CNN to Introduce U.S. Version of "Have I Got News for You" for Saturday Nights
CNN announced on May 15, 2024, that it will produce a U.S. adaptation of the British comedic panel show "Have I Got News for You." The series is set to air on Saturday nights in prime time and aims to offer a satirical take on current affairs.
This production marks an expansion in CNN's programming strategy as it seeks to create innovative content for its Saturday night lineup. "Have I Got News for You," which first premiered in 1990 on the BBC, features a quiz show-style format where comics, pundits, and media personalities satirize the issues of the day.
Hat Trick Productions, the company responsible for the British version, will handle the U.S. adaptation. Although no host or panelists have been announced yet, the series is slated to go into production this fall.
Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals, and creative development for CNN Worldwide, emphasized the network's intention to revitalize Saturday nights: “The series is the standard bearer of the genre and ripe for its American reincarnation.”
This move follows CNN's earlier initiative to broadcast "Real Time With Bill Maher" on Saturdays, which has become the network's most-watched hour on that day, averaging close to 700,000 viewers.
Meanwhile, Fox News has also entered the topical comedy space with "Fox News Saturday Night" led by comedian Jimmy Fallia, maintaining high viewership numbers.
Mark Thompson, who took over CNN last fall, has been gradually adjusting the network’s strategy to appeal to digital media users as traditional TV viewership declines.
"Have I Got News for You" remains a long-standing favorite in the UK, continuing to air despite the departure of its original host Angus Deayton in 2002 due to personal controversies. NBC attempted a U.S. version in 2009, which did not proceed past the pilot stage.
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