This Weekend's Programming 3/5/11

CNN Weekend Programming Information: Saturday, March 5 and 6 ALL TIMES EASTERN

SATURDAY, March 5, 2011


SANJAY GUPTA MD – Airs Saturday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells the story of Robert Sandler, who changed the course of medical history. As a 2-year-old with leukemia, he was the first patient to receive chemotherapy. Dr. Gupta interviews his twin, Elliot Sandler and also Dr. Siddartha Mukherjee, who wrote about this breakthrough for his book, The Emperor of All Maladies. Also, Dr. Gupta catches up with former Olympic diver Greg Louganis on his life, and his work as a coach.



THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER – Airs Saturday 6:00PM – 7:00PM

Topic: Unrest in Libya
Guest: Nicholas Kristof, columnist for The New York Times

Anchor: Wolf Blitzer



RACE AND RAGE – THE BEATING OF RODNEY KING – Airs Saturday 8:00PM – 9:00PM, 11:00PM – 12:00AM
Rodney King relives the terrifying police beating he suffered 20 years ago that made him a symbol of police brutality. CNN anchor Don Lemon interviews King about George Holliday’s infamous amateur 55-second video – the handicam film seen around the world – the racial polarization that followed, the riots, and what his life has been like since. Lemon also speaks with Bobby Green, who rescued white truck driver Reginald Denny, and looks at how all of those events have impacted the relationship between the LAPD and the communities it serves – and how the city has recovered.



SUNDAY, March 6, 2011


SANJAY GUPTA, MD – Airs Sunday 7:30AM – 8:00AM
CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta tells the story of Robert Sandler, who changed the course of medical history. As a 2-year-old with leukemia, he was the first patient to receive chemotherapy. Dr. Gupta interviews his twin, Elliot Sandler and also Dr. Siddartha Mukherjee, who wrote about this breakthrough for his book, The Emperor of All Maladies. Also, Dr. Gupta catches up with former Olympic diver Greg Louganis on his life, and his work as a coach.



STATE OF THE UNION WITH CANDY CROWLEY – Airs LIVE Sunday 9:00AM – 10:00AM, NOON – 1:00PM

Topic: Future of U.S.-Libya Relations
Guest: Dr. Ali Errishi, former Libyan Minister of Immigration
Guest: Stephen Hadley, former National Security Adviser

Topic: Hearings on the Radicalization of Muslim Americans
Guest: Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Chairman, House Homeland Security Committee
Guest: Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)

Anchor: Candy Crowley



FAREED ZAKARIA GPS – Airs Sunday 10:00AM – 11:00AM and 1:00PM – 2:00PM on CNN/U.S. and 8:00AM – 9:00AM on CNN International

Topic: Revolutions in the Arab world and the U.S. response; U.S. federal and state budget battles
Guest: David Frum, author, editor, FrumForum.com
Guest: Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, New York Times
Guest: Eliot Spitzer, former New York Governor, host – In the Arena
Guest: Chrystia Freeland, Global editor-at-large for Reuters

Topic: Inside the minds of the minds of the Gadhafis
Guest: Benjamin Barber, author; distinguished senior fellow, Demos

Topic: American competitiveness; getting America back to #1
Guest: Dr. Hans Rosling, physician and statistician
Guest: Niall Ferguson, PhD, professor, Harvard University School of Business; Newsweek columnist

Host: Fareed Zakaria



RELIABLE SOURCES – Airs LIVE 11:00AM – NOON

Topic: Charlie Sheen Media Frenzy
Guest: Andrea Canning, correspondent, ABC News

Topic: Rep. Issa Press Secretary Fired
Guest: John Harris, editor in chief, POLITICO

Topic: Interview with Gadhafi
Guest: Christiane Amanpour, anchor, ABC News’ “This Week”

Topic: Conservatives Turning on Glenn Beck?
Guest: David Frum, editor, FrumForum.com
Guest: Jennifer Rubin, “Right Turn” blog, The Washington Post

Host: Howard Kurtz



RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM: GETTING BACK TO #1 – A FAREED ZAKARIA GPS SPECIAL – Airs Sunday 8:00PM – 9:00PM, 11:00PM – 12:00AM
At one time, the United States was the world leader in education and infrastructure. But now instead of being #1, America is struggling to avoid slipping behind #21. CNN’s Fareed Zakaria interviews Foursquare co-founders Naveen Selvadurai and Dennis Crowley, Harvard University professors Niall Ferguson and Joseph Nye, international macroeconomist Dambisa Moyo, Swedish physician and statistician Dr. Hans Rosling, and Columbia University economist Jeffery Sachs, all weigh in on the best way forward for an American comeback.

