gracing the red carpet.

Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kennedy will co-host E!'s Live from the red carpet: The 2018 Emmy Awards for 2 hours, starting at 00:00 on Tuesday morning, 18 September, alongside E! correspondents Zuri Hall and Morgan Stewart. This coverage will be repeated on Tuesday at 20:00.

The "E! Glambot" also returns to the Emmys with music video director and creative director, Cole Walliser, to capture unique red carpet moments.

E!'s red carpet coverage is produced by Wilshire Studios with Gary Snegaroff, Eddie Delbridge, Shaun Smith and Gerry Johnston as the executive producers.

On Wednesday 19 September on E! News at 19:05 Giuliana Rancic and Jason Kennedy as well as E!'s team of correspondents will do a special Emmys edition.


Twitter
E! will also introduce its first-ever E! Stream the Red Carpet digital show on Twitter at @enews starting at 00:00 on Tuesday morning, 18 September, featuring Jeannie Mai, Brad Goreski, and Kristen Dos Santos.

This is an opportunity for fans to comment on the red carpet arrivals and fashion in real-time and interact with E!'s panel of Hollywood experts reporting from the red carpet.


M-Net
On Tuesday morning 18 September at 02:00 M-Net (DStv 101) will broadcast the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in South Africa and throughout Africa, as well as online on DStv Now until 5:00. On Tuesday at 21:00 M-Net will show the Emmys during primetime in South Africa.


Facebook
On the Television Academy's Emmys.com and Facebook page at Facebook.com/TelevisionAcad people will be able to watch Backstage LIVE!, the Television Academy's companion programme.

This will include the Thank You Cam, a first look at award winners fresh off the stage as they thank additional friends, family, colleagues and fans, the Trophy Cam, where viewers can watch the winners pick up their official Emmy statuette before entering the press room, and the Interview Cam where Marc Istook will share fan comments and questions with the winners throughout the evening.


Online
For the third year in a row, the Television Academy has joined forces with IMDb, the movie,  TV and celebrity content site, to produce the official 70th Emmy Awards online post-show, IMDb LIVE After the Emmys.

On Tuesday 18 September at 05:00 after the Emmys award show ends, IMDb will report live from the Winners Walk inside the press centre.

The one-hour live show, co-hosted by The IMDb Show 's Tim Kash and Amanda Salas, will feature interviews with winners and presenters, expert analysis, social media fan Q&As and red carpet arrival replays.

IMDb LIVE After the Emmys can be watched on IMDb, Emmys.com, Twitch, and Twitter.

2018 OSCARS - HOW, WHAT & WHERE TO WATCH. Your comprehensive TV guide to watch The 90th Academy Awards and all the various red carpet lead-up programming.

The 90th Annual Academy Awards, known as the Oscars, is taking place tonight in Hollywood, marking the end of the 2018 awards season - here's your comprehensive TV guide on exactly how, the channels, and the times, where you can watch the show as well as the surrounding red carpet coverage.

Two things are important to note - firstly, E! for a 3rd year in a row will again not have any red carpet coverage during the last hour of red carpet arrivals since those rights belong to the ABC network in America, so you need to switch to M-Net Movies Premiere.

Secondly South Africa's Lalla Hirayama is at the red carpet for a M-Net Movies Premiere TV special that will be broadcast on Monday night. It marks the first time in history that a South African TV reporter is doing red carpet duty at the Oscars carpet, and the first time South Africa will have its own red carpet Oscars TV special.

Here's your must-know rundown TV guide list:


Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2018 Academy Awards 
▪ Sunday 4 March 22:00 - 00:00 (LIVE) E! (DStv 124)
E!'s early Oscars coverage with early arrivals, trivia, banter, fashion lookbacks and possible fashion suggestions.

This show is done by presenters Kristin Cavallari, Brad Goreski and Josh Horowitz, along with E! correspondents Kristin Dos Santos, Zuri Hall, Jason Kennedy, Erin Lim, Nina Parker and Morgan Stewart.

