A series of photos posted by journalist Kira Swisher on Bluesky (archived here) shows her and CNN anchor Audie Cornish in CNN’s Studio 19Y in New York City. The images, which appear to be from a production shoot, have sparked speculation about a new show. Two additional unidentified individuals are also present in the photos.
“What I was up to this week. There are cowboy hats and fun involved. And people far cooler than me. We’ll see,” Swisher wrote alongside the photos. While the photos' exact purpose remains unclear, they strongly suggest a test filming. Networks frequently conduct test shoots to assess talent chemistry and audience response before a show’s official launch.
The set design is notable. Video walls and monitors prominently display graphics with oversized typography reading “Off Script,” strongly suggesting a working title for the potential project. Sources suggest these photos depict a test shoot for a program possibly headlined by Cornish, potentially filling the time slot vacated by "The Chris Wallace Show."
The “in the round” seating arrangement includes four distinctively colored chairs—green, red, blue, and black—a color scheme echoed in the set’s graphics, which incorporate simulated wood and other materials. The riser features LED floor tiles with a wood-like finish.
While a new show is the most likely explanation, alternative possibilities exist. “Off Script” might be a fictional show within another program, or a project for a different Warner Bros. Discovery property. Even if the photos do depict a new show in its early stages, significant changes to talent, name, graphics, and studio design are possible before the show airs.
CNN’s previous “limited series,” “King Charles,” featuring Gayle King and Charles Barkley, was also shot in Studio 19Y. Swisher recently appeared on CNN's “Have I Got News for You.”