CNN tries to up its ratings with quiz show hosted by Anderson Cooper  

CAROLYN JOHNS/ABC Anderson Cooper, who once hosted “The Mole” on ABC, will host a new politically oriented quiz show for CNN.

Globe-trotting anchorman Anderson Cooper is dusting off his game-show hosting chops for a new politically-themed quiz show. It’s slated to debut on the cable channel Feb. 16, Presidents Day.

The show is the latest non-news programming for CNN under the watchful eye of its polarizing chief, Jeff Zucker — and the second game show for Cooper who once hosted ABC’s “The Mole.”

It might seem like odd departure for one of the most prominant news brands on TV, at least at first. But it should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Zucker, the president of CNN Worldwide, who rose from producing the “Today” show to overseeing all of NBC.

Since he joined the news network in 2013, Zucker has tried to battle CNN’s lowest ratings ever by launching several non-news shows. They’ve included the Emmy-winning travel/food series, “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It,” hosted by craggy-voiced Mike Rowe (the former star of Discovery channel’s megahit, “Dirty Jobs”).

Zucker and his executives hope that his Frankenstein vision of mixing breaking news with orginal entertainment programming will help CNN find a niche. They’re looking for something like what Fox News Channel and MSNBC have found by catering to viewers on the right and left, respectively, of the political spectrum.

But can a game show be successful on a channel known for news?

Popular game shows like “Jeopardy!” (which allegedly inspired this new CNN venture) are easy to watch. Even the most casual viewer can quickly dip into a game show, roll along for a few questions and then move on.

Zucker has tried to battle CNN’s lowest ratings ever by launching several non-news shows like "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It.”

Still, industry observers have said as recently as October that there’s no clear evidence that Zucker’s strategy is working.

Despite losing the ratings race in the U.S., CNN still dominates globally and remains hugely profitable. So there doesn’t seem to be as much pressure on Zucker to succeed as many would think. He’s got time to mix and match and breathing room to make mistakes.

The question is how much patience the shareholders of the news network’s parent company, Time Warner, will have for Zucker and his attempts to breathe new life into.

Run, don’t walk, to the store. Because this week is the best time of the year to buy a TV set, according to market experts.

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Prices really do drop ahead of the Super Bowl, which this year lands on Feb. 1. Big-screen TVs fall about 5% to 10% in cost during the week leading up to the game, compared to what they’ll set you back in the three months before and after. That’s according to what Ben Arnold, executive director and industry analyst for the NPD Group, told CNBC.

Consumer Electronics Association surveys have found that almost a quarter of TV buyers get a new set specifically for the Super Bowl. So screw the blue-cheese dressing. What really goes well with pizza and chicken wings is the warm blue glow of a new set.

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