It will include a performance by Fifth Harmony’s Ally Brooke and the Olympic athlete Gus Kenworthy will make an appearance.


Live From the Red Carpet: 2018 Academy Awards
▪ Monday 5 March 00:00 - 02:00 (LIVE) E! (DStv 124)
Giuliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest will take turns to interview the stars arriving on the red carpet for the Oscars, along with coverage from Kristin Dos Santos, Zuri Hall and Josh Horowitz, celebrity stylist Jason Bolden, and Elaine Welteroth, the former editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue.

With Hollywood dealing with the #MeToo movement in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, issues like equal pay that has involved E! itself, and with controversy swirling around Ryan Seacrest himself over allegations of sexual harassment that isn't going away, this is the 2 hour coverage where there might be awkward moments if there were to be any.

Stars might call out E! live on TV or Ryan Seacrest, or there might be celebrities who refuse to talk to him after publicists earlier this week said they will advise their celebrity clients to rather steer clear this year and not talk to him, but to rather talk to Giuliana.


The Oscars: All Access
▪ Monday 5 March 01:30 (LIVE) Facebook
Facebook will again be the exclusive social network to live stream the Oscars red carpet and backstage coverage. This show also will be live-streamed on Oscar.com.

Returning as presenters are Sofia Carson, Chris Connelly, Ben Lyons and Adnan Virk, joined by newcomer Wesam Keesh.

The Facebook show will incorporate footage from more than 20 cameras placed along the red carpet, backstage and in the audience at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

This show will have red carpet interviews with nominees, presenters, and performers, as well as a glimpse backstage and from the audience throughout the live Oscars broadcast. This second screen experience excludes the official TV awards show broadcast, so be sure to use it to enhance your viewing experience, not replace it.


Red Carpet Rundown: Oscars 2018
▪ Monday 5 March 02:00 - 03:00 (LIVE) E! (DStv 124)
E! continues its Oscars build-up coverage with this hour long filler show until the awards show starts. Guiliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest remain close to the red carpet but can no longer do live interviews, show live shots of arrivals, or be on TV and be seen at the red carpet during the final hour. In this show, using still photos, they look "back" at this year's Oscar looks of the stars who've already arrived.

Viewers need to note that for a 3rd year in a row E! isn't actually showing any live or otherwise red carpet coverage during this last hour before the Oscars and neither are any other broadcasters. For that you need to switch to M-Net Movies Premiere.

Broadcasters are allowed to record for later, but the live broadcasting rights for the last and most important red carpet arrival time has been given to the official broadcaster, in this case ABC. Viewers can switch over to M-Net Movies Premiere that has this live red carpet coverage programme from 01:30.


Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live from the Red Carpet
▪ Monday 5 March 01:30 - 03:00 (LIVE) M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104)
Exclusive coverage with access to the red carpet in the final hour leading up to the awards show.

The presenters of this 90 minute special are Michael Strahan, The Goldbergs’ Wendi McLendon-Covey, The View co-host Sara Haines, Vanity Fair executive West Coast editor Krista Smith and IMDb special correspondent Dave Karger.


90th Annual Academy Awards
▪ Monday 5 March 03:00 - 07:20 (LIVE) M-Net Movies (DStv 104)
▪ Monday 5 March 21:00 - 00:25 M-Net (DStv 101)
There's absolutely nothing - nothing - that Hollywood loves more than a good Hollywood ending.
Therefore, after last year's blooper when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were given the wrong envelope for the final Best Picture category, both have been asked back for a redo and will again appear on stage at the end.

The accountants were fired but Warren and Faye aren't the only ones who'll be back. The show producers Jennifer Todd and Michael De Luca are back as well, as is Jimmy Kimmel as the host.

The M-Net Movies Oscars: Red Carpet Special 
▪ Monday 5 March 20:30 - 21:00 M-Net Movies Premiere (DStv 104)
Produced by HomeBrew Films for M-Net Movies, Lalla Hirayama is next to the red carpet for this recorded half hour Oscars special.

