Daytime Emmy-winning half-hour newsmagazine has let go a number of staffers ahead of its forthcoming 32nd season, Deadline has confirmed.
The decision is a result of an annual cataloguing that assesses staff structure and production processes and was not a performance-based. As Extra continues into its third decade, it seeks to revamp the show with a new host and fresh look to engage viewers. It’s currently unclear how many workers were laid off.
The news comes two months after host Billy Bush announced he will not be returning to the long-running syndicated entertainment news series.
“After an amazing five years hosting Extra, I’m moving on to continue building out my Hot Mics digital platform,” Bush told listeners on his Hot Mics podcast at the time. “We have experienced unprecedented growth in a short period of time here on this show and I find myself hungrier and more stimulated than at any point in my professional career. Extra is culturally iconic. If I had a dollar for every time someone hollered “Extra Extra” to me in the airport or something, I’d buy Warner Bros.”
With Season 32, Extra will be led by executive producer and showrunner Jeremy Spiegel.
As the second longest-running entertainment newsmagazine in syndication, the show has garnered 12 consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Entertainment News Program. In 2014, it clinched the Emmy in that category, repeating the feat two years later.
Extra was renewed for Season 32 back in March by Fox Televisions Stations, which has been the daily newsmagazine’s anchor station group for the past six seasons. The show is produced by Telepictures in association with Warner Bros Unscripted Television, and is distributed by Warner Bros Domestic Television Distribution.
The Hollywood Reporter was first to break the news.
