CNN is considering a popular comedian who was a regular on “Saturday Night Live” and a former host of "Talk Soup" as possible hosts for its 7 p.m. time slot, reports the New York Post’s Page Six.

The contenders are former “SNL” star Chris Rock and ex-"Talk Soup" host Aisha Tyler, who are being considered as the cable network seeks to win back African-American and Hispanic viewers, according to the report.

The slot is currently held by "John King USA," which has had what the story calls anemic ratings despite a jump last month when CNN drew more viewers for its coverage of the Japan tsunami and Mideast political turmoil. CNN executives don’t want to be too hasty in replacing "John King USA," the article notes.

CNN shot a pilot with Soledad O’Brien, with the idea of placing it in the 7 p.m. time slot, but the piece says the pilot was "deemed unwatchable" by CNN Worldwide President Jim Walton. Nevertheless, some executives are still working on a project with O’Brien and are shooting another pilot, the piece adds.