Simon Cowell Says He Helped Broker Morgan Deal; CNN: ‘There Is No Deal’

The day after CNN/US President Jon Klein told B&C that the network execs “never have negotiated” with Piers Morgan, TV producer and personality Simon Cowell tells Extra, “[Morgan] was under contract to us on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ so he called me and we helped sort of broker the deal,” adding, “I knew about this weeks ago.”

But a CNN spokesperson tells TVNewser, “We have not offered Piers Morgan a job, and we are not currently in negotiations with him. We are always open to new opportunities and to various talent who express an interest in our programming. Piers is one such talent, but there is no deal.”

Over the past month, rumors swirled from the British and American gossip press that Morgan was in talks to join the network, with some reporting that he would take over for CNN legend Larry King.

King’s announcement this week that he would be ending his program, “Larry King Live,” after 25 years only served to fuel that speculation. There have been a few other names in circulation to take over the 9pmET roll, though the Morgan rumor — or perhaps rather the Morgan camp — has been the most active.

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