For our CNN viewers, you may be interested in learning that Kathleen Parker, one half of the news duo “Parker Spitzer” has left the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Parker leaves after months of dwindling ratings and rumors of contention between Parker and her host, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Two months earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that CNN was considering replacing Parker. However, it should be noted that the show was never a big success to begin with, what with it being a weird mix of “hard” news and infotainment-verging on-rom/com stylings. This blogger is an avid CNN watcher, and after watching some of the show, I can say that the tone was never really set as to what I was suppose to feel from watching it. Was I supposed to be entertained by their “Men Are From Mars/Women Are from Venus” type banter? Am I suppose to pay attention to the news stories that I’ve heard all day?

It was reported that a CNN insider said that Parker was let go because she was growing increasingly uncomfortable. According to the insider, Spitzer is the more dominant of the co-hosts, contributing to Parker’s growing uneasiness. “It was painfully obvious that it wasn’t working,” said the insider. The sad thing is that CNN created the show in order to reinvigorate their primetime lineup.

Replacing “Parker Spitzer” is “In the Arena”, a show which is being promoted as an ensemble show with “several newsmakers, guests and contributors”. The show will feature Spizter, former Fox News anchor E.D. Hill, “National Review” columnist Will Cain, and others. “In the Arena” starts this Monday. Parker will turn her focus back to her political writing and will, on occasion, be on CNN for commentary.

Kathleen Parker and Eliot Spitzer
Kathleen Parker and Eliot Spitzer

By Monique Jones

Monique Jones blogs about race and culture in entertainment, particularly movies and television. You can read her articles at Racialicious, and her new site, COLOR . You can also listen to her new podcast, What would Monique Say.

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