CNN dealt a major blow to embattled host Chris Wallace. Beginning next week, Wallace will be moving from 7 pm on Sundays, a primetime spot, to a late-night spot on Fridays at 10 pm.
A CNN spokesman tried to downplay the move saying it was made for a few nonsensical reasons including new programming on Sundays and a desire to generate interest in the show by piggybacking off the streaming release which begins on Friday mornings. “We’re thrilled that the CNN audience will now get to see these newsmaking interviews the same day that they are available on HBO Max,” a CNN spokesman said.
CNN said in a statement: “CNN announced today that Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? will return for its third season on HBO Max and CNN on Friday, April 28. The best of the full HBO Max interviews will continue to air on CNN, beginning April 28 at 10 pm ET/PT.
“The past two seasons have been characterized by newsmaking interviews, poignant anecdotes, and surprising frankness as host and CNN Anchor Chris Wallace has longform, in-depth conversations with newsmakers and culture icons across politics, entertainment, and the arts.
“Recent guests have included Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Tyler Perry, Jane Fonda, James Cameron, Brian Cox, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and many others.
“Our viewers have come to expect real, authentic conversations with a rich variety of guests,” said Wallace. “We’ve really hit our stride this season and I’m excited to continue to bring these timely conversations to both HBO Max and CNN.”
“As the 2024 election cycle approaches, Wallace will interview key policymakers and presidential hopefuls, leaning into his more than 50 years of political expertise and tackling the topics and issues facing the country.
“Highly anticipated guests for the upcoming third season also include Carol Burnett, Bill Hader, Jay Leno, Andy Garcia, Miranda Lambert, and many more that will be announced in the weeks ahead.
“Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? will be available on the new enhanced streaming service, Max, when it launches in the U.S. on Tuesday, May 23.
“Wallace serves as an anchor for CNN, joining the network in January 2022.
“Praised as an “equal opportunity inquisitor” by The Boston Globe and “an aggressive journalist,” “sharp edged” and “solid” by The Washington Post, Wallace has won every major broadcast news award for his reporting, including three Emmy Awards, the duPont-Columbia Silver Baton, the Peabody Award and the Sol Taishoff Award for Broadcast Journalism, which was awarded to him by the National Press Foundation.
“He was honored with the 2020 Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism and was named Mediaite’s 2020 Most Influential in News Media for his “clear-eyed reporting, analysis and commentary throughout the year.”
“Wallace joined CNN after 18 years with Fox News, where he was the anchor of FOX News Sunday. “Throughout his almost two decades at Fox, Wallace participated in coverage of every major political event and secured high-profile interviews with dignitaries and U.S leaders.
“Wallace is also the New York Times bestselling author of Countdown bin Laden: The Untold Story of the 247-Day Hunt to Bring the Mastermind of 9/11 to Justice and Countdown 1945: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days That Changed the World,” CNN said.
