Middle Age Hollywood

Piers Morgan interviews his new CNN colleague, Anderson Cooper.

Anderson Cooper's new daytime talk show now has a name: "Anderson."

The New York Times' Brian Stelter reported on Twitter that Warner Bros., which will be producing the show, had decided on the name. The use of just the first name in a title is common on daytime shows ("Regis and Kelly," "Oprah," and "Ellen," to name just a few examples.) "Anderson" will debut in the fall of 2011. Cooper will remain on CNN.

Here's an update on that Anderson Cooper talk show that Hollywood Reporter broke a few months ago.

According to Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution, 21 major market stations have lined up to carry the one-hour daily strip hosted by the CNN anchor. Last week, initial clearances for the show were announced in key hubs New York (WPIX), Los Angeles (KTTV), Chicago (WFLD) and Boston (WFXT).

WB is comparing Cooper to talk legends Oprah Winfrey and Phil Donahue as a "once in a decade opportunity" for stations to land a "game changer" personality.


"This is a series that has the ability to play to a wide audience, whether it's adjacent to local news or coming out of morning magazines," said WB sales executive Rick Meril. "And, it is a testament to its strength that stations are now rushing to secure the show for their program line-up and that San Diego and Bakersfield will air Anderson in place of 'Oprah' next fall."


Source: hollywoodreporter

Ellen talks with Anderson Cooper about being the victim of bullying & why Tyler Clementi's suicide prompted her to speak out.

Anderson Cooper hasn’t been doing too well in the ratings with his evening newscast, Anderson Cooper 360. (His show gets beaten by repeats of programs on MSNBC and HLN.)

CNN is trying to switch things up by adding a live studio audience to the mix, according to THR.

Two special episodes in this “conversational” format will be taped April 15th and 22nd, but no air date has been set.

WOULD YOU TUNE IN to watch Anderson Cooper interacting with a live audience?

SOURCE: Justjared

CLICK HERE to see the most recent video of the workout!

In mid-2011, Katie Couric's five-year contract at CBS News will expire, and network executives appear to be exploring a "Plan B" if she departs after her oft-rocky tenure in the anchor's chair. According to the New York Times, that backup plan could very well be CNN host Anderson Cooper, who reportedly met with CBS execs months ago about anchor opportunities at the network.


The Times got the information from a pair of "TV veterans informed of the meeting."

Whether Cooper's meeting with CBS execs means he is being courted for Couric's job is unclear; he was previously pursued to host the network's 'Early Show,' which has struggled in the ratings. A switch to CBS full-time would be an easy one for Cooper, who is a regular contributor to '60 Minutes.'

Cooper joined CNN in 2001 and has hosted his own show, 'Anderson Cooper 360,' since 2003. He specializes in covering tragedies, including Hurricane Katrina and the recent the earthquake in Haiti.

'360' has not exactly been a ratings boon for CNN and generally ranks third in the 10 PM hour behind FOX's Greta Van Susterein and HLN's Nancy Grace. Often, repeats of MSNBC's Keith Olbermann will edge Cooper out as well. His focus on delivering the news -- and not opinion -- has been cited by industry analysts for his viewership.

Couric's ratings have not changed much either, and she currently ranks behind NBC's Brian Williams and ABC's Diane Sawyer in the evening news race. As we noted in an earlier piece, CBS may be looking to bring down costs in the newsroom due to the economic downturn.

Couric reportedly makes $15 million a year. --hey girl, hey

NBC's Brian Williams -- who almost permanently holds the top spot among the nightly network news broadcasts -- makes $10 million a year and pulls in, on average, over 3 million more viewers, averaging around 10 million viewers to Couric's 6.5-7 million.

Reps from CBS and CNN had no comment when asked by the Times, but it is not uncommon for TV stars to take meetings with other networks in the run-up to contract negotiations.

SOURCE

New Year's countdown cohorts Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper are getting so close they're almost like family.

Griffin has even met Mr. Silver Fox's mom, jill-of-all-trades socialite Gloria Vanderbilt…

"The best part this year was like at 12:31, as soon as we finished, his mom called and wanted to meet me," Griffin told me yesterday at the Grammys. "I went to the house for lunch—just me and Gloria freakin' Vanderbilt."

Griffin pooh-poohed the rumors that she's now been blacklisted by the news network because of her potty mouth.

"I'm not banned," she insisted. "They normally don't call me for that gig until November anyway.

"I love that job," she continued. "I love the Anderson Cooper. I know you do, too. Everybody wants him."

If only we could hear what they say to each other when the cameras aren't rolling. Griffin said, "During the commercial breaks, we just turn around and watch—and talk about things like J.Lo's outfit."




Although Kathy Griffin lost out on best comedy album during the Grammy Awards held Sunday in Los Angeles, the comedienne, 49, would gladly swap lives with Jessica Simpson – even though she’s unlucky in love and gets bullied for weight woes.

“I don’t think Jessica Simpson has a void, I swear to God,” she says. “I think that whole thing is like Jennifer Aniston, when they try to act like she’s all pitiful. I think Jessica Simpson’s doing just fine. I would switch places with her in a heartbeat.”

