Billy Bush of Access Hollywood, the two celebrity news shows' competition, has blasted the entertainment programs in his blog on their Website.

"'Entertainment Tonight' and 'The Insider' ran a promo tonight for their Heath Ledger drug use video, which they 'reportedly' (love that lawyer enforced word) bought for a couple hundred thousand dollars," Bush writes. He went on to write on the blog that they have ratings sweep because of the preview of the video, which was voiced over by the show's host Mary Hart. He calls the promo "Gross. Totally gross."

He also commented on the released statement by the programs when they said "Out of respect for Heath Ledger's family" they have decided not to run the video anymore. Bush writes:

"'Out of respect' - Oh my. How about, 'in response to a letter of outrage, written by Heath's publicist, circulating the industry hotter and faster than nude Brangelina photos could, we have decided to duck and run here.' That would be refreshingly honest."

Ledgers' family, fans, and the public has protested ET and The Insider's showing of the video clip. The Hollywood community had been outraged and called the program "shameful exploitation of the lowest kind."

I think out of respect it should not have been shown in the first place.

I think that it's one thing to take a day or two to honor celebrity deaths and remember their work, and point out they had a family. But in these days the entertainment shows IMHO just take things way too far and personal. Just look at Princess Diana and Anna Nicole Smith (I'm not comparing the two women by any means as far as personalities went, but just look at how the media acted like vultures after both of these two people's passings), and now Heath. For God's sake, let the families and friends of the people cope and let the person in question rest in peace!

It's stuff like this and the Britney/Paris/Lindsay obsessing that has me tuned out of shows like ET, Access Hollywood, etc. these days, and is waiting for either one of these shows or a new show to come along that discusses REAL entertainment like in the past and doesn't go out of their way to see what dumbass actions Britney did whatever particular day or find some new trashy and/or classless way to get ratings when a celebrity dies.

I agree with Brandon. I remember a time when Entertainment Tonight was enjoyable celebrity fare. Back when it'd interview a star on the set of a movie, or singer to promote a new album, or play "where are they now" with a former tv star. But now it's just standard paparazzi trash obsessed with the latest troubles Britney et al get into.

About the Heath video, a lot of people already knew he died a drug related death. What good and what point is showing a junkie video of him going to do? It's not like he can stand up for himself and defend/slam the video, and his relatives and closest friends are still in deep shock and sadness over it.

It's really tactless what these people will do for the sake of ratings, they would sell their own children out for an exclusive video of Britney

from what I heard both The Insider and Entertainment Tonight were not going to show the story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vb6YMsevY&feature=related

1:08-2:36

Linda Blue Bell, who's currently, the executive producer of "ET" used to work for "Hard Copy" back in the day. This must explain, why "ET" has become a pile of tabloid filth (e.g. endless stories about Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, footage of Heath Ledger at a drug party after his death, weight and plastic surgery issues, etc.) in the past few years.

Is Billy the reason Nancy left Access Hollywood in 2009? O'Dell's premature departure may have stemmed from Bush's 'tantrums' on set
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3828179/Nancy-O-Dell-s-premature-departure-Access-Hollywood-stemmed-Billy-Bush-s-tantrums-set.html)

I agree with Brandon. I remember a time when Entertainment Tonight was enjoyable celebrity fare.

So do I! To that end, here's an opening from ET from 1985, long before all the tabloid stuff started. The headline story as presented by Mary Hart was about schedule changes on ABC for the 1985 season, among other things.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfVfa_w7NsU