George Stephanopoulos To Return As Host Of This Week

On Tuesday, ABC announced Christiane Amanpour would no longer be hosting This Week — she would stay on as a global affairs anchor, while returning to CNN to host a show on CNN International. While Amanpour seemed overjoyed (“This role is groundbreaking, bold and very different,” Amanpour said. “I am thrilled and honored”), ABC now had a role to fill. So they turned to the past, and announced Amanpour’s replacement: George Stephanopoulos.

Stephanopoulos taking over the show is somewhat significant, as he served as host from 2002 to 2010, before moving on to Good Morning America last year. In announcing his move back to This Week, ABC said that Stephanopoulos would stay on as host of GMA, but likely on just a four-day schedule.

This Week has lagged in the ratings this season, behind Face The Nation and Meet The Press. With Stephanopoulos returning, ABC hopes to give the ratings a boost, especially as the election in 2012 approaches.

Most of this entire scenario, it should be noted, was reported by the New York Post last Friday.

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