Whether you've watched the Oscars live at 03:00 on Monday morning or are going to watch the recorded version during prime time, this show will serve as an excellent close-out or lead-in show companion piece to the awards ceremony.

What makes it notable is that this show marks the first time that a South Africa entertainment TV reporter got a spot at the Oscars red carpet, with the first TV special done from there for this awards show.

Spare a thought for the daunting and amazing logistics behind-the-scenes. Interview footage is uploaded and sent to Cape Town where it will be quickly edited to package, and then to MultiChoice in Johannesburg from where it's will be broadcast on M-Net Movies Premiere.

E! News 2018 Oscars wrap-up
▪ Tuesday 6 March 19:05 E! (DStv 124)
Tuesday's edition of E! News with Jason Kennedy will as usual be a special comprehensive Oscars look-back episode with the notable news, interviews and fashions from this year's awards show.

Catt Sadler slams E! for firing producer Aileen Gram-Moreno over her E! censorship lapse at Golden Globes over preventing Eva Longoria speaking up about unequal pay and Catt Sadler: 'It's disappointing that any network would order the censorship of opinions'.

The former E! presenter Catt Sadler who left E! (DStv 124) in late-2017 after she discovered that E! and NBCUniversal was paying her less by almost half for the same work as her co-presenter Jason Kennedy, is slamming E! for firing the veteran red carpet producer Aileen Gram-Morino who failed to censor a clip of Eva Longoria calling out E! on E!' during its Golden Globe red carpet coverage about its unequal pay practices.

Amidst Hollywood's #MeToo movement and controversy swirling around Ryan Seacrest with allegations of sexual harassment that's not going away, The New York Times reports that E! fired producer Aileen Gram-Moreno for not properly sanitising and censoring E!'s coverage of celebrities like Eva Longoria who at the Golden Globe awards called E! out over its trash treatment of Catt Sadler.

Aileen Gram-Moreno says she was supposed to prevent clips from being broadcast on the NBCUniversal channel that was seen globally - including South Africa and Africa, of other stars and Eva Longoria who at the Golden Globe awards said "We support gender equity and equal pay. And we hope that E! follows the lead with Catt as well. We stand with you, Catt."

Aileen Gram-Moreno says that after Debra Messing sharply criticised E! over its unequal pay with Catt Sadler, E! executives told her to scan all interviews before broadcast to "weed out" any further mentions of Catt Sadler.

"The said, if there's any mention of Catt Sadler in the preshow, make sure you flag it. Aileen Gram-Moreno told The New York Times that E! is "censoring celebrities; it’s just not a good idea in my humble opinion. But it wasn’t my decision."

Aileen Gram-Moreno in her complaints says she was fired 5 days after the Golden Globes from all upcoming shows she had been booked for, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Grammys and the Oscars. "No-one discussed the issue with me before making the decision to terminate me."

Adam Stotsky, E! president, admitted to The New York Times that E! pre-screened and wanted to know ahead of time about any Catt Sadler mentions and said "We don’t agree with Debra Messing’s assertion" and that E! "is not in the business of being a megaphone for an inaccurate story."

Adam Stotsky told The New York Times that Aileen Gram-Moreno was fired because "of a pattern of poor performance".

Weirdly E! and NBCUniversal never once in the past 12 years complained about Aileen Gram-Moreno's work, and actually gave her a performance -based raise 5 years ago.

E! in a statement says "For the past decade Aileen Gram-Moreno was a freelancer who worked an average of 20 days per year solely for our red carpet coverage. After the Golden Globes, she was asked not to return due to job performance issues. Following an attempt to force E! to pay for her silence Aileen Gram-Moreno is now spreading misleading and inaccurate information."

In a statement Catt Sadler slams E! for firing Aileen Gram-Moreno, saying "It's disappointing that any network would order the censorship of opinions."

"But it's particularly disturbing in this case because we are at a cultural tipping point where women feel more and more comfortable being vocal about issues like pay equality and sexual misconduct. To shut down those conversations is to stifle progress," says Catt Sadler.

