CNN Brings Back Crossfire?
Yesterday TVNewser reported that CNN was mulling bringing back Crossfire. Today Deadline’s Dominic Patten says it will come back in June…
The ratings-struggling cable new network is bringing back Crossfire in June, network insiders tell me. No hosts have been chosen yet, the sources say. Nor is it clear if the show will definitely remain a half hour, as the original Crossfire was, or go longer. Right now it seems that Crossfire 2.0 is slated to have a variety of CNN personalities and contributors taking up the “left” and “right” roles on the new version of the political debate show.
Sigh…why? Didn’t CNN get the memo? Both sides political back and forth is sooooo 2000. The new paradigm is one person one viewpoint dominated programming. Yes, there are The Cycle and The Five but neither are dedicated politics shows the way Crossfire was and presumably would be again.
Then there’s the question of when to air it. 4pm is off limits. Presumably 5-7 are too (otherwise there will be a very unhappy Wolf Blitzer if The Situation Room loses another hour). There’s been no indication that Piers Morgan’s show is going away…and even if it was Crossfire likely isn’t the kind of show that would replace it because Morgan’s show epitomizes the kind of “wide swath news related programming” that Jeff Zucker has been pushing the network towards. That leaves 7pm, and 8 or 10. It’s just about a foregone conclusion that 360 is going to lose one of its hours since both are not live. But would you put Crossfire on at 8 and move Cooper back to 10 or Leave 360 on at 8 and move Crossfire to 10?
The other problem with Crossfire in a primetime slot is that it leaves the network susceptible to getting caught out on breaking news programming because Crossfire and its format is totally ill-suited to cover it. Can you say pre-emption? If you can’t you may need to start practicing if CNN puts Crossfire on during primetime.
Inside Cable News 
April 6, 2013 at 6:16 pm
The best part of the return of CROSSFIRE is it is a kick in the teeth of the smug Jon Stewart, if that is his name, who thought he’d drive a stake through its heart. LOL.
April 6, 2013 at 8:37 pm
Yes, it’s super exciting that Zucker is reviving a terrible show ’cause Jon Stewart.
April 6, 2013 at 8:39 pm
No stupid, that just a bonus.
April 6, 2013 at 10:02 pm
They really need to change the name of the thing if nothing else.
April 6, 2013 at 10:04 pm
We would probably be shocked at a comparison between Crossfire 1990 and anything on TV today.
April 6, 2013 at 10:28 pm
They should air it at 8pm. They can hire Kathleen Parker to represent the Right and Eliot Spitzer to represent the Left. Oh wait…
April 6, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Kayleigh McEnany, Alicia Menendez, and leg chairs. That’s genius right there, people.
April 6, 2013 at 11:29 pm
More CNN timeslots will change over the next 6-9 months than will stay the same, so it’s not as if it will be difficult to squeeze in. If this isn’t just a trial balloon and it indeed reappears, I’d expect it to air at 6PM or 7PM ET. But it’s actually wide (WIDE) open, because:
1. Tapper’s show at 4PM is dead in the water and will not recover. He could be relaunched in a harder news format later in the day or..something has to and will change.
2. Blitzer should retain two hours, but can slide an hour here or there.
3. Burnett is hardly safe. I don’t see any sign that Zucker is remotely fond of OutFront.
4. Cooper loses an hour – at least – and all of this Today Show / Jeopardy / Kathy Griffin / etc. talk indicates that his presence on the network is hardly stable or guaranteed.
5. The Morgan late night talk.
Finally, Crossfire was almost always a half-hour show, which seems to have no place in current cable news. A relaunch would likely bear little resemblance to the old version.
April 6, 2013 at 11:35 pm
I think the next evolution in leg chairs might be to eliminate the chair altogether. A chaise would really be a more effective platform.
April 7, 2013 at 12:50 am
I really like the idea of CNN having more 30 minute programs. I wish CNN would simulcast with CNN International at 3:00PM ET and air Amanpour which is usually LIVE, followed by NewsCenter with Isha Sesay at 3:30PM ET which is also LIVE. Crossfire should air at 4:00PM or 4:30PM back to back with another new half hour program, moving The Lead to 7:00PM, and OutFront to 11:00PM considering Erin Burnett’s ratings are usually better in that time slot anyway. The only way I feel Crossfire would be interesting is if it had the likes of Donna Brazile (liberal) or Ana Navarro (conservative). These are two smart commentators that are not like those annoying pundits who try too hard to succeed in conversation.
April 7, 2013 at 6:57 am
Morons talking about leg chairs. Juvie.
April 7, 2013 at 8:05 am
My Tweet today:
@donnabrazile and @mattklewis are my choices as the CROSSFIRE 2.0 hosts. Both smart, knowledgeable, … and great on Twitter.
Matt just retweeted it.
April 7, 2013 at 10:40 am
When Crossfire aired at 4:00 p.m. (or was it 4:30?), CNN often broke into it when news happened. It’s less likely it would happen in primetime but they have shown it’s possible.
I’m all for this move but it would be nice if every other CNN program would be less like Crossfire (where, instead of reporting the news, they just bring on pundits to debate it). Have a Crossfire show, then have news shows. Don’t make everything the same.
April 7, 2013 at 12:53 pm
if one really pays attention to Morgan’s ratings lately, he has consistently be the lowest/ second lowest ratings next to Blitzer, even Burnett is consistently having higher numbers (at least demos wise..) i reckon CNN really should look into bringing Amanpour from CNNI, it doesn’t necessarily be on live, since it’s a 30 mins programme, it will fit perfectly with Crossfire (presumably also going to run as a half hour programme) I hate to say but I really think Wolf deserves 12 hours/week (including weekends replays), and sooner or later Jake will move into one of the primetime slots. I also agree Burnett’s future is definitely uncertain given what happened with the morning show saga, unless she adjusts her representative/management as well as her ratings continue to build up from the recent growth. Anderson deserves to keep one of his slots (and no doubt Zucker would try his best to keep him)
April 7, 2013 at 1:23 pm
Amanpour is off-limits due to her contract with ABC News (the stupidest move of her career). She can anchor on CNNi but NOT on Domestic.
April 7, 2013 at 2:53 pm
I don’t have a problem with bringing back Crossfire. It’s success or failure will depend on it’s panelists, its time-slot and staying true to the format. It needs sharp, funny, partisans who are quick with a quip or putdown. Paul Begala or Ed Rollins are examples of what I mean.
As for when to broadcast the show, I’d go for a hour long weekend slot; maybe Candy Crowley’s re-air following Howie Kurtz on Sunday. If it has to go on weeknights then after 10PM is my best suggestion.
April 7, 2013 at 7:23 pm
If CNN is thinking about bringing back old shows, can we have old Headline news back? Zucker is president of that too.
April 7, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Forget it. Internet made it obsolete.
April 7, 2013 at 8:33 pm
Rudi Bakhtiar!
April 8, 2013 at 12:35 am
larrykelly: Morons talking about leg chairs. Juvie.
It was a goofy joke following a substantive post. Piss off.
April 8, 2013 at 7:42 am
typo correction: I was referring Wolf doesn’t deserve to have 12 hours of weekly programme.
September 16, 2018 at 8:47 pm
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