Cenk Uygur promises a stepped-up version of "The Young Turks" when it debuts on Current TV Monday.
The former MSNBC host told TheWrap that he planned to make use of the new platform for the online show with panel discussions and guests.
He said that the show will easily stand out from other cable news shows populated with "plastic robot anchors."
"We’ll be much more irreverent, in your face and genuine," he promised.
Uygur discussed his plans for the show, which candidate he’ll vote for 2012 and the future of the Occupy movement in his interview with TheWrap.
How will this show differ from "The Young Turks" people see online?
First of all, we’ve got a production that will be really stepped up – the graphics, the intros -- even being able to talk to everyone on the set. I am also looking forward to the panel conversation at the bottom of the hour -- bringing in the smartest progressives from across the country, and sometimes non-progressives to have a great conversation and an honest conversation. Bringing in guests was hard, technically, on the online show.
Also read: Current TV's Cenk Uygur, Executives Ready for 2012, Talk CNN's 'Fake Neutrality'
Yet you’ve dubbed "The Young Turks" the most largest online news program in the world. How does the Current platform compare to that?
Every platform brings a new and different audience as well. It’s fantastic to have those two platforms working in tandem. We are knee-deep in figuring out synergies and how we can work together. We might do an online poll that we introduce to the TV audience. We might use comments from either format. I aim to have genuine interaction with the audience and use both platforms to drive that audience.
So are the cable news networks your competition? And, if so, how do you make Current distinct?
I don’t think anybody will be confused as to whether we’re different from the rest of cable news. That’s easy. Look, unfortunately for the rest of cable news there are a lot of plastic robot anchors out there who regurgitate what producers put in the prompter. I don’t even have a prompter; the show is unscripted. We’ll be much more irreverent, in your face and genuine.
Right now you’ve got the GOP primary and Occupy Wall Street. What are you most excited to talk about?
The GOP primary race is a lot of fun because there are a bunch of goofballs over there and they provide a ton of entertainment, but I’m probably more excited by the progressive policy points we’re looking at.
People often talk about OWS but don’t give it the right context. It drives me crazy when Fox and other cable outlets play along – "No one knows what they are doing out there. Why don’t they get a job?" They know exactly what they’re asking for.
