NBC recently cancelled a television show after an incredible 30-year run of nearly 12,000 episodes. This decision is part of a larger shift at NBCUniversal away from traditional daytime television syndication. The network is seeing fewer and fewer people watch regular TV during the day, as streaming services and platforms like YouTube offer more convenient and varied entertainment options. Daytime TV viewership has significantly declined as a result.
Variety reports that NBC is ending the long-running show Access Hollywood, which has been on the air since 1996 and produced over 12,000 episodes. The show initially competed with Entertainment Tonight on CBS. While new episodes will continue to air until September, Access Hollywood will conclude its broadcast run after that.
Why Is NBCUniversal Canceling Access Hollywood?
It’s really tough out there for daytime TV right now. I’ve noticed so many of my favorite shows are disappearing! It’s not just shows like Access Hollywood getting canceled – we’ve already said goodbye to Karamo and Steve Wilkos, though there are still some new episodes coming this summer. Honestly, I was shocked to hear that The Kelly Clarkson Show, which was a big deal for NBC, is ending after seven seasons. And now Sherri Shepherd is also wrapping up. It feels like a lot of changes, and it’s sad to see so many long-running shows go.
These shows used to attract huge audiences, but now people have so many other options. Streaming services like Netflix offer a vast library of true crime shows, original series, and older movies. Hulu lets viewers watch network TV shows just a week after they air. And with over 2.5 billion monthly users, YouTube is also a major source of entertainment, impacting viewership for all other platforms, including Netflix.
Access Hollywood used to be a major part of the popular daytime talk show scene, alongside shows hosted by stars like Oprah Winfrey, Rosie O’Donnell, and Ellen DeGeneres. But one after another, these shows have ended, and the future of daytime television is now uncertain. NBCUniversal recently announced it’s shifting its focus to support local stations, which means they will stop producing new episodes of shows like Access Hollywood, but will continue to distribute older programs. According to Frances Berwick, a leader at NBCUniversal, the company is adapting to changing needs.
Despite recent cancellations in daytime television, a few shows are still going strong. Live with Kelly and Mark continues to be the most popular talk show, and both The Drew Barrymore Show and The Jennifer Hudson Show have been renewed. Access Hollywood, featuring hosts Mario Lopez, Kit Hoover, Scott Evans, and Zuri Hall, is also still on air – it was even playfully referenced in the Disney+ series Wonder Man, with Mario Lopez explaining a behind-the-scenes rule.
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2026-03-15 00:41