Former New York governor and prostitute enthusiast Eliot Spitzer will be getting his own primetime CNN news show.
Spitzer will pair with Pulitzer Prize-winning conservative columnist Kathleen Parker for a roundtable discussion program that will take over Campbell Brown current 8 PM time slot.
Spitzer made his name in New York politics with his crusades against Merrill Lynch, AIG and the New York Stock Exchange before he resigned in 2008 after acknowledging visits to a $1,000-an-hour prostitute.
CNN president, Jonathan Klein, describes the format for the show as a 'roundup of all the best ideas' of the day. The network has struggled to build a primetime audience in recent years.
Asked if CNN was hoping that Spitzer's notoriety would bring in more viewers, Klein replies: "I'm not sure... But that's not why we hired him. Had served two full terms as governor, he would still be good at this."
"Other cable news channels force-feed viewers one narrow, predictable point of view; in contrast, CNN will be offering a lively roundup of all the best ideas -- presented by two of the most intelligent and outspoken figures in the country," he says.
"Eliot and Kathleen are beholden to no vested interest -- in fact, quite the opposite: they are renowned for taking on the most powerful targets and most important causes."
Despite CNN insisting otherwise, the move marks a clear return to the 'Crossfire' opinion format.
'Crossfire' visited the topics of the day with a range of guests and co-hosts from each side. Coincidentally, that is precisely the format of the new show.
Former New York governor and 
