Gupta's Parkinson's Special

Michael J. Fox Announces New Parkinson’s Study –
In-Depth Interview With CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta Airs
Thursday, Sept. 30 at 8:00pm ET
Doctor Detectives Debuts Friday, Oct. 1 at 8:00pm ET

CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta will interview actor and philanthropist Michael J. Fox in-depth about his experience with Parkinson’s disease and his foundation’s decision to fund a five-year, landmark clinical study to identify biomarkers of the disease’s progression.

The formal announcement of Mr. Fox’s funding of the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) will be made at the Second World Parkinson’s Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday, Oct. 1.

PPMI is expected to enroll 600 patients at 18 sites in the U.S. and Europe; the initiative will also establish an international database of the findings, which will become an invaluable “knowledge bank” – assisting researchers and clinicians working to solve the mystery of how the condition progresses. Identifying biomarkers unique to Parkinson’s disease will help researchers develop better treatments. Mr. Fox’s foundation has funded nearly $200 million in Parkinson’s disease research. With this latest research commitment, Mr. Fox will also encourage patients suffering with Parkinson’s to enroll in the PPMI study.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports – A Conversation With Michael J. Fox premieres Thursday, Sept. 30 at 8:00pm ET.

On Friday, Oct. 1, Dr. Gupta introduces viewers to a medical researcher working to identify and understand other challenging diseases, and patients who come to his medical team for help. Dr. William Gahl, director of the Undiagnosed Diseases Division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) leads an elite group of clinical doctors and medical researchers who focus their vast expertise on diagnosing and treating conditions that medical science does not yet understand. Like the fictional doctors of the network medical drama House, this real-life team of experts is a source of last hope for patients with mysterious diseases. Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports – Doctor Detectives debuts at 8:00pm ET on Friday, Oct. 1.

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Anderson Cooper's Game Plan

Anderson Cooper in Daytime Talk Show Deal
By BRIAN STELTER for the New York Times

Anderson Cooper.The CNN anchor Anderson Cooper will add a second show to his daily duties, a light-hearted daytime talk show, next year.

The syndication arm of Warner Bros. said Thursday that it had signed a deal with Mr. Cooper to host a daytime show starting in the fall of 2011. The untitled show will be topical, covering “social issues, trends and events, pop culture and celebrity, human interest stories and populist news,” the company said in a news release.

Mr. Cooper is also renewing his contract with CNN, where he hosts the channel’s signature newscast, “Anderson Cooper 360,” weeknights at 10 p.m. His existing contract was believed to be up in 2011. “I remain as committed as ever to my program on CNN, & will be with CNN for years to come,” Mr. Cooper said in a statement.

Warner Bros. and CNN are sister units of Time Warner.

Mr. Cooper’s talks with Warner Bros. were first reported by The Hollywood Reporter Wednesday night.

Warner Bros. will be shopping Mr. Cooper’s program to prospective stations in the weeks ahead. Stations are busy rebuilding their daytime schedules in light of Oprah Winfrey’s plan to end “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in September 2011, which leaves a major hole in the schedules of her partner stations. Most of those stations are replacing Ms. Winfrey’s show with “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Dr. Oz” or a local newscast. In many cases, that means the shows are shifting to new time slots, creating vacant spaces that Warner Bros. hopes to fill with Mr. Cooper’s program.

In a news release, Ken Werner, the president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, said that the fall of 2011 “begins a transition period when long established franchises are leaving the air and making way for a new generation of shows.”

“Anderson Cooper is one of the most distinctive voices of the next generation of television,” Mr. Werner continued. “His popularity and skills uniquely position him to be the next big syndication franchise.”

Mr. Cooper, 43, is best known as a silver-haired newsman who travels the world for CNN, most recently distinguishing himself by spending weeks in Haiti after the earthquake there and in Louisiana during the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But he has long held an interest in the softer side of television, too, regularly visiting “Live with Regis and Kelly” and other daytime shows.

Before joining CNN in 2001, Mr. Cooper hosted a reality show for ABC called “The Mole” and co-hosted the overnight “World News Now” for that network.

