Don Lemon on Wednesday defended CNN CEO Chris Licht from “unfair” criticisms for making changes to the network, including shaking up the primetime lineup and making key personnel decisions.
“I really like Chris,” CNN host Told Semaphore. “When I read stories about what’s happening at CNN and Chris and what he’s doing, I think it’s unfair. I think people should give him a chance. On coming in as the new boss Everyone has a new vision. Let’s see what their vision is and how it works.”
Lemon’s comments come a month after news that the host would be shifting his primetime gig, “Tonight with Don Lemon,” to host a new morning show called “CNN This Morning” along with Caitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. Licht also made waves when he canceled Brian Stelter’s “Trusted Source” and through his efforts to downplay any displays of favoritism by on-air talent.
The show, which will air weekdays from 6-9 p.m. ET, aims to reflect Licht’s goal of redefining the morning lineup and becoming “a disruptor of broadcast morning shows in this space,” as they announced in May. Had it.
For Lemon, who claims the change was not a demotion, the change in the morning may be a welcome change because dealing with politics in primetime “has gotten out of date.”
“Look, has there been a disappointment with the way politics has been dealt with in primetime over the years? Yes,” said Lemon. “Was I tired of it? In some ways, yes it is out of date. But I also feel like we were turning into a different time.”
The veteran journalist also acknowledged that her coverage of former President Donald Trump was a “factor” of being “tired” of primetime. “I would be lying to you if I didn’t say it was a factor,” he said, adding that he “never really bowed his head” with Trump. “He didn’t have the courage to come and take tough questions from CNN and me and my show.”
After Trump was no longer in office and primetime hour was not to begin with a monologue about “how bad he was and how terrible things were in the country”, the hosts took a different approach to primetime as they turned their attention to focused. Crisis in Ukraine and other news according to Lemon.
“So I was ready to move on and I think the audience is ready to move on as well,” he said. “And even though [Trump] Comes back, I think there’s a different approach that can be taken in primetime and in the morning. Mornings give me more latitude to educate and elevate the conversation. ,
On how Lemon will approach hosting his new morning show, which will make its debut on November 1, he says he’s “just going to be” [himself]”, as the strategy appears to be working over the past several decades.
“I’m not really concerned about ratings: I’m concerned about making it the best morning show possible and appealing to multiple demographics and people interested in things other than raw, tribal politics,” he said. .
