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Ricky Gervais Is Suddenly The Biggest Booking For Piers Morgan’s Debut Week

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by Colby Hall | 9:28 am, January 17th, 2011

» 17 comments

With heaps of promotional and marketing winds helping it set sail, Piers Morgan Tonight launches tonight, with a slate of guests in its first week that would make any cable news booker blush. Tonight’s show opens with Oprah Winfrey, followed later in the week by Howard Stern, Condi Rice and George Clooney. But its Thursday night’s guest, Ricky Gervais, that is suddenly looking like the smartest and most interesting booking of the lot after his turn hosting the Golden Globes raised a nation’s eyebrows (and Hollywood’s dander?)

For those that admirably ignore such things as Hollywood award shows, Gervais appeared to verge dangerously close to performance art-cum-career-suicide in his opening monologue in last nights Golden Globes. There was no cow sacred enough for the quick witted Brit to slay, as he openly mocked gay Scientologists among many, many others. At one point the Twittersphere that was actively following the award show wondered if he’d been canned half-way through the show — it was that uncomfortable.

Which leads us to Gervais’ fellow countryman Piers Morgan, who some believe has massive shoes to fill tonight in replacing legendary CNN host Larry King. Those of us who follow cable news closely know that Morgan cut his teeth as a respected journalist in his native Great Britain, though most American television viewers probably only recognize him as a judge in the wildly popular (if not sort of dopey) competitive reality show America’s Got Talent.

One would like to think that Morgan (and his dream team of producers) recognized that Gervais would be coming off of hosting the Golden Globes, and would suddenly be spiking in the entertainment zeitgeist. And you know what? I wouldn’t put it past them. Because thus far, nearly every step that Morgan and his team have taking in both putting their show together and promoting it, has been nearly pitch perfect. Which ultimately leads us to why this writer is very much looking forward to the Piers Morgan experiment on CNN.

The secret that Morgan is a well-regarded interviewer is likely to soon get out, but unlike other journalistic lions that are also considered masters of the Q&A, Morgan has demonstrated both a quick-witted facility and a fluency in pop culture, which should set him apart from his peers. His can be the opinion-media program that is NOT about politics (thankfully), but still plays on the margins of what should or should not be said on television. Further, one can reasonable expect that Morgan is comfortable creating two sorts of show: smart programming for smart people, as well as dopey programming for smart people. (And who doesn’t honestly prefer the later to the former?)

As a relative unknown to the masses of American viewers, Morgan will also benefit from what would seem like a blank slate that comes from being a host who doesn’t exactly have a house hold brand name. Its true that he is replacing Legendary Larry, but Mr. King was getting awfully long in the tooth, so the timing of Morgan’s entry into the pantheon of American talk show hosts seems to be very favorable for his success. And the powers-that-be have very hgh hopes for Piers Morgan Tonight – Turner Broadcasting CEO Phil Kent recently stated that he has “very high expectations” for Piers Morgan’s upcoming new show.” Realistically, the ratings for this show will likely take a little time to build, no one should expect a miracle. But CNN appears to have made a very wise choice for their 9pm anchor, and I expect him to do very well.

Which is actually very, very important for the future of CNN.

Disclosure: Mediaite’s former Senior Television Editor Steve Krakauer is the Digital Producer for Piers Morgan Tonight.

Golden Globes, Piers Morgan, Ricky Gervais

dummy123

are you sure the Gervais interview has not taken place already?
Oprah and Stern have taped their interviews already for the first week.
http://www.mediaite.com Mark Joyella

PMT executive producer Jonathan Wald says the interview has not been taped yet.
badblokebob

“respected journalist”? “well-regarded interviewer”? Not here in the UK — we’re glad he’s sodded off to your side of the pond!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lars-Svensen/100001028197161 Lars Svensen

First Simon Cowell, and now these 2 wankers? What happened to border security?
ndanielson

Wow. So now liberals are gonna make another foreigner an America bashing multi-millionaire??? You go liberals! So elite and smug. Here is a list of the top 10 things liberals love: http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/10/23/top-10-things-leftists-like-aka-stuff-leftist-people-like-1-10/ …it will link to the next 15. Enjoy the squeals of liberal clowns.

