We’ve got news for you about “Have I Got News For You.”
The comedy roundtable program that asks comics and newsmakers to pick and probe the week’s most important and sometimes off-putting headlines will get a second season at CNN, part of a bid by the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet to build a Saturday-night schedule that hinges on newsy analysis and comedic satire.
“For its inaugural season, ‘Have I Got News For You‘ has been a welcome and lively extension of the CNN brand, and our viewers continue to show enthusiasm for comic relief on Saturday nights” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development, in a statement. The show is led by Roy Wood Jr. and features Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black.
The network has been quietly experimenting with a different genre of programming on Saturdays, pairing “HIGNFY” with repeats of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher.” Executives believe the shows are bringing new viewers to the network who aren’t typically heavy news watchers. Comedic news has flourished, but usually not on the news outlets. People have embraced “The Daily Show,” “Last Week Tonight” with John Oliver and the “Weekend Update” segment of “SNL.” When subscribers to Max, the streaming hub owned by Warner, choose the “news” section, they are offered access to past episodes of Oliver’s and Maher’s HBO series, along with the choice to stream CNN. Fox News has since June of 2023 run a Saturday-night roundtable program led by comedian Jimmy Failla.
The ten-episode first season will conclude on Saturday, November 23 at 9 p.m., with technology journalist Kara Swisher as a guest. Guests this season included Robin Thede, Andy Richter, Mark McKinnon, Ana Navarro, Larry Wilmore, Adam Kinzinger, Anthony Scaramucci, Bomani Jones and Representative Tim Burchett.
“Have I Got News For You” is executive produced by Jim Biederman, Jimmy Mulville and Richard Wilson for Hat Trick Productions.