Last night Anderson Cooper 360 producer Jack Gray tweeted: “tomorrow night 10pmET, 360 Friday, a different format for #AC360. We hope you’ll tune in. Should be fun. #CNN.”

We hear this “different format” is the much-discussed studio audience special, debuting tonight.

Arizona has doubled down on its racially-charged controversies this week with a new law opposing ethnic studies in public schools. Last night, CNN’s Anderson Cooper invited Tom Horne, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction (and Attorney General candidate) and sociology professor Michael Eric Dyson to debate the issue, and rather than come to a concensus on what’s best for students, both sides came to the conclusion that the other is racist.

Buried under the avalanche of breaking news last week was a scandal surrounding anti-gay activist and co-founder of the Family Research Council George Rekers, who definitely hired a gay male escort from “Rentboy.com” to help him with luggage and is suspected of hiring a gay male escort for “sexual massages.” Last night, the escort, Lucien, spoke to CNN’s Randi Kaye about his experience with Rekers and whether he thinks Rekers is gay.

Last night, CNN’s Anderson Cooper found one of those rare 69% of birthers who actually don’t approve of Barack Obama‘s job as president– an army doctor by the name of Lieutenant Colonel Terrence Lakin who has refused to take orders since Obama’s ascent to power. Cooper was hoping to interview the doctor and get his opinion on his case, but his attorney made that task near impossible. Lakin only speaks about 3 times during the entire course of the segment.

Both sides of the aisle simultaneously love and hate Bill Maher, and his wide-ranging opinions have never been more clear than during an interview with Anderson Cooper last night on CNN.

In fact, Maher, whose name has often been thrown around as a possible permanent cable news personality, made the case why he may be exactly what CNN needs.

After Press Secretary Robert Gibbs attacked Fox News for providing a platform for former FEMA director Michael Brown and his ‘White House wanted the oil spill’ theory.

Well it didn’t take long for Brownie to complete the cable news Full Ginsburg – he was on MSNBC with Chris Matthews and later with Anderson Cooper on CNN. Here’s how the CNN interview went.

In light of the recent passing of Arizona’s illegal immigration bill giving police permission to request identification when reasonable doubt that a person is legal exists, Anderson Cooper brought on Arizona State Representative John Cavanaugh to convince CNN contributor Miguel Perez that his bill will not result in the latter’s arrest.

CNN was all about the comedians in prime time last night, with Larry King‘s George Lopez interview, but also with Anderson Cooper‘s “360 Big Interview” of Chelsea Handler (host of Chelsea Lately).

They talked Conan O’Brien, Heidi and Spencer and joked about Cooper’s “quasi” journalistic qualities. But what can interviews like this tell about Cooper role?

The experimentation over at CNN to find a hit show continues, with the network now trying to save its brightest star, Anderson Cooper, from the first quarter crash that saw his 10 PM program lose more than 40% of his viewers. For a change of pace, Anderson Cooper 360º is now set to film two talk-show style live audience specials later this month.

Larry King‘s current contract with CNN runs through next June, but his news/interview format has been a mainstay with the network for 25 years.

As another star at the network, Anderson Cooper, begins a run of “specials,” could it be a chance for the 10pmET host to explore a format similar to King’s?

In a lengthy New York Times article about the changing business of network news, one sentence has drawn the most attention, about CBS’ Katie Couric and CNN’s Anderson Cooper.

And in a follow-up Media Decoder blog post, Brian Stelter expands on the topic – that Cooper had met with CBS News about a possible anchor job. Let the speculation begin.

Wow. Nicole Polizzi (“Snooki“) of Jersey Shore is no Nene Leakes of Real Housewives of Atlanta in the mind of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.

During last night’s “The Shot” segment with Kiran Chetry, Cooper didn’t hold back in
knocking the pint-sized guidette about her recent makeover – and general promiscuity.

CNN’s Erica Hill, Anderson Cooper‘s 360 sidekick and sassy onscreen better-half, is leaving the network — and the show she shares with Cooper — to go to CBS full-time (she’s currently co-host of the CBS Early Show on Saturdays). Cooper announced it on tonight’s show “with a heavy heart,” saying “I cannot imagine doing this program without Erica Hill and I cannot really express how much I’m going to miss you.” Check out the video of the moving goodbye inside.

Tea Party Express organizer Mark Williams joined Anderson Cooper and Roland Martin on CNN last night to discuss the races today, and mainly what’s happening in New York’s 23rd congressional district.

And while there was a debate for the majority of the segment, Williams essentially described his organization and others are already looking toward “Judgment Day” – next year.

After reports yesterday about an ad for AC: 360 that apparently had a woman touting the merits of the show while describing herself as a “lifelong Democrat,” we picked up the story as an apparent shift in strategy for CNN.

But CNN tells us there was a problem with audio – which has been corrected – and changes the tone of the promo completely. Watch the full ad below.