CNN is in talks with TNT’s Charles Barkley to host a “news-oriented primetime show,” a move that could be the “boldest -- and potentially most disruptive -- programming move” of network Chair & CEO Chris Licht’s tenure, according to sources cited by Dylan Byers of PUCK.news. The show would see Barkley interview “newsmakers, journalists, and other guests about various topics of the day.” The idea is that a ”genuine, outspoken, often humorous figure like Barkley might be a bigger draw than the traditional self-serious newsman, and might be better suited to ask guests the kinds of questions that average Americans actually care about.” This comes as several “non-professional, personality-based interviewers” like Pat McAfee, Joe Rogan and Marc Maron have had success with podcasts and may be more preferable than usual talk-show hosts. The move as would “make economic sense” – Barkley would continue with TNT and Licht would be “sharing talent with another arm of the Warner Bros. Discovery television universe.” However, there are ”some risks to bringing Barkley to CNN, not least of which is that many CNN purists and capital-J journalism traditionalists could shit the bed over the fact that a crucial time slot is being given to a non-journalist” (PUCK.news, 2/10).
