This past month, CNN made noticeable on-air design changes to two of its marquee programs, Anderson Cooper 360 and The Lead with Jake Tapper, giving them a dressed-down, podcast-like aesthetic.
Both shows were temporarily moved out of their glossy, flashy studios, with Cooper relocated to the network’s New York newsroom, shedding his jacket, loosening his tie, and leading his show from behind a table topped with a large image of the Middle East. Completing the new look, exposed mics, reminiscent of the Larry King era at the network, were placed in front of Cooper and his guests.
