This is not what Ted Turner had in mind when he launched CNN as the leading cable news channel, but it looks like the one thing that might make CNN in its current incarnation less of a joke is bringing in a comedian.
Having evolved into not much more than a low-rent echo chamber for progressives, the adults and business people that run the network are thinking of doing something radical; bringing in content contributors that people want to watch. Variety says that CNN CEO Chris Licht is chatting with up to a dozen talented content contributors who could contribute TV or digital segments on health, lifestyle, comedy, and sports topics.
The man who oversees the Discovery Media empire, which owns Warner Bros, is David Zaslav, and he likes the idea too.
One of the big names being kicked around on the Avenues of the Americas is Bill Maher, HBO’s shining star who has become one of America’s voices of reason during these turbulent times. The host of “Real Time” has been taping an extended version of his show which is posted on YouTube and has allowed Maher to reach an entirely new audience since HBO and HBO/Max are not free.
Zaslav is intent on having talent on Discovery networks collab more. The Variety story references TCM planning on using popular personalities from HGTV and the Food Network to talk about classic movies.
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