Laura Coates and Abby Phillip aren’t ‘mouthpieces.’ CNN hopes they can revive the brand

During the last two years, the “C” in CNN easily could have stood for “chaotic” instead of “cable.” The all-news network has been staggered by a flurry of high-profile embarrassments: an executive scandal involving its former president Jeff Zucker; the firings of veteran anchors Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon, a widely criticized Donald Trump town hall and the turbulent reign of Chris Licht, who was booted from his job as chairman after 13 months. Abby Phillip, the network’s former senior political correspondent and host of “Inside Politics Sunday,” will anchor “CNN NewsNight With Abby Phillip.” Laura Coates, who was senior legal analyst, will follow with “Laura Coates Live.” Both nightly shows premiere Oct. 16. It’s not coincidence that the show is called “Laura Coates Live,” like “Larry King Live.” — Coates on the style of her CNN prime-time show What is your show going to be like? It’s not coincidence that the show is called “Laura Coates Live,” like “Larry King Live.” I always loved the intimate experience, where the viewers feel like they are in the room where it’s happening. If you had asked me six months ago if I thought I would be anchoring a 10 p.m. show, I would have said, “You’re crazy.” It felt to me like it happened very quickly.