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First, let me say this: I’ve always been a fan of NBA Hall of Famer and current TNT sports analyst Charles Barkley. While I don’t often agree with Sir Charles, I do respect his audacious “I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks, I’m going to say what I want to say, and if you don’t like it, that’s your problem” attitude.

Here’s a perfect example:

In 2008, Barkley toyed with the idea of running for governor in Alabama in 2014, but changed his mind, two years later. Nonetheless, the former NBA star has since been asked about the topic on a regular basis. In 2020, Barkley told ESPN’s Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post Podcast: “I’m not going to do the governor thing,” before going full-metal Sir Charles:

I think both of these parties are crap. They do nothing for actual people. The Democrats and Republicans are both full of crap. You see now with this pandemic. They aren’t doing anything for these people.

Right or wrong, you (I) gotta love that in-your-face attitude. And as reported by Kentucky.com, Barkley expounded on his disdain for both parties:

I’ve been a Democrat all my life. I just realized now they have done an awful job of taking care of poor people. They make the same boasts every four years, come to the black community and (say) they’re going to make things better. But they don’t really make things better. I’m still a Democrat, but I don’t fall for stupidity.

Preach it, Charles. As to the GOP, Barkley went with the worn-out Democrat schtick about Republicans only being concerned with wealthy people, which is somewhat surprising.

With that backdrop, let’s fast-forward to 2023. As reported by veteran media reporter Dylan Byers on Puck News on Friday, CNN is involved in negotiations with Barkley to host a primetime news show. 

According to Byers, beleaguered CNN CEO Chris Licht has his sights set on signing the former basketball great to the troubled network to host the new show, which would feature the Inside the NBA analyst interviewing “newsmakers, journalists, and other guests about various topics of the day.” Barkley would reportedly be able to continue his TNT analyst job, as well.

Why? And likely at a high premium.

I mean, Licht has to be aware of Barkley’s views of both major political parties, making him a far cry from Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer, and the recently-demoted race-baiter, Don Lemon. Other than Barkley’s controversial (to some) propensity to go off on anything related to politics (which I love about the guy), what would Licht and CNN gain for presumably shelling out big bucks to land Sir Charles?

Barkley’s name, of course, and likely curiosity from both sides of the aisle — at least at the beginning, but what else? Dunno, but I’d love to see it happen — if just to see how it would turn out.

Barkley is just one of the personalities Licht is reportedly considering for the new show. Byers reported last week that CBS morning show co-host Gayle King and others are also reportedly on Licht’s shortlist. When CNN was asked for comment on negotiations with Barkley, spokesman Matt Dornic told Byers:

Chris [Licht] is having conversations with dozens of culturally relevant individuals from the worlds of news, sports, entertainment, and comedy.

“Culturally relevant individuals.” Relevant to whom and what size potential audience? An interesting descriptor, particularly coming from CNN.

The Bottom Line

Whatever’s behind Chris Licht’s interest in Charles Barkley, “The Most Trusted Name in News” continues to experience problem after problem, as the troubled network’s ratings continue to swirl down the drain. Bummer. Anyway, let’s do this thing, CNN. I’ll watch — until the newness wears off, that is.