For Paula Deen, the use of the N-word has been disastrous. The racial slur has been very, very good to CNN, however.
CNN's Monday night special "The N Word" — which explores a topic that's been very much in the news lately, thanks to Paula Deen — delivered tasty numbers for the cable news network.
Also read: Paula Deen Accuser Speaks Out: This Was Never About the N-Word
The special, airing at 7 p.m., drew 612,000 total viewers. Not bad, considering that CNN's primetime average for the month of June (technically, May 27 through June 30) was 468 thousand total viewers.
In the key 25-54 news demo, "The N Word" drew 218,000 viewers.
Also read: Cable Ratings: CNN, HLN Grow in 2nd Quarter While Fox Dominates
The special, hosted by Don Lemon, examined the various aspects of the racial epithet, including comparing the word with "cracker," often used as a derogatory term for white people.