A daytime talk show could enhance the exposure of Mr. Cooper, whose 10 p.m. program trails in the ratings behind the bigger cable news channels Fox News and MSNBC. But it could also dilute Mr. Cooper’s personal brand and tarnish his news credentials in the minds of viewers.

Once the daytime program starts, it seems unlikely that Mr. Cooper will be able to rush to the scenes of breaking news, although Warner Bros. did say he would sometimes “take the audience along with him right into the eye of the storm, as he goes beyond the headlines and into the lives of those affected.”

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Ratings For The Week Of September 20th

1 - Based on four nights of regular programming

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

A One on One With the New Boss

Georg Szalai spoke with Ken Jautz and published this interview at The Hollywood Reporter on Monday. Jautz talked about his biggest challenge -- boosting primetime ratings -- the importance of personalities and how TV news can be serious yet entertaining.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST PROBLEM FOR CNN, AND HOW DO YOU FIX IT?

Ken Jautz: The biggest issue is to improve our primetime ratings. We need to make our primetime more compelling and engaging, sometimes more fun, you could even say. We are going to adhere to our basic programing strategy of nonpartisan information inclusive of all different points of view. But we need to be livelier and more engaging. Addressing that issue will be my focus. Addressing that with the launch of the two new shows that we have already announced -- "Parker Spitzer" on October 4 and Piers Morgan (as Larry King's replacement) after the turn of the year. We think they will be a big improvement to our primetime.

Read more »

Don Lemon's Personal Story

Many, many of our readers and the bloggers on the ATC Team have great respect and admiration for CNN's Don Lemon. Part of that stems from his honesty, his ability to tell a story and his devotion to getting the story right. This weekend Lemon shared a bit of himself with viewers in an attempt to get the story of Bishop Eddie Long right. Here's the clip:

We were reminded of an interview that Anderson Cooper did in 2007 with then CNN reporter Thomas Roberts who spoke about the sexual abuse he endured as a child.





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Your Views on the News, September 24, 2010

Recently John Friedman at marketwatch.com wrote about ' 12 Broadcasters Who Are Making a Difference, They Create a Buzz and Shape the Public's Opinion'. Only one CNN'er made the list, coming in at number 11.

The print media and Web pundits say television news doesn’t matter any more, right?
You know the argument by heart. Nobody watches. Nobody listens. Nobody cares. Come on — the game is on the Internet nowadays. TV news is the 8-track of the modern media world. Sure, Walter Cronkite was great “back in the day.” But it is the digital age now. Not exactly.
While the advent of the Web has created competitive forces, TV news still has relevance and vitality. No, TV news can’t have the kind of monopoly that the powerful Big 3 — CBS, NBC and ABC — used to boast about decades ago.

I can think of broadcasters who are making a difference. They have a buzz. Viewers notice their work. Other journalists talk about them. Their successes are noted — and, yes, Gawker is likely to take an extra special delight in their flubs.

I’m not saying that any of them is necessarily the best at what he or she does, either. This list goes beyond the Nielsen ratings, critics’ favorites and pedigrees. It is wholly unscientific. It focuses on another kind of aesthetic.

Let me put it this way. If any one of these folks walked through Michael’s restaurant -- the hub in Manhattan for the media industry -- at lunch time, heads would turn. That, more than anything else, is my main criterion for determining who has the buzz.

12) Charles Gasparino, Fox Business Network, and Maria Bartiromo, CNBC (tie) — When Gasparino moved from CNBC to FBN, the blogs acted as if a member of a royal family was changing countries. Bartiromo is the most recognizable face in business TV news. Gasparino and Bartiromo have managed to accomplish something unique: stand out by dint of ability and on-air persona.

11) Anderson Cooper, CNN — Plenty of people are turned off by his shtick of openly empathizing with his story subjects. But he couldn’t care less — and nor should he, or his employer. Cooper has become CNN’s most-recognizable journalist — and he is getting noticed at a time when the network needs all of the good vibes it can get.

Read more »

The News We've All Been Expecting.....

