Oh Good Lord…

Variety’s William Triplett writes about CNN’s attempt to destroy its straight news credentials new comedy show…

CNN is diving into the increasingly crowded arena of news-driven comedy, tapping comedian D.L. Hughley to host a show that will offer a skewering take on news and events.

The show, set to air on Saturdays at 10 p.m. ET beginning Oct. 25, will feature Hughley and guests riffing on politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture.

Move is a clear bid by CNN to tap into the younger auds who get more of their news from “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” than they do from mainstream news outlets.

Show will include one-on-one interviews with newsmakers and the reporters covering them.

“D.L. is a very thoughtful, well-informed guy with unpredictable views, and I’ve always admired his comedy,” said CNN/U.S. prexy Jon Klein. “The basic premise of the show is, what if a guy like him was let loose in the CNN building for a weekend after the lights went off?”

Wrong, this is so wrong. What on earth is CNN thinking? You’re supposed to be “The Most Trusted Name in News”…I guess they need to change that to read “The Most Trusted Name in Comedy”. I was ruthless in my criticism when FNC debuted the 1/2 Hour News Hour and I see no reason to modify that position here. News networks should have no business doing comedy. Yes, there is “Red Eye” on FNC. I wish it wasn’t there ideally but it’s there. Still, this is CNN we’re talking about and not FNC. FNC has always operated to the beat of its own drum and is notorious for not following the path created by others…to its success and its detriment. CNN has the reputation of being above that sort of thing and concentrating on news. Now this?

Jonathan Klein is always dissing MSNBC for undermining its brand by putting on non-topical Doc blocks and crime stories. And he’s right. Too bad he can’t follow his own advice as he’s about to undermine his own network’s brand.

One thing I do know: The folks at Red Eye are going to be all over this because it sure as hell looks on the surface like a knee jerk reaction by CNN to that show’s success…

Update: CNN’s release…

CNN Announces Weekend Show Starring Comedian D.L. Hughley

CNN Adds Alternative Look at Week’s News for Saturdays and Sundays at 10 p.m.

CNN today announced that it will debut an unconventional weekend show hosted by the renowned comedian D.L. Hughley. Set to premiere on Saturday, Oct. 25, D.L. Hughley Breaks The News (working title) will feature Hughley’s comedic take on the week’s events in the news – everything from politics to entertainment, sports and pop culture, as well as one-on-one interviews with a wide range of newsmakers and the reporters who cover them.

The show will emanate from CNN’s New York studios before a live audience, taking full advantage of CNN’s worldwide newsgathering resources. It will air on Saturdays at 10 p.m. and replay on Sundays at 10 p.m. (ET)

“D.L. is a news junkie who is bursting with things to say about what is going on in the world – most of them funny, all of them thoughtful, none of them predictable,” said Jon Klein, president of CNN/U.S. “When you watch as much news as our audience does, there comes a time you just want to stop and laugh – and that time will be Saturday nights at 10 on CNN.”

“I am very excited for the opportunity to work with the network that I have watched for a very long time, and that to a large extent, has shaped my comedic view,” Hughley said. “CNN offers the perfect blend of news and information on a local, national and international level. What more can a comedian ask for?”

D.L. Hughley is one of the most popular and highly recognized standup comedians on the road today and has also appeared in several feature films and television projects. Hughley recently appeared in a one-hour stand-up special for HBO titled “Unapologetic” and hosted BET’s hidden camera show S.O.B., as well as the 2008 season of HBO’s Def Comedy Jam. Hughley also starred in the Aaron Sorkin drama series for NBC, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Hughley spent four successful years starring in his own sitcom The Hughleys, and in 2005-2006, he hosted his own late night talk show for Comedy Central, Weekends at the DL. It was the mega-hit Original Kings of Comedy that launched Hughley into superstardom. The film, based on the 1999 tour featuring Hughley, Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey and Cedric the Entertainer, garnered close to $40 million at the box office and became one of the highest selling DVDs in 2001.

Mitch Semel will serve as executive producer for CNN. Semel, who earlier this year launched Election Center with Campbell Brown at CNN, has served in senior programming positions at NBC, Nick@Nite, TV Land, and PBS. At CBS, he served as CBS’s executive of late-night programming for The Late Show with David Letterman and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. As the first head of programming at Comedy Central, he launched Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. At NBC, Semel was a producer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and the executive producer of Later with Greg Kinnear. Semel has additionally hosted and produced syndicated radio programs featuring in-depth interviews with prominent politicians, entertainers, and international newsmakers.

Michael Rotenberg, Dave Becky and Hughley will serve as executive producers for 3 Arts Entertainment.

As manager, producer and co-founder of 3 Arts Entertainment, Rotenberg plays an integral role in the development and production of both television and film properties, as well as shepherding the careers of some of today’s performers, writers and directors. A multiple Emmy-Award winner, he has produced such feature films as Office Space, Head of State and Son-In-Law and such television programs as The Chris Rock Show, Weekends at the D.L. and The Hughleys. He currently executive produces the television programs King of the Hill, Everybody Hates Chris and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Becky runs 3 Arts Entertainment’s New York office and joined the company after a career of managing the Improv in Los Angeles and working as a segment producer on the syndicated Dennis Miller Show. As a manager at 3 Arts Entertainment, Becky’s credits include executive producer for Everybody Hates Chris, Weekends at the D.L., The Hughley’s and The Tracy Morgan Show and series consultant on Comedy Central’s Strangers with Candy and Upright Citizens Brigade.