Since the reform and opening up,China’s TV variety shows have been changed greatly,as a result of the change of media’s understanding of TV entertainment function and the process of meeting the demands of audience.According to the media’s understanding of entertainment function of variety shows,China’s TV variety shows could be divided into three stages:preaching entertainment stage,sheer entertainment stage and aesthetic entertainment stage.Based on the analysis of social background,the demand of audience and entertainment function of the three stages,this paper tried to summarize the rules of the development of TV variety shows.Firstly,the essence of entertainment function of TV variety shows was people oriented.Secondly,changes in the demand of the audience promoted the change of TV variety shows.Thirdly,localization and innovation were the motive force of the sustainable development of China’s TV variety shows.Lastly,the TV variety shows that represented social values could win the audience.