Can celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain save CNN?

As its ratings slump, the venerable cable news outlet is recruiting the hard-drinking, outspoken Travel Channel host to diversify its offerings

Loud-mouth celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain
(Image credit: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper aren't exactly known for cursing and boozing, so when CNN announced this week that it was hiring profane hedonist Anthony Bourdain as a host, the news came as something of a surprise. The celebrity chef — whose loyal following enjoys watching him devour animal parts, guzzle alcohol, and pontificate on everything from Lebanese politics to Chicago hot dogs — will host a weekend travel show on CNN in 2013. Bourdain has hosted The Travel Channel's popular No Reservations since 2005 (the show will not be renewed after this season), and CNN is clearly hoping his brash approach can help reverse a bad slide in ratings. Can Bourdain work his magic at CNN?

Bourdain is the centerpiece of CNN's restructuring: Bourdain is set to "become the marquee personality in CNN's efforts to broaden its lifestyle programming," says Marisa Guthrie at The Hollywood Reporter. While he might appear an odd fit for the news channel, "traveling to war- and disaster-torn locales has become a Bourdain signature," most notably when his film crew got stuck in Lebanon during its 2006 war against Israel. Bourdain will also be a contributor on other CNN programs, suggesting that he might help shape the channel's news operations.

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