Anderson Cooper Lands New Series on Fatherhood, 'Parental Guidance' Will Debut on CNN+

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By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Jan 04, 08:00 pm

Photo: (Photo : Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)

Anderson Cooper is hosting a new show for parents on CNN's upcoming digital subscription platform. Titled "Parental Guidance," the show will be added to the anchor's other programs, including "Anderson Cooper Full Circle," which will also be moving to the new platform, dubbed CNN+.

According to the press release, "Parental Guidance" will be a weekly format where Cooper will consult with different parenting experts on issues affecting families that present everyday parenting challenges. As a new father himself, Cooper will learn tips and receive advice from these experts along with his audience.

CNN has not confirmed the date of the launch of CNN+ and "Parental Guidance," but the target is to debut the platform in the first quarter of 2022. Cooper will also have his bi-weekly series, "Anderson Cooper Full Circle," on the slate. While part of the live programming on the CNN cable network, the show will become a digital platform exclusive after the launch.

Becoming a Dad via Surrogacy

Cooper welcomed his son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, via surrogacy in April 2020. He announced Wyatt's birth on his show on CNN by saying that he didn't think he could have his own child because he's a "gay kid."

"I'm grateful for all those who have paved the way," the anchor said, referring to surrogacy. "It is an extraordinary blessing - what she, and all surrogates, give to families who can't have children."

Cooper has been co-parenting Wyatt with his former partner Benjamin Maisani. He named his son after his own dad, Wyatt Cooper, who died in the late '70s.

In an interview with Stephen Colbert, Cooper said that he avoided celebrating Father's Day since he was 10 years old because the pain of losing his dad was "so great." However, he has found a new appreciation for this special day for dads since having Wyatt.

He told Colbert that he has slowly remembered things about his father because of his experiences with his own son. He's also very particular about witnessing his son's milestones.

When Wyatt walked for the first time, Cooper was covering a story in Israel, and he missed this moment. He admitted to Colbert that he was furious at Maisani because he felt his co-parent should have lied about Wyatt's first walk.

"He should have lied and said, 'Oh no, he's not walking at all,'" Cooper relayed, adding that he would have loved if he came home and saw Wyatt walking and they'd both be "surprised" by his first walk.

Honoring His Mom

Cooper, the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, a descendant of one of New York's notable families, said that he was able to tell his mother of his plans to have a baby before her death in 2019 at the age of 95. Wyatt was not yet in the picture, but the dad was already in the process of planning the surrogacy.

Cooper chose Morgan as Wyatt's second name to honor his mother because he knew it was one of his mother's picks. The anchor discovered this as he went through her things after her death and found a list of baby names.