CNN may not have made it official just yet, but it sounds like Have I Got News for You is coming back for more. Despite uncertainties in the genre and network, the late-night show isn't done yet.
During the show’s Season 4 finale on Saturday night, host Roy Wood Jr. appeared to casually confirm the news while signing off, telling viewers: “I’ll see you in the fall for more episodes of Have I Got News For You.” While not a formal network announcement, the remark strongly suggests the series has been picked up for a fifth season. Perhaps Wood was just trying to manifest something, but there seems no reason for CNN to shut the lights off.
Have I Got News for You, an American version of the British panel talk show, has earned strong ratings for CNN. The network has tried to expand it's late-night tV offerings, carrying Real Time with Bill Maher's "Overtime" segment. But its the original program and hosts Wood, Amber Ruffin, and Michael Ian Black that has outperformed expectations.
The apparent renewal also comes as welcome news amid a broader wave of uncertainty in the world of late-night television. Several shows (The Late Late Show, After Midnight) across networks have recently been canceled or scaled back, making stability increasingly hard to come by in the genre.
It’s especially encouraging considering CNN’s own financial situation. The network has undergone budget cuts in recent months, leading to questions about the future of some of its original programming and on-air talent. However, Have I Got News for You appears to have avoided those impacts ... at least for now.
That said, the long-term future of the series could still hinge on larger corporate developments. Ongoing industry speculation around a potential acquisition involving Warner Bros. Discovery adds another layer of uncertainty, as any ownership change could reshape CNN’s programming priorities.
Famous late-night TV fan President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he hopes for a change at CNN. If he gets his way, there's no telling what could happen to a show that stars three of his critics.
For now, though, all signs point to Have I Got News for You returning this fall, with Roy Wood Jr. already looking ahead to the next round.
Fans can catch up with past episodes of Have I Got News for You by streaming the series on HBO Max.