The acclaimed Hollywood star Patrick Stewart once reflected on Piers Morgan’s CNN exit after his talk show was canceled. Launched in 2011, Piers Morgan Live featured interviews with politicians, celebrities, and public figures. Despite its three-year tenure, the program struggled to resonate with American primetime audiences, leading to its cancellation in 2014 amidst dwindling viewership.
The talk show host, however, suggested that the American audience was simply not interested in a British guy discussing the polarizing issues of their country. Stewart, who took on the role of British newscaster in the sitcom Blunt Talk, shared his thoughts on Morgan’s exit and the show’s cancellation during a 2015 interview.
Patrick Stewart Weighs in on Piers Morgan’s CNN Show Cancellation
In an interview with Time magazine, renowned actor Patrick Stewart was asked for his thoughts on Piers Morgan’s canceled talk show, particularly Morgan’s suggestion that American audiences were not receptive to British journalists discussing contentious U.S. topics.
He shared that he was quite intrigued by Morgan’s show and found it refreshing. “I found it very refreshing to watch Piers’ show,” he said before adding, “He and I had breakfast together and had a long conversation about his experience.”
The Star Trek actor, however, seemed disconnected from Morgan’s opinions, as he shared his admiration for the people of America and for their “generosity,” while acknowledging their acceptance of Morgan throughout the three-year run of his show. He said,
But yes, it’s an interesting perspective. One of the things that has always impressed me about the American system and its way of life is its generosity. They absorbed Piers for a certain amount of time.
And he shared that he wished people would show the same love and acceptance towards his show Blunt Talk and his character Walter Blunt. The show received mixed reviews and ran for two seasons before its cancellation in 2016, reportedly due to the lack of substantial viewership.
Patrick Stewart Wanted Piers Morgan to Appear on His Show
In his conversation with Time magazine, Patrick Stewart also discussed his sitcom Blunt Talk. Running for two seasons on Starz, the show follows Stewart as British newscaster Walter Blunt as he navigates the challenges of transitioning to American cable news in Los Angeles.
He shared that Piers Morgan was also quite fascinated by his sitcom and that he would have loved for him to make a surprise appearance on the show. “He was fascinated by Blunt Talk,” he said before adding, “I would love to have Piers on the show.” However, his wish never came to fruition.
Talking about his character in the show, he emphasized Blunt’s dedication to responsible journalism and his belief in the media’s potential to effect change. Stewart also shared that he himself has been a news enthusiast all his life and even worked as a junior reporter.
“[I] was working on my local newspaper. I was the most junior reporter on staff,” he shared. So, when he got the opportunity to portray a nightly cable news anchor in Blunt Talk, he was immediately captivated by the prospect as it also offered him an opportunity to do something different from Star Trek and X-Men.
Blunt Talk is available to stream on Prime Video.
