CNN has made it official: “Crossfire” will be returning to the channel this Fall.
CNN is poaching S.E. Cupp from MSNBC’s “The Cycle” to represent the right side of the table, alongside former House Speaker and Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich. Obama campaign consultant Stephanie Cutter and former White House advisor Van Jones will represent the left side of the table.
The four hosts will also contribute to CNN election and political programming.
“Few programs in the history of CNN have had the kind of impact on political discourse that Crossfire did – it was a terrific program then, and we believe the time is right to bring it back and do it again,” said Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide in a statement. “We look forward to the opportunity to host passionate conversation from all sides of the political spectrum. Crossfire will be the forum where America holds its great debates.”
“We thank S.E. for her great work on MSNBC over the past year and wish her all the best with future opportunities,” an MSNBC spokesperson says.
Cupp will continue to contribute to The Blaze, working out of its Washington DC bureau.
TVNewser first revealed that CNN was planning a revamp of the program back in April.
The political debate program was canceled in 2005, following a nearly 23-year run at the channel. The show has had a number of formats over the years. For most of its run it was 30 minutes long, and in-studio. There was a period of time when it was an hour long, and the last few years of its run it was taped in front of a live audience (pictured), a sort of political boxing match.
The format and timeslot for the revamped “Crossfire” has not been announced.
The program was canceled in January, 2005, just a few months after “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart appeared on the program and said that it was “hurting America.” That appearance, which has been viewed more than 5.5 million times online, was widely cited–even by CNN executives–as having played a part in the cancellation.