Court TV Veteran James Curtis Named Host of E! Networks' Re-Enactments of The Michael Jackson Trial

Court TV Veteran James Curtis Named Host of E! Networks' Re-Enactments of The Michael Jackson Trial

Award-Winning Anchor to Host Daily Half-Hour Courtroom Re-Enactment Series Airing on E! Beginning at Start of Trial

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Award-winning courtroom expert James Curtis will host E! Entertainment Television's re-enactments of The Michael Jackson Trial. Additionally, Curtis will lead discussions of the day's proceedings with legal experts and analysts featured in the series. A four-year veteran of Court TV, Curtis is an award-winning anchor, known for his superior trial coverage, commanding legal analysis and pointed commentary.

"James Curtis' extensive experience and knowledge about the legal system and the California court system is widely recognized in the industry," said Jeff Shore, Senior Vice President, Production, E! Networks. "This keen insight coupled with over a decade of on camera experience as an anchor and commentator on some of this country's most high profile cases make him the best candidate to host E!'s re-enactment series of The Michael Jackson Trial. We're pleased to have him join the Network."

"E! News: The Michael Jackson Trial" is scheduled to air Monday through Friday nightly at 7:30 and 9:00 PM ET/PT on E! Entertainment Television, with a one-hour weekend wrap-up show premiering every Saturday at 10:00 AM ET/PT. Using re-enactments taken from portions of court transcripts, The Michael Jackson Trial will highlight the previous day's testimony and happenings in the courtroom. The series will also include expert commentary by a panel of legal analysts.

Curtis began his media career in 1993 as host of a live call-in talk show on KUCR Radio called, "In Your Defense." In 1995, as an active California prosecutor, he made his first-ever television appearance as a legal commentator on Court TV during the O.J. Simpson Criminal Trial.

With well over 100 guest TV appearances under his belt, Curtis became the host of "Curtis Court," the nationally syndicated CBS King World production in 1999, where he arbitrated small claims cases. In the summer of 2001, he was recruited by Court TV to join their anchor team. His legal and social analysis soon became in high demand across the broadcast spectrum. From "The O'Reilly Factor" on FOX News to "Cold Pizza" on ESPN2, Curtis provided timely commentary about issues of the day on dozens of radio and television programs across the nation. During his tenure at Court TV, he also served as substitute anchor for series "Catherine Crier Live."

Curtis was recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award. In 2004, Curtis' work earned the cable industry's prestigious Beacon Award, honoring excellence in public affairs for his role in "Straight Talk About Marijuana," a public affairs cooperative effort between Court TV and the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy. In 2003, he was recognized by the historic New York Branch of the NAACP for Lifetime Commitment to human and civil rights through his work in the media and the courts.

Prior to his television career, Deputy District Attorney Curtis served as a prosecutor for the Riverside County District Attorney's office. During his 10 years in the office, he handled homicide, sexual assault, domestic violence, embezzlement, burglary and narcotics cases among others. Curtis consulted on high-profile cases and developed a seminar on "Cameras in the Courtroom," which he has since presented to prosecutors throughout the U.S. Before law school, Curtis gained entry to the highly competitive California State Senate Fellowship Program. There he worked as a legislative aide to California State Senator, now Congresswoman, Diane Watson and subsequently served in a cabinet office for Governor, now Mayor, Jerry Brown.

Internationally, E! programming can be seen in more than 120 countries worldwide, reaching 300 million homes. In addition to its ventures for locally programmed, E!-branded channels outside the U.S., the company operates the E! International Network, a 24-hour English language global entertainment channel available via satellite in Europe, Asia Pacific, The Middle East and Africa.

Based in Los Angeles, E! Networks is the world's largest producer and distributor of entertainment news and lifestyle-related programming. The company operates E! Entertainment Television, the 24-hour network with programming dedicated to the world of entertainment; The Style Network, where life gets a new look, and E! Online, located at Eonline.com. E! is currently available to 86 million cable and direct broadcast satellite subscribers in the U.S. The Style Network currently counts 40 million subscribers.

BSkyB is the operator of the leading multichannel television platform in the UK and Ireland. Almost 19 million viewers in 7.4 million households enjoy an unprecedented choice of movies, news, entertainment and sports channels and interactive services on Sky digital, the UK and Ireland's first and most popular digital television platform. BSkyB's channels are available in a further 7 million cable and digital terrestrial households. Sky News is the UK's market-leader in 24 hour news and is available to audiences in 120 countries throughout the world. Sky One is the UK's leading non- terrestrial entertainment channel, providing a mixture of the best of US programming and original UK commissions.


Source: E! Entertainment Television

CONTACT: Elizabeth Johnson, +1-323-954-2515, or Diane Morgan,
+1-323-954-2516, both for E! Entertainment Television


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