User:Greekboy/Roula Koromila

Theodora "Roula" Koromila (Ρούλα Κορομηλά; born February 18, 1957) often referred to mononymously as Roula, is a Greek television personality. Following the launch of private television stations in Greece, Koromila pioneered new show formats in Greece such as morning shows, variety shows, and charity telethons. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with almost all major television channels in Greece, hosted ten shows, and received high television ratings touching upon 80% audience shares. She has received many television awards, and is widely regarded as one of the top television presenters, while she has also been dubbed as "Ethniki Parousiastria" (National presenter) by the media.

Biography
In the 1970's, Roula Koromila worked as a secretary at government owned broadcaster ERT, where she gave screen tests for various shows at every opportunity presented. Koromila got a break in 1989 and started her professional television career on ERT where she hosted Mia Kalimera Einai Afti (This is one good morning). In 1991, she moved to recently launched private broadcaster ANT1 and started hosting a new format morning show called Proinos Kafes. The show, which is one of the best known in Greece and still holds the title as the longest running morning show ever, set a format that many other broadcasters have since copied. Koromila hosted the show until 1994, during which time many Greek showbiz personalities appeared on the show such as Aliki Vougiouklaki, Nikos Karvelas, Anna Vissi, Kostas Tournas, Alexia, Mando, and Thanos Kalliris. The show was highly successful, garnering up to 60% audience share at times.

In 1992, Roula Koromila started presenting the first ever variety show in Greece called Ciao ANT1 on ANT1. In 1994, Koromila broke her contract with ANT1 citing health problems, and later moved to Mega Channel. Her move launched a marathon legal war with ANT1, which went on for years, while it was rumored at the time she was offered 1 billion drachmas by Mega Channel – a sum never confirmed by either party. On Mega Channel, she started presenting a first of it's kind variety show called Bravo, which was modeled after similar type Italian shows. The show proved to be a huge success and routinely hosted a variety of Greek and international showbiz stars such as Aliki Vougiouklaki, Haris Alexiou, Eros Ramazzotti, Ricky Martin, Madonna, Sakis Rouvas, Anna Vissi, and Katy Garbi amongst others. Koromila also openly invited up and coming singers such as Antonis Remos, Giorgos Mazonakis, and Giannis Ploutarhos who to this date still credit her with helping launch their careers. On both variety shows, Koromila not only hosted, but also sang (sometimes duets with guests), danced, and acted in sketches. The show lasted for six years, but by the last season the show's success started to decline. While on Mega Channel, she also presented an afternoon entertainment show called Bravissmo from 1995 to 1996 which focused on new talent mainly from children, as well as a daily show called E, Nai Lipon from 1997 to 1998 which featured various reports and fun games.

While on Mega Channel, Roula also hosted a number of charity telethons. On October 23, 1996, she hosted the first ever telethon in Greece organized by Mega Channel and the "Cerebral Palsy Greece" organization. The telethon lasted for 3 hours and raised 450 million drachmas for the construction of rehab center for children suffering from cerebral palsy. An all day telethon was also hosted by Koromila on September 23, 1997 to raise money to help people with developmental disabilities acquire their own homes. After midnight, Giorgos Ninios took over hosting. Following the destructive 1999 Athens earthquake, on September 7, 1999 another telethon was held and hosted by Koromila to raise money for the victims. The marathon went on for thirty hours straight, and featured live shots across Athens. A video link was also made with Turkey, who also suffered a much larger scale earthquake a month earlier, where many well known Turkish artists performed in support of the Greek telethon. At the end of the telethon, 543,321,417 drachmas were raised for the earthquake victims.

After taking a year long break from television, Koromila signed a three year contract with Alpha TV in 2001. She started hosting Alpha TV's first ever morning show called Enteka Kai Kati (Eleven and something), which was later renamed Prin Tis Enteka Kai Kati (Before eleven and something), and later renamed once more to Kalos Tous (Welcome). The show did not live up to expectations of her past shows, and routinely came in as the third most viewed show in its time slot. In 2003, she moved to Star Channel where she started presenting a morning show called Ole with Kostas Fragkolia. The show was not well received by critics, and failed to garner ratings above single digits. In 2005 after a year break, Roula returned once more to Alpha TV where she also took a job with Alpha TV as director of recreational programing. She also started hosting a show called Treis Efhes (Three wishes), which was put on hiatus after three episodes, to later return under the name Zoi San Oneiro (Like like a dream). The show was later canceled due to low ratings.

In 2007, Koromila took an administrative job with Alpha TV as a programing adviser, a position she still holds to date. That same year, she took part as an instructor on Alpha TV's ''TV Stars! Parousiaste''. In early 2010, after four years since her last hosting job, Koromila made a comeback as the host of Greek Idol on Alpha TV. The return was eagerly anticipated, and considered one of the biggest TV events of the year. In late 2010, she also was announced as the host of the new revamped Big Brother on Alpha TV.

Personal life
Roula Koromila has been married twice. Her first marriage was to actor Panos Mihalopoulos. In 2000 she married ex-basketball player Nasos Galakteros. During their time together, it was reported that the two had tried to have children without success. The two later divorced in 2007. She also had a highly publicized relationship with Italian television director Stefanos Sartini, who directed many of her shows including Bravo. Although the two are no longer together, they still remain friends.

During her stint off of television from 2007 to 2010, Koromila suffered from health problems which were subject to much speculation by the media. During the time, Koromila had stayed silent about the subject. Greek newspaper Real News reported that Koromila had been rushed to the hospital after suffering an allergic reaction to botox and collagen injections. Koromila refuted such claims, stating that it could not be further from the truth, while she also later sued the publication. Other publications have also speculated a long list of other aliments such as suffering from cancer. Koromila refuted such claims. In 2010 she spoke out about the subject, stating she suffers from an autoimmune disease called Polymyositis that causes inflammation of the muscular system. She stated that for three years she received various treatments and injetions, which altered her body appearance and face. Furthermore, she went on to describe her ordeal, stating that the disease caused severe problems in movement and in general the whole body, while she also said that the disease does not go away, but rather goes into remission.