The evolution of entertainment news: “Entertainment Tonight’s” legacy to news programs and media culture

This essay considers the impact the television news program Entertainment Tonight had on the news industry and popular culture’s appeal in society from its inception in 1981. ET defined a style of news coverage and helped draw in and maintain the audience for entertainment news that in turn affected how news outlets worldwide viewed entertainment and where it fit into programming, society and culture today. This is chronicled through interviews with the original creators, producers and writers of ET as well as news directors and producers who remember and reflect on the impact this entertainment news program had on the news media and entertainment culture. Sara Magee is Assistant Professor of Communications at Loyola University, Maryland.