Here's the announcement that so many ATC readers have been hoping for:
Stroumboulopoulos Comes to CNN in Summer 2013
Award-winning broadcaster to host weekly interview program
The man who has brought smart, savvy
conversations to Canadian television audiences in his signature interview
program for nearly a decade will bring his unique brand of intimate, insightful
talk to CNN.
George Stroumboulopoulos says he doesn’t just ask questions – he
creates space for his guests to share their human experiences. His fresh,
thought-provoking style fuses big ideas, with art, pop culture, politics, news,
sports, and celebrity. Stroumboulopoulos invites his guests to relax and
his viewers to rediscover the power of the authentic interview. Ten
episodes of new, one-hour shows with interviews have been picked up to air as a
weekly series on Fridays beginning in early summer on CNN/U.S.
“We’re really pleased to bring this
special series to CNN,” said Amy Entelis, senior vice president for
talent and content development for CNN Worldwide. “It is a good example
of the expansion of the CNN strategy to bring new kinds of relevant and
engaging programming to a broad audience,” Entelis said.
“I
feel really lucky to have been in broadcasting for 20 years up in Canada – and
I’m excited to now also bring our conversations with people making the biggest
news in entertainment, politics, sports, and pop culture to a whole new
audience,” Stroumboulopoulos said as the network made
the programming announcement.
“George is genuinely interested in
everything, which makes his interviews informative and entertaining
explorations,” said Vinnie Malhotra, senior vice president of
development and acquisitions for CNN Worldwide. “This compelling series
is a sharp, creative addition to our summer Friday schedule,” Malhotra said.
The well-respected and acclaimed host of
the CBC’s award-winning George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, which
broadcasts from Toronto, will tape the new program in Los Angeles before a live
audience – offering greater access to a diverse group of celebrities, world
leaders, and trail-blazing artists. Stroumboulopoulos will feature the
public figures driving our cultural conversations and offer a fresh perspective
on the interview and talk show format for CNN.
The new series will be produced by Embassy
Row, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television. Viewers for the new
program can get to know Stroumboulopoulos now via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About George Stroumboulopoulos
George Stroumboulopoulos has interviewed
artists and newsmakers as varied as Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Bradley
Cooper, Naomi Watts, Robert Pattinson, Bono, and Clint Eastwood. Born and
raised in Ontario, “Strombo” graduated from Humber College with a diploma in
radio broadcasting in 1993. His diverse broadcast career has included
talk and pop music radio production, television presenting, and hosting
documentaries. He has been honored eleven times by Canada’s prestigious
Gemini Award for his television work and has been a driving force for many
Canadian and international philanthropic humanitarian broadcasts, including Canada
for Haiti, One Million Acts of Green, and is the first Canadian
National Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations World Food
Programme. Currently he hosts the nightly George Stromboulopoulos
Tonight on CBC television as well as the weekly music and talk program, The
Strombo Show on radio. Stroumboulopoulos is represented by Michael
Sugar of Anonymous Content and William Morris Endeavor LLC.
25 comments:
Well good, now I'll finally get to see what all the fuss is about over this guy here.
Omg, the one person who is always pleading for CNN to hire Strombo finally got his/her wish. I can't believe it. After I have been complaining about how bad CNN has become, they make a good move like this. I am really looking forward to this show. Piers, WATCH OUT! Maybe there is some hope. Of course, my hopes have been dashed before.
He's got a face made for radio, so there must be a fantastic personality to make up for it, right? Guess we'll find out.
It will be interesting to see what he is like and if he will replace Piers Morgan. He will probably still have the same problem as Piers in that he is a foreigner and Americans don't like foreigners telling them how to think!
Best move CNN could make .CNN could use some positive press. Strombo will not disappoint. It sounds more like Jeff Bewkes rather than Jeff Zucker. It sounds like negotiations have been going on for some time.
I doubt very much that Bewkes was involved in this deal. If he was, that news hasn't filtered down to the worker bee's.
This is a William Morris deal - straight out of LA.
And, it's more proof of CNN's new operating style. They are buying programming, rather than making it themselves.
