American Mourning: Why CNN's John Roberts Dumped His 1980s Coiffure

The Wrap reports CNN has no comment on CNN's new a.m. pilot show in development.

1) You can bet your life the show will be a rip-off of both FOX & Friends and MSNBC's "Morning Joe."  Desperate measures for desperate times for the fifth-place CNN. Maybe CNN'll call the new show "America Live."  Wait. That's taken by Fox's Megyn Kelly.  "John Roberts USA."  Uh, that's too close to CNN's new "John King USA." 

2) What happens to "American Morning" hostess Kiran Chetry?  Her contract is probably up for renewal since she joined CNN three years ago in February 2007.

3) Just like Paula Zahn who was fired in 2001 from FNC, Kiran Chetry was fired in 2007 and joined CNN. And now Kiran may be poised to follow Zahn into TV etherland. [But Kiran did shoot great beaver shots while at Fox.]

4) Another morning show failure for CNN? CNN has a history of a.m. musical chairs. Jon Klein replaced Soledad O’Brien and Miles O’Brien back a few year ago with Kiran and John Roberts.

5) "American Morning"  sucks ratings hind tit. Headline News "Morning Express with Robin Meade" is not only beating "American Morning" in the golden 25-54 demo but it’s also showing growth while CNN's pathetic offering is declining by double digits. Is CNN destined for terminal Groundhog Day?  To wit:  year-to-date 2010 v year-to-date 2009.

Year-to-date 2010 v Year-to-date 2009 – Nielsen Media Research:

FNC’s Fox & Friends: 1,108,000 in total viewers (up 8%) – 383,000 in 25-54 (up 15%)
CNN’s American Morning: 364,000 in total viewers (down 30%) – 137,000 in 25-54 (down 30%)
MSNBC’s Morning Joe: 346,000 in total viewers (down 22%) – 103,000 in 25-54 (down 39%)
HLN Morning Express with Robin Meade: 319,000 (up 21%) – 181,000 in 25-54 (up 29%)

Here's what I'd do if I were CNN God Jon Klein with a trail of failed morning shows:  Install Joy Behar as co-host.  Keep John Roberts and his new hair. Mix in a pinch of Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show."  Add a cup of credibility.  Avoid the usual suspect political talking head hacks. There's more, but for a huge consulting fee...