RADICAL CHANGE: Here’s how the new CNN chief wants to TRANSFORM its primetime lineup
People laughed at multi-millionaire Ted Turner when he announced the launch of his 24-hour news network back in the Dark Ages of June 1980, when cable TV was a luxury for a handful of Americans.
Who would want news 24 hours a day, they chortled.
And as history will show, Ted Turner laughed right along with them as his bank account added zeroes while he literally changed how people thought about television forever, like a cable TV version of Dr. Frankenstein.
Like all well-intentioned creations, this monster eventually went beyond anyone’s expectations and spawned a whole lot of angry responses from the townspeople, who launched the verbal version of pitchforks and torches at it.
CNN has since been through many iterations and CEOs since its anchors wore jackets with lapels wider than a computer mouse, and it has seen its share of scandals and controversies thanks to its anchors and guests.
It’s also been the most widely criticized mainstream media news channel not run by Rupert Murdoch thanks to targeted attacks from Donald Trump and his minions lumping the channel in with MSNBC and anyone else who runs a truthful story about him as “Fake News.”
When Stephen Colbert’s former showrunner Chris Licht took over as CNN’s Chairman and CEO in May 2022, the “CNN is a joke” tweets were flying fast.
Here’s a quick example of the collective “Whut?”
The ?? I came here to ask. @StephenAtHome @jonstewart what the actual F**K happened to your guy??? This is some horse đ©, if for no other reason than it makes it seem you 2 are actively producing hard right shills to đ© on the country in Trumpâs absence. Wtf, Chris Licht? https://t.co/yn5Uilu3Q9
— Moonla (thatâs not my name) (@momoonla) September 6, 2022
And now we might just find out how much more of a joke Licht will make out of CNN…by scorching the earth that is his nightly news lineup to bring in a whole new (comedy) team.
Licht is looking to draw in a new audience with a well-known name (none of them female HOW NOT SHOCKING).
He’s already reportedly in talks with Jon Stewart, the standard-bearer of political comedy.
It’s an old idea in media that almost never works: take away a known and trusted lineup (in this case, Don Lemon and his new panel pals, Anderson Cooper) and replace it with something entirely different.
See also: whatever radio station you no longer listen to because they took away your favorite DJs and changed the entire format.
The beloved Stewart has already dipped a toe back into the realm with his AppleTV show, “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” but he could reach a much wider audience on CNN. However, it’s still CNN and Stewart’s had his issues with the network.
'Oh, yeah, Chris Licht is going to take over CNN, and I look forward to him coming back to Colbert in about three months': Jon Stewart on '@morning_joe,' which Licht also previously executive produced. https://t.co/O8Bb6zmngb
— Tim Rostan. (@mrtgr) March 2, 2022
Therefore, also on Licht’s wishlist, according to RadarOnline: Bill Maher, Trevor Noah, or Arsenio Hall to anchor the 9-11 pm slot.
The news was not exactly received warmly on Twitter, because it just made the people who already hated CNN hate it even more.
https://twitter.com/oregon_report/status/1613452733205323783?s=20&t=ID9JrO9F1dUGJrvuimbOmg
Sure, THAT's the way to increase CNN ratings: signal to ordinary folks that the audience that matters is 'executives and leaders.' Oh, and no desks = authenticity. Chris Licht, the Springsteen of cable news. pic.twitter.com/M1X8MzyOWg
— kentucker (@kentucker) January 12, 2023
Once again: @cnn was purchased by John Malone and the amoral metaphorical bonesaw man Chris Licht hired, to turn @cnn into a distributor of Bothsideist Whataboutist shit like this.
Whoring himself today to keep his job: @StCollinson https://t.co/IY3E1whsYc
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 12, 2023
Although one user did make a fair enough point if Stewart refuses to run for public office.
âŠ@jonstewartâ©
This would be better than a department of humor.
Read "No Joke: CNNâs Ruthless Boss Chris Licht Mulling Axing Embattled Primetime Line-Up For Comedy ShowâIn Talks With Jon Stewart' on SmartNews: https://t.co/ekXteQ5EOX
— Dean Powers (@TheHolyGhosted7) January 16, 2023
Whatever political comedian ultimately decides to take Licht up on his offer, they’ll have to live with the fact that they participated in the eventual demise of a once-respected legitimate source of news and information.
And that’s no laughing matter.
Tara Dublin is a woefully underappreciated and unrepresented writer currently shopping a super cool novel that has nothing to do with politics while also fighting fascism on the daily.
Follow her on Twitter @taradublinrocks.
Editor’s note: This is an opinion column that solely reflects the opinions of the author.
