CNN is starting a late-night Friday talk show hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos next month, the network said today.
George Stroumboulopoulos
Mr. Stroumboulopoulos, a longtime host on Canada's CBC, was hired by CNN in April for a Friday interview show to begin this summer, but it wasn't clear what time slot he would take. Now "Stroumboulopoulos," as it will be called, is scheduled to begin on Sunday, June 9, following the season finale of Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown," before moving to its regular timeslot on Fridays at 11 p.m. on June 14.
"Parts Unknown" has done well for CNN, with new episodes averaging 740,000 viewers, according to Nielsen, far more than CNN had been attracting before Mr. Bourdain arrived.
"Stroumboulopoulos" will feature interviews with figures from pop culture, music, art, politics and tech, according to CNN, with rapper Wiz Khalifa, actress Ellen Page and "Walking Dead" comic book author Robert Kirkman as his first guests. Later expected guests over the planned 10-week run will include Martin Short, Keaunu Reeves, Bill Maher and Sharon Stone.
"Stroumboulopoulos" is the latest new program under CNN President Jeff Zucker, who has been expanding the cable news channel beyond traditional news. Mr. Zucker has also revamped mornings with the show "New Day," hosted by Chris Cuomo and Kate Bolduan, and brought more sports coverage to the weekends with a planned show hosted by Rachel Nichols.
