Fans rip that CNN may tap Charles Barkley for primetime gig

CNN boss Chris Licht’s reported talks with NBA nice Charles Barkley to host a primetime present on the ratings-challenged information community had been mocked by basketball followers and TV critics.

Licht desires Barkley to fill the 9 pm gap left open since disgraced anchor Chris Cuomo was fired from the network in 2021, in keeping with Puck Information.

The report stated the present would have the NBA Corridor of Famer and present TNT “Contained in the NBA” host interview “newsmakers, journalists, and different company about numerous subjects of the day.”

TNT and CNN are each owned by guardian firm Warner Bros. Discovery.

The notion that Barkley may be CNN’s subsequent Larry King landed like one of many bricks the “Spherical Mound of Rebound” was well-known for snagging.

“I like Chuck…this may be an EPIC FAIL on CNN’s half,” one fan wrote.

“It’s nearly comical what Licht thinks might be good for the community and what individuals need. None of his strikes have improved the content material or their efficiency,” added one critic.

Chief amongst Licht’s questionable shakeups was the overhaul of CNN’s morning programming. He put in failed primetime anchor Don Lemon alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow to co-host a brand new “CNN This Morning.”

However the present has been a scores 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 community’s primetime programming by peppering in some entertainment-driven personalities to juice the scores has additionally been panned.

“Received’t work. CNN goes within the unsuitable course,” one fan tweeted.

“What’s #CNN pondering? Are they nonetheless within the information enterprise or what? This isn’t going to work,” wrote one other person, taking purpose on the ratings-challenged cable information community.

One Barkley detractor added that the NBA star has been criticized for his opinions on hot-button points prior to now.

“Barkley has rubbish opinions on lots of social issues. cash has distanced him from the realities that many individuals, significantly individuals of coloration, undergo of their on a regular basis. can’t actually take phrases of a man who takes non-public jets to get round as a voice of justice & purpose.”

In 2020, the previous Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers ahead bought slammed for saying that the shooting of Breonna Taylor shouldn’t be “lumped in” with different high-profile shootings of unarmed black individuals.

“I don’t assume this one was like George Floyd or Ahmaud Arbery and issues like that,” Barkley stated. “I really feel unhappy that this younger girl misplaced her life. I feel this one was — the no-knock warrant is one thing we have to eliminate … throughout the board. However I’m frightened to lump all these conditions in collectively.”

“What’s Charles Barkley speaking about???????????????” journalist Britni Danielle wrote on the time. “This [Brianna Taylor’s death] isn’t like Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. You’re proper. It’s not, as a result of she was at dwelling, asleep in her mattress. TF???”

Nonetheless, some Hollywood insiders assume the transfer may make sense.

“Licht is exploring all types of names for multi-week stints,” one supply stated of the potential Barkley rent. “You may see him interviewing individuals, speaking about race, politics, tradition, no matter.”

“It may very well be good,” one other supply added.

The Publish reached out to CNN and Barkley for remark.

Final month, Puck reported that Licht approached “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King to host a weekly present in a deal that might permit her to retain her day job at CBS. Though sources questioned why CBS would comply with that association and added that it could imply lengthy hours for King, it wasn’t unparalleled.

A rep from CNN gave the identical remark for Puck’s King report when requested a couple of Barkely rent: “Chris is having conversations with dozens of culturally related people from the worlds of stories, sports activities, leisure and comedy.”