Jake Tapper is broadening his definition of American impropriety.
The CNN anchor, who last year offered viewers a different side of his reportage with the documentary series, “United States of Scandal,’ will return for a second season starting March 9, still looking at political malfeasance but examining other areas as well.
“Last year we did a lot of D.C. politics and a lot of sex scandals,” Tapper notes during an interview. For the show’s next cycle, “we really tried to expand our aperture and look more widely at the American mosaic of sports and pop culture and business, and I think people will like it.”
“Scandal” is one of several CNN efforts to carry on with documentary programming despite cost pressures. Under Jeff Zucker, who ran CNN for a decade, the network built a new business in non-fiction programming that gave rise to celebrated travelogue programs from Anthony Bourdain and Stanley Tucci as well as a spate of critically lauded documentary films on topics ranging from Glen Campbell to orcas kept in captivity. A CNN documentary on Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny won an Oscar.
CNN has scaled back some of its ambitions in the area, relying more on internal resources and less on partnerships with outside production studios and hosts. Tapper’s series, which often edged out rivals among the viewers most coveted by advertisers — people between 25 and 54 — on Sunday nights, is a sign that the recalibrated model can still gain traction.
The six-episode second season of “Scandal” will include interviews between Tapper and Anita Hill, to scrutinize the Supreme Court nomination process of Clarence Thomas; former Ohio congressman Bob Ney regarding corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff; Anna Delvey, the scam artist; Floyd Landis, about the downfall of biker Lance Armstrong; former Senator Larry Pressler about ABSCAM; and Sherron Watkins, who raised alarms about corporate fraud at Enron.
These stories generated headlines for intense moments, but, Tapper says, “a lot of times, in the frenzy of a breaking-news story, perspective is completely lost.” What’s more, “people are not able to talk to the press when a scandal is happening. That means his interviews often reveal nuances and angles that have been lost since the incidents grabbed attention.
“CNN audiences relished ‘United States of Scandal’ for its beyond-the-headlines approach to stories that were once tabloid sensations,” ,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development at CNN, in a statement. “This season, Jake brings his insatiable curiosity and deep knowledge of our economic, political and cultural history to uncover scandals that continue to impact some of America’s biggest institutions to this day.”
“United States of Scandal” is executive produced by Aaron Saidman and Eli Holzman for IPC; host Jake Tapper; showrunner Meaghan Rady; and Amy Entelis, Lyle Gamm and Katie Hinman for CNN.
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