Mark Steines

Entertainment Tonight/ ETonline.com

This year, Emmy Award-winning journalist Mark Steines begins his 17th season with Entertainment Tonight, the No. 1 syndicated entertainment newsmagazine in the world. It also marks his eighth season as co-host and first alongside co-host Nancy O'Dell.

Recently, Steines traveled to Moscow, Russia, for the world premiere of Transformers: Dark of the Moon after having gone to Chicago for exclusive access to the set of the film for interviews with star Shia LaBeouf and director Michael Bay. He also got an exclusive interview with Britney Spears as she prepared for her new tour Femme Fatale on set in June 2011.

Previously, Steines covered numerous significant entertainment events, including the shocking death of John Travolta's son, Jett, in the Bahamas and the death of Michael Jackson. Additionally, Steines enjoyed a historic interview with Oprah Winfrey, Tina Turner and Cher together in Las Vegas, and he became the first journalist to interview Charlie Sheen after the birth of his twin sons.

Also in 2009, Steines embarked on a Light House Medical Mission trip to Sierra Leone, West Africa, to document and raise awareness of the need for fresh water in impoverished areas.

In 2006, Steines had the special distinction of being the only journalist from any media to interview Anna Nicole Smith after the untimely death of her son, Daniel. He was also the last journalist to interview Anna Nicole, just a week before her sudden death in February 2007. He appeared on numerous prestigious news programs, such as Today, Good Morning America, The Early Show and CNN's Larry King Live to give ET's unique take on her turbulent life and sudden death.

Also in 2006, Steines hosted the Mark Burnett-produced Internet game show, Gold Rush, which tested players on their pop culture knowledge. The finale aired on ET, where Steines awarded the winner $1 million.

Steines was the editorial voice for a series of VH1 specials, including Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Greatest TV Rock 'n Roll Moments, The 25 Sexiest, Greatest Grammy Moments and Hot Couples. During the 2001–02 season, he also had a guest-starring role as himself on ABC's high-rated series The Practice.

Born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa, Steines attended the University of Northern Iowa on a full football scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio and Television. His first job was at KWWL-TV in Waterloo, Iowa, where he rose from intern to sports reporter, then to reporter and photographer. He soon moved to KSPR-TV in Springfield, Mo., where he served as sports anchor from 1988 to 1991. That experience led him to KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, where his sports reporting garnered him the exposure that brought assignments for ESPN and ultimately a post on Entertainment Tonight.

In 1994, he won his first Emmy and a Golden Mic Award for the KCAL special, "Beyond Endurance – Madagascar." The following year, he received his second Emmy for "Beyond Endurance – Borneo." His third Emmy came as host of the Hollywood Christmas parade.

Currently in its 31st season, Entertainment Tonight is produced and distributed by CBS Television Distribution and is taped in Studio City, Calif. Linda Bell Blue is executive producer. Nancy O'Dell and Mark Steines are co-hosts. Chris Jacobs is correspondent. Samantha Harris is correspondent. Leonard Maltin is film historian/correspondent.

CBS Television Distribution is a unit of CBS Corp.