Piers Morgan’s interview show on CNN last week finished third with an average of 978,000 viewers; almost identical ratings compared with the ratings Larry King was getting in the time slot a year earlier, writes Deadline.com’s Nellie Andreeva in a piece entitled "CNN Hires New Booker for Piers Morgan Amid Steep Ratings Decline."
The article says, "After hitting a ratings and an all-around low for his interview with the Kardashian sisters last week, it became clear that Morgan should be going for better guests. His producers agree, hiring a new booker, 15-year ABC News veteran Katie Thompson, who worked primarily with Barbara Walters, including on her 1999 interview with Monica Lewinsky."
The article notes that Howard Stern, who was Morgan’s second guest on the show–and who "delivered Morgan’s biggest ratings to date," is now critical of the interviewer. Stern said on his radio show on Tuesday, Feb, 1, 2011, according to the article, "Stop going around bragging like you’re gonna be the next Barbara Walters or something. I like the guy, but he’s gotta really wise up. Dude, you’re in a whole new f**king ballgame … you’re on CNN, in America–welcome to the war."
The big issue he has is the taped show. At that time of night people are looking for live programming reviewing the day’s news. Not taped interviews of the Kardasian sisters. When the Middle East is burning, people are looking for legitimate news people talking to their peers in the Middle East. This is difficult for Morgan in the US since he is seen as a reality host and celebrity interviewer, not a real newsman.