We've watched the Yale educated son of Gloria Vanderbilt deliver the news from wherever hell-on-earth happens to be for over a decade now, working for 60 Minutes, 20/20 and CNN. What's next for the sexy, silver-haired correspondent? Apparently, it's daytime talk.
On September 30th, Ken Werner, president of Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, and Hilary Estey McLoughlin, president of Telepictures Productions announced via press release that Anderson Cooper had signed a deal to host a new, one-hour daily, daytime strip set for national syndication launch in Fall 2011. Cooper will continue to anchor CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, airing weeknights at 10 p.m.
Cooper, who has filled in for Regis on Live with Regis and Kelly on numerous occasions, had this to say of the decision: "Over the course of the past few years, I've had the opportunity to work on a number of daytime programs. It's fun and interesting to work in daytime television. The format is unique and you can really go in-depth on a wide range of fascinating and compelling stories. With this new program I hope to relay important information and relate to people and the audience in a completely different way. It's an exciting opportunity to show another side of myself and create something worthwhile and special in daytime."
The show's format sounds very similar to the The Oprah Winfrey Show:
"Cooper will address water cooler topics and interview the real people, populist newsmakers and celebrities behind these stories. From undercover investigations to hidden camera experiments, the show will give the audience new perspective in an effort to gain insight into relevant issues and social trends affecting women's lives. In addition, Cooper will hold town hall meetings on hot button issues from race to infidelity to internet predators. When there is breaking news, he will take the audience along with him right into the eye of the storm, as he goes beyond the headlines and into the lives of those affected."
To be honest, we were hoping the announcement would be that Cooper was replacing Regis on Live with Regis and Kelly--the two have great chemistry together--but we look forward to a male perspective in a talk show landscape that hasn't seen a dominant masculine force since Phil Donahue.
