Turner is made up of nine TV networks, in addition to Turner Sports, but this year’s upfront for the company behind TBS, TNT, Adult Swim, Cartoon Network and more, felt more like the CNN show. Given the unpredictable 2016 election, perhaps that’s no surprise.
The advertiser event at the Theater at Madison Square Garden began and ended with Wolf Blitzer, and a drone (hold your jokes) with a healthy dose of other CNN talent including Anderson Cooper hosting a “town hall” with Conan O’Brien and Charles Barkley:
.@ConanOBrien & Charles Barkley talking NBA, @andersoncooper jumps in: “Can I just tell you, I’m gay and my eyes just glazed over.” #Upfront
Advertisement— Chris Ariens (@ChrisAriens) May 18, 2016
Dana Bash and Jake Tapper wrapping up the town hall; Tapper playing an animated anchor named Drake Dapper, moderating a debate among the Powerpuff Girls; and Cooper who presented CNN’s portion of the event, with a walk-on by Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain announced seasons 9 and 10 of his Parts Unknown. CNN has also greenlit three other original series: Soundtracks: Songs That Made History, which is executive produced by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; The History of Comedy; and The Nineties, which picks up where The Eighties left off.
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After showing a sizzle reel featuring CNN’s 2016 election coverage, Cooper crowed, “CNN is the only cable network that both parties have worked with,” a subtle shot at Fox News, which hasn’t hosted a Democratic debate in 12 years, and NBC/MSNBC which was shut out by the GOP this year.
“If someone had pitched this election as a TV show to [TNT and TBS president] Kevin Reilly he would have thrown them out of his office,” Cooper joked. He also briefly mentioned the changes occurring at CNN’s sister network: “There is a lot happening at HLN so stay tuned for that.”
