Maria Menounos Named as New 'E! News' Co-Anchor Replacing Giuliana Rancic
Maria Menounos has been named as Giuliana Rancic's replacement for the co-anchor position on "E! News."
The news was announced on Thursday, July 30, Variety reported. Menounos joins current team Jason Kennedy, Terrence Jenkins, and Catt Sadler in the TV show.
"As an established entertainment and news journalist with strong Hollywood connections, Maria has proven herself to be a great fit with the 'E! News' team," said John Najarian, E! exec vice president of news and digital, as quoted by Variety.
"E! News" also added three new correspondents in its regular roster, namely Zuri Hall, Erin Lim, and Sibley Scoles, the news outlet listed. There's the digital series "E! News Now" as well.
"With their diverse backgrounds and wide-ranging areas of expertise, Sibley, Erin and Zuri will be key additions to 'E! News,' which boasts the youngest and most affluent audience amongst all entertainment shows," Najarian added, as reported by Variety. "We are thrilled with 'E! News'' success as we continue to integrate the show more closely with the network's digital platforms and to create new ways of engaging with an evolving audience that consumes information and entertainment across multiple screens."
Menounos, 37, often served as a fill-in "E! News" anchor, interviewing famous names such as Chelsea Clinton, Vin Diesel, Jennifer Garner, and the cast of "Fifty Shades of Grey," Entertainment Weekly wrote. She also hosted her hourlong E! entertainment news magazine series titled "Untold with Maria Menounos," and appeared on roundtable series "Live from E!," Variety added.
Aside from these, Menounos co-hosted "Extra" with Mario Lopez, and served as a correspondent on "Access Hollywood" and "Today," the news outlet noted.
Rancic, on the other hand, will hold her final show on "E! News" on August 10, Variety wrote. However, the 40-year-old TV personality will still continue co-hosting "Fashion Police" and the "Live from the Red Carpet" award show coverage.
"This is such a thrilling time for me and I thank the gang at E! for understanding my desire to embark on this next chapter in my life," Rancic said in a statement, as quoted by a separate report from Variety.
Rancic faced controversy back in February when she criticized Disney star's Zendaya Coleman's faux dreadlocks on the Academy Awards red carpet event, saying that the young actress probably smelled like "patchouli oil" or "weed," CNN reported.
Despite her departure from "E! News," Rancic said that she will continue busying herself as the executive producer of "Rich in Faith," a new show for Oxygen, CNN noted. She plans to take her "wine and clothing lines to the next level" as well, the news outlet added.