SHOCKER. Lying E! boss, Frances Berwick, says Catt Sadler who quit E! over pay disparity was getting paid less than Jason Kennedy because Catt 'was daytime' and Jason 'is on prime time' - only Catt was actually co-hosting E! News in prime time.

The lying Frances Berwick, president of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s lifestyle networks that includes E! Entertainment (DStv 124), shocked on Tuesday when she said that Catt Sadler didn't deserve equal pay with Jason Kennedy because Catt Sadler was "daytime" and Jason Kennedy was "prime time".

Last month Catt Sadler decided to quit E! Entertainment after E! and NBCUniversal refused to pay her equal to her male counterpart on E! News, revealing that Jason Kennedy earned almost double what she did.

E! didn't want to talk about it then, or since, saying only in a statement that "E! compensates employees fairly and appropriately based on their roles, regardless of gender".

On Tuesday Frances Berwick - a woman - had the audacity to say that "there's a lot of misinformation out there" when she addressed the media at the Television Critics Association's press tour during an E! session in Pasadena, California.

E! has had ample time to clear up the issue with more information and to prevent so-called "misinformation" but Frances Berwick and NBCU cohorts decided not to, but now wanted to complain about "misinformation". Why did she not talk sooner?

On Sunday E! was awkwardly dragged and shamed on-air before a global audience on E! Entertainment itself, when several actresses like Debra Messing called out E! for its trashy treatment and payment inequality during E!'s red carpet coverage of the 75th Golden Globe awards and saying “I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-host the same as their male cohost.”

Frances Berwick - as the issue of unequal pay for women compared to men continues to swirl in Hollywood - must not not be actually watching E! Entertainment and E! News on a day-to-day basis (or is that a night-to-night basis?) where Catt Sadler as E! News co-host appeared next to Jason Kennedy for years during prime time.

In fact, Catt Sadler has been on E! News during the night time and prime time for years before Jason Kennedy ever showed up, with Frances Berwick only embarrassing herself in front of the media with her hilariously inept statements.

E! News is a prime time show broadcast in the United States during the evening, as well as on NBCUniversal International Networks's E! channel feeds in South Africa, across Africa and the Middle East.

In South Africa for instance, any given's day's episode from the United States is shown on MultiChoice's DStv the day after, during prime time - the same "day"-part on the schedule as where it is shown in America.

Speaking to the press, Frances Berwick had the audacity to tell the media that "Jason Kennedy and Catt Sadler had different roles, and therefore different salaries".

"Catt was focused on daytime; Jason Kennedy is on prime evening news, plus red carpet. Our employees’ salaries are based on their roles and their expertise, regardless of gender. So we wish Catt well, but I hope that sets the record straight on that."

Dear Fran - it doesn't.

Stop the incompetence and being an embarrassment to E!, love, and switch on your TV set if you have one.

Put it on E!, and pull some episodes from the E! News archives before you go before the press who cover television and spout non-sensical trash.

Will & Grace’s Debra Messing and other actresses drag E! Entertainment on E!'s own red carpet at the 75th Golden Globe Awards over its pay gap disparity and refusing to pay women as much as men.

The Will & Grace star Debra Messing walked the red carpet on Sunday evening at the 75th Golden Globe Awards and dragged E! Entertainment (DStv 124) on its own red carpet with red carpet co-host Giuliana Rancic, slamming E! for its pay gap disparity and for refusing to pay women as much as men.

Several women wore black on Sunday to the 75th Golden Globe Awards in keeping with the theme of "Time's Up" that was also used as a social media hashtag, to draw attention to the fight over gender and racial inequality.

Laura Dern and Eva Longoria also called out and slammed E! Entertainment for its pay inequality and paying women less than men uring E! Entertainment's red carpet coverage.

When Giuliana Rancic asked Debra Messing why she is wearing black, Debra Messing said "I am wearing black to thank and honour all of the brave whistle-blowers who came forward and shared their stories of harassment and assault".