Jim Walton, President of CNN, sent this memo to staffers this morning;

I have some news to share with you about our executive leadership and
how our programming teams are going to work together to ensure we’re
prominently featuring CNN’s quality journalism across our multiple
platforms. Two accomplished CNN executives whom most of you know and
have worked with are stepping up to new roles, effective immediately.
A third senior leader will be brought on in the role of managing
editor to help leverage our newsgathering resources across multiple
platforms in a more collaborative way.

Ken Jautz is moving from HLN to CNN/U.S. to run the network as its
executive vice president. Ken is a rarity-a working journalist who is
an even better news executive. The reinvention of HLN is the latest
in a string of successes he has led at CNN. Ken has launched, made
profitable and turned around businesses for our news organization,
Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner literally around the world. To
his new assignment he brings deep experience as a reporter, both
overseas and in the US; a CNN-wide perspective; and relationships from
multiple positions within Turner. Most importantly, he has a
demonstrated ability to collaborate and lead strong teams, and a
track-record of programming successes.

Scot Safon assumes the executive vice president role at HLN and will
run the network. Scot and HLN are in my view an inspired combination.
He is an innovator; HLN is an ideal news and information laboratory.
He is an expert in audience targeting and development; HLN’s audience
is young, engaged and growing. And he is a charismatic leader who is
passionate about journalism, storytelling and our brand. As Chief
Marketing Officer of CNN Worldwide, Scot has led a dynamic team that
has done award-winning marketing, advertising and promotion for CNN,
HLN, CNN International and CNN.com.

Additionally, to put our multi-platform advantages more fully to work,
we will be naming an executive vice president and managing editor of
CNN Worldwide to lead collaboration across all platforms and elevate
CNN’s unique journalism and analysis. A managing editor, with full
access to our journalism resources and my mandate to shape and connect
our newsgathering across networks, shows, and websites, is a new role
for the organization. Ultimately, the goal is that the kind of
front-page reporting and analysis that captures a news event,
translates its meaning and shapes the dialogue about the story will
continue to emerge in even more prominent and more accessible ways to
CNN’s audiences. The search for this person is currently underway.

Our colleague Jon Klein is leaving CNN. Jon’s six years as head of
CNN/U.S. are reflected in the quality of our coverage of signal news
events during his tenure: the tsunami in South Asia, Hurricane
Katrina, the 2008 election cycle and the Haiti earthquake, as well as
shows like Anderson Cooper 360, The Situation Room and Fareed Zakaria
GPS, all of which bear his imprint. Jon has made important
contributions to the CNN story, and he leaves with our respect and
friendship, and with my sincere thanks.

We are going into a busy fall and winter with November elections and
two new prime time shows on CNN. Ken, Scot and the new managing
editor will impact these and all of the other events ahead, as will
you. My expectation is that our leaders and our new operating
discipline will put CNN’s advantages to work where they matter most:
for our audience. Our coverage will be relevant and resonant; will
have meaning for millions of people around the world; and it will
reflect the qualities that CNN is rightfully famous for: commitment to
truth, respect for facts, service to no political agenda and passion for
journalism and analysis done right and well.

We've seen several tweets from people in the know saying Klein was fired but it doesn't really matter at this point. We wish him well in his new pursuits and look forward to better things for CNN! ~ The ATC Team

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Midterm Election Debates

CNN = Debates for the 2010 Midterm Election Season

CNN is the place for political debates throughout the midterm election season. The network is partnering with educational institutions and local media outlets to moderate important debates that will better inform local constituents as they make their decision on the upcoming races. Members of the Best Political Team of Television including anchors Wolf Blitzer, Candy Crowley and John King are slated to moderate debates in the closing days of this election season in various bellwether states. More debate announcements to follow.

• On Wednesday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m., lead political anchor Wolf Blitzer will co-host a 90-minute showdown in Delaware between candidates, Chris Coons (D) and Christine O'Donnell (R), vying for Vice President Joe Biden’s former Senate seat. Blitzer will join Delaware public television anchor Nancy Karibjanian at the University of Delaware to co-moderate the debate, parts of which will air nationally on CNN. Blitzer also will anchor a special edition of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer live from the campus from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., prior to the debate. For more information, visit CNN Political Ticker: CNN to broadcast Delaware Senate debate Oct. 13.

