CNN CEO Chris Licht is making good on his promise to shake things up at the cable television network. Thursday an announcement was made that Don Lemon, host of Don Lemon Tonight, is losing that primetime show and will be moving to the morning shift. Lemon will be one of three co-hosts on a new morning show. The other two hosts are Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.
“There is no stronger combination of talent than Don, Poppy and Kaitlan to deliver on our promise of a game-changing morning news program,” he said in a statement.
When Licht took the reins of CNN he clearly stated that he wants more real news coverage and less opinion coverage. One specific area in need of a change, according to Licht, is the morning show.
Back in May, Licht announced at Upfronts CNN would reimagine the morning show, which hit a seven-year low in the ratings in July and has long lagged behind Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” and MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” in both total viewers and the key news demographic of viewers 25-54.
“We will reimagine our morning show leveraging our correspondents and unmatched resources in the U.S. and around the world to provide news that viewers need to know as they start their day,” Licht said to attendees of the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfronts. “[To] be honest there, we are seeking to be a disrupter of the broadcast morning shows in this space, and we believe we have the people and resources who can do it.”
Last month the axe started swinging at CNN. Brian Stelter and his show, Reliable Sources were on the chopping block. His was the biggest name involved in the big changes going on, up until today.
Lemon is putting his best face forward about all this. He’s been a pain in the sides of conservatives for eight long years. During the Trump years, he was as Trump deranged as any other CNN employee. He’s going with a light-hearted approach. It will be fun!
“The last eight years have been an incredible ride. I’ve had the opportunity to work with one of the best show teams in the business, but it’s time to shake things up,” he said in a statement. “I was honestly floored when Chris Licht asked me to do this and I’m honored by his belief in me. It’s going to be a thrill to take on this challenge with Poppy and Kaitlan. I’ll get to work with two of my dearest friends. Set your alarms folks, because we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
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There has been some baby steps taken in the tone of political discourse from some of the CNN anchors but I imagine that Licht thinks there is plenty more to be done. From its inception in the Ted Turner days, the network leaned liberal in its news coverage but not to the extreme measure that has evolved to its coverage today. Every host, it seems, mixes personal political opinions into reading the headlines. We’ll see how much progress Licht will be able to make. So far, he’s off to a pretty good start.
For their part, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins are also putting out some happy talk.
Harlow, who already works mornings alongside Jim Sciutto, will shift to an earlier start to anchor the new morning show with Lemon and Collins. “What a gift to be able to sit beside Don and Kaitlan each morning,” she said.
Collins, previously the White House correspondent for CNN during Trump’s tenure in the Oval office, will serve as co-anchor and chief correspondent for the new morning show.
“I am thrilled to start this new adventure at CNN,” Collins said in a statement. “To go from sharing my reporting on their shows to sitting at the desk alongside them is an incredible opportunity and I’m deeply humbled by it.”
The anchors of the current morning show, New Day, John Berman and Brianna Keilar, will continue on with the show until the new one begins. After that, they will shift to other roles later this year.
Don Lemon’s primetime show has long lagged behind Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” in the ratings. New Day comes in behind both Fox News’ Fox and Friends and MSNBC’s Morning Joe.
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