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NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > D.L. HUGHLEY CNN SHOW CANCELLED TO THE RELIEF OF ALL TV VIEWERS
D.L. HUGHLEY CNN SHOW CANCELLED TO THE RELIEF OF ALL TV VIEWERS
March 9 2009
Atlanta, GA – CNN announced today that they would be putting an end to their Saturday evening program ‘D.L. Hughley Breaks the News. The show debuted October 25, 2008 to less than spectacular reviews and even less spectacular ratings. The network claims to have cancelled the show for ‘Budgetary reasons’, as well as Hughley’s desire to move to Los Angeles. It is not expected that they will ever unveil the real reason for giving the show the axe, but the viewing public seems to be happy nonetheless.
“D.L. approached CNN about being permanently based in Los Angeles, where his family lives. To accommodate this, we agreed upon a new role where he will be a contributor for the network based in Los Angeles,” the network said in an official statement. “We are eager to continue our relationship with D.L. who is a tremendous talent and a valued colleague.”
Many expected the eventual cancellation of the show which was an attempt by the network to reach a younger demographic. Ratings have been abysmal by cable television standards, critics have been downright cruel, and the show has had trouble attracting top level talent since the beginning. Despite the network statement it is not expected that Hughley will make significant appearances on the network, outside CNN’s contractual obligations.
“Airing opinion shows are always a gamble for news networks. Whether it’s Hughley, or Glenn Beck, or Keith Olbermann, or Bill O’Reilly, the risk is high for the simple reason that they are not news. If you are able to present a compelling speaker who can tune into a specific group of viewers like some of the more successful talking heads are able to do then success will follow,” said Scrape TV Media analyst Sarah Piper. “There’s never a secret formula for success but there are certain things –things such as personality, the ability to conduct an interview, or at the very least the ability to construct complete sentences – that are requirements. Unfortunately Hughley has none of those and for a comedian he was remarkably unfunny to boot.”
Many also criticized Hughley for his on air behaviour, claiming that it reinforced archaic stereotypes of black people, something particularly unwelcome and out of date given the current state of the country.
“CNN really only picked him for the show for one reason, because he is black. They were attempting to seem cool and hip by giving him the show but unfortunately no one who is young and
hip has interest in D.L. Hughley. I’d be surprised honestly if anyone outside his family is really interested in him, and even then...,” continued Piper. “Of course the way things have been going at CNN it’s likely no one will really notice that the show is off the air."
Ratings for the network have been declining since the end of last year’s Presidential election. They have also recently lost fellow talking head Glenn Beck to arch rival Fox News, leaving them with only Larry King left to hold the mantle of non-news. 
“Outrageous commentary has always done well for ratings and right now Fox seems to have the corner on that particular market. For some reason there just seem to be a lot fewer blowhards who happen to be Democrat, but whether that’s a
result of conservatism or just a coincidence is anyone’s guess,” continued Piper. “One thing is for sure, CNN will probably pick from broadcasters should they ever try this again rather than going with comics who were never big enough to be washed up.”
Some though point to the massive level of failure that the show, insulting and degrading to both the people involved and the guests that decided to appear, the idea that this could have been accidental seems totally irrational. 
“This may of course have been a very elaborate joke by Hughley and CNN, almost a social experiment of sorts. With a black President in the Oval office and Hughley doing the whole Stepin Fetchit routine you have to think that it was some kind of meditation on race,” said Scrape TV Entertainment analyst Tracey Temple. “In that respect they have done something amazing for the country. They have shown Americans what America was, while living in a time that reminds them how far they have come. Genius, really.”
Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent
NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > D.L. HUGHLEY CNN SHOW CANCELLED TO THE RELIEF OF ALL TV VIEWERS
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