Country of origin United States | Original language(s) English | |
Genre Television news magazine Presented by Nancy Glass (1993–1997)
Michele Dabney-Perez (1997–1998)
Charles Perez (1997–1998) Executive producer(s) Charles King
Henry Winkler Location(s) The Prospect Studios, Hollywood Center, Burbank (1993-1994)
Hollywood Center Studios, Hollywood Center, New York City (1994-1998) | ||
American Journal (alternately titled American Journal: Coast to Coast for its final season; also known as AJ) is a syndicated television newsmagazine program that ran from 1993 to 1998. The series was distributed by King World Productions. It was hosted by Nancy Glass from its fall 1993 launch until 1997, when siblings Michele Dabney-Perez and former newscaster-turned-talk show host Charles Perez took over for the show's final season on air. The show's tagline was "Stories Worth Watching".
Contents
History
The show was launched in 1993. In early 1996, as an attempt to grow in the 18-34 demographic, the show tried then aborted plans to add an "Off the Hook" segment; King World would try again with "Team A.J." coverage strands in the fourth season helmed by Karen Duffy and Steve Santagati. By 1996, it was cleared on 124 stations serving 86 percent of the United States.
The theme song throughout the show's run was an arrangement of the Shaker tune "Simple Gifts."
In the fall of 1997, 11 of the stations owned by Belo Corporation picked up the syndicated Hollywood Squares for 1998; many displaced American Journal, moving it to late nights. It ran from the fall of 1993 to the end of the 1997-1998 television season. At the time of its cancellation, it had a 4.1 rating and 11 share (in February 1998). The low ratings were chalked up to a glut of similar programs, such as Inside Edition (which was also distributed by King World and is currently distributed by CBS Television Distribution), and the since-cancelled A Current Affair, and Hard Copy. While King World already had commitments from stations serving 62 percent of the country to carry AJ in 1998, low ratings led to the show's cancellation.
Anchors
Correspondents
Les Trent, New York; Stacey Gualandi, Los Angeles; Rhonda Guess, Los Angeles; Kit Hoover, New York; Jonathan Karsh, Los Angeles.