CNN shutting down 'TalkBack Live' (America's WORST TV SHOW Cancelled!)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | March 8, 2003 | Caroline Wilbert

[Dont Mention the War]

[ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 3/8/03 ]

CNN shutting down 'Talk Back Live'

By CAROLINE WILBERT
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

"TalkBack Live" is dead.

CNN is canceling the afternoon show, possibly evidence of a renewed focus on hard news.

The show, most recently hosted by longtime entertainment reporter Arthel Neville, will be replaced by an extra hour of "Live From," which previously ended at 3 p.m. Both shows are produced in Atlanta.

"Live From" anchor Kyra Phillips relies on the network's correspondents, domestically and around the world, for reporting on news of the day. As part of the change, CNN reporter and anchor Miles O'Brien will join Phillips as a co-host. The show has a more serious tone than "TalkBack Live," which included audience feedback and a regular weekly appearance from basketball star Charles Barkley.

[Dont Mention the War]

Hallelujah! This was, IMHO, the single worst show on all of cable news, EVER. Nothing but an hour of a handhead camera being shoved in the faces of the poor schlubs that made the mistake of taking the CNN Tour at the wrong time. It was vaguely amusing to watch them all scowl and look at their watches wondering how much longer it would be until their living hell would be over, but that's not enough to sustain viewer interest for more than a couple of minutes.

[ladyinred]

CNN is really having a hard time coming up with programs lately that people like! Gee, I feel so sorry for them, don't you? (sarcasm)

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I enjoyed watching Blanquita Cullum mop up the floor with the leftist pukes she debated. Don't forget, we also got to see Ben Stein give Ariana Huffington the bird on Talkback Live. Bobbie Battista was far superior to Neville.

[Dont Mention the War]

CNN cancels 'Talk Back Live' show

By Jon Friedman, CBS.MarketWatch.com

Last Update: 6:13 PM ET March 7, 2003

NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- CNN said Friday it has canceled "Talk Back Live," freeing up the afternoon talk show's time slot as the network positions itself for a looming threat of war in Iraq.

"As we face mounting tensions abroad and growing threats here at home, it makes a lot of sense to program this network in a way that both meets the demands of our viewers and the news environment in which we find ourselves," according to a statement by Teya Ryan, an executive vice president of CNN, part of AOL Time Warner (AOL: news, chart, profile).

Taking up the hour that belonged to "Talk Back," CNN's news show "Live From" will be extended till 4 p.m. Eastern time, starting Monday. Anchorwoman Kyra Phillips will be joined by Miles O'Brien, who distinguished himself when he anchored CNN's marathon coverage of the space shuttle disaster last month.

"Talk Back Live" had a format in which panelists and audience members would discuss and debate current events. But the action often deteriorated into shouting matches between guests and members of the audience.

CNN has asked "Talk Back Live" host Arthel Neville to remain with the news network, said Ryan, who was an architect of the show.

There has been wide speculation that CNN founder Ted Turner, who is stepping down next month as vice chairman of AOL Time Warner, may seek to buy back Turner Broadcasting and the Atlanta Braves baseball team, which he had also once owned, from AOL.

CNN's top executive, Walter Isaacson, recently resigned, as did Turner Broadcasting chief Jamie Kellner. Both men were replaced by executives who are regarded as Turner loyalists.

AOL shares rose 29 cents, or 3 percent, to $11.40 on Friday.Jon Friedman is media editor for CBS.MarketWatch.com in New York.

[Mister Baredog]

Let's hope Crossfire is next

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

CNN continues to tank. So long, TalkBack, you sucked anyway!

[mombonn]

Arthel Neville and Bill O'Reilly should have disappeared into oblivion at the same time.

Never have I seen 2 more disgusting performers who should have taken a cold shower together, unless you throw in Begala and Carvile!

[stubernx98]

Wasn't Ms Nevile on O' Riley's show awhile back?

[sinkspur]

Arthel Neville and Bill O'Reilly should have disappeared into oblivion at the same time.

O'Reilly's gonna be around for a long time, mom.

Like it or not.

[nothingnew]

Arthel...Kyra...Miles...

Some parents can be so cruel, can't they?......BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

FMCDH

[nothingnew]

Bobbie Battista was far superior to Neville.

Yeah...It was her eyes that did it for me.

FMCDH

[cody32127]

I think she's talking about the "tention" Between Bill & Arthell

[umgud]

TBL format; Round up a socialist liberal (and usually anti-US) audience, at least 2 lib talkers and 1 lib host and 1-2 conservatives and .............

[AndyTheBear]

Does anyone know what the ratings were like? I find it interesting the article doesn't say.

[babylonian]

The last time I watched this show was when Susan Rook was hosting (before she ate too much Ragu and got chubby). The format was very cleverly slanted toward the liberal guests. It went something like this: Coming back from a commercial break they would go to the liberal guest, giving him or her ample time to rattle on a bit. Then they would switch to the conservative side for a rebuttal, but just a minute (or less) into their response, the interruptions would start, then the shouting (drowning out the conservative voice). As it all reached a peak, they would go to a break. After the break, things would be very quiet and serene, and they would go the the liberal....and the whole thing would start over again.

I pulled the plug on this show and CNN a long time ago.

[CIBvet]

Arthel was so pathetic on O'Rielly's show that she quickly got the boot.

Even one segment revealed to me that her head held nothing but a strickened worship of the Hollywarped, Po(o)P Culture.

I was really happy to see her gone from Fox, and that CNN was saddled with supporting her vacuous career.

[lizma]

I was unaware this show even existed.

[Dont Mention the War]

Wasn't Ms Nevile on O' Riley's show awhile back?Yeah, mainly as comic relief. She had some sort of half-assed gig at Fox at the time, something showbiz-related I think.

[ALS]

You should see where they tape it. It's right in the food court. The silliest part is that it's wide open, yet they have a metal detector you have to go through.

From the Nitwork that brought you "Safer Bullets", what did you expect?

[jackbill]

CNN has asked "Talk Back Live" host Arthel Neville to remain with the news network, said Ryan, who was an architect of the show.

Doing what? Remember when she was with Fox News and would appear with O'Reilly once a week? I don't attribute her leaving FNC to the hundreds of e-mails that I sent telling them to dump the broad, but sanity ruled.

Now she's CNN's problem. Do they have enough latrines that need cleaning?