Sports commentator Charles Barkley has broken his silence on the rumors regarding the possibility that he will host a show on CNN.
Speaking during an interview with the New York Post, Barkley confirmed reports are true.
He revealed that he’s been in serious discussions with CNN about hosting a show in primetime with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King.
However, Barkley also described the failing network as a “sh*t show.”
“They are trying to pair Gayle King and me,” Barkley said.
“We don’t have anything set in stone.
“I’m only considering it because of my respect for Gayle.”
Barkley did say if he moves over to CNN it would not be for a nightly show.
“That is never going to happen,” Barkley said.
“It would be an honor and a privilege to work with Gayle,” he continued.
“I just want to help the company because, obviously, it is a sh*t show right now.
“Anything I can do to help.”
A network spokesman said earlier about the CEO Chris Licht’s plans for CNN primetime:
“Chris is having conversations with dozens of culturally relevant individuals from the worlds of news, sports, entertainment, and comedy.”
According to The New York Post:
Puck, a digital media platform, previously reported CNN’s interest in King, who is under contract to CBS, and Barkley, but not with the two on the same program.
The idea that Barkley might do a daily program also had been implied.
Barkley, who just turned 60, had previously spoken about retiring at this point in his career, but instead signed a 10-year contract with Warner Brothers Discovery, the parent company of TNT and TBS, that is believed to be in the range of Tony Romo’s $180 million CBS deal.
If WBD Sports doesn’t keep the NBA when its contract expires after the 2024-25 season, Barkley likely would be able to become a TV free agent and would assuredly be wanted by new partners of the league.