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

FAREED ZAKARIA GPS Primetime Special

Getting Back to Real Exceptionalism the Focus of New “Restoring the American Dream” FAREED ZAKARIA GPS Primetime Special

Restoring the American Dream: Getting Back to #1 – A FAREED ZAKARIA GPS Special debuts Sunday at 8:00pm ET and PT

America used to be on top of the world across the board, besting the rest in education, innovation, wealth, and life expectancy – but now it’s falling behind other nations, in some instances way behind. America is now number 49 among the world’s nations in life expectancy, number 79 in elementary school enrollment, number 23 in infrastructure, and only the fourth most competitive economy.

CNN and TIME magazine’s Fareed Zakaria says the U.S. has arrived at a crowded crossroads where much of the rest of the world is catching up. He interviews some of the best minds in science, economics, leadership and innovation on the challenges we face, and offers his own solutions on how America can regain its number one status.

Foursquare co-founders Naveen Selvadurai and Dennis Crowley, Harvard University professors Joseph Nye and Niall Ferguson, international macroeconomist Dambisa Moyo, Swedish physician and statistician Dr. Hans Rosling, Columbia University economist Jeffery Sachs all weigh in on the best way forward for America.

Restoring the American Dream: Getting Back to #1 – A FAREED ZAKARIA GPS Special debuts Sunday, March 6 at 8:00p.m. and 11:00p.m. ET/PT on CNN/U.S. It will replay on Saturday, March 12 at 8:00p.m. and 11:00p.m. ET/PT on CNN/U.S.

Fareed Zakaria’s TIME magazine cover story, “Are America’s Best Days Behind Us?” hits newsstands today, Friday, March 4.




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Michael Ware's next project

 

correspondent Michael Ware with a guard 

on the Iraqi front lines between Shorish and Kirkuk.

For those of you who wanted to know what it is Michael Ware will be doing now that he has left CNN, here are some details, courtesy of an Aussie newspaper. As you can well imagine, I am very excited about it and from what he has told me, this is going to be a film that will really give viewers a much better understanding of the Iraq war:

Frontline witness to brutality

4 Mar 11 @ 04:30am by Candice Holznagel

NEVER-BEFORE seen footage from the hands of al-Qaeda insurgents will bring the brutal truth of war to the big screen in a cinema film being produced by Brisbane journalist Michael Ware.

Ware, who spent his childhood days in Caloundra, is somewhat of a celebrity in the US after almost 10 years abroad bringing the reality of the Afghan and Iraq wars to the western world.

Kings Beach, where his family holidayed regularly, is a stark comparison to the life Ware went on to live.

As a Time magazine reporter and then with news organisation CNN, Ware reported from both within the US Army and as a man living among the insurgents.

His experiences, including being kidnapped and held at gunpoint, were gut-wrenching. 

``Straight after my kidnapping by al-Qaeda I didn’t leave my bedroom for three days,’’ Ware told ABC’s Australian Story last year.

``Every time I got into a car of any description, going anywhere… I immediately wanted to throw up.

``At the same time, I was under threat from Al Qaeda, they were specifically targeting me for something I’d published.

``We knew that there was a team coming to kill me.’‘

It was Ware’s ``stomach churning’’ experience in the battle of Fallujah which ``cleansed’’ him of the horrors of the kidnapping.

He was aboard the first US vehicles to enter Fallujah in 2004 and stood beside the soldiers in a darkened house, facing heavy fire from insurgents.

According to Ware’s parents, Gail and Len, who now reside in Caloundra, it was these experiences which took a toll on their son.

``It’s wonderful him being home, it’s just sad the reason that’s brought him home post-traumatic stress,’’ Mrs Ware told the Journal.

``I think he’s progressing well.

``I said to him that he should have come home earlier but he said the damage can be done in one year or the 10 years he was there.

``It’s a living nightmare.

``I don’t know if he will ever be the same person again.’‘

Mrs Ware is proud of her son, who has won numerous awards for his journalistic skills.

``No one else was doing what he did,’’ she said.

``He landed in Afghanistan and didn’t know a soul.

``What do you do, turn right, turn left or go ahead?