• In Florida, CNN will have a debate doubleheader, partnering with the St. Petersburg Times and the University of South Florida for two nationally-televised debates from USF’s Tampa campus.

o On Sunday, October 24, chief political correspondent and anchor Candy Crowley will moderate a one-hour debate among Gov. Charlie Crist (who is seeking an independent bid), Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) and Marco Rubio (R). The debate will air live at 9 a.m. and replay at noon on CNN’s State of the Union with Candy Crowley. For more information, visit CNN Political Ticker: CNN, St. Petersburg Times and USF to host U.S. Senate debate.

o The following evening, Monday, October 25, chief national correspondent and anchor John King will take the stage to host a one-hour debate between Florida’s gubernatorial candidates, Rick Scott (R) and Alex Sink (D). The debate will begin at 7 p.m. and air live on a special edition of John King, USA. For more information, visit CNN Political Ticker: CNN to air Florida governor debate.

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Weekend Scheduling Update

Saturday, September 25, 2010
7:30am – 8:00am SANJAY GUPTA MD
8:00pm – 9:00pm WHAT THE POPE KNEW
11:00pm – 12:00am WHAT THE POPE KNEW
Sunday, September 26, 2010
7:30am – 8:00am SANJAY GUPTA MD
2:00am – 3:00am WHAT THE POPE KNEW
8:00pm – 9:00pm WHAT THE POPE KNEW
11:00pm – 12:00am WHAT THE POPE KNEW
Monday, September 27, 2010
2:00am – 3:00am WHAT THE POPE KNEW
Saturday, October 2, 2010
7:00pm – 8:00pm THE EMPOWERED PATIENT
8:00pm – 9:00pm RIGHT ON THE EDGE
10:00pm – 11:00pm THE EMPOWERED PATIENT
11:00pm – 12:00am RIGHT ON THE EDGE
Sunday, October 3, 2010
1:00am – 2:00am THE EMPOWERED PATIENT
2:00am – 3:00am RIGHT ON THE EDGE
7:00pm – 8:00pm THE EMPOWERED PATIENT
8:00pm – 9:00pm RIGHT ON THE EDGE
10:00pm – 11:00pm THE EMPOWERED PATIENT
11:00pm – 12:00am RIGHT ON THE EDGE
Monday, October 4, 2010
1:00am – 2:00am THE EMPOWERED PATIENT
2:00am – 3:00am RIGHT ON THE EDGE
Thursday, October 21, 2010
9:00pm – 11:00pm ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
Friday, October 22, 2010
12:00am – 2:00am ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
3:00am – 5:00am ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
Saturday, October 23, 2010
8:00pm – 10:00pm ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
11:00pm – 1:00am ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
Sunday, October 24, 2010
2:00am – 4:00am ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
8:00pm – 10:00pm ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
11:00pm – 1:00am ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
Monday, October 25, 2010
2:00am – 3:00am ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS:
SANJAY GUPTA MD
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta introduces viewers to Dr. William Gahl, who leads an elite team of doctors, specialists and researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They focus their vast expertise on trying to save patients lives from diseases medical science doesn’t yet understand…These are “medical detectives” who work in search of clues to solve mysteries no other doctors could solve. Dr. Gupta also takes a closer look at a study from the CDC on whether Americans are eating enough fruits and vegetables, and the cost to society of obesity.
RIGHT ON THE EDGE
CNN investigative correspondent Abbie Boudreau takes an inside look at the new generation of young political activists. Armed with video cameras and ideas, these “guerilla journalists” post their videos online to get their message directly to the public, bypassing the mainstream media.
THE EMPOWERED PATIENT
CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen tells her own personal stories of medical mistakes and missed diagnoses that she experiences as a patient, the mother of a patient, the daughter of a patient and nearly 20 years as a medical journalist. Cohen also interviews actor and leukemia survivor Evan Handler who discusses his own experiences which led him to become an “empowered patient.” Based upon the themes of her book by the same name, Cohen urges viewers to advocate for themselves and their loved ones, ask questions about medical options and procedures, and get second opinions when something doesn’t sound quite right.
WHAT THE POPE KNEW
CNN correspondent Gary Tuchman investigates priest child abuse crisis using church documents, letters, and interviews with those with knowledge of the Vatican’s internal actions. Includes a rare interview with Monsignor Charles Scicluna, the “Vatican’s prosecutor” on these matters, as well as interviews with priest abuse survivors; and David Gibson, author of a biography of Pope Benedict XVI.
ALMIGHTY DEBT: A BLACK IN AMERICA SPECIAL
Every leading indicator – unemployment, income, wealth, educational attainment, homeownership and foreclosures – demonstrates that the African-American financial foundation is crumbling at rates that are comparatively worse than other segments of the U.S. population. Reported by anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien, and told through experiences of members of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) in New Jersey, the first 90-minutes of this special explores how an institution central to African-American communities for generations is helping its 7,000 parishioners survive the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Following the documentary, a dynamic town hall discussion moderated by O’Brien will feature clinical social worker and public relations executive Terrie Williams, syndicated columnist Michelle Singletary, FBCLG senior pastor Rev. Dr. DeForest Soaries, pollster Cornell Belcher and others.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Ratings For The Week Of 9/13

