Lauren Mensch will become executive producer of the show hosted by Don Lemon, Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow, joining Chris Russell, who was previously reported to be joining CNN This Morning.
A source familiar with the plan tells The Hollywood Reporter it is anticipated that Chris Russell will join the morning show anchored by Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins as its new EP. Russell currently works as EP of Leland Vittert’s program at NewsNation, the cable news channel owned by Nexstar.
Just months after the launch of CEO Chris Licht’s rebooted CNN This Morning, its top producer, Eric Hall, is being reassigned.
As behind the scenes drama plays out, CNN anchors will have to put on a happy face Tuesday when the curtain goes up on a new morning show. CNN This Morning is the first major initiative under CNN Chairman Chris Licht, who took the reins in April after a successful run at CBS, where he turned around the network’s morning news program and Stephen Colbert’s late night show. Above, CNN This Morning‘s co-anchors (l-r): Poppy Harlow, Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins — all familiar faces to the network’s viewers.
The show will be called CNN This Morning, the network said on Wednesday. The program, with Kaitlan Collins, Poppy Harlow and Don Lemon as hosts, replaces the current New Day and will air weekdays at 6-9 a.m. ET.
