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gayle king cbs© Photo: Getty Images

Gayle King and Charles Barkley launching new primetime show with CNN: 'Kindness always works'

King Charles will air in the fall on CNN

Rebecca Lewis
Rebecca Lewis - Los Angeles
Los Angeles correspondentLos Angeles
April 22, 2023
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Gayle King is taking on a new gig! The CBS news anchor is joining Charles Barkley for a new prime-time show ON CNN, aptly titled King Charles, which will air on Wednesdays.

The pair shared the news on TNT’s NBA Tip-Off Saturday April 22. "I want people to tune in to see ‘what are Gayle and Charles going to do?'" said Gayle of the show that will cover topics ranging from gun control to pop culture.

“I think that decorum and courtesy and kindness always work,” Gayle added. “But everybody I know has an opinion on something. We just need to figure out a way to have a good conversation without tearing each other down. And I think we can do that.” 

Gayle King (L) and former NBA player/tv personality Charles Barkley attends the 2017 NBA Awards Live on TNT on June 26, 2017 © Getty
Gayle King and Charles Barkley have been friends for years

“I want the show to be nonpolitical,” Charles continued, while mentioning that topics will include politics. 

“You know (Gayle King) is going to be a straight shooter. I’m going to be a straight shooter,” he added. “I know she’s going to be fair and honest and you know I’m going to do the same thing.”

King Charles is expected to begin this fall and run into 2024, CNN CEO Chris Licht confirmed to staff in an email. The show, he said, will deliver “culturally relevant programming and unique perspectives".

MORE: Gayle King's mind-blowing $7.1m Manhattan penthouse needs to be seen to be believed

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Tony, Gayle, and Nate on CBS Mornings© CBS

Both will stay with their current shows: Gayle covers the morning program on CBS with anchors Tony Dokoupil and Nate Burleson, while NBA legend Charles is hosting with WBD Sports.

 The news comes weeks after Gayle, 68, opened up about what the future holds for her career, at the 2023 Adweek Convergent TV Summit in New York. 

"I'm very close to [CNN head] Chris Licht. I like him very much," she said before dodging an answer on if she would be moving to the news network. "But on that question, 'Me no speak English,'" she quipped.

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