Fans slammed a report that suggested CNN boss Chris Licht is in talks to rent former NBA star Charles Barkley for a primetime show.
Licht wants Barkley to fill the 9 pm hole left open since disgraced anchor Chris Cuomo was fired from the network in 2021, in keeping with Puck News.
The report said the show would have the NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT “Contained in the NBA” host interview “newsmakers, journalists, and other guests about various topics of the day.”
TNT and CNN are each owned by parent company Warner Bros. Discovery.
The notion that Barkley could be CNN’s next Larry King landed like one in every of the bricks the “Round Mound of Rebound” was famous for snagging.
“I like Chuck…this might be an EPIC FAIL on CNN’s part,” one fan wrote.
“It’s almost comical what Licht thinks shall be good for the network and what people want. None of his moves have improved the content or their performance,” added one critic.
CNN is reportedly in talks with Charles Barkley for a primetime gig.NBAE via Getty Images
Chief amongst Licht’s questionable shakeups was the overhaul of CNN’s morning programming. He installed failed primetime anchor Don Lemon along Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow to co-host a recent “CNN This Morning.”
However the show has been a rankings flop and tensions between Lemon and Collins boiled over when Lemon allegedly chewing out his colleague off camera last December.
Now Licht’s purported plan to revamp the network’s primetime programming by peppering in some entertainment-driven personalities to juice the rankings has also been panned.
It’s almost comical what Licht thinks shall be good for the network and what people want. None of his moves have improved the content or their performance.
— Samhain442 (@Samhain442) February 10, 2023
“Won’t work. CNN is getting into the unsuitable direction,” one fan tweeted.
“What’s #CNN pondering? Are they still within the news business or what? This isn’t going to work,” wrote one other user, taking aim on the ratings-challenged cable news network.
One Barkley detractor added that the NBA star has been criticized for his opinions on hot-button issues up to now.
“Barkley has garbage opinions on plenty of social matters. money has distanced him from the realities that many individuals, particularly people of color, undergo of their on a regular basis. can’t really take words of a man who takes private jets to get around as a voice of justice & reason.”
CNN boss Chris Licht is scrambling to juice CNN’s rankings and is popping to entertainment figures for help.WireImage
In 2020, the previous Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers forward got slammed for saying that the shooting of Breonna Taylor shouldn’t be “lumped in” with other high-profile shootings of unarmed black people.
“I don’t think this one was like George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery and things like that,” Barkley said. “I feel sad that this young lady lost her life. I believe this one was — the no-knock warrant is something we want to do away with … across the board. But I’m frightened to lump all these situations in together.”
“What’s Charles Barkley talking about???????????????” journalist Britni Danielle wrote on the time. “This [Brianna Taylor’s death] isn’t like Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. You’re right. It’s not, because she was at home, asleep in her bed. TF???”
barkley has garbage opinions on plenty of social matters.
money has distanced him for the realities that many individuals, particularly people of color, undergo of their on a regular basis.
cannot really take words of a man who takes private jets to get around as a voice of justice & reason
— SM (@slothmanifesto) February 10, 2023
Still, some Hollywood insiders think the move could make sense.
“Licht is exploring every kind of names for multi-week stints,” one source said of the potential Barkley hire. “You can see him interviewing people, talking about race, politics, culture, whatever.”
“It could possibly be sensible,” one other source added.
CNN’s recent boss Chris Licht is experimenting with a recent format for the network’s 9 pm show.Getty Images
The Post reached out to CNN and Barkley for comment.
Last month, Puck reported that Licht approached “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King to host a weekly show in a deal that will allow her to retain her day job at CBS. Although sources questioned why CBS would comply with that arrangement and added that it could mean long hours for King, it wasn’t unheard of.
A rep from CNN gave the identical comment for Puck’s King report when asked a few Barkely hire: “Chris is having conversations with dozens of culturally relevant individuals from the worlds of stories, sports, entertainment and comedy.”
