Entertainment Tonight Co-Anchor Mark Steines Named Host of Mark Burnett′s Gold Rush on AOL.com
Mark Steines, co-anchor of Entertainment Tonight, has been signed as the host of Gold Rush, the groundbreaking seven-week interactive reality event created by Mark Burnett Productions and AOL.com beginning September 13th. Steines has been with Entertainment Tonight, the #1 magazine program in syndication, since 1995. As host, Steines will offer a preview of the game on the new Gold Rush teaser site at www.aol.com/goldrush beginning today (July 31, 2006). Once the game begins, Steines will provide insider tips and blow-by-blow insights into each round′s on-location finale.
"Mark′s winning on-screen personality and entertainment savvy make him the ideal pick to host this game which revolves around pop culture and which represents the evolution of television online," said Burnett.
With over $2 million in gold hidden across the United States, Gold Rush will combine the excitement of online game play, with offline integrations and reality competitions, creating a hybrid broadband video experience.
The game will last seven weeks. Players will answer a series of pop culture challenges using clues scattered throughout the world of media and pop culture - on AOL.com, CBS Television network programming and in popular magazines. The first three players in each round to complete the required challenges will be whisked away to a specially selected location to compete - reality-style - for $100,000 in gold. The victor of the 13th and final round will claim a $1 million grand prize.
"Gold Rush is all about pop culture and as the host of the #1 entertainment show, Mark is the ideal person to help players navigate their way through the pop culture maze of Gold Rush," added Kevin Conroy, executive vice president of AOL.
As co-anchor of Entertainment Tonight, Steines reports general entertainment news, conducts celebrity interviews, attends movie premieres and other industry events, as well as makes on-set visits to feature films and television series.
Born and raised in Dubuque, IA, Steines graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, which he attended on a full football scholarship, with a degree in radio and television. His first job was at a Dubuque television station, KWWL-TV, where he rose through the ranks as an intern, sports reporter, and then reporter. Steines segued to KSPR-TV in Springfield, MO, where he was a sports anchor from 1988 - 1991. That experience led him to a sports reporter position from 1992 - 95 at KCAL-TV in Los Angeles, garnering exposure which brought him assignments for ESPN and ultimately a post on Entertainment Tonight.
His awards include a 1994 Emmy(R) Award and 1994 Golden Mic Award for the KCAL-TV special "Beyond Endurance."
Steines has appeared in the feature film Nixon, HBO′s Weapons of Mass Distraction, and had a guest-starring roles on CBS′ CSI: NY and UPN's Half and Half.
Gold Rush will premiere on AOL.com on September 13, 2006, with the first televised clue being broadcast September 14 on the CBS Television Network.
