Mary Hart Celebrates 25 Years On "ET"

"Entertainment Tonight" Co-Host Has Been A Hollywood Staple, Landing Great Interviews

(CBS)  It has been 25 years since Mary Hart first appeared on America's No. 1 syndicated entertainment show, "Entertainment Tonight." Even though many of her co-anchors have come and gone, Hart has been a constant through the years

"No matter how you put it, that's a long time," she told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "When I think about it, first of all, I am thrilled to be sitting here talking about 25 years. On the other hand, it's so long I remember when people said the show will not last. It isn't going to work, there's not enough entertainment news to fill a show every night of the week."

Today, "Entertainment Tonight," part of CBS Paramount Domestic Television, averages 7 million viewers each day and has been No. 1. for nearly 1,300 consecutive weeks. Hart, a fluent speaker of Swedish and Danish, joined the show as a correspondent in 1982 and only a few weeks later was named co-host. The show has set the trend for many other shows like "Extra" and "Access Hollywood."

"I think television overall has changed a bit," Hart said. "But society has changed, too. We never — 200 years ago, even 15 or 10 years ago — would haves seen Britney spears without proper under-attire. That's rather new and shocking. But there's no doubt .. people are still as fascinated with their idols — with celebrities from the music world, movie world, television world, you know, sports — as they always have been."

In 1997, Hart, a South Dakota native, was inducted in the Broadcasting and Cable "Hall of Fame" and has received several other broadcasting awards and distinctions. She is famous for always remaining upbeat and positive and has used her enthusiasm to land exclusive interviews with reclusive celebrities such as Michael Jackson.

"Somebody came up to me the ore day and said, 'Mary, I love that you are always enthusiastic no matter what it is you are talking about, even serious things,' " she said. "That is the nicest compliment. I don't think I would be doing the job I am doing today if I didn't have a lot of enthusiasm and, by the way, backed by great people. I have a fabulous team of people, too, because our job … is to stay on top of every bit of, whether it's gossip or the news. We can't put it on the air if it is just gossip. It has to be substantiated. It's such an immense job that without that entire group of people, this show wouldn't be as successful as it is."

Hart, who is involved in many children's charities, has said that her worst and best interview was with the late comedian Richard Pryor. She was working in Oklahoma City in the late 1970s and he seemed more interested in swearing and going back to sleep, Hart said.

"It was early in the morning," he said. "He wanted to go to bed. He was very rude. Cut to years later. I met him when I was doing 'Entertainment Tonight,' did a follow-up interview. He had been through an awful lot and had been diagnosed with MS and I told him people asked, 'Who was your worst interview?' and I had to say 'Richard, it was you.' He started to cry and got emotional. He apologized and I went back many times after that and became good friends … Richard turned out to be the most moving wonderful interview, so it went from worst to best."

Hart has said she has another year or so left in her "Entertainment Tonight" contract and is not sure what will happen when it is up.