Piers Morgan, CNN Parting Ways, Prime Time Show Canceled

PIers Morgan’s CNN prime time talk show is on the way out.

Piers Morgan Live, which replaced Larry King Live, is no longer alive, as it were, and will officially end as soon as next month.

After three years of low ratings, Morgan particularly had no chance for viewership improvement in the cable news universe after Fox News successfully launched The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly in the same 9 pm Eastern time slot in place of Sean Hannity’s show.

Back in October, rumors were flying that Katie Couric would replace Piers Morgan on CNN and that Morgan would stay with the network in a different role. The latter may turn out to be what happens. A former tabloid editor, the gun-control-obsessed British journalist was a judge on America’s Got Talent and the winner of The Celebrity Apprentice.

Morgan usually took the liberal position on most other political and social issues and had a memorable heated debate with Larry Elder about crime and sociology during the George Zimmerman trial.

Morgan admitted to the New York Times that the handwriting was on the wall after discussions with CNN boss Jeff Zucker: “It’s been a painful period and lately we have taken a bath in the ratings… Look, I am a British guy debating American cultural issues, including guns, which has been very polarizing, and there is no doubt that there are many in the audience who are tired of me banging on about it.That’s run its course and Jeff and I have been talking for some time about different ways of using me.”

Responding to the Piers Morgan cancellation, Noah Rothman of Mediaite observed that “As interest in new gun laws waned nationally, however, Morgan refused to adapt. His coverage of the issue became a crusade. His program, on a near-nightly basis, featured endless debates in which Morgan berated his pro-Second Amendment guests for disagreeing with him… Morgan mistook his own proclivities for those of his audience. He forgot that he was not merely a news broadcaster but also an entertainer.”

It’s not clear at this time who will replace Piers Morgan on CNN, but Jeff Zucker has been quoted as saying that the network wants to “shake up prime time” in 2014.

Did you ever watch Piers Morgan Live on CNN?

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