CNN Launching New Interview Series This Summer; CBC Host To Front

EXCLUSIVE: Maybe there’s a Canadian quota at CNN. Just days after longtime business correspondent Ali Velshi exited for Al Jazeera America, the cable news network has brought the CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos on board to host a weekly interview show. In the latest CNN 2.0 move by the Jeff Zucker-run network, the new 10-episode hourlong show is set to air Fridays in primetime starting early in the summer. This is the second recent addition to CNN’s summer lineup. As I reported this weekend, the network is bringing back its political debate show Crossfire in June. The new and as-yet unnamed Stroumboulopoulos-hosted show will film in LA in front of a live audience. Similar to the Canadian’s long-running talk show George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight in Canada, the CNN series will feature in-depth interviews along with musical performances. Sony Pictures TV’s Embassy Row will produce the series. This isn’t the first time U.S. viewers have seen former MuchMusic VJ Stroumboulopoulos on their screens. In 2006, he hosted The One: Making A Music Star on ABC. A ratings bust, the reality show was cancelled after two weeks. Stroumboulopoulos is repped by WME and Anonymous Content

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