That's why they shut down the CNN Investigative Unit - as the Daily Show portrayed:
http://www.thewrap.com/media/column-post/daily-show-john-oliver-only-fictional-newsrooms-hire-investigative-reporters-video-73081
For this Strombo guy - a production company is doing the show, and CNN is just buying it. Clearly some WME agent shopped around Strombo, and CNN/Vinnie bought.
I'm not saying that is a bad thing, or that the show will be bad on CNN.
But is further proof that CNN doesn't trust itself to make it's own shows.
As has been said before - it's not a well run company. There is a reason Warren Buffett isn't a CNN shareholder.
As for Bewkes - he usually doesn't get involved - all in the name of plausible deniability if the show has issues. That has been his SOP so far.
ABC's Peter Jennings was a foreigner like Strombo -- and did pretty well telling American's what to think for years...
George is likable, smart and funny. Take time to go to CBC and watch the show or even watch clips of The Hour, which it seems like CNN is doing. Game Of Thrones has all British actors and gets 4 million viewers for HBO. If it is a good show, viewers will watch. Not to long ago the Huffington Post had an article on 7 reason to like George Stroumboulopoulos. I wonder if George will still say it's your boyfriend. Besides he has mostly Americans on his show. Jon Stewart will welcome him. George is considered to be one of the best interviewers in the biz. He will help bring down the average age of CNN bringing in 18-29,18-34 and 18-49 year olds. Not to mention DVR's. Ad buyers will sign up in a heartbeat. Let me know the start date so I can tune in to CNN.
What took CNN so long ? Strombo is like Jon
Stewart and Stephen Colbert. It is news oriented.
Strombo doesn't tell you what to think . He makes
you think. CNN has just gained IQ points. The Hour
does news headlines as only Strombo can. Wonder
if CNN will call the headlines segment The Debrief
or Mile A Minute. Clips from his how will make the
rounds like Stewart, Colbert, Kimmel , Conan and
Letterman. Dig this hire .
ICN says it best. Piers Morgan is not too secure right now. Does Stroumboulopoulos come on at 9, 10 or 11. It is way better than PMT and everyone knows it. CNN finally made the right decision. The funny thing is that jokes are already circulating about George Steph at ABC
and George Strombo at CNN. Mostly they are not the same person or at least we think so.
Wow. We can't thank the people who operate this blog enough. For more than a year, we have been trying to get the attention of CNN about George and an amazing program. Who knew that they would see our efforts ? We Strombo fans are so grateful to this blog. You guys made it possible. This was the only way we could get the attention of CNN. Ironically, we were not sure you would post any of our pleas. This is good for CNN and viewers. Would you believe that Strombo has been called a cross between Peter Jennings and James Dean ?
CNN is finally getting smart. Stroumboulopoulos is an easy ad sale just like Anthony Bourdain. Looking forward to both shows. IMHO it should be 360 and Strombo back to back. Anderson and George give CNN continuity in prime time and possibly a demo win and viewership numbers increases. Demo is how they all make money. If CNN could get an average age under 50 in prime time that would be huge and a game changer. Like it or not cable news is getting old. Diverse programming is the future. Pundits have certainly played out like Crossfire. Move on to new stuff.
Can't wait. CNN finds someone who is just like
Jon Stewart. Dude is nothing like Piers Morgan, who
is so bad at TV. George Stroumboulopoulos won't
disappoint. Can't wait to see who he lines up for the
1st episode. It will be a jammed packed guest list
with big names and musical guests. CNN just got
better and smarter. Strombo will bring in new and
younger viewers.
CNN better do some top-notch promotion since this guy is apparently the Second Coming! Don't waste his talents and abilities by not making sure viewers know exactly what they're going to get and how great it is. Piers Morgan was supposed to change CNN's fortunes (according to him) but that hasn't materialized, maybe Strombo will be to CNN what Piers couldn't manage. I like anon 12:12 pm's lineup idea.
Strombo is only confirmed for 10 episodes - correct?
Once a week - on Fridays - in the summer.
That's not a strong initial commitment - launches in summer are always weak.
