A collaboration between basketball commentator Charles Barkley and CBS anchor Gayle King on a CNN primetime talk show has come to an abrupt end after failing to capture audience attention.
The show, “King Charles,” which aired on Wednesday nights at 10pm ET, struggled to attract more viewers compared to reruns of popular sitcoms like Friends and South Park.
Nielsen data revealed that it marked the lowest-rated primetime weeknight series debut for CNN in over a decade.
Despite initial plans to run the show through early spring, “King Charles” experienced a significant decline in viewership, dropping by 20% since its launch in November.
The premiere episode garnered 500,000 total viewers, with 139,000 falling within the crucial 25-to-54 age demographic.
However, the episode that aired on January 31st failed to reach even 100,000 viewers in the 25-to-54 age group, a concerning development according to Nielsen statistics.
The concept of “King Charles” was conceived by Chris Licht, a former CNN executive who faced a controversial exit following negative media coverage.
The show’s demise was further compounded by an incident involving Meghan Markle, a friend of Gayle King and Oprah Winfrey, who playfully blended the names of the hosts to create the show’s title.
Critics described the show as disjointed and lacking a clear direction, suggesting that the hosts may have been preoccupied with other commitments.
Gayle King’s association with Meghan Markle has drawn scrutiny, particularly in light of the latter’s public controversies.
Questions have been raised about the authenticity of Meghan’s claims, with Gayle King defending her friend’s allegations of discrimination.
Notably, during a CBS broadcast, Gayle affirmed Meghan’s stance on issues related to discrimination, emphasizing the importance of evidence to support such claims.
Meghan’s attempts to introduce American-style narratives of discrimination into the British royal family have been met with skepticism and criticism.
Gayle King found herself in a challenging position when confronted with the reality of public sentiment towards the late Queen, as diverse communities united to pay their respects.
This contrasted sharply with Meghan’s portrayal of the royal family, raising doubts about the validity of her assertions.
The fallout from Meghan’s controversial statements continues to reverberate, with implications for those associated with her, including Gayle King.
The unraveling of “King Charles” underscores the challenges of blending entertainment with news, especially when intertwined with high-profile personalities and contentious issues.
As the dust settles on this chapter, it serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of navigating fame, friendship, and public scrutiny in the modern media landscape.