Someone should ask Piers how all that muslim assimilation is working out for the UK.
felixw

Let’s face it, the reason Larry King managed to maintain his influence so long despite his growing incompetence was due to his staff’s ability to book famous and timely guests. If Piers Morgan’s staff is able to do the same, CNN may have a winner, and will be able to build its ratings in this time slot. And they will need to — since the rest of the CNN prime time schedule is a disaster, dominated by bland and biased, politically correct namby-pamby that no intelligent person finds worth watching. This whole CNN routine of committed liberals pretending they are open-minded moderates — a disorder that we might name the ‘Anderson Cooper Syndrome’ – is a sad charade that everyone can see through. Please CNN, don’t continue to insult our intelligence.
milynily

Should have had him on tonight, timing is everything! The show not being live won’t help.
crclarkNY

Yeah, yeah, yeah…but I am struck by how these two guys look alike. I saw a clip from the Golden Globes and thought Gervais was Morgan/did a double take. Maybe I should go to more movies…
TeaPartyPatriot

It’s not a surprise that leftist “Corrupt B-tards” cnn would hire an immigrant to do a job no self-respecting American citizen would do – namely, appear on their socialist propaganda network.

Has morgan’s viewership gotten past 10 people, yet?
ModerateMan

Piers Morgan was a “respected journalist” in the U.K.??? Do you realize his journalistic legacy in the U.K. was being fired for running fake pictures depicting Western soldiers torturing Muslim prisoners? He is Britian’s version of Dan Rather. Hardly “respected”.
TerryDo

I will watch Piers Morgan and I think this interview with Ricky Gervais will be hilarious, outrageous and quite interesting.

So I would suggest, perhaps you would give Piers a primary viewing before passing severe judgement..
stoogedudes

TeaPartyPatriot said:
It’s not a surprise that leftist “Corrupt B-tards” cnn would hire an immigrant to do a job no self-respecting American citizen would do – namely, appear on their socialist propaganda network. Has morgan’s viewership gotten past 10 people, yet?

Is “leftist Corrupt B-tards” your go-to phrase for everything?

“Good bye kids! Have a good day at school! Don’t let those “leftist Corrupt B-Tards” indoctrinate you with socialist propaganda!”

“Yes, I’ll have a burger, fries, and anything but that “leftist Corrupt B-Tard” Coke Zero.”

Geez, get new material, will ya?
brooksider926

felixw said:
Please CNN, don’t continue to insult our intelligence.

Yo, dude, change the channel if you don’t like it.
brooksider926

It’s what nearly every right wing person does; start calling us names. It’s the best they can do. Don’t listen to them.
Lou Ganis

Larry King was the most overrated “journalist” that there ever was. His shoes will be easy to fill, at least in terms of true journalism.
Dem4Ever

brooksider926 said:
Yo, dude, change the channel if you don’t like it.

That’s precisely what most people are doing and thus CNN’s low, low ratings. Change is, however, the appropriate verb. CNN needs to change their ways so that everyone else won’t change their channels.
ModerateMan

ModerateMan said:
Piers Morgan was a “respected journalist” in the U.K.??? Do you realize his journalistic legacy in the U.K. was being fired for running fake pictures depicting Western soldiers torturing Muslim prisoners? He is Britian’s version of Dan Rather. Hardly “respected”.

I’d like to point out that I, ModerateMan, started the right wing’s “Piers Morgan” talking point. Thank you very much!

Piers Morgan: Britain’s Version of Dan Rather

By Tim Graham | January 18, 2011 | 17:46

Read more: http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2011/01/18/piers-morgan-britains-version-dan-rather#ixzz1BSezum6a