After 34 years of fueling our guilty pleasure for celebrity gossip, E! News has officially been shocked off the air. Yep, that’s right, folks. The network’s iconic…”entertainment news show is stepping off the red carpet for good on September 25th, leaving millions of fans without their nightly fix of celebrity feuds and fashion faux pas. Pour out a non-alcoholic cocktail for this pop culture institution.
Giuliana Rancic Reflects on the Glory Days
Giuliana Rancic, who was practically the face of “E! News” during its golden era, took to Instagram to reminisce. “For 20 incredible years, E! News was my second home and family,” she wrote. Rancic lovingly called her time on the show “the professional honor of a lifetime.” Ah, nostalgia. It’s the same bittersweet feeling you get when rewatching those early-2000s red carpet interviews, featuring peak awkwardness and questionable fashion choices (Lookin’ at you, Ed Hardy tees).
For Rancic fans, it’s worth noting that she started her glittering E! career in 2006 alongside Ryan Seacrest before teaming up with Jason Kennedy in 2012. If she’s quietly eyeing a new gig in digital spaces, we wouldn’t be shocked. After all, she knows how to hustle.
Jason Kennedy’s Candid Goodbye
Jason Kennedy wasn’t about to sit this one out either. On social media, he dubbed the cancellation “the end of an era,” but it’s clear it stings. “Very talented humans lost their jobs in this frustrating and ever-changing business we call television,” he shared, balancing sentiment with a dollop of sarcasm. Kennedy reminded us that even veteran TV hosts don’t have all the answers. “I lose track of how many people ask me how to navigate this industry. I HAVE NO IDEA!” Big mood, Jason. Big mood.
Kennedy, who first co-anchored “E! News” in 2012 before stepping back in 2019 and then returning as a correspondent, also said he’s down to stick it out if the industry can figure its sh*t out.
Why Was “E! News” Canceled?
Here’s the underlying tea (as if you didn’t already see this coming): linear TV is flatlining, and streaming services are grabbing all the ad dollars. According to insiders, “E! News” will pivot towards digital, which feels like a euphemistic black hole for content brands struggling to maintain relevance. Sure, they’ll probably roll out TikToks and IG teasers that generate comments like “I didn’t know this show was still on,” but will that fill the void? Doubtful.
A Harbinger of Things to Come?
NBCUniversal’s restructuring (hello, Versant) has left no shortage of bruised egos in its wake. E!, once considered the crown jewel of celebrity TV, is clearly fighting for survival. Apart from red carpet coverage and guilty-pleasure shows like “Botched Presents,” there’s not much juice left in the tank.
If you’re hoping for a miraculous comeback à la Bennifer or Britney’s career post-free conservatorship, don’t hold your breath. That said, legacy brands have a way of reinventing themselves, even after literal decades of staying power. Will “E! News” thrive in the ephemeral land of Instagram algorithms and YouTube shorts? Only time and your TikTok feed can tell.
For now, we say goodbye to a show that brought us the ultimate trifecta of glamour, scandal, and WTF moments. Long live pop culture drama, no matter the platform!
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