1 - Ratings based on four nights of regular programming

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Gary Tuchman's Special 'What the Pope Knew

What the Pope Knew debuts Saturday, Sept. 25 at 8:00pm ET and PT on CNN and CNN International.
CNN’s investigation is a complex portrait of the Pope; while he seemed to move with rapidity to discipline priests whose values he felt strayed too far from Catholic orthodoxy, his delays and deliberations on even the most egregious of the child abuse cases baffles and infuriates those waiting for justice.

Read more »

Your Views on the News, September 18, 2010

A few weeks ago we received the following comment by one of our readers.
None of us were tuned in to American Morning to witness the exchange and we didn't have the program recorded that morning either so we couldn't comment of verify. Yesterday the video of the event surfaced on HuffPo. Take a look, tell us what you think and whatever else is on your mind concerning CNN.

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Michael Ware as you've never seen him before...

On Monday, the program Australian Story showed the first installment of a two-part program about Michael Ware. For someone who has been intensely private about his personal life, it is an astonishing look at his life and work. (The photo above shows him with his son in 2002.) Here's a look at the beginning of the program:

If you want to watch the rest of the program it is available on my site (in a larger video format than Blogger allows!) The second part airs this coming Monday.

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Ratings For The Week Of September 6th

1 - Based on four nights of regular programming

2 - Based on three nights of regular programming

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

Michael Ware to be featured on Australian television program

Australia's ABC network is doing a two-part program about Michael Ware, airing the next two Monday nights on the series Australian Story. Below is the 30-second promo currently airing, featuring several of the early video reports he did for them from Afghanistan in 2002-03:

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Your Views on the News, September 8, 2010

We don't usually do a 'Views on the News' midweek but I found this Q & A that Piers Morgan and Jon Klein did with the Hollywood Reporter and thought it a must read for CNN viewers.

Q&A: Piers Morgan on replacing Larry King, Fox News and Reality TV
by James Hibberd & Matt Belloni | September 8, 2010

Finally confirmed as replacing veteran talk show host Larry King, CNN's new primetime talent Piers Morgan spoke to THR after last month's Emmys and again Wednesday morning, along with CNN president Jonathan Klein, about what viewers can expect from their new show. Along the way, Morgan declared his intention to get CNN back to No. 1 in the ratings, praised and criticized Fox News and revealed who he wants as his first guest.

THR: You have a tougher interviewing reputation than Larry King. Do you plan to bring that to CNN?

