CNN’s Anderson Cooper bows new daytime show

[HMG Celebrity News] – In a move that will see him face a wide range of contenders from Jerry Springer to Oprah, CNN’s Anderson Cooper has announced plans to debut a daytime talk show.

The 43-year old New York-born newsman says the so-far untitled project will cover popular topics like celebrities, pop culture and social issues in a journalistic style, with a spin to make them attractive to a female audience.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of daytime programs,” Cooper tells THR. “With this program I hope to relay important information and relate to people in a different way. It’s an opportunity to show another side of myself and create something worthwhile and special in daytime.”

The deal proved tricky as Cooper has an exclusive deal with CNN, but the new show will be made by another division of Warners — ‘Telepictures Distribution.’ And Cooper had to agree to still do his ’360′ show.

The new show will open next Fall — just as Oprah quits NBC to start her own network, ‘OWN.’ And her departure has caused a positive rash of contenders — Everyone from Dr. Oz to Nancy Grace now has a pilot in the works.

“There’s a great opportunity for this type of show,” says Ken Werner, President of Warner’s TV distribution. “Established franchises are leaving, and Anderson’s popularity and skills uniquely position him to be the next big franchise.”

Cooper has often tried a  talk-show format on this ’360′ shows, and was also rumored to be a contender for Regis Philbin’s old job. But this announcement is now drawing comparisons to daytime legend Phil Donahue, to whom he’s a worthy successor.

The format may change before the show gets to air, but from what we know now what’s your reaction to this?…