People's List

People's List was a prime-time celebrity news show that aired on ABC in the summer of 2016 for a limited run. This show was a collaborative production between Time Inc.’s People magazine and ABC. Aiming to provide an in-depth look into the hottest stories in pop culture, entertainment, lifestyle, human interests, and news features, the show was uniquely positioned to provide fascinating insights, interviews, and updates on celebrities and popular public figures.

Co-hosted by Jerry O'Connell, the prominent actor known for his comedic wit, and Suchin Pak, a former MTV news correspondent with a profound journalistic background, People's List presented a dynamic blend of charm, humor, and authenticity. This partnership provided the perfect balance with O’Connell’s engaging personality and Pak's seasoned reporting style, compelling viewers and leading them through the captivating world of entertainment and beyond.

People's List was designed to encapsulate viewers with sparkling celebrity profiles, pop culture round ups, lifestyle trends, and human-interest stories. The show incorporated exclusive interviews with A-list celebrities and comprehensive features on Hollywood's most influential figures. The creators put effort into producing segments incorporating into each episode a diverse array of stories from around the globe, including but not limited to, the most captivating real-life stories, the latest fashion trends, and compelling human-interest pieces.

The show uniquely stood out in the crowded entertainment news landscape due to its association with People magazine, thereby benefiting from the latter's established credibility in the field and its renowned expertise in delivering exclusive and trusted news. Relying on the extensive resources of People magazine, the show ventured beyond the surface-level glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry to deliver deeper, more insightful, and oftentimes, more human stories about celebrities and intriguing people.

Highlights included 'People Features' that presented exclusive, in-depth interviews and profiles of Hollywood’s biggest stars. In 'People Picks', the show extended its focus to the best in books, movies, music, and television, meticulously curated by People magazine's editors. The segment 'People Now’ offered a rapid-fire roundup of the hottest pop culture news of the week.

In 'People Weddings', the audiences were offered a sneak peek behind the glamorous wedding celebrations of the stars. On the other hand, in 'People Real Life', stories that transcended celebrity lives were presented and these stories came packed with inspiring messages of resilience, courage, and personal triumph. 'People Beauty' dished out latest trends, tips, and tricks in beauty and fashion straight from experts and stars. 'People Crime' was a well-researched segment that dug into true crime stories covered in the magazine.

In addition to the scintillating array of show segments, viewers could eagerly anticipate 'People Archive', a nostalgia-tinted segment that revisited iconic moments from the rich annals of People's magazine history.

Each week, the show sought to deliver a good mix of light-hearted fun and serious journalism. Even though the show was celebrity-focussed, it was not gossip-oriented. Instead, it often focused on inspirational stories shared by celebrities about their personal battles and triumphs.

One major theme that carried through each episode was the exploration of what it means to be human, from the perspective of those in the spotlight. The charm of People's List lay in its ability to feature the human side of celebrities, focusing not only on their glamorized lifestyle but also on the triumphs and challenges they faced in their personal lives.

Despite being a summer addition to ABC's roster, the show managed to bring forward a fresh perspective on celebrity and lifestyle news. The provenance from People magazine gave the show a solid foundation, its distinct format made it appealing, and the show's commitment to highlighting nuanced stories from across the spectrum of human experiences made it an enriching watch.

All in all, People's List was an engaging venture that went a step ahead of traditional celebrity news shows to delve deeper into the world of famous personalities, bringing the audience closer than ever to their favorite stars and offering a broader understanding of the world of glamour, fame, and beyond.