While she was excited about the idea of being an anchor, DePandi confessed that she was reluctant to accept the position without having editorial control. So she decided to tell Harbert that she would only accept the position if he also named her managing editor.
"It was like a dream," she said of getting both titles.
As the then-solo anchor, DePandi said she suggested that E! News take a different approach than their competitors with covering entertainment news. Instead of focusing on distinguished actors such as Meryl Streep or Julia Roberts, she said she wanted to begin covering pop culture icons like Paris Hilton, who appeal to the younger generation.
She also suggested that E! News anchors should have fun, instead of following the competitor's "very cookie cutter and very robotic" leads.
Apparently, her suggestions and the direction of E! News under Harbert's leadership paid off, because the program's ratings went up by 60 percent in a year.
"We really pushed the envelope with being goofy on air," she explained.
Eventually, she said the competitors began following the precedent that E! News set.
"E! News was the flagship show," said DePandi, who now co-anchors with Ryan Seacrest, who she said would only "do E! News."
For DePandi, her dream of becoming a television reporter started at six years old when she moved with her family from Italy to Washington, DC. In fact, she learned to speak English by watching television before she enrolled in public schools.
Although she admits to receiving some breaks along the way, DePandi said she has worked hard to accomplish everything that she has achieved.
"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity," she said. "I was so hungry for it, and I was just ready to make a move."
DePandi also recently made another move in the entertainment industry by writing the recently released book, "Think Like a Guy: How to Get a Guy by Thinking Like One," which was published in 2006. With its release, the tables turned for the anchor as the interviewer temporarily became the source of interest for magazines and newspapers.
She said the book, which offers suggestions on how women should approach dating in a similar way as men, was easy for her to write since that is the way she has always done it. DePandi said she hopes the book will shed light on frequent mistakes women make with men.
"I am so sick of seeing single girls make the same mistake night after night," said DePandi, who is engaged to former "Apprentice" winner Bill Rancic.
Her surprise has been how well men, and not just women, have responded to the book.
"I didn't realize how much guys would like it, but so many guys buy it for their girlfriends," she said.
As for future plans as an author, DePandi said, "who knows, maybe there will be a sequel."
In the meantime, she is living life to its fullest and loving what she does. She said she views entertainment news as a way of bringing people closer together. To her, pop culture is truly the only consistent "water cooler" conversation starter. She pointed out that many people can't discuss world or national affairs, but most people can discuss what is happening with entertainment.
"It is the only type of news people can watch where everyone can have an intelligent conversation about it at the dinner table," she said. "It doesn't matter what your level of intelligence is; we feel like we can talk about it."
Be sure to visit Giuliana's official Web site — GiulianaDePandi.com.
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