After 3 years of underwhelming ratings and too much controversy, show is going off the air

Feb 24, 2014 08:17 GMT  ·  By
Piers Morgan Live ends its 3-year run on CNN in March after underwhelming ratings
   Piers Morgan Live ends its 3-year run on CNN in March after underwhelming ratings

When Piers Morgan came to replace Larry King on his iconic CNN live show, it was generally assumed that he would make it on the job at least five years. As it turns out, his run won’t be longer than 3 years, as the network has decided it is time to pull the plug on Piers Morgan Live.

Word of this first got out in a recent New York Times piece which doubled as an interview with Morgan. However, CNN refused to comment on it in any way, be it to confirm or deny the report.

The network has now confirmed the decision to cancel the show to The Wrap, with the trade publication saying that the final episode of Piers Morgan Live will most likely air in March. That is to say, it’s time to say your goodbyes if you’re one of those too-few people who will miss Morgan on CNN.

“It’s been a painful period and lately we have taken a bath in the ratings,” Morgan told David Carr in the NY Times piece, as cited by The Wrap.

The fact that Morgan would take such a vocal stand on issues that were hot topics with Americans (such as gun control, for instance) clearly didn’t help with getting better ratings. Quite on the contrary, actually.

“CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker has acknowledged multiple times that primetime needs a lot of work, and the ratings-challenged Morgan was a likely target. Morgan damaged himself by taking a strong partisan position against guns during his yearlong coverage of the gun debate, according to network insiders,” The Wrap says.

Morgan knew all too well that some (or most, depending on who you ask) of the things he said didn’t sit well with his audience, just as he knew that the time would come for him to pack his bags and leave the show because of this very reason.

“Look, I am a British guy debating American cultural issues, including guns, which has been very polarizing, and there is no doubt that there are many in the audience who are tired of me banging on about it. That’s run its course and Jeff and I have been talking for some time about different ways of using me,” he said on the topic.

Morgan will remain with CNN, with The Wrap saying he will probably focus on interviews next.