CNN Cancels Eliot Spitzer's Show

It's clear the legend can't hack it anymore

(NEWSER) - If you needed proof that it’s time for Larry King to retire—beyond the plummeting ratings —you got it during his painful interview with Lady Gaga. The interaction was a total dud, despite Gaga’s obvious willingness to have fun. “If he can no longer hit a hanging curve ball over the middle of the plate, shouldn’t CNN be thinking hard about who is on deck?” writes David Carr of the New York Times . More»

You know, just in case CNN gig falls through

(NEWSER) - Eliot Spitzer is rumored to be a possible replacement for Campbell Brown on CNN , and in case he doesn’t get that job, Olivia Allin of The Frisky suggests 10 alternatives:

• Britney Spears’ assistant: “The logic here would be that since he’s apparently attracted to sexual young women, Britney could scare him off of that addiction”—and he could help her regain control of her life in the process.
• Unpaid prostitute: “Wouldn’t it be cool if Spitzer were forced to sleep with people he wasn’t attracted to?”

Cable viewers prefer opinion-based news programming

(NEWSER) - CNN’s ratings have fallen behind those of the other major cable news networks as prime-time viewers pass over the network in favor of opinion-based news coverage. Every prime-time CNN show lost to its Fox News opponent, and in some instances the losses were even more humiliating—at 10pm, for example, Anderson Cooper 360 not only lost by a wide margin to Greta Van Susteren but was also beaten by repeats of 8pm programs hosted by Keith Olbermann and Nancy Grace. More»

Let the 'freak show' begin

(NEWSER) - Surprisingly, the elephants entering Staples Center this morning aren’t there for the “Michael Jackson Memorial Orgy of Excess”—but for the circus, opening tomorrow. “That seems completely appropriate,” writes Lisa de Moraes for the Washington Post. As for today’s “freak show,” 16 TV outlets are planning live coverage. “Overwhelmed by the sheer number of Jackson death-march viewing options?” Let de Moraes guide you: More»

Fox drops 13%—but still has top 13 programs in cable news

(NEWSER) - Fox News is still leading the cable news ratings race—but for how long? Fox's overall ratings for November dropped 13% compared to the same month last year, reports Mediabistro . For the juicy 25-to-54-year-old bracket, the fall was even steeper, plunging 30% in prime time. CNN, on the other hand, was up 4% over last year, with Anderson Cooper's AC 360 up a big 40%. Regardless of those trends, however, Fox News still accounts for the top 13 cable news shows, led by The O'Reilly Factor and Hannity. The top-rated non-Fox program is The Rachel Maddow Show. For the complete top 30 programs, see the Huffington Post . More»