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.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Your Views on the News, September 8, 2010
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.
It's Offical?!
Ali Velshi just tweeted that Piers Morgan will take over the Larry King Live hour in January.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
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.
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.
Monday, September 6, 2010
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.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
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.
