Andrea Thompson, who played Talia Winters on Babylon 5 and was recently an anchor at CNN Headline news, has joined Court TV.

Andrea Thompson, who recently left her position as CNN Headline News anchor, will be going to Court TV on Saturday, June 8th, 2002.  The news was announced May 30th on CNN and several other news sites.

In her new role, she will host a three-hour blocks of programming on Saturday evenings for Court TV.  She will introduce shows, including  "NYPD Blue'' and "Forensic Files," and speak during the breaks.

On March 14, 2002,  Ms. Thompson resigned from CNN Headline News after nine months with the network.

She said, "I decided to leave my position as anchor of CNN Headline News after several weeks of careful consideration," said in a statement CNN released. "I have enjoyed anchoring at Headline News but have decided that it is time for me to make a change in my daily professional life."

A CNN source was she had had fourteen hour work days that limiting the time available for nine-year-old son.  Some unconfirmed reports appeared on the internet stating her former husband and Babylon 5 co-actor, Jerry Doyle, had expressed a concern as to seeing his son who had moved East with her. 

CNN officials said Thompson's decision was her own. Rolando Santos, executive vice president and general manager of CNN Headline News, added, "We're grateful for her hard work and her contributions to Headline News. We wish her the very best."  

CNN's Jamie Kellner hired Ms. Thompson after the departure of Lynne Russell.  This move was seen as an effort to "spice up the network and attract a younger audience."

Teya Ryan, the executive who recruited Thompson and launched the overhauled Headline News, recently left and was promoted to executive vice president and general manager of CNN / U.S. which is not part of Headline News.

Ryan stated, "When I hired Andrea, I saw a great deal of promise, determination and talent .... Andrea has worked extremely hard for Headline News, and I'm confident she'll succeed in whatever path she chooses next."¹

A Washington Post source is quoted as stating, "Thompson felt that the network was not promoting her sufficiently. That may have been a blessing, given how badly she could sometimes mangle a report. But this is a woman who chose as her first words as a Headline News anchor: "Hi, I'm Andrea Thompson -- and unless you've been living in a cave, you probably already know that."¹

It is unknown if this statement was a reflection of the resentment evident in former and active CNN personnel when she was hired.  Some of whom were instrumental in an undignified internet representation of her acting career.

Ms. Thompson was on the TV police drama "NYPD Blue" after B5 and found the pace to hectic leaving little time for her family.

She left "NYPD Blue" and took a position as a reporter for CBS affiliate  KRQE News 13  in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The KRQE News 13  web site may still list some of her projects.  During this stint as a rookie reporter, she was scouted by CNN and hired as part of there make-over of their "Headline News" show.

Andrea started on August 6, 2001 at  CNN Headline News as part of the "prime-time team."  CNN Headline News ( HN ) is a sister channel to CNN cable in the USA.

Published on: May 29, 2002
Links Updated : Jun 25, 2002 

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Jill Kirkendall