The 5pm airing of “Showbiz Tonight” on HLN is going away next week, to be replaced by “HLN Special Report” hosted by Vinnie Politan. Politan, who seems to have 9 lives at the network, already anchors the 6pm edition of “Prime News.”
In the early going, “HLN Special Report” will serve as a daily wrap for two high-profile trials: Casey Anthony in Florida, which will be covered by HLN’s sister network TruTV’s In Session as well as HLN host Nancy Grace and the trial of Michael Jackson‘s doctor, Conrad Murray, which will be covered by HLN host Jane Velez-Mitchell. In Session correspondents Jean Casarez and Beth Karas will also contribute.
As we reported earlier this month, “Showbiz Tonight” co-host Brooke Anderson is leaving the broadcast and has been named co-anchor of the syndicated “The Insider.” In fact, this week, she’s in London and has appeared on both shows.