E! Sets Primetime Series With Comedian Grace Helbig

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

E! has signed Internet star and comedian Grace Helbig for a new hybrid comedy show premiering in April 2015.

The series will feature interviews with celebrity guests as well as what’s trending in pop culture, according to network officials. Helbig is best known for her “It’s Grace” YouTube channel, which has 2 million subscribers.

“This show is a fresh take on the conventional talk show with a very unconventional host who has already captured an enormous fan base of young viewers on the web,” said Jeff Olde, Executive Vice President, Original Programming & Development, E! Entertainment. “As we continue to seek out programming that offers a rich multiplatform experience, we are excited to launch this forward-thinking talk show that speaks so perfectly to our audience and to the core of E!’s pop culture brand.” 

The primetime talk series announcement comes five months after E!’s popular talk show Chelsea Latelywent off the air.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.