News/Commentary

Lemon puts on a brave face as CNN announces another cancelation and ‘game-changing’ new morning show

September 15, 2022 | | Print Article

CNN’s “Don Lemon Tonight” has reportedly been canceled, but eponymous host Don Lemon will not be leaving the network.

CNN announced early Thursday that Lemon will instead join Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins on a brand new morning show set to replace “New Day.”

This means no more “Don Lemon Tonight.” However, the host will still remain at the network in spite of rumors that he’d be the next one to be ousted.

Lemon is, for his part, excited about the change.

“The last eight years have been an incredible ride. I’ve had the opportunity to work with one of the best show teams in the business, but it’s time to shake things up. I am so appreciative of the ‘Don Lemon Tonight’ team, my wonderful, loyal viewers and everyone who has believed in me,” he said in a statement.

“I was honestly floored when Chris Licht asked me to do this and I’m honored by his belief in me. It’s going to be a thrill to take on this challenge with Poppy and Kaitlan. I’ll get to work with two of my dearest friends. Set your alarms folks, because we’re going to have a lot of fun.”

“There is no stronger combination of talent than Don, Poppy and Kaitlan to deliver on our promise of a game-changing morning news program,” CNN chair and CEO Chris Licht added in his own statement.

“They are each uniquely intelligent, reliable and compelling; together they have a rare and palpable chemistry. Combined with CNN’s resources and global newsgathering capabilities, we will offer a smart, bold and refreshing way to start the day.”

That’s one way to look at things …

Ever since Licht took over in February, he’s slowly but surely fired a number of the network’s most glaringly partisan figures, including John Harwood and Brian Stelter.

Most critics had assumed Lemon was the next one on the chopping block:

But it appears the longtime CNN host has averted disaster — for now.

However, critics say CNN’s announcement is still a negative sign for him given as he’ll be going from hosting his own show to co-hosting another show. It seems, critics say, like a demotion.

As conservative radio show host Clay Travis put it in a tweet, “CNN has demoted Don Lemon from an evening show that no one watched to a morning show that no one will watch.”

See more reactions below:

As for John Berman and Brianna Keilar, the hosts of “New Day,” they’ll reportedly remain at the show until its replacement premieres. At that point, they’ll “assume new roles at the network later this year,” according to CNN.

“The morning show will get a name change and a new format and set, the network said. The current show from 6 to 9 a.m. is ‘New Day,'” The New York Times noted in its own write-up.

“CNN executives are hoping to have the new show up and running in late October, ahead of the midterm elections, but no definitive timetable was given other than announcing that it would make its debut this year.”

What remains unclear is who’ll replace Lemon now that his two-hour program, “Don Lemon Tonight,” is being axed.

As noted by one Twitter critic, there’s a possibility, however minute, that Licht will replace Lemon’s show “with another radical, leftwing, partisan show that engages in hate, division and conspiracy theories.”

But considering the positive changes Licht has already made, it seems more likely that he’ll replace Lemon with someone more moderate and less indecent.

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Vivek Saxena
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