CNN Officially Cancels ‘Crossfire’ – Again

The network cancels political debate show for the second time in 30 years

CNN has cancelled its on-again, off again political debate program “Crossfire” Wednesday, insiders with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.

The cancellation announcement comes amid a network restructuring and a series of layoffs. Originally debuting in 1982 with two hosts, network president Jeff Zucker resurrected the show last year after it was canceled in 2005. The 2.0 version looked different: a half-hour with four hosts, paired up in duos broadcasting on different days. Former White House adviser Stephanie Cutter and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich co-hosted one day; former MSNBC host and former White House energy adviser Van Jones on the next.  That rotation lasted for half a year, before CNN pivoted to wall-to-wall Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 coverage in March.

The four hosts will remain with the network as political commentators, insiders also confirm.

Also read: CNN, HLN Layoffs Day 2: ‘Unguarded’ With Rachel Nichols, ‘Sanjay Gupta MD’ Canceled (Developing)

The network’s  missing plane binge lasted close to two months, bumping “Crossfire” off the air from March 10th through April 30th. In its place was an extended full hour of “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.” Returning on May 1, “Crossfire” made it just two-and-a-half months before its most recent–and final–vanishing act from CNN’s 6:30p.m. timeslot.

Also read: CNN, HLN Layoffs: Jane Velez-Mitchell Out, Entertainment Unit Disbanded

Crossfire’s most recent disappearance from CNN’s lineup during the buildup to the 2014 midterm elections was a clear sign that the show wasn’t returning.

 

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