CNN's Brown Out: Cooper's 360° Moves to 10 p.m. Slot

Mediaweek ^ | nov. 2, 2005 | By Stephanie D. Smith

[blogblogginaway]

Aaron Brown is out at CNN, and Anderson Cooper will take over Brown’s 10 p.m. time slot, effective Monday.

The shakeup comes as a result of some prime time scheduling moves that CNN made official Wednesday. Cooper will take his 7 p.m. showcase, Anderson Cooper 360°, to the 10-midnight spot, formerly occupied by Brown’s NewsNight. Cooper’s old spot will be filled by an additional hour of The Situation Room, hosted by Wolf Blitzer.

In a memo to staffers, CNN president Jon Klein said the veteran anchor “will be leaving CNN and is very much looking forward to some well-deserved time off with his family.”

Since mid-September, Brown and Cooper had been paired on NewsNight, as Klein sought to capitalize on Cooper’s surge in popularity in the wake of his coverage of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath.

Brown joined CNN in 2001 and first came to prominence with his on-air reporting from New York on Sept. 11 of that year. Cooper joined CNN as a weekend anchor in December 2001 and began hosting Anderson Cooper 360° in March 2003.

In his note to staffers, Klein said praised Brown for his “stellar” work as an anchor, adding “there is no question that he will be missed.”

[Rosemont]

Maybe they can pair Andrew Sullivan with Anderson Cooper for the 10PM slot.

[LZ_Bayonet]

"One more unemployed commie."

Actually, I recall seeing his show a few times and thinking that he was just a little too fair in some of his questions to fit in with CNN's management and base audience. When interviewing conservatives, his questions lacked the very high level of aggressiveness and accusatory tone needed to please the CNN base. It was only a matter of time.

[Kryptonite]

Anybody know whatever happened with Cooper's ABC show, The Mole? Last I recall the show just stopped airing midway through a contest. I've always wondered what happened...

Next thing I saw he was on CNN.

[fatnotlazy]

I used to watch Brown when he was on ABC's late night news (wee hours of the morning). He was actually an affable guy -- didn't seem biased at all. He had a few good shows on CNN, but as has been said here, his apparent unwillingness to follow in lockstep with the President bashing brass at CNN was probably his undoing.

[Kryptonite]

Better get a bucket after thinking about that pairing.

They're probably more likely to put a lesbian on with Cooper....

[dhuffman@awod.com]

COOPERS SOOPER POOPER SCOOPER? Piers Anthony's Macroscope - already done.

[wardaddy]

beat me to it

his raconteur daddy died too young

[BallyBill]

Fox will hire him in their effort to become more like MSNBC and CNN. LOSERS!!!

[pepperhead]

I guess this means more airtime for Jack Cafferty.

[bonfire]

"I cannot believe that whimpering sissy boy has ONE fan.

Gloria must be so humiliated."

She's probably the "ONE fan"!


That whole CNN lineup at night is nauseating. Aaron Brown has that nasily whiney voice and always has his hands over his mouth. Bet no one at the station shakes hands with him.

[bonfire]

"They're probably more likely to put a lesbian on with Cooper...."

I think Cooper IS a lesbian.

[monkapotamus]

AARON BROWN OUT AT CNN
Wed Nov 02 2005 15:43:11 ET

To: All CNN Staff

From: Jon Klein

We have made some programming decisions which will impact our prime time schedule as well as our colleague Aaron Brown. Aaron will be leaving CNN and is very much looking forward to some well-deserved time off with his family. Aaron has made enormous contributions to CNN since his groundbreaking anchoring of Sept. 11th through the war in Iraq to the Tsunami to the recent hurricanes. Outside of the big stories, on a nightly basis, Aaron has provided our audiences with insight into the events of the United States and the world with eloquence and the highest journalist integrity.

Besides his stellar work as an anchor, Aaron stands as an absolutely brilliant writer, evident by the thoughtful perspective he injects into every story he touches.

Personally, I will miss Aaron and his wicked sense of humor. We cannot thank Aaron enough for the skills and professionalism he brought to CNN. Given his respect throughout the industry, there is no question that he will be missed.

---

Translation:

"YOU'RE FIRED!"

[BigSkyFreeper]

Cooper’s old spot will be filled by an additional hour of The Situation Room, hosted by Wolf Blitzer.

The death knell tolls for Wolf Blitzer.

[samadams2000]

Will they next fire that nice lady Miss Zahn???? zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Man is she a hater!

[samadams2000]

If this was a realization you 1) Shouldnt torture your audience or 2)Can only lie to your audience for so long or 3) Profit motive driven..finally, then this should be just the beginning of the hippie purging.

[fabriclady]

"I can't stomach Aaron Brown- he is the most liberally biased schmuck."

After 911 I heard him say he was the face of CNN News. I thought what a jerk. He had to toot his own horn.
I can't stand him.
Now lets hope Fox doesn't take him in.

[reagan_fanatic]

[Jhensy]

his apparent unwillingness to follow in lockstep with the President bashing brass at CNN was probably his undoing.

LOL, he was as lefty-biased as anyone there. Not even remotely close to the reason for his sacking.

[God luvs America]

I can't agree...I watched him a lot @10PM (don't like Greta) and I thought he went out of his way to bash the administration and try and resuscitate dead stories to put the WH in bad light....

what annoyed the hell out of me is he would always have radical left wing guests on and never even attempt to have someone from the other side.

[pabianice]

What's CNN?