Anderson Cooper: Talk Show Host?

James Hibberd at The Live Feed is reporting that Anderson Cooper is being courted for a talk show…(via J$)

The talk show deal is complex because its being coordinated between Warner Bros., Cooper and Cooper’s employers at CNN — who have an exclusive contract with the newsman. The deal, which has been in talks for more than a month and may close by the end of the week, calls for Cooper to continue hosting “360.” With a lot of moving parts at play, however, sources caution the deal is not yet a sure thing.

Warner Bros. hopes to launch Cooper’s show next fall, coming into the marketplace just as talk queen Oprah Winfrey exits to launch her cable network OWN. The vacancy has spurred a surge of talk contenders whose projects are in various stages of deployment (including Dr. Oz, Nancy Grace and Jenny McCarthy).

Cooper’s show would air in early fringe in a cash-plus-barter deal, counter-programming more celebrity-oriented programs such as “Access Hollywood.” It’s not yet clear which station group Warners will line up as its first carriage partner to help galvanize further clearances.

What makes this story hard to believe for me is that Cooper will still be with CNN doing 360. I just do not see any possible way that can happen without a radical change to 360’s format and Cooper’s mission. What happens when the next big disaster strikes somewhere? CNN will not be able to deploy Cooper to the field because of his talk show commitments – what’s the talk show supposed to do? put re-runs on while he’s out on assignment? No. The only way that Cooper would stay at CNN and 360 is if he becomes solely a desk anchor. But the problem here is Cooper is better on the road; he’s more in his element on the road and 360 works better when he’s on the road. Cooper’s CNN career highlights have mostly occurred on the road. But I do not see a way that can continue and Cooper can be available to go anywhere at any time if he takes and CNN signs off on this syndication deal.