Then Debra Messing continued to slam E! for the way E! Entertainment is treating women, following the revelation last month that the E! News co-presenter Catt Sadler had quit since E! refused to pay her as much as Jason Kennedy, and that E! was paying Jason Kennedy almost double what she earns.

The NBCUniversal pay-TV channel doesn't want to talk about the issue and why women are being paid less, with E! that in a statement only said "E! compensates employees fairly and appropriately based on their roles, regardless of gender".

Debra Messing told Giuliana Rancic in her E!'s red carpet interview that "I was so shocked to hear that E! doesn’t believe in paying their female co-hosts the same as their male co-hosts".

"I miss Catt Sadler. We stand with her. And that’s something that can change tomorrow – we want people to start having this conversation that women are just as valuable as men.”

Giuliana Rancic said she agrees with Debra Messing, saying "this is really what this movement is all about".

“Absolutely. I think that that is really what this movement is all about, right? We have an amazing platform here. You know, there are a lot of big, great voices here tonight who can speak on behalf of people around, not just the country, around the world, who don't have those voices.”

Eva Longoria told Ryan Seacrest on E! Entertainment that "“We support gender equity and equal pay and we hope E! follows that lead with Catt as well,” while she stood alongside Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. “We stand with you Catt.”

Sarah Jessica Parker told Ryan Seacrest on E! that she knows that paying women less and pay inequality has “affected your network”,  saying “parity, equality and safe work environments shouldn’t be controversial. And it’s across all industries”.

Catt Sadler out at E!, slams the network for paying co-presenter Jason Kennedy 'double' her salary.

Catt Sadler (43) is out at E! Entertainment (DStv 124) where she was the co-anchor of its daily E! News and is slamming E!, saying her decision to leave was because she discovered that co-anchor Jason Kennedy (36) was making almost double her pay and E! was unwilling to pay her more.

Catt Sadler has been with E! Entertainment for 12 years and appeared on E! News for the past 7, stepping in as co-anchor after first Giuliana Rancic left and then Maria Menounos left because of cancer.

Besides co-anchoring E! News, Catt Sadler, a divorced single mom since last year, also became a panelist on The Daily Pop since May.

Her last appearance was supposed to be on Wednesday but Tuesday turned out to be her abrupt E! on-air farewell. 

In the last moment of E! News on Tuesday Catt Sadler said goodbye and told Jason Kennedy: "It has been an honor sharing this room with you my friend".

E! said "We will miss having Catt on set and appreciate her many contributions".

Now in a statement on her official website, The CattWalk, Catt Sadler is slamming E! and revealing why she quit, blaming E! for discriminating against women and pay discrepancies between what the entertainment network from NBCUniversal pays women and men doing the same jobs.

Catt Sadler says it's important for her to explain why she was forced to leave E!, and that she wanted to stay on with E! but the NBCUniversal channel didn't want to pay her more.

Catt Sadler says Jason Kennedy has been making almost double what she earns, for the past several years.

E! in a statement about the pay disparity says "E! compensates employees fairly and appropriately based on their roles, regardless of gender. We appreciate Catt Sadler’s many contributions at E! News and wish her all the best following her decision to leave the network".

Catt Sadler says "an executive from E! brought something alarming to my attention - namely that there was a massive disparity in pay between my similarly situated male co-host and myself".

"More recently, when E! reached out to renew and extend my deal, I learned that he wasn't just making a little more than I was."

I have two decades experience in broadcasting and started at the network the very same year as my close friend and colleague that I adore. But how can I operate with integrity and stay on at E! if they're not willing to pay me the same as him? Or at least come close?"

"How can I accept an offer that shows they do not value my contributions and paralleled dedication all these years?  How can I not echo the actions of my heroes and stand for what is right no matter what the cost?"

"How can I remain silent when my rights under the law have been violated?"

Catt Sadler says she asked E! "for what I know I deserve and were denied repeatedly".

Here is Catt Sadler's full statement:

"I know first hand that dreams do come true. For the past twelve years, I’ve been living mine out loud as one of the hosts on E! television."

