By Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times –
LOS ANGELES — “Anderson Live,” the daytime talker from CNN news personality Anderson Cooper, won’t be getting a third season from Telepictures, the syndicated division of Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. executives starting telling stations on Friday of the decision not to renew the series.
Cooper joined the daytime fray in 2011, with then-titled “Anderson.” After the show failed to generate solid numbers, a number of changes took place to usher in the second season: a new show title, a live format, a studio audience, revolving guest co-hosts and a new location for the studio.
But the alterations did little to boost the show’s prospects, especially as it faced a crowd of new talk shows from Katie Couric, Steve Harvey, Jeff Probst and Ricki Lake. Its most recent week averaged just 1.45 million viewers — putting it behind daytime heavyweights such as “Dr. Phil” and even newbies “Katie” and “Steve Harvey.”
“We are extremely proud of Anderson and the show that he and the entire production team have produced,” said a Warner Bros. spokesperson in a statement. “While we made significant changes to the format, set and produced it live in its second season, the series will not be coming back for a third season in a marketplace that has become increasingly difficult to break through. We will continue to deliver top-quality shows throughout next summer.”
The decision was the side effect of not being able to create a “viable economic business model” to move the show forward. “Anderson Live” will wrap after the summer of 2013. The news was not addressed on Monday’s show — but maybe Cooper was preoccupied keeping tabs on Hurricane Sandy.
“I am very proud of the work that our terrific staff has put into launching and sustaining our show for two seasons,” Cooper said in a statement. “I am also grateful to Telepictures for giving me the opportunity, and indebted to viewers, who have responded so positively. I look forward to doing more great shows this season, and though I’m sorry we won’t be continuing, I have truly enjoyed it.”
Next season, Warner Bros. will roll out “Bethenny,” starring “Real Housewives” alum Bethenny Frankel.