Morgan: I've always disputed that Larry is in any way a softball interviewer. In his very stylish crafty way, he's always been brilliant at getting stuff out of people, so I've always admired him hugely. Although I'm a different kind of interviewer, we share the same thing -- a fascination about people, and that's what I want to replicate, a love of the guests and enthusiasm for what they do. Unlike Larry, who comes from a radio background, I come from a newspaper background. So I bring a journalistic rigor to the way I do things that will be a little bit different and hopefully quite surprising and exciting for an American audience.

THR: “Larry King Live" is also known as a friendly forum for people to tell their stories.

Morgan: I still would like to do that. I’d like to be myself. To me, Larry King is irreplaceable, he really is. He's a one in a million that has interviewed every president, every leader. The guy’s a legend. I'm not going to try and replace Larry King. I’m about trying to just do my thing, and I think that’s the reason I got the job, at least in my view.

THR: Who would you like to be your first guest?

Morgan: Well, I would like to interview the president. I think Obama is someone who is going through a pretty tough time. Outside of America, people love him … I think he's an amazing charismatic figure who's going through a tough time at the moment, and the midterm elections are coming. It’s going to be a tough period for him and I'd love to sit down with him an have a frank interview. Having said that, there's all sorts of people in the world of entertainment. I'd love to be the first to interview Mel Gibson or Lindsay Lohan or whoever is in the news who is relevant and current. Today CNN had the first interview with [Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the man behind the proposed Islamic community center and mosque near Ground Zero], I would love to do that interview. I have no problem doing him one day, and Mel Gibson the next.

THR: What about Simon Cowell?

Morgan: I did Simon in Britain for "Life Stories" and he said it was the best interview he's ever given. I've already reached out to him for the CNN show and I'm getting pretty positive feedback. I think Simon sees it as like the old feudal days, when you'd have two guys on horseback jousting.

THR: CNN has ratings challenges, what do you think of top-rated Fox News and their hosts, like Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly?

Morgan: I've watched them, they're incredibly watchable, that's why they're proving to be popular. They're obviously very right wing, much more than I am. They're very messianic in the way they go about what they do. What I find really amusing about all those cable hosts in the 8-9 p.m. hours is the level of self indulgence, the way they talk about themselves and their rivals hosts ad nauseam. I'm not entirely sure that serves the viewer very well. Nor am I convinced that it's right for CNN to go down that path. If I sat with you for a drink I'd have lots of opinions about lots of things. But when it comes to my TV interviews, I don't like to be part of them. I like to be journalistically rigorous and get the truth out of them, not force my opinions down the viewers' throat. I want them to be electrified by the combat between me and the guest.

THR: So if CNN shouldn't have more pointed opinions like CNN and MSNBC, what should it do to be more competitive?

Morgan: You're never going to be more left wing than Rachel Maddow; you're never going to be more right wing than Glenn Beck -- I don't think there's ever been anyone in history more right wing than him. You need to be aware when you join a network like CNN they may have a short-term ratings concern, but look at the brand, look at the reputation. “Larry King Live” aired in 212 countries, it's not just about America for me. I want this to be the most credible and popular interview program in the world. I want to create headlines and get ratings up -- particularly in America. I'd like to get CNN back to No. 1. Everything else I've done on television has been No. 1.


THR: There's a quote of you saying it’s irritating when celebrities are doing interviews just to plug products, but that's a big part of landing names in the U.S.

Morgan: You're going to get people who are on the circuit. What I find irritating is the programs themselves that pander to just being a plug-a-thon. It doesn't matter if they're promoting a book as long as the interview itself is really good. What I don't like is watching boring pat interviews with people who've done 30 interviews that week and they're just going through the motions.

THR: John, what's the theme that we should be taking from all the recent primetime lineup changes on CNN?

Jonathan Klein: Fearlessness. It's about primetime anchors, weighing right in there with tough questions for public figures. That's true of Eliot Spitzer, Kathleen Parker, Anderson Cooper and now Piers Morgan. Viewers deserve that, they want answers to the questions. They want an equal opportunity offender, if you will, holding everybody's feet to the fire, and viewers sense they get a stacked deck at the other networks.

THR: You say "this is what viewers want," but what are you basing that on? When you look at the numbers, [opinionated pundits] is what it seems that people want.

