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Animated Series ‘Tooning Out the News’ Sets CBS All Access Debut

Daily segments mocking the latest news, from the creators and producers of Showtime’s ‘Our Cartoon President,’ launch March 16.

CBS All Access, CBS’ VOD streaming service, has just announced that its exclusive new animated variety news series, Tooning Out the News, will launch on Monday, March 16 in the U.S. and Canada.

The series will feature a cast of animated characters, led by anchor James Smartwood, mocking the news of the day and interviewing real-world guests, newsmakers and analysts in daily five-to-seven-minute segments streaming evenings Monday-Thursday, followed by a full weekly episode available each Friday. The series is executive produced by Stephen Colbert and Chris Licht of CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and R.J. Fried and Tim Luecke from Showtime’s Our Cartoon President.

“After a successful negotiation between my forthright representation and a frankly insulting CBS business affairs department, I’m pleased to report that I am now the lead anchor and chief senior managing director of news and miscellaneous serious stuff at America’s #1 source for news and Star Trek: CBS All Access,” Smartwood commented. “Now that I’m on the air, I have a stark warning to every power player in Washington: I will suck up to you for access – that’s a promise. Lastly, for the record, my involuntary sabbatical last year was my choice. Check out Tooning Out the News every weekday. I don’t work weekends. Weekends are for chili and roughhousing.”

Confirmed show guests Dan Abrams, Alan Dershowitz, Thomas Friedman, Nicholas Kristof, Rep. Barbara Lee, Olivia Nuzzi, Rep. Donna Shalala and Rep. Eric Swalwell.

Regular show segments will include:

“Big News” – America’s Most Trusted Source of Conventional Wisdom

James Smartwood hosts this satire of ego-centric cable news anchors who only offer the most conventional takes.

“Inside the Hill” – Where America Turns to Hear Rich People Agree with Each Other

Co-hosts Richard Ballard and Sarah Sabo discuss the latest political headlines with Washington’s elite.

“Hot Take” – The Biggest, Baddest, Bad Faith Arguments on Television

A politically diverse and wildly ill-informed panel weighs in on the news of the day.

“Virtue Signal” – There’s No Cause This White Lady Can’t Make About Herself

Kylie Weaver hosts this satire of liberal cable news anchors who pat themselves on the back for taking up every social and political cause.

“Smart Talk Tonight” – Important discussions, discussed importantly. Come on in, the water’s smart.

Kenneth Parsons and Chloe Kline conduct in-depth, in studio, one-on-one interviews with real-life newsmakers.

Source: CBS All Access

Dan Sarto's picture

Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.