CNN does not need a comedy hour - it already is a joke! Fox News' Greg Gutfeld ... trends now
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld mocked CNN over its search for a comedy host - saying the network already is a joke.
Gutfeld claimed the 'smashing success' of his own late-night Fox show had forced CNN to look for 'a hit comedy show of their own.'
Bosses at the famously progressive news network have reportedly floated names such as Bill Maher, Trevor Noah and Jon Stewart to offer a satirical take on the news - and compete with rival Fox's Gutfeld!.
The Fox show last year drew a ratings average of 2.15m viewers - trumping vehement progressives such as James Corden and Stephen Colbert, who have seen ratings fall drastically in recent years.
Gutfeld joked that no shake-up was needed at CNN because it had already provided cable news with the 'golden age of comedy.'
Fox News host Greg Gutfeld last night mocked CNN over its search for a comedy host - saying the network already is a joke
Bosses at CNN have reportedly floated names such as Bill Maher and Trevor Noah
Gutfeld (right) said the 'golden age of comedy' had been provided by CNN Chris Cuomo, Don Lemon, Brian Stelter (left to right)
'But isn't that the point, really? CNN was already funny and they went ahead and they ruined it,' he said. 'I'm talking, of course, about the golden age of comedy. Chris Cuomo, Don Lemon, Brian Stelter. Or as they're known in the business, the Three Stooges. Those were the days, right?'
He also argued that the network's effort was doomed to fail because good comedy relies on 'truth, not ideology.'
Gutfeld cited the late comedian Norm MacDonald, who was fired by NBC after jokes about O.J. Simpson, suggesting that CNN would make strict rules for comedians that would stop them from being funny.
Following Simpson's acquittal in 1995, MacDonald said: 'Well, it's official, it's finally official. Murder is legal in the state of California.'
Gutfeld said: 'The audience roared because they knew it was true, but they also laughed because Norm was saying something you got the feeling he wasn't supposed to say.
'Rumors swirled that some execs at NBC didn't want him doing O.J. jokes. He was willing to break the rules to tell the truth. So how can a network do that while calling moms pregnant people? In order to be effective at comedy, you've got to rely on truth, not ideology.'
The rumored late-night foray by CNN is the latest in a series of sweeping changes to the network under new boss Chris Licht.
According to people familiar with the matter, the not-yet-named funnyman would be tasked with filling the hallowed 9pm time slot, previously held by Cuomo.
CNN execs, led by Licht, have largely failed to fill the space left by Cuomo, who lost the gig more than a year ago after trying to help his brother Andrew Cuomo fight off a sexual harassment scandal.
Viewing figures for the week of September 19-25 show liberal late night shows playing second-fiddle to new top dog Gutfeld!, which started airing weeknights at 11pm in April of last year. Many attribute the reduction to recent political rantings exhibited by hosts while on the air
CNN is reportedly considering hiring a comedian to host one of its struggling prime time hours - the latest in a series of sweeping changes to the network under CEO Chris Licht (pictured)
Meanwhile prime time host Lemon - who was openly hostile to Donald Trump throughout his campaign and presidency - has been shifted to the morning crew.
Licht's new era has resulted in the termination of several popular and notoriously progressive hosts, including John Harwood and Brian Stelter, along with their shows.
Licht hinted at a desire to sign comedian Stewart in an interview last year with the New York Times.
Currently under contract with Apple, the 60-year-old satirist seems like an unlikely option - though the stellar ratings he brought The Daily Show for 16 years has likely piqued Late Night expert Licht's interests - especially when compared to ratings spawned by his successor Trevor Noah, and other more polarizing