`He can just blend. Michael lived their lifestyle.’‘

Earlier this week, Ware was attending meeting after meeting to progress his film project.

He hoped the film, based on the war in Iraq, would be launched through the world-renowned Sundance Film Festival but either way it will hit the big screen next year.

``It’s based on the years I shot video, using things like the al-Qaeda videos the world has never seen,’’ Ware said.

``It’s the first time in history that we know of that a Congressional Medal of Honour has been caught on film.

``It’s the war documentary.

``It just happens to be set in Iraq.

``This really is a film that looks at the true nature of us.

``It’s one war seen through the viewfinder of one man.

``It will confront the psyche of 300 million Americans.’‘

Speaking in his passionate and zealous manner, Ware said the development of the film had turned into a form of therapy.

``I think at heart I am and will always be a journalist.

``I’m exploring a new form of it.’‘

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 February 21st

1 - Special programming was aired on two nights

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.

Also, here's some information CNN released on their ratings for February:

IN FEBRUARY CNN GROWS 55% IN M-F PRIMETIME COMPARED TO A YEAR AGO, THE MOST OF ANY CABLE NEWS NETWORK;

CNN OVERTAKES MSNBC AT 10 PM AND IN TOTAL DAY;

Piers Morgan Tonight is Up 50% vs. a Year Ago;

John King, USA Has Best Month Since Launch;

FNC has Double Digit Declines throughout February

TRAFFIC TO CNN.com WAS UP GLOBALLY 10% YEAR OVER YEAR

CNN

During the month of February, CNN had the most growth of any cable news network in M-F primetime compared to a year ago, increasing an impressive +55% in the key demo 25-54 (243k vs. 157k) while MSNBC grew only +8% (265k vs. 246k) and FNC lost viewers, decreasing -14% (575k vs. 666k). In total viewers, CNN also had most growth in primetime increasing +31% (766k vs. 583k) vs. a year ago, MSNBC grew +18% (995k vs. 842k) and FNC declined -12% (2.322m vs. 2.649m).

In addition, CNN’S AC 360 overtook MSNBC at 10 pm in February and CNN topped MSNBC in total day in the demo 25-54 and among total viewers for the first time since June 2010. In total day, CNN posted 159k in the key demo 25-54, an increase of +19% from last year (134k) and averaged 484k in total viewers, a rise of +3% (468k). MSNBC placed third in total day in the demo (146k) and in total viewers (450k).

Throughout each hour of primetime (M-F), CNN posted big gains compared to a year ago. While CNN overtook MSNBC at 10 pm, the network significantly narrowed the gap with MSNBC at 8 pm and 9 pm compared to 4^th quarter averages. FNC had double digit declines throughout primetime.

At 10 pm:

• Anderson Cooper topped MSNBC at 10 pm for the first time since June 2010, with AC 360 averaging 305k compared to MSNBC The Ed Show’s 234k in the demo 25-54. In total viewers, Cooper also topped Ed Schultz with 855k vs. MSNBC’s 827k.

• Anderson Cooper is up +83% in the demo 25-54 compared to a year ago (305k vs. 167k), Shultz increased +41% (234k vs. 166k), and FNC’s Greta Van Susteren was the only network to lose viewers at 10pm, decreasing -13% (406k vs. 466k).

• AC 360 is also up +55% in total viewers compared to a year ago (855k vs. 550k), MSNBC is up +53% and FNC is down -12%.

• During the 4^th quarter, the demo gap between AC 360 (205k) and MSNBC (258k) was -8% -- today, Cooper (305k) has overtaken The Ed Show (234k) with a +30% advantage (data does not include MSNBC Investigates/Lock Up episodes when that programming aired on Fridays at 10 pm).

At 9 pm:

• Piers Morgan Tonight is up +50% in the demo 25-54 compared to a year ago (237k vs. 158k), growing more than MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow who is up +39% (302k vs. 217k), while FNC’s Hannity is down -10% (559k vs. 620k).

• Piers Morgan is also up +21% in total viewers compared to a year ago (812k vs. 672k), MSNBC is up +34% and Hannity is off -11%.

• Piers Morgan is top rated among younger viewers (adults 18-34), increasing +78% from a year ago (66k vs. 37k), while MSNBC was down -21% (52k vs. 66k) and FNC declined -27% (60k vs. 82k).

