The entertainment industry's best and brightest will be greeted on the Red Carpet over the next year by a pair of well-known ABC faces now working for TV Guide Network.
Carrie Ann Inaba, a judge on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, and Chris Harrison, host of the network's long-running dating series The Bachelor, will anchor TV Guide's Network Red Carpet coverage.
The announcement comes on the heels of TV Guide Network's acquisition of the exclusive basic-cable rights to ABC Studios' Golden Globe® Award winning television series Ugly Betty.
Inaba and Harrison will begin their work together by supplying the meet-and-greets at TV Guide Network's coverage of the 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be held at the Nokia Theatre at LA Live on Sept. 20. CBS will televise the Emmy show.
The pair, succeeding Lisa Rinna and Joey Fatone, will also be on board for the network's presentation of the popular events preceding the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, Grammy and Academy Awards in 2010. Historically, the network has racked up its highest ratings with its Red Carpet coverage.
In addition to hosting TV Guide Network's live Red Carpet pre-shows, Inaba and Harrison will also headline other award show-related programming for the network. Inaba will head one-hour Fashion Wrap specials following the key awards show, while Harrison will lead a one-hour preview special for each, highlighting the event nominees.
"Carrie Ann Inaba and Chris Harrison are two of the highest profile faces on television today, who bring an instant connection with millions of fans at home and familiar, friendly faces to stars walking the Red Carpet," said Ryan O'Hara, president, TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com in a statement. "Partnering with talent of their caliber is a huge win for us as we continue TV Guide Network's transformation as a programming destination that celebrates the best and brightest stars in the world of entertainment."
For her part, Inaba said: "I'm thrilled to join TV Guide Network during such an exciting phase of its evolution. I am looking forward to teaming up with Chris Harrison and making the Red Carpet an inviting place to celebrate Hollywood and the stars."
Noted Harrison:"Red Carpets are some of Hollywood's most celebrated and most-watched events on television, and I'm delighted to be anchoring TV Guide Network's live coverage with Carrie Ann Inaba. Together, we will make the Red Carpet experience fun and enjoyable for both the stars and the fans at home."
