News
Jeff Zucker Appointed CNN Worldwide President! Will Exit KATIE Shortly!
Photo Credit: Getty Images
After all the rumors and all the hoopla it was confirmed yesterday that Jeff Zucker has officially been appointed CNN Worldwide President. Zucker replaces Jim Walton, who is retiring at the end of 2012.
The Time Warner-owned cable news network suffered from record low ratings in 2012, hitting a 21-year primetime ratings low in the spring. The original 24-hour cable news network fell into a distant third place behind rival MSNBC and cable news leader Fox News. Walton announced his resignation over the summer, saying the network needed new leadership and “new thinking.”
Though Zucker does not begin his post till the end of January, he decided to communicate with the staff directly after the network announcement on Thursday. Zucker is currently the executive producer of Katie Couric’s syndicated daytime talker, Katie, where he will remain through mid-January.
Katie Couric through a statement of her own related, “I’m very excited that Jeff has such a wonderful opportunity at CNN and equally excited for CNN. I’m also grateful that Jeff has been so instrumental in getting our show off to such a strong start and look forward to working with the fantastic staff we’ve assembled and building on the strong foundation we’ve created.”
According to Huffington Post today, Zucker immediately sent out a memo to his new staff writing: “I don’t have all the answers. No one does. But I hope that we can challenge each other to think even more broadly about what CNN is and can be, and to enhance this truly special and powerful brand.” Then, on a phone call with press on Thursday, Zucker said he planned to “remain true to the journalistic values” of CNN, but will also aim to “broaden the definition of what news is.” One way in which the network seems to be “broadening its definition of news” is through its decision to air a wider variety of reality and nonfiction programming.
So what do you think of the appointment of Zucker to head CNN? Does this mean more doom for Katie? Or, could this change at the top actually help her talk show? Weigh-in!
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Anyone remember Zucker’s tenure as NBC’s primetime guy? Network freefall!
Katie’s talk show is a bore. Wendy Williams is the true successor when it comes to Oprah’s old crown. Zucker won’t change CNN for the better. Eventually, FOX News will implode, and more people will get their real news from MSNBC than its competitors, because MSNBC is the only one in the bunch with visionary leadership at the moment.
Are you kidding me? MSNBC is a joke! Anyone who takes it seriously is nuts!
Talk shows are boring and all the same. Katie will be cancelled soon, followed by The Spew.
At first glance I thought Katie was exiting, that it was over. I WISH. I’ll never get used to not having AMC at noon, OLTL at 1 & GH at 2 (central time)
I told my mother today, remember when we had soaps from 11-3 every day on every network? Oh, for the days.
During the time when Katie Couric’s contract with NBC was about to expire, I noticed several articles referencing Couric as a possible replacement for the aging Larry King. Seeing this mentioned several times by different writers, I wondered if Couric really wanted that job and was sparking these comments. Clearly, that didn’t happen as Piers Morgan replaced King and Couric became anchor of the CBS Evening News. Now that Couric is on a daytime talking that is doing okay but not great, Morgan seems to be floundering as King’s replacement with viewers turning him off, and Couric’s old pal Jeff… Read more »
hmmmm. Maybe ABC will grow some balls, realize they screwed up big time- and bring back the only genre in daytime that has longevity- our soaps. How bout it Disney folks? Admit you screwed up, blame it Brian Fronz, and bring back One Life and All My Kids. If they could somehow get GH’s producer/writer to helm all 3 soaps,they’d have double Katie’s anemic ratings.
I totally agree! Wake up ABC!!!
Zucker should run cnn to the ground! That would be great for the planet. one less channel for shilling and editorializing and spreading lies. one less channel for anderson cooper!
I don’t like talk shows. She’s going to flop. Then they can make General Hospital a 2 hour show.
I don’t give flip about exec’s they don’t care about the public when they ask for show’s to stay on. They are greedy and really only give a rat’s ass about their paychecks.
Katie failed because she’s a greedy woman.
Wish him the best, but I was surprised when I first heard it because of the Conan/Leno fiasco, but as CNN is a news channel I realized that he was being hired based upon his past success with the Today show and his background with journalism/news (obviously, not because of his prime time entertainment capacity),so we shall see. The Katie show is disappointing mostly interviewing celebrities. She and the show could be much better. Need better topics and to improve the format. More interactive. Good point that others said maybe she will take over the Piers Morgan show on CNN… Read more »
Days Of Our Lives
Kristian Alfonso Shares Upcoming Role In V.C. Andrews Lifetime Movie Event Series, ‘All That Glitters’ and ‘Hidden Jewel’
Days of our Lives favorite, Kristian Alfonso (Ex-Hope) has joined Marilu Henner, Richard Harmon, Jennifer Laporte , and Evan Roderick in the cast of Lifetime’s four-movie V.C. Andrews event focused on the Landry family.
In V.C. Andrews’s All that Glitters and Hidden Jewel ( the 3rd and 4th installments) Alfonso will appear in the the Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28 editions, airing at 8 p.m. ET.