• During the 4^th quarter, the demo gap between CNN’s Larry King (169k) and Maddow (285k) was -41% -- today, the gap between Piers Morgan (237k) and Maddow (302k) is just -22%.

• Launch-to-date (January 17-February 25) Piers Morgan is averaging 235k in the key demo (an increase of +28%) and 787k in total viewers, up +11% compared to the same period a year ago.

At 8 pm:

• In February, CNN was up +27% in the demo 25-54 compared to the same period a year ago (186k vs. 146k), while MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell was down -9% compared to Keith Olbermann during the same period last year (235k vs. 258k). FNC’s O’Reilly was also down -14% vs. a year ago (775k vs. 906k).

• CNN is also up +20% in total viewers compared to a year ago (631k vs. 527k), O’Donnell is up just +7% and O’Reilly is down -12%.

• During the 4^th quarter, the gap between CNN (135k) and Keith Olbermann (286k) was -53% in the demo -- today, the gap between CNN at 8 pm (186k) vs. Lawrence O'Donnell (235k) is now just -21%.

At 7 pm, John King, USA is also up in February, increasing +20% in the demo 25-54 (177k vs. 148k) compared to a year ago. This represents King’s best month since launch (March 2010) with 559k in total viewers; up 28% vs. January.

At 5 pm, CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer increased +43% in the demo (196k vs. 137k) and +9% in total viewers (714k vs.653k) compared to last year. FNC’s Glenn Beck is experiencing big declines compared to a year ago – decreasing -32% in the key demo 25-54 (513k vs. 753k) and has declined -26% in total viewers (2.084m vs. 2.833m). In addition, the Situation Room at 6 pm is up +43% in the demo (199k vs. 139k) and increased +13% in total viewers (647k vs. 574k), while FNC’s Bret Baier declined -12% in the demo (468k vs. 533k) and is off -11% in total viewers vs. a year ago (2.206m vs.2.469m).

In February, CNN topped MSNBC during the daytime (9am-5pm) in both the key demo 25-54 and among total viewers. In head-to-head comparisons with MSNBC’s daytime non-opinion programming CNN more than doubled (+108%) MSNBC in the key demo (173k vs. 83k) and held a 60% lead in total viewers (589k vs. 367k). MSNBC trailed CNN every hour during the daytime in the demo and total viewers.

CNN reached a cumulative audience of 91.0 million viewers in February, FNC lagged behind with 79.8 million and MSNBC averaged 76.1 million.

CNN Digital:

In February, traffic to CNN.com was up globally 10% year over year.

· Breaking News: The revolutions in Egypt and Libya drove traffic to CNN.com.

· During the first three days of Feb. traffic to CNN.com increased 17% daily over the prior 4-week average.

· Libya coverage also boosted traffic. On Mon., Feb. 21st, traffic to CNN.com was up 55% over the prior 4-Sunday average and up 6% over the last holiday-Monday’s traffic (January 17, 2011).

[Source: Omniture Site Catalyst, Domestic and International. Year-over-year claim based on average daily for February 1-27 compared to last year’s average daily for the same time period.]

· Video: Total global video starts (VOD + Live) were up by 30% and live video starts were up by 20% over 4Q10 levels largely as a result of video related to the revolutions in Egypt and Libya.

[Source: Omniture Site Catalyst, Domestic and International. Comparisons based on average daily data for February 1-27 and average daily for Oct.1-Dec.31, 2010 for Q410.]

· Features: Feature content also helped drive traffic to CNN.com in Feb., with several sections showing double-digit percentage gains over last Feb.

· Tech increased by 18% with nearly 1 million page views per day during the month.

· Opinion increased 51% with half a million page views per day.

· Health increased 46% with 860 thousand daily page views.

· Living increased 66% with 800 thousand page views per day.

· Blog Traffic: Altogether, blog traffic in Feb. accounted for 97 million page views. Joining This Just In and the Political Ticker in the top five were The Marquee (Entertainment), The Chart (Health) and Belief Blog (religion).

· Belief Blog increased 130% over last month’s performance due to a story about Chick-fil-A with 900 thousand page views and a high-school wrestler refusing to wrestle a female with 603 thousand page views.

[Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst, Domestic and International. Note: Year-ago comparisons were not possible for the Belief Blog as it had not launched yet. All month-end data for February 2011 is based on average daily for February 1-27, 2011 and is compared to time periods with data expressed in a comparable manner. Blog traffic cumulative total for month through 3 p.m. February 28, 2011]

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

Race and Rage

‘Race and Rage’ – CNN’s Don Lemon Talks with Rodney King 20 Years Later
Documentary debuts Friday, March 4, 8:00pm ET & PT

In the early morning hours of March 3, 1991, construction worker Rodney King and two companions were pulled over after a high-speed chase in Los Angeles. King’s friends were arrested without incident, but the violent confrontation between King and the officers on the scene made national headlines, and ignited racial tensions in the city – and the nation.
CNN anchor Don Lemon retraces the events of that morning, and the riots that divided Los Angeles and the nation in Race and Rage – The Beating of Rodney King, debuts Friday, March 4 at 8:00p.m. ET and PT on CNN/U.S. It replays on Saturday, March 5 at 8:00p.m. ET and PT.

King was tasered, kicked, and beaten by officers on the scene. He received more than 50 baton blows that crushed bones, shattered teeth, injured his kidneys, and fractured his skull.
Lemon asked him what thoughts he had during the beating, “Stay alive – I knew I had to survive this,” King tells him in an exclusive interview.

The altercation awakened George Holliday who grabbed his home video camera and filmed the incident. The video became a national sensation and the cornerstone of an excessive force trial against the Los Angeles Police Department.

King became a visual symbol of police brutality, but the officers were acquitted in the original trial. News of the acquittal ignited anger that erupted into riots in Los Angeles that lasted for days. Over 50 people were killed, businesses were looted and burned, and even cities as far away as Atlanta reported violence inspired by the news of the verdict.

Lemon and King revisit the scene of the beating together, retracing the events that altered his life, and the riots that followed. Lemon also speaks with Bobby Green, who famously rescued white truck driver Reginald Denny, who was assailed by a mob at a city intersection during the riots.

A digital feature deconstructs the timeline of the events of March 3, 1991, and includes a special report on King’s life today. The Holliday video became a powerful example of “citizen journalism” and is examined in the context of other watershed historical moments witnessed and captured by citizens across the country and around the world.

Stan Wilson is the senior producer for Race and Rage. Jeffery Reid is executive producer of the documentary. Dionne Hill is producer and Marcus Hooper is Associate Producer. Scott Matthews is the executive producer for the CNN Productions unit.



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

"What Do You $*%$'n People Do All Day?"

Jon Stewart took a little shot at CNN's scramble to find an identity (and viewers) on Monday night's The Daily Show.

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'Parker Spitzer' boots Parker: Unfair?

From ThisWeek.com

'Parker Spitzer' boots Parker: Unfair?

Kathleen Parker gets dumped from the CNN show she co-hosted. Was she responsible for the show's low ratings or is she just taking the fall?


Kathleen Parker bids adieu Friday night to CNN's sinking ship, "Parker Spizer." Eliot Spitzer remains on as the show goes in a "new direction."

Best Opinion: Huff. Post, Hollywood Reporter, Gothamist

Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist Kathleen Parker has left the struggling CNN show "Parker Spitzer," which she co-hosted with former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat. Rumors about her departure began circulating in January, just three months after the political talk show launched. With ratings lagging, CNN plans to take the show in a "new direction," keeping Spitzer on, and relaunching the program as "In the Arena." Was Parker unfairly blamed for the failure of the critically panned "Parker Spitzer"?

Yes, this reeks of sexism: "Let's face it, CNN has a women problem," says Amy Siskind at The Huffington Post. Seven anchors left the cable news network last year, and five were women. And now we're supposed to believe that Parker, and not her "obnoxious," spotlight-hogging, prostitution-scandal-plagued co-host, was the one holding back their flailing show. Parker's apparently forced exit has "the stench of sexism."

CNN had to make a change: The bottom line is "Parker Spitzer" didn't work, says Lacey Rose in The Hollywood Reporter. The ratings were dismal, and the duo "failed to gin up the sort of buzz the news operation longs for." Now Parker can get back to what she does best — writing — and CNN can try finding a formula that clicks.
"Kathleen Parker out at CNN's 'Parker Spitzer'"

Parker should count herself lucky: "Parker Spitzer" was one of those lousy ideas that never should have been greenlighted, says Jen Chung at Gothamist. Now that Parker has put herself out of her Spitzer-induced "misery," she can get on with her life. Plus, Parker now gets the pleasure of watching her "hooker-loving" former co-host sink on his own.



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