CNN will cancel low-rated 9 p.m. ‘Piers Morgan Live’

Gun-control opponents, take heart: “Piers Morgan Live� is about to get its barrel cleaned by CNN.

The 9 p.m. interview show hosted by the British-born Morgan — an outspoken and controversial champion of gun control — will be canceled as soon as next month, the host told the New York Times in an interview published Sunday.

“Piers Morgan Live� has sunk to some of its lowest-ever ratings recently, just as CNN boss Jeff Zucker is under relentless pressure to turn around the struggling cable news network. CNN is often a distant No. 3 behind Fox News Channel and MSNBC.

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“CNN confirms that ‘Piers Morgan Live’ is ending,� the network said in a statement. “The date of the final program is still to be determined.�

Morgan did not respond to a request for comment, nor did his manager. He took over the 9 p.m. weeknight period for CNN in 2011, succeeding Larry King.

Morgan’s views often put him under attack. His unyielding opinions on gun control irritated many viewers, while more recentlly he was sharply criticized by transgender actviists after an awkward interview with author Janet Mock.

On Thursday night, “Piers Morgan� gathered just 364,000 total viewers, according to Nielsen. That was easily beaten by Fox News’ “The Kelly File� (1.9 million) and MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show� (925,000).

What do you think of Morgan and his show?

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