TAKE 5, a panel talk program with some of the nation's most interesting reporters, opinion makers and observers, debuts this Saturday, March 17, from 8:30-9 p.m. (ET) on CNN/U.S. and will air every Saturday at that time. The panelists will address a range of topics, including all things political and in the news, such as social issues, current events, personalities, popular culture and the cyber scene.

Co-hosts Jake Tapper of Salon.com and Michelle Cottle of The New Republic will engage in conversation with regular panelist Robert George of the New York Post, along with a fourth person from TIME magazine who will rotate among White House correspondents Jay Carney and John Dickerson, senior writer Tamala Edwards and reporter Desa Philadelphia.

A fifth, "friends of the show" panelist, will also participate each week, rotating among Christopher Caldwell, senior writer