Ever hear the phrase "rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?" That perfect depiction of a futile effort came to mind when I read that CNN is going to add a live studio audience to Anderson Cooper's primetime news program. Two shows with the new audience and "talk format" will be taped in mid-April and are being called "specials" to keep expectations down. But the special format will likely become the permanent format if there is an improvement in ratings. (source)

Continued...

As silly as it sounds to add a live studio audience to a news broadcast, it's understandable why CNN is desperate to try something...anything...to help their dismal primetime ratings. Anderson Cooper 360 consistently loses big to Fox News Channel's On The Record with Greta Van Susteren in the 10:00pm timeslot. The most recent numbers show Ms. Van Susteren drawing 1,344,000 viewers while Mr. Cooper brings in way less than half that amount (488,000). (source)

Of course it isn't just Mr. Cooper's program or just CNN that keeps getting trounced by FNC as the latest all-of-primetime numbers show:

FNC - 2,425,000 viewers
CNN - 628,000 viewers
MSNBC - 1,072,000 viewers
CNBC - 129,000 viewers
HLN - 729,000 viewers

After getting clobbered by FNC night after night, week after week and year after year; you would think the other networks might consider adding some ideological diversity to their programming. But no. They continue with the same old one-sided presentations adding only the occasional gimmick such as a live studio audience. I wonder if they will flash a large applause sign for the crowd whenever Mr. Cooper reads "reports" on the latest Obama speech.