CNN is testing four hosts as potential replacements for Piers Morgan’s time slot. Monday, it was Bill Weir’s chance to impress as guest host while Morgan took a previously scheduled vacation. In his very first statement on the program, Weir took the opportunity to mock the man he might be replacing.
This is Piers Morgan Live and I am not Piers Morgan. But don’t worry, he will be back next week to pick up his Rod Stewart albums and tell us his future plans.
Weir, currently a CNN anchor and Chief Innovation Correspondent, then transitioned to “The Big Story” of the night: the missing Malaysian flight, which single-handedly rescued CNN’s ratings last week.
But in the meantime, my name is Bill Weir and I know what you’re probably thinking: Maybe this new guy can on CNN knows where the plane is. Oh, if only...
Soon after CNN announced the cancellation of Piers Morgan Live in late February, Morgan confirmed that he had negotiated a new contract with news outlet to conduct 20-25 exclusive interviews with “big names” throughout the year. As Deadline reported, CNN plans to test four potential replacements for the demoted Morgan, officially beginning after his final hosting day, March 28th. The four candidates are Bill Weir, Michael Smerconish, Jake Tapper, and Don Lemon.
Smerconish is a recent addition to the CNN team and a former Republican who served under the George H. Bush administration. Tapper, formerly a Senior White House Correspondent for ABC News, is likewise a new addition to CNN as Chief White House Correspondent and host of The Lead with Jake Tapper, a weekday show. Lemon has recently been given a half-hour primetime slot from 10 to 10:30 called The Don Lemon Show.
