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After Keith Olbermann Fiasco, Current TV Has a Prominent Politician Lined Up to Host a Show

Apr 18, 2012  •  Post A Comment

Current TV, fresh off a failed experiment with talk host Keith Olbermann — and now embroiled in a lawsuit with him, as previously reported — is hoping a prominent California politician can help fill the void in the channel’s lineup and keep its progressive agenda on track.

The channel unveiled plans for “The Gavin Newsom Show,” starring the former mayor of San Francisco and current California lieutenant governor, The New York Times reports. Newsom’s weekly show is set to debut in May.

Newsom will continue as lieutenant governor, the story notes.

In a statement, Current co-founder Al Gore said of Newsom: “[He] touches many worlds — business, politics, entertainment and activism. We are honored that Current TV will be bringing his curiosity, intelligence, insights and enthusiasm to television.”

The report adds that Current is “best known for hiring Keith Olbermann, who was fired last month after less than a year on the job. Both with and without Mr. Olbermann, the channel has been moving aggressively to add liberal-themed programs in a bid to challenge MSNBC and create an identity for itself on cable television. In recent months it has started hourlong shows by two former politicians, Jennifer Granholm and Eliot Spitzer, but until now it has not employed any sitting politicians.”

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