CNN’s convulsion continues as Jake Tapper is promoted to Chris Cuomo’s old 9 p.m. primetime slot after watch warrior Don Lemon was moved to the front flagship breakfast show
- CNN announced Thursday that Jake Tapper has been tapped to take over Chris Cuomo’s old 9 p.m. slot — the latest in a series of sweeping changes by the network
- Tapper, 53, the outlet’s premier Washington anchor, will occupy the sacred window leading up to this year’s midterm elections beginning October 10
- The job, held temporarily by Cuomo until he was fired by a sex scandal for helping brother Andrew, could become permanent if Tapper catches the eye
CNN’s Jake Tapper has been tapped to take over Chris Cuomo’s old 9pm primetime slot – the latest in a series of sweeping changes made by the network to shed its perception of being too liberal.
Tapper, the outlet’s premier Washington anchor, will occupy the sacred window leading up to this year’s midterm elections, the network said in a statement Thursday, beginning Oct. 10 and continuing through Nov. 11.
While it was temporary, the job – held by Cuomo until it was axed – was Helping brother Andrew through his sexual misconduct scandal – could become permanent as Tapper, 53, draws in viewers.
Ratings for the hour have suffered since Cuomo’s ouster last December as the network failed to fill the long-associated slot with the host, who will start a new job as an anchor for the non-partisan network NewsNation in October.
The slot has since been occupied by a number of rotating hosts but has failed to reach the numbers it enjoyed under 52-year-old Cuomo.
It also comes days after CNN announced a “redesigned” morning show starring Trump-hating anchor Don Lemon — despite pledges from new CEO Chris Licht to move the network away from left-leaning commentary and restore trust in the media.
Jake Tapper, CNN’s top Washington anchor, will occupy the hallowed window of opportunity leading up to this year’s midterm elections, the network said in a statement Thursday, beginning Oct. 10
“The world relies on Jake’s no-nonsense approach to reporting the news, especially during high-stakes election cycles,” Chief Executive Licht said in a statement announcing the recent restructuring of the famed liberal network.
“This move will showcase his tough reporting, astute analysis and consistent interviewing as our audience navigates the myriad of issues at stake in the medium term,” added the CEO.
Licht, who ran Stephen Colbert’s Late Show for six years until it was announced last February that he would also replace ousted boss Jeff Zucker, added that in addition to the 9 p.m 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Slot – a post made by Lemon.
“By adding the insights, experiences and powerful voices of Alisyn and Laura, we will advance and expand this coverage and create something complementary and compelling in prime time,” Licht said of Camerota and Coates.
