'So Long Dad' O'Brien: Anchor Expected to Leave CNN

 (Photo credit: jdlasica)

Soledad is Spanish for solitude. The New York Post is reporting that CNN morning anchor Soledad O'Brien may soon have plenty of "alone time" as she appears on her way out at CNN as part of the cable news network's personnel shake-up under new boss Jeff Zucker.

O'Brien, who has hosted Starting Point in the a.m. since January 2012, is being supplanted by Erin Burnett, who will take her place alongside recent CNN arrival Chris Cuomo, according to the Post article. O'Brien, who left NBC for CNN in 2003, has helmed documentaries such as Black in America and formerly hosted American Morning.

The Post indicated O'Brien's departure, in part, stems from her being miffed about not receiving a long-promised Prime Time slot on CNN. The network did not respond to the Post article.

CNN Spitz the Bit; Aims to Re-Coop Ratings

Image via WikipediaPaltry ratings have led CNN to kick former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer to the curb, Politico reports.

Spitzer had rebounded somewhat from the disastrous ratings of Parker/Spitzer, which debuted in September 2010 (see "TUOL" posts 1/10/11, 9/8/10, 6/24/10), with his solo turn on In the Arena, but in the end, there weren't enough 25 to 54 year olds--advertisers' favorite demographic--sitting in the arena either. Spitzer's 8 p.m. slot will be filled beginning in August by Anderson Cooper's Anderson Cooper 360, which also will air at 10 p.m.

Former CNBC star Erin Burnett joins CNN's Prime-Time lineup in September with a gabfest that will air at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Piers Morgan, The Situation Room and John King USA will continue to be part of CNN's viewer-averse evening programming.  Not a Snookie or Real Housewife in the bunch.