HLN is launching a new late afternoon/early evening program called “Evening Express.” As the name suggests, the format is based on the channel’s successful morning program, “Morning Express with Robin Meade.”
The show will originate from Atlanta and will air from 5-7 PM, beginning Monday, June 4. Ryan Smith will host the show, joined by Clark Howard and Ishe Sesay, who joins HLN from sister network CNN. Angie Massie will serve as EP.
From 5-6 PM HLN currently airs “HLN Special Report,” and “Prime News” from 6-7 PM. Those shows will no longer air, but HLN says there won’t be any staff reductions, as staff will either work on “Evening Express,” or move to another show. Host Vinnie Politan will continue to anchor during In Session, and we hear he will be getting a new daytime show soon as well.
More, after the jump.
“HLN is excited to offer our viewers an evening news program that centers on the news and information they’ll discuss around the dinner table,” said HLN executive VP Scot Safon in a statement. “The format and tone of Evening Express was inspired by our hit show Morning Express with Robin Meade. Viewers tell us all the time that they love how Robin and the Morning Express team start their day on HLN, and now Ryan, Clark and Isha will be welcoming them home in the evening.”
The news comes just a day after ABC announced that it was adapting its morning show “Good Morning America,” for the afternoon. It too will have a similarly obvious name: “Good Afternoon America.”