CNN Developing new morning show pilot?
The Wrap’s Dylan Stableford scoops that CNN is working on a new pilot for a morning show…
CNN – which has been shuffling its weekend and evening lineups of late – is developing a new morning show pilot, with a format closer to MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and “Fox & Friends” than anything it has done, TheWrap has learned.
A representative for CNN had no comment.
But according to one source familiar with the network’s development process, CNN is testing a concept that would include personalities with dueling political ideologies and opinions. That would be a major departure for CNN, which considers itself to be a bipartisan, journalistically-driven network unlike its rivals at Fox News and MSNBC.
A CNN insider, however, stressed that the programming and talent department are “always testing new talent” and formats, and that the pilot in question is not similar to “Morning Joe.”
Inside Cable News 
March 10, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Good! It’s nice to think that maybe – just maybe – somebody at CNN wants to challenge Fox News and take back that top spot.
March 10, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Does anyone really believe the CNN spin that they are “bipartisan”? What a joke. That’s just the excuse they use to try and explain away why no one watches them.
Anderson Cooper and his teabag jokes? Rick Sanchez, a poor man’s Olbermann…although he does sometimes have people to the right of center on.
March 11, 2010 at 8:54 am
True, lonestar. And the “conservatives” / “Republicans” CNN puts on tend to be caricatures and not particularly mainstream.
March 11, 2010 at 12:24 pm
BW, I don’t think that’s a fair criticism of CNN. Maybe MSNBC, who puts on Pat Buchanan a lot (who regardless of ideology knows a lot about politics, history, etc.), but not CNN.
Unless by caricatures you mean phony/slimy, like Alex Castenellos, who is a lobbyist on the side. But CNN has Bill Bennett, Mary Matalin, Amy Holmes (although I think she left). My point is that some of their commentators are actually pretty good, and they do a better job than MSNBC, except Morning Joe. For example, Wolf Blitzer did an interview with Education Sec. Arne Duncan the other day, and had Bill Bennett with him to add to the conversation. As a former education secretary under Reagan, he added a lot. I don’t watch CNN very much, FNC is my channel of choice, but that interview was worth watching.
March 11, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Fair enough, Corny. We largely turned away in disgust from CNN some years ago (only watch when it’s on in our favorite breakfast place, which is the only reason we are familiar with Chetry’s current work) and will assume that they’ve gotten better on that. Thank you for clearing that up.
March 12, 2010 at 4:20 pm
cnn is already tops in my book. its the only morning program that informs versus entertains. if i wanna see a circus id watch fox