Klein : That's what a couple million people want, but this is a nation of 300 million. Why aren't they watching? We want to get them.

THR: Was there any concern that most Americans associate Morgan with reality TV?

Klein: Never had a doubt from the moment we met Piers that he was a perfect fit for CNN. He's one of us. He's a journalist through and through. He's got an appetite for life and for what's going on in the world and he loves nothing better than to talk to people and surprise us with the revelations that he can unearth.

Morgan: By the way, being responsible for finding great undiscovered American talent [on NBC's "America's Got Talent"] or winning a business competition run by Donald Trump [on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice"] are hardly badges of dishonor, are they? Both shows I took part in have great qualities. The qualities I bring as a judge for that -- wanting to get the best out of people, to find the best -- well those are exactly the sort of things I'll bring to my TV show.

Klein: Brutal honesty makes for a great TV show.

THR: Speaking of reality, as the judge of the summer's top-rated reality show, what do you think of Fox apparently picking Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez as new "Idol" judges?

Morgan: Well, I guess they couldn't afford me.

THR: Is that a joke or did Fox really go after you?

Morgan: Obviously, if you're losing the snarky Brit it's no great secret there's another one on "America's Got Talent," the No. 1-rated show in the summer. If I was "Idol" I'd certainly put a few calls in, but I think they realized CNN beat them to it.

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Piers Morgan Live

Piers Morgan to Host Prime Time Interview Program on CNN

Global media personality and veteran newspaper editor Piers Morgan will host a candid, in-depth newsmaker interview program on CNN beginning in January, it was announced today by Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. The new program will air weeknights on CNN/U.S. at 9 pm ET/PT and will air worldwide on CNN International in more than 200 countries.
Known to United States viewers primarily for his role as a judge on NBC’s No.1-rated America’s Got Talent and as the winner of Celebrity Apprentice, Morgan has had a long career in journalism in the United Kingdom as a newspaper editor and, more recently, as the host of the popular television interview program Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. He will now bring his penetrating interview style and gift for unearthing the surprising detail to American television and to CNN viewers around the globe.
“Piers has made his name posing tough questions to public figures, holding them accountable for their words and deeds,” said Klein. “He is able to look at all aspects of the news with style and humor with an occasional good laugh in the process. He is a natural fit with Anderson Cooper, Eliot Spitzer and Kathleen Parker in our prime time line up, and the ideal choice to update the storied tradition of newsmaker talk on CNN.”
Morgan began his career as a reporter for The Wimbledon News and then as a columnist at The Sun. In 1994, when Morgan was 28 years old, Rupert Murdoch appointed him the youngest ever editor of the News of the World, and the youngest national newspaper editor in Britain for 50 years. Two years later he moved to the Daily Mirror, where he served as editor-in-chief from 1995 until 2004. The paper won numerous journalistic awards including Newspaper of the Year at the prestigious British Press Awards in 2002 for its coverage of the 9/11 terrorist atrocity in New York. After his controversial departure from the Mirror, Morgan went on to become a best-selling author, a regular media columnist, and host of his own interview programs on the BBC and ITV, as well as appear as a judge alongside Simon Cowell on the No.1-rated show Britain’s Got Talent.
“I am thrilled to be joining CNN, and very much looking forward to bringing my own style of interviewing to the world’s biggest, and best, TV news organization,” said Morgan. “As a young journalist in Britain, I watched CNN’s astonishing live coverage of the 1991 Gulf War, and felt enthralled by the courage and brilliance of the journalists involved in that coverage. Years later, I watched Anderson Cooper’s visceral reports from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and felt equally enthralled by his passionate and relentless search for the truth. Perhaps most pertinently, I have watched Larry King Live for much of the last 25 years, and dreamed of one day filling the legendary suspenders of the man I consider to be the greatest TV interviewer of them all. To now have the chance to work with Larry and Anderson, and to try and continue the outstanding journalistic legacy created by them, and so many others at CNN, is both a great honor, and a great challenge.”
After leaving the Daily Mirror, Morgan began writing a monthly interview column for GQ magazine where he interviewed some of the biggest names in global entertainment and politics. In 2004, he moved into television, co-hosting a Channel 4 current affairs show, Morgan & Platell, and two BBC interview shows, Tabloid Tales and You Can’t Fire Me I’m Famous. In 2008, Morgan joined ITV, where he hosted a documentary travelogue show called Piers On…, reporting from cities including Shanghai, Las Vegas and Dubai. He also developed a new talk show, Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, where he conducts one-on-one intimate and lengthy sit-down interviews with celebrities, business and political leaders, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown. It has been consistently the No. 1-rated talk show in Britain for the last two years.
Morgan will continue to write his two regular columns for the Mail on Sunday newspaper – one on sports, the other a weekly diary of his life, and he will also provide regular columns to CNN.com.
Morgan is an accomplished author, writing eight books including three best-selling volumes of diaries: The Insider, Don’t You Know Who I Am, and the recently published God Bless America.
He is also co-founder and editorial director of First News, Britain’s first ever national newspaper for children.
Morgan re-married in June, to Celia Walden, and has three sons from his first marriage – Spencer, Stanley and Bertie.
He will be based in New York, and also work from Los Angeles and London.

