CNN signs comedian to do news satire

NEW YORK -- CNN is entering the comedy business, although you'll have to travel overseas and stay up very late to notice.

The news company has signed Jon Stewart of Comedy Central to make a weekly version of his satirical news program, "The Daily Show," to air late at night on its international network.

There are no plans to air it domestically, and the program will be stripped out of the CNN International feed that reaches a select few American homes.

Yet despite obstacles, it's not hard to imagine something like Stewart's show appearing on CNN's flagship domestic network -- certainly a lot easier than it would have been five or 10 years ago.

In an era in which many Americans find out about current events through Jay Leno or David Letterman, the idea of comedy on CNN isn't shocking, said Charles Bierbauer, former CNN correspondent and dean of the University of South Carolina's communications school.

Indeed, "The Daily Show" would seem in line with Turner chief Jamie Kellner's drive to bring more glitz and glamour to the formerly staid, now often slick, CNN.

"Jon is smart, he's witty, he's relevant," said Rena Golden, general manager of CNN International. "We think our audience is just going to eat this up."

Stewart will tape a CNN version of his "headlines" segment for the international audience, but the rest of the half-hour will have highlights of his Comedy Central program. It will air post-midnight on the weekends.

"I always knew how much it would help our show to be seen in sub-Saharan Africa," Stewart cracked.

Comedy Central is using the deal to raise its international profile, spokesman Tony Fox said. The network licenses "South Park" for use in many countries, but that's about it.

The arrangement also brings in cash, of course. Comedy Central will get a portion of CNN's advertising revenue for the show.

Mixed programming

On CNN International, Stewart's show won't seem as jarring as if it were slotted in the United States between, say, "Moneyline" and "Crossfire."

Particularly on weekends, the international network often mixes entertainment programming with news, Golden said. It has a music show and fashion programming. The CNN International audience is generally much younger than the domestic one, she said.

Stewart says his show "supposedly exists as a counterpunch" to CNN's serious news programming, which he thinks has "slightly more bombast" than before.

But Stewart's got more practical immediate concerns, like how his jokes are going to span the globe.

"It's strange enough to think we're going to be on in Bahrain," he said, "let alone what network we're going to be on."