"For more than a decade I’ve walked through the doors at E! and traveled into people’s living rooms around the world.

"I’ve reported from a royal wedding, the Olympics, and the Oscars. I’ve been to film festivals in France, movie premieres in Rio, and fashion week in Paris. I’ve gotten chased by the paparazzi on camera while shopping with Kris Jenner, co-hosted shows with Khloe, Kim and Kourtney, and interviewed Kendall and Kylie back in those early Keeping Up days when no one could remember their names.

"It has been unpredictable, intoxicating, rewarding and hard work. Five days a week since February 2006. First, for The Daily 10 and later for E! News.

"Then, this year happened. Daily Pop was born. I was named host which meant double duty. Hosting a live, two-hour daytime show while also hosting E! News most nights.

" It was creatively challenging but genuinely one of the most fulfilling years of my professional career. Coincidentally, around this same time an executive from E! brought something alarming to my attention - namely, that there was a massive disparity in pay between my similarly situated male co-host and myself.

"More recently, when E! reached out to renew and extend my deal, I learned that he wasn’t just making a little more than I was. In fact, he was making close to double my salary for the past several years.

"Information is power. Or it should be. We are living in a new era. The gender pay gap is shrinking, although admittedly we have a long way to go. And well, I learned this first hand. My team and I asked for what I know I deserve and were denied repeatedly.

"Know your worth. I have two decades experience in broadcasting and started at the network the very same year as my close friend and colleague that I adore. I so lovingly refer to him as my “TV husband” and I mean it.

"But how can I operate with integrity and stay on at E! if they’re not willing to pay me the same as him? Or at least come close? How can I accept an offer that shows they do not value my contributions and paralleled dedication all these years?

"How can I not echo the actions of my heroes and stand for what is right no matter what the cost? How can I remain silent when my rights under the law have been violated?

"It’s scary. I am a single mother of two boys. The unknown can be terrifying, but it can also be the most beautiful gift. Countless brave women have come forward this year to speak their truth. Females refuse to remain silent on issues that matter most because without our voices, how will we invoke lasting change? How can we make it better for the next generation of girls if we do not stand for what is fair and just today?

"It was my desire to stay at my job. To continue entertaining our loyal viewers around the world. To keep working alongside some of the best writers, directors, and producers in the game. 

"Everyone from the studio crew, hair and makeup artists, to the security at the front door are true friends of mine. They have been my work family and I love them dearly. Unfortunately, however, my decision was made for me and I must go.

"I will find more work. I will create content with meaning. I will continue to pursue my passions while making my children proud. The way I see it, I have an obligation to be an agent for change.

It was important for me to explain my departure.

"I did not want to disappear from your television screens and have you wonder why. Thank you for your precious time all these years. Thank you for the support. Thank you for the constant exchange of ideas on social media as well. This chapter is over and a new one begins.

"Big big love, Catt"

As Giuliana Rancic says goodbye on her final episode anchoring E! News on E! Entertainment: Tears, bloopers - and a love letter from husband Bill.

There were tears, laughter, bloopers and a loving letter from her husband Bill as Giuliana Rancic signed off as the longtime anchor of E! News that DStv subscribers across Africa can see tonight (Tuesday) at 19:00 on E! Entertainment (DStv 124).

In Monday night's episode – always shown a day later on E! Entertainment's channel feed in Africa and which will be broadcast tonight on DStv – viewers will see Giuliana Rancic (40) give a tearful goodbye as she relinquishes her Hollywood news perch after 14 years.

The final episode fittingly honoured Giuliana Rancic by looking back at her biggest and hilarious on-air (and some off-air) bloopers – like waving to Gwyneth Paltrow as she stood beside the red carpet, desperately trying to get the star to come over, pleading that "Gwyneth, I always name you best dressed".

Other inserts and look-backs viewers will see tonight, include Giuliana's best TV moments like proposing to George Clooney in 2003, her countless hairstyles, and telling Miley Cyrus in 2008 "to stay sweet".

Maria Menounos who is replacing Giuliana Rancic was very conspicuously absent as behind the scenes rumours of a feud have been swirling the past few months.

