CNN hopes retooled Cooper, Zahn shows improve prime-time ratings (Pipe Dream Alert!)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | September 6, 2003 | CAROLINE WILBERT

[buzzyboop]

This time they're serious.

CNN's prime-time anchors, Paula Zahn and Anderson Cooper, officially launch their new shows Monday.

Yes, they've both been on the air for months, but the Atlanta network is repackaging them in a bid to boost sagging prime-time ratings.

"There is going to be a structure to the hour," producer Jim Miller said of Zahn's retooled show. "Viewers are going to understand the show in a way they couldn't this summer."

Anderson Cooper's show will air at 7 p.m., followed by Paula Zahn's at 8.

Zahn's straight news program will be called "Paula Zahn Now." Cooper's show, which will have a lighter, fast-paced style, will be called "Anderson Cooper 360."

Zahn's show will have a new set and regular contributors, to be announced over the coming weeks. Cooper's show will add features, including some about media and entertainment.

[buzzyboop]

Ok now, you really don't need the entire article copied here, do you? I mean, the first line was all I needed to LMAOROTF plus any other acronyms you can think of.

Keep dressing the pig!!

[afuturegovernor]

"Anderson Cooper 360."

Sounds like a winner...LOL

[stevem]

At least I know who Paula Zahn is. Seems to me I used to see her every once in a while on other networks.

Who is Anderson Cooper?

[Crawdad]

"Paula Zahn Now"-NO. "Paula Zahn Topless Now"- Maybe.
Dude, if you're getting 18% fewer virewers than Connie Chung, it ain't the set's fault. CNN is cluless.

[TomGuy]

"Viewers are going to understand the show in a way they couldn't this summer."

So, the summer show was so complicated that viewers couldn't understand it?

hahahaha...

[CaptainK]

Anderson Cooper is Vanderbilt's son

[Vladivostok]

Remember when they first wooed Paula away from Fox and used "sexy" in their promo's? Finally, an indisputable truth from CNN and everyone got up in arms :-)

[LADY J]

"Viewers are going to understand the show in a way they couldn't this summer."

Yeah! Viewers get smarter in the wintertime.

[rickmichaels]

Anderson Cooper 360.

Yet more CNN spin.

[CaptainK]

Gloria Vanderbilt, that is

[moyden2000]

Zzzzzzzz ...

[nightowl]

Former President Bush will be Paula Zahn's guest this Monday night at 8 PM EST (I think). I saw it advertised today. I was just channel surfing.