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It's Offical?!

Ali Velshi just tweeted that Piers Morgan will take over the Larry King Live hour in January.

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Spitzer/Parker

Wasn't it just yesterday morning we said to expect the announcement about the new Spitzer/Parker hour very soon? Well today's the day:

In case you don't have time to watch the video the premiere is Monday October 4th at 8PM.


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On The Road Again

CNN chief national correspondent and anchor John King has a passion for getting outside the Beltway to check the political pulse of everyday Americans, and now users of Gowalla, the location-based mobile and web service, can follow the trail he has blazed through the country. Beginning next week with John’s Labor Day road trip, Gowalla users will be able to learn about John’s favorite spots in all 50 states and even earn a John King, USA Pin for their Gowalla Passport by completing one of the Trips.
“Washington is never a leading indicator in election cycles,” said John. “You have to get out in the country and see it and taste it to get a sense of the real issues driving how Americans vote.”
While visiting all 50 states following President Barack Obama’s inauguration, John sat down with residents in local diners to hear their stories and discuss the issues most important to them. Just like the people with whom John spoke, each diner had a story—from Bud’s Drive In in Idaho known for burgers and huckleberry milkshakes to Stacy’s Restaurant in Fort Riley, Kansas that serves active duty military members and veterans.John also will share his stories on Eatocracy, CNN.com's blog created to feed the minds, hearts and stomachs of food fanatics across the world. Readers will be able to experience a little slice of his adventures by reading about the culture of the local diners where he talked politics at the dinner table.
This project is launching just as John King, USA is heading on a road trip next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. John will observe Labor Day and kick off the final push in the November midterm elections while traveling through bellwether states on the CNN Express, the network’s bus that serves as a state-of-the-art mobile newsroom. John will visit Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky to profile critical races, interview newsmakers and explain why the races matter to all Americans.
Various members of CNN’s Best Political Team on Television will check in with John along the way, including senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash, senior political analyst Gloria Borger, anchor T.J. Holmes and national political correspondent Jessica Yellin.
To participate, Gowalla users should follow John by going to John King, USA’s Gowalla page and clicking the “follow John King, USA” button in the right column. You will then have access to John’s custom Trips at Gowalla.com or on your smartphone via the Gowalla app.

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Your Views on the News, September 6, 2010

We hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful Labor Day weekend. It's been a quiet week for CNN news. We still haven't heard when the roll out date is for the new Spitzer/Parker hour but it should be announced very soon. In a related story we've heard rumblings that the Piers Morgan deal may have hit a snag, one can only hope. If you've got news or a bone to pick with CNN put it in comments.

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Ratings For The Week of August 23rd

1 - Based on four nights of regular programming

Rating calculations are weekly averages based on nightly ratings provided by TVNewser with data by Nielsen Media Research. Numbers reflect Live and same day (DVR) data.

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