ABC Noticed

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CNN's Anderson Cooper Signs Daytime Talk Show Deal

By James Hibberd
September 30, 2010

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper has signed a deal to host a syndicated daytime TV talk show in the fall of 2011, while keeping his job as host of CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360."

Warner Bros. domestic television distribution and Telepictures Productions announced the deal Thursday, and said the daytime show would cover social issues, pop culture, and human interest stories.

Cooper, 43, will also conduct undercover investigations using hidden cameras, and hold town hall meetings on topics like race, infidelity and Internet predators, Warner Bros. and Telepictures said.

The untitled show will fill a gap in the daytime TV talk landscape left by Oprah Winfrey, who is ending "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in May 2011 after 25 years to launch her cable network OWN.

Cooper, who joined CNN in 2001 and has reported on the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, said in a statement that daytime TV was "fun and interesting" and he was looking forward to showing another side of himself.

"The format is unique and you can really go in-depth on a wide range of fascinating and compelling stories. With this new program I hope to relay important information and relate to people and the audience in a completely different way," said Cooper, the son of fashion designer and artist Gloria Vanderbilt.

Under the deal, Cooper will continue to anchor his CNN nightly show.

CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton said Cooper's new venture would be "good for Anderson, good for CNN and good for Time Warner."

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)