The People’s Choice Awards are making a comeback — again. The kudocast, which hasn’t held a ceremomy since February 2024, will come back to life in 2027 on E!, the cabler announced Monday. The news came as part of E! parent Versant‘s upfronts presentation — held inside the NBCUniversal upfronts at Radio City Music Hall.
In a release, Versant said that “E! will bring back the iconic People’s Choice Awards in 2027, reviving a fan-driven celebration that honors the year’s most celebrated stars across film, television, music, and pop culture, including standout social influencers, podcasts, reality stars, athletes and comedians.” The last People’s Choice Awards was hosted by Simu Liu and ran simultaneously on NBC, Peacock and E! on Feb. 18, 2024. But that was before the NBCU/Versant split — which is why, at least so far, it’s only slated for E!
E! is actually the proper owner of the People’s Choice Awards, which the cabler acquired in 2017. (Created by Robert Stivers in 1975, the show had previously been owned by Procter & Gamble.) Originally utilizing polling by Gallup to determine award winners in television, film, and music categories based on popular opinion, the show switched to online fan voting in 2005.
The People’s Choice Awards revival comes as E! also continues its recently renewed 2-year deal with the Critics Choice Awards; the 32nd edition will air live on Jan. 3, 2027 (and continues to be produced by Bob Bain Productions and Berlin Entertainment).
Among other shows on E!, “The Golden Life,” starring Countess Luann de Lesseps, Dorinda Medley, Kelly Bensimon, Sonja Morgan and Ramona Singer, is set for fall 2026. And this summer, the network premieres the mixology competition series “Cocktail Wars,” hosted by Lance Bass and Joey Fatone.
Elsewhere in the Versant universe, USA Network announced that new scripted series “Anna Pigeon” will premiere on Friday, August 7, while “The Rainmaker” Season 2 will return in the fall. The 10-episode “Anna Pigeon” stars Tracy Spiridakos as the title character, “a former city slicker who became a park ranger after a devastating loss changed the trajectory of her life forever,” per the show’s logline. “While Anna tries to outrun her demons, her focus turns to solving crimes that have taken place within national park grounds, no matter who or what gets in her way.”
Here’s the show’s trailer:
Elsewhere, Syfy said that Season 3 of “The Ark” will premiere on Wednesday, July 29. And Oxygen True Crime has greenlit the new series “Killer DNA with Maury Povich” and “Snapped: Rich Bitch Rampage,” hosted by Lisa Vanderpump. Oxygen has also ordered new seasons of “Killer Grannies,” hosted by June Squibb, “Prosecuting Evil with Kelly Siegler” and “The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher.”
“We’re proud of the dynamic slate of programming we’ve developed for the year ahead,” Versant entertainment president Val Boreland said in a statement. “Our wide breadth of content is a true reflection of where we’re headed as a new company – bringing together scripted storytelling, nostalgic unscripted formats, true crime content and must-watch live events. Our wide array of talent and programming ensures there’s something for every viewer.”
Meanwhile, USA Sports noted that it kicked off its inaugural season of WNBA coverage this past Sunday, while it also has the NASCAR Cup Series, WWE Smackdown, Premier League, Pac-12 college football and basketball, Atlantic 10 basketball, major championship golf on USA Network and more. Also, Golf Channel said it will bring back its Optum Golf Channel Games competition.