CNN just might be slowly getting better. Offering original content like Strombo and Bourdain. Anthony is a gifted writer and storyteller. I hope Jeff Zucker hires the original Vanguard team from Current. Kaj Larsen, Marianna Van Zeller, Chistoff Putzel and Adam Yamaguchi. CNN could pay them to bring stories that fly under the radar. Also, go against the grain. Why not go with a political satire show not ancient ideological silliness. Mark Fiore does some great flash animation on politics. Brett Erlich is good at political satire too. Pundits don't actually help the political conversation. They are the problem because they really don't offer analysis. Try using some journalists who work for CNN instead.
Strombo and Anthony Bourdain are 2 steps forward.
Bringing back Crossfire is a giant step backwards and it makes CNN look politically tone death.
Maybe CNN is going to follow the network model of offering different shows each night instead of the same shows each night. He is still doing his show on CBC. Jon Stewart is also taking a break from Daily Show this summer so CNN might be on to something. You would still get 360, Lead, TSR but different shows at 9 and 10 PM possibly at 7 PM too. News is hard to sell. There was a report about this a couple of weeks ago. This model wold let CNN have more to offer at presentations for ad buyers. There is the DVR so you don't have to sit right in front of the TV. Gotta think this is a part of the plan for CNN. A series of shows that you might add to the DVR as well in watch at the time the show airs. If that is the case , the Jeff Zucker hire makes a lot of sense and you can bet that if CNN is successful, MSNBC & FNC will do the same thing because it is all about $$$$.
Wake up CNN. Jeff Zucker you have a problem at 9. Instead of putting Jake Tapper on at 10 how about in place of PMT. The problem is at 9 not 10.
Wouldn't a rerun of the Lead be so outdated at 10 PM ? For goodness sake shouldn't it be call the Wrap
at 10 PM since it is the last prime show on CNN ?
Did it ever occur to CNN that those are Anderson Cooper viewers and not necessarily CNN viewers. ?
Just watch the demos drop for CNN in prime time. It
would be best to do a completely different live edition
of 360 at 10 PM. PMT is doing worst than Larry King.
Maybe try Chris Cuomo at 9 to give viewers a comfort level.
INHO, The Lead is the best new show on CNN. It has some elements of the original 360 and Morning Joe. It
actually has some good content. Much better than News Room on CNN. How about the 7 o'clock hour. The Lead , a show that leads into CNN prime time. Jake just needs to grow more as a show host and sharpen the anchoring skills. At first, it was not that good but the show is evolving and has gotten better. Out Front and PMT are just simply awful. Hopefully, CNN would update the show. After, Starting Point, Out Front and PMT, you start to wonder about CNN and new shows.
@4:47pm, I totally agree, The Lead has a lot of potential. All new shows are a bit rough at first but I think it could do well in primetime. I actually find myself chuckling at Jake's dumb little jokes. I think it will continue to improve with time. It is a great run-down of the day's news. I don't mind the pop culture and sports stuff and I don't even like or follow sports but at least I am informed of the big stories people are talking about. I hope this 10pm experiment works out well. I agree - Burnett and Morgan just need to go. I think Zucker is just running out the clock on their contracts. Burnett screwed up by not taking the morning show because OutFront is gonna get axed at first chance. Fine by me - I would rather she leave CNN.
The Lead is the better lead in for 360. It would give
viewers an alternative to Fox Report. Viewers are so
used to seeing 360 at 10 that they might decide to
skip Jake Tapper. Maybe put PMT on summer hiatus.
As usual CNN is in denial and focusing on the wrong
hour in prime time. it is not 360 at 10 just look at the
ratings on TV Newser.
Have to say I don't know too much about this guy except that anyone who is Canadian is a good thing and George Strombo....will challenge the do nothings at CNN and those 'stars' who deserve not to be called stars who have earned their reputation by what they did do, not what they've done in the last decade.
Maybe 60 Minutes will even pick him up if his interviews are so engrossing.
Good yougthful energy is sadly needed on CNN because personally, I'm sick of hearing that the face of CNN is Anderson Cooper.
For the lack of any competition, it is Anderson Cooper.
Finally Jeff Zucker is making some progress in the right direction.
Maybe someone on CNN is actually reading our comments on this blog and they'll finally get rid of the dead weight, which is practically everyone at CNN right now.
Rumor has it that the Strombo Show starts on May
31st. That happens to be the name of his radio show
in Canada. The show will air in prime time on CNN.
With that time frame the show will run until August
of 2013. No official word on the show title.
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