CNN overhauls lineup with new shows, hosts

CNN is emphasizing homegrown stars and reporting chops in a schedule reboot that gives weeknight shows to Abby Phillip and Laura Coates, along with bringing Christiane Amanpour back onto the domestic network regularly.

Virtually no part of the day or weekend goes unchanged in the plans announced on Monday, the first major move by the leadership quartet that replaced ousted network chief Chris Licht on June 1.

Phillip, a political reporter, and Coates, the network’s

chief legal correspondent, both began at CNN in part-time roles. Soon they’ll have back-toback hours on the network’s schedule each weeknight.

They’ll join Kaitlan Collins and Erin Burnett two hours earlier, with Anderson Cooper the only man in the important fivehour stretch that includes prime time. Since Chris Cuomo was fired in December 2021, CNN hasn’t had a regular prime-time lineup, and its new leaders considered it a top priority to project consistence to viewers and employees.

CNN’s leadership team of Amy Entelis, David Leavy, Virginia Moseley and Eric Sherling also wanted to install program hosts with experience as reporters.

“They are extraordinarily talented and share the same CNN sensibility: versatility, determination and an inquisitive and empathetic approach to reporting the news,” the leaders said in a statement.

One of CNN’s most recognizable veterans, Amanpour has hosted a program on the network’s international network and been virtually invisible domestically the past decade. Now she’ll host a regular news hour on Saturdays.

Since jumping from Fox News, Chris Wallace has hosted a wide-ranging interview show for HBO Max that was rebroadcast on CNN. Now he’ll return to familiar turf, a live political panel show, on Saturday mornings, the network said.