Courtesy/Lifetime
Kristian takes on the role of Gladys Tate, the mother of Ruby Landry’s childhood sweetheart who will move heaven and earth to keep the two apart.
The actress took to her Instagram to share the casting news and her upcoming appearances: “I’m so #happy #🎆 I can finally share this with #you all 🙂 @lifetimetv #vcandrews see #you also in #😉 #march . I hear there’s a #storm #coming ! #💃🏻 #😘”
Interestingly enough, and has previously announced, another daytime favorite Lauralee Bell (Christine, Y&R) will be featured in the first two films of the V.C. Andrews series on March 20 and 21st, Ruby and Pearls in the Mist.
It will be great to see Alfonso in a more, what appears to be, villainess turn! So, will you be checking out Kristian in her upcoming role? Comment below.
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News
TODAY: ‘The Doctors’ Reunion with Kim Zimmer, Jada Rowland, Nicholas Walker & James Storm
Retro TV has been airing episodes of the classic NBC soap opera, The Doctors, and now along with The Locher Room are bringing another virtual cast chat reunion with some of the beloved stars of the series.
Make sure to tune-in today beginning at 3PM EST/Noon PST when Alan Locher welcomes, the one and only Kim Zimmer (Nola Dancy Aldrich), Nicholas Walker (Brad Huntington), Jada Rowland (Carolee Simpson Aldrich) and James Storm (Dr. Michael Powers). Click here to view
Photos: NBC
If you want to check out old episodes of The Doctors check them out on Retro TV weekdays at 12 noon and at 7:30 p.m. EDT/PDT (see listings at www.myretrotv.com) and it streams online at 4 p.m. EDT weekdays at MyRetroTV.com and on the Retro TV Roku channel.
Episodes of the Emmy Award-winning series and exclusive interview content is available on-demand at WatchTheDoctors.com, Roku and App Stores.
So who was your favorite from The Doctors? Share your thoughts via the comment section below!
Breaking News
‘Dynasty’, ‘Santa Barbara’ and ‘Three’s Company’ Star, Peter Mark Richman, Has Passed Away
Justin Hartley To Star in New Series In The Works; TV Adaptation of ‘The Never Game’
Kristian Alfonso Shares Upcoming Role In V.C. Andrews Lifetime Movie Event Series, ‘All That Glitters’ and ‘Hidden Jewel’
TODAY: ‘The Doctors’ Reunion with Kim Zimmer, Jada Rowland, Nicholas Walker & James Storm
‘Dynasty’, ‘Santa Barbara’ and ‘Three’s Company’ Star, Peter Mark Richman, Has Passed Away
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General Hospital to Honor John Reilly with Upcoming Episode
Eva LaRue Reveals COVID-19 Diagnosis
ESPN and GH’s Stephen A. Smith Welcomes Maurice Benard & Eric Braeden to His New Show, ‘Stephen A’s World’
FRIDAY: Alex Trebek’s Last ‘Jeopardy!’ Episode Airs
‘Dynasty’, ‘Santa Barbara’ and ‘Three’s Company’ Star, Peter Mark Richman, Has Passed Away
Watch the Replay: GH, DAYS, Y&R, B&B & OLTL Stars at Michael Fairman’s Virtual Birthday Party for SAG-AFTRA Foundation Covid-19 Relief Fund
Go Back to the Beginning of ‘The Bay’ and Watch Early Episodes Starting Today
FRIDAY: Alex Trebek’s Last ‘Jeopardy!’ Episode Airs
Cheri Oteri On Reprising Barbara Walters Impression on CNN’s NYE With Andy Cohen & Anderson Cooper: “I Felt Like a Kid Going into My Brother’s Fort, Making Them Laugh Then Going Back to Watching The Young and Restless”
DAYS Freddie Smith and Alyssa Tabit Tie the Knot in Heart-Tugging New Year’s Eve Nuptials
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THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Will Adam Crash Sharon and Rey’s Wedding? Do You Want Him To?
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Breaking NewsJanuary 10, 2021General Hospital, As the World Turns & Passions Star, John Reilly, Passes Away At 84
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Breaking NewsJanuary 10, 2021GH Stars and More Share Reactions and Remembrances on the Death of John Reilly
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Breaking NewsJanuary 11, 2021TONIGHT: Michael Fairman 60th Birthday Livestream Featuring Daytime Drama Favorites To Benefit SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Covid-19 Relief Fund
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Days Of Our LivesJanuary 7, 2021Coby Ryan McLaughlin and Arianne Zucker In Lifetime’s “The Nanny Murders” Set To Premiere
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All My ChildrenJanuary 14, 2021‘ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway’ One-Night Only Streaming Concert With Favorites from AMC, GH and OLTL
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General HospitalJanuary 12, 2021General Hospital to Honor John Reilly with Upcoming Episode
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All My ChildrenJanuary 7, 2021Eva LaRue Reveals COVID-19 Diagnosis
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General HospitalJanuary 13, 2021ESPN and GH’s Stephen A. Smith Welcomes Maurice Benard & Eric Braeden to His New Show, ‘Stephen A’s World’