At the end of the episode, sitting with co-presenters Terrence Jenkins, Catt Sadler and Jason Kennedy, Giuliana Rancic's voice became emotional as she shared her final thoughts and then started crying.

"I love you guys. You have made work so much fun," said Giuliana as she started to cry and Jason reached out to put his hand on her back. "You have made the past 14 years so much fun."

'We've been through so much together'

"As far as the viewers," she said as Giuliana looked into the camera, "we've been through so much together, and you've helped me every step of the way."

"Through trying to have a baby – those struggles. Through getting frown lines; crows feet – you've seen me getting it all. And of course breast cancer. That's honestly been the biggest struggle I've ever had to deal with in my life. And it was all those messages from the viewers who would watch every night. I thank you all for that."

Giuliana's husband Bill (44) who she met during an interview she did for E! News in 2006, attended the final episode.

At the end as the credit rolled, Bill walked from behind the camera where he was watching onto the set to hug Giuliana Rancic as he whispered, "I love you, baby".

'All the kids in her class laughed'

Bill also wrote an open love letter to Giuliana Rancic, entitled Giuliana: Why I'm So Proud.

"People don't give Giuliana enough credit, she's got a master's degree in journalism. She's brilliant and just gets it."

"When people come up to me and say, 'Tell your wife, 'Thank you.' I went in and got a mammogram because of her.' That's her legacy. That's why I'm the luckiest man in the world. She helped make a difference in people's lives. Handling breast cancer with such class, such bravery. She turned a negative into a positive and used her microphone wisely."

"The way you are on that red carpet, asking questions that everyone wants to ask. Handling the pressure..." he says. "The talent, the professionalism, and you're doing it live. I'm biased, but to be honest, there's nobody better than you.”

"Even in recent months, through some of the harder times, you showed nothing but grace under pressure," wrote Bill.

"You've dealt with worse and you've taken the high road, when others wouldn't have, something you always do...That's something that makes me love and respect you even more."

"I'll close by saying my wife is the definition of the American Dream. A dream that's become even more important in recent years."

"She came to this country at a young age and could barely speak English. All the kids in her class laughed when she stood up at 8 years old and said she wanted to be an award-winning anchor someday. No one is laughing now."

E! News anchors: The Walking Dead! Strollers! Milkshakes! TV's entertainment newsers reveal their obsessive addictions.

The E! News anchors on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) revealed their obsessive addictions on Thursday night on E! News as anchor Jason Kennedy wore glasses due to an eye infection.

"I am obsessed with The Walking Dead," said E! News anchor Terrence Jenkins. "I can't get enough of that show. I just get glued. I went back and watched the complete first season again. It's just too much. I'm obsessed. I'm a zombie."

Cat Sadler said "I wanted to say Breaking Bad. But not that that's over, I'm back to margeritas, but even those I can't get to because I'm training so much for a half marathon".

Jason Kennedy revealed that he loves milkshakes. 'I've driven to the gym some days in clothes. Stopped to get a milkshake and driven home without working out."

"My addiction is strollers. I'm a stroller hoarder," admitted Giuliana Rancic. "I was at 13 and I'm now at 14 strollers. I'm getting help. One's for travel, one's for the park, one's fancy. One Gwyneth had. I'm not saying I'm proud of it," said Giuliana Rancic.

BREAKING. Giuliana Rancic of E! News teased by co-anchor Jason Kennedy over her brand-new white girl weave.

Giuliana Rancic, E! News anchor on E! Entertainment (DStv 124) just got teased by her co-anchor Jason Kennedy over her new hair weave on live television in the Tuesday edition of the weekday entertainment news show.

"You know what, I haven't seen anyone that excited since Giuliana got her new hair weave," mocked Jason Kennedy.

"What!" shouted Giuliana Rancic. "Jason!"

"You know what, I was very excited. I'm going to kill you," said Giuliana Rancic as they both laughed.

Below is how Giuliana Rancic still looked on E! News on Friday.