Does she ever feel bad about taking potshots at superstars?

“No, because it’s all comedy,” she tells me. “You have to. When I look at the comedians that I like and admire and make me laugh, they’re the ones that go there.”

Any tips for Ellen DeGeneres, who is judging American Idol beginning next week?

“Well, Ellen should be honest and forthright and witty, so I’m anxious to see if she’s able to be really nice and sweet all the time on live TV – especially when any of those kids are stinking up the stage ‘cause let’s face it – they’re not all Kelly Clarkson. Sometimes there’s some clunkers, and she’s going to have to be like the Cash for Clunkers program for American Idol. Every so often, she’s going to have to be honest and say ‘you suck’ in some nice, friendly Ellen way.”

SOURCE

Earlier this week PopEater's Rob Shuter brought up a great question: How do you replace Regis Philbin? Although the show has been testing many great potential new hosts while Philbin underwent his recent successful hip replacement, none of them have been able to fill his huge shoes. Despite speculation that a woman might move into the 'Live!' seat, PopEater readers on Facebook and Twitter showed immense support for Anderson Cooper. Does he have what it takes?

While there were many host suggestions, which included everyone from Conan O'Brien to Reese Witherspoon and Mark Consuelos, Cooper was the clear fan favorite.

"Hmmm... I LOVE LOVE LOVE Anderson Cooper (and I think Kelly does too!). Anderson would be awesome," PopEater Facebook fan, Doreen Rosa Guilfoyle wrote.



Cooper has filled in for Philbin in the past to rave reviews. But most recently, the CNN anchor has been gaining a lot of attention lately reporting from Port-Au-Prince following the earthquake in Haiti.

PopEater's Twitter fan @MJWenchy said, "Whenever Regis is ready to retire, I would love Anderson Cooper to replace him."

SOURCE

You heard that right.

Globetrotting newsman Anderson Cooper will soon be able to cool his heels in an old Greenwich Village firehouse -- complete with brass fire poles -- that he's turning into a new home, The Post has learned.

The century-old building on West Third Street was nominated this week for a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, a status that Cooper can use for a slew of tax breaks if his renovations maintain the firehouse's historic façade.

Neighbors have seen Cooper visiting the firehouse regularly since it was sold in September for $4.3 million by the New York Board of Fire Underwriters, which operated the private Fire Patrol 2 out of the building beginning in 1906.

The fire patrol was disbanded in 2006, and the insurance industry-backed fire patrol finally sold the four-story building last year. The owner of record is Firepatrol LLC, which lists Cooper's business agent as Carolyn Rossip Malcolm.

Malcolm didn't return calls yesterday and a CNN spokesman declined comment on Cooper's new digs.

Construction crews have already begun work inside the building, taking down partitions and ripping out old plumbing fixtures, city building records show.

But plans for a conversion to a residence have not been filed yet. Cooper has hired architect Cary Tamarkin, known for residential conversions.

"I hope the new owner will appreciate what's there and will keep as much of it intact as possible," said Andrew Berman, director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, which nominated the firehouse for historic designation.

"It would be wonderful if that great interior could be preserved," said Berman, adding that his organization recommended the building for historic designation before it was sold by the fire underwriters.

The building, built in the Beaux Arts style, still has its original spiral staircases, brass fire poles, overhead beams used to dry hoses and walls covered with murals marking the fire patrol's history.

Cooper's plans for the old firehouse have yet to be filed, but the 8,240 square feet of space -- not including a two-story former stable in the rear yard -- will give him four times as much space as his current penthouse duplex on West 38th Street.

Known for dashing to disasters and wars around the world, Cooper's new home will fittingly sport a bust of Mercury, the Roman god of speed, atop the firehouse's main door.

How much time Cooper will spend in his new home is anyone's guess. Beside covering world events, like the earthquake in Haiti, he's know for vacationing around the globe, including a trip recently to the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur, India, where he was spotted with close pal Benjamin Maisani, who owns an East Village bar.

The Post's Page Six reported that Cooper's room had a large round bathtub that was filled on the first night with bubbles and sprinkled with red rose petals -- a luxury that firefighters probably never enjoyed.


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"The Doctors" is a show produced by Dr. Phil and his son Jay. They flew to Haiti on a private jet to "help" (shoot their show) the victims of the earthquake.

The Doctors and Jay McGraw on the jet to Haiti



Hardcore security for The Doctors and Dr.Phil`s sons



Jordon McGraw ready to work

Never-subtle comedian Kathy Griffin stunned her TV co-host Anderson Cooper on CNN's New Year's Eve special by dropping something other than that famous Times Square ball: a certified F-Bomb.

While Griff and Coop were chatting about the top stories of the year and got to Falcon "Balloon Boy" Heene, the funnywoman decided to give viewers a present and fumble the kid's first name. Even though the CNN host had already said "Falcon" to her, Griffin asked: "Fal ... Fu--ing? Falcon? How do you say it?"

Cooper's response to Griffin? "You're terrible. Really terrible." Watch: