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.

Papers Report Client No. 9 86's Parker from CNN Gabfest

Image by John*Ell via FlickrCNN, disappointed with the ratings for the four-month-old train wreck, er, talk show, "Parker/Spitzer", plans to show Pulitzer-Prize winning conservative columnist Kathleen Parker the door, according to reports in today's New York Post and Wall St. Journal.

Although elated by the aggressiveness and political acumen of former NY Gov. Elliot Spitzer, CNN ("C'mon; Nobody's Newsier") has been badly trailing in the ratings to  Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and quite possibly, test patterns for the Emergency Broadcasting System. (See "TUOL": posts 9/810 & 6/24/10.) There have reports of backstage tussles between the co-hosts, but CNN won't confirm that Parker is on her way out.

Press reports speculate that former Fox and Friends host E.D. Hill, who has previously filled-in for Parker, is the front-runner to replace her.  Hill is best-known for once characterizing a post-primary celebratory fist bump between the Obamas as a "terrorist fist jab," for anyone who might otherwise confuse Hill with Bill Moyers or Ted Koppel.  Other possible candidates to succeed Parker include National Review scribe Will Cain, but as has been amply illustrated in his professional and private life, Spitzer prefers female company.

CNN's Dazzling New Program Title for Spitzer & Parker Gabfest

Image via WikipediaCNN this week unveiled the name of the new Prime Time talk show featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker and former Democratic NY Gov. Elliot Spitzer debuting this fall  at 8 p.m. opposite Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann.

CNN ("Creativity Not Necessary") reached back to come up with the title--drum roll, please--Parker Spitzer.
 Yeah, that's right.

Those of you who guessed: Parker Here, Client No. 9, nice try.

UPDATE: CNN Announces Spitzer & Parker to Host 'Not-Crossfire' Talk Show

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

As "TUOL" noted in a 6/15/10 post, former NY Gov. Elliot Spitzer this fall will helm CNN's Prime Time 8 p.m. talk show, replacing Cameron Brown, and banging heads with entrenched cable tv gabbers Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann.

Joining Spitzer as co-host of the as-yet unnamed talk show (just don't call it "Crossfire--The Sequel") is syndicated Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker, a Pulitzer Prize winner and self-proclaimed "rational Conservative" whose twice-weekly commentary appears in more than 400 newspapers nationwide. Spitzer, the "Sheriff of Wall St.," and one-time formidable liberal Governor of New York until forced to resign in disgrace two years ago over his unveiling as "Client No. 9" in the Emperors Club prostitution sting (see "TUOL" post 8/11/09), has been making the cable talk show rounds, appearing as a guest commentator on Bill Maher's program, among others.

Parker said that unlike artificial roundtable discussion programs, her & Spitzer's effort will focus on what  people discuss at their kitchen table.  This should pose a challenge for Spitzer, who has thus far been recogized for his bedroom chat skills.