CNN’s Piers Morgan: ‘It’s Time to Kick Some Ratings Butt’

By Alex Weprin 

CNN’s Soon-to-be 9 PM host Piers Morgan talks with Deadline Hollywood’s Tim Adler and Nikke Finke.

Among other things, Morgan says he will likely change the format of the program slightly, and will pre-tape most of the interviews so that they can be more easily promoted.

He also says that he views as his mission boosting CNN’s ratings in primetime:

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I intend this show to be a game-changer in terms of how interview shows are conducted on American TV. And I haven’t joined CNN to come 2nd, 3rd, or 4th.

America’s Got Talent has been the No. 1 show for five years, Britain’s Got Talent has been No. 1 in the UK for four years, Life Stories is the No. 1 talk show in the UK, and I won Celebrity Apprentice. Losing is not really something I’ve either experienced on TV, or wish to experience. A character trait hardened by my time working for the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Simon Cowell.

In the interview, Morgan also addresses his firing from The Daily Mirror, and what guests have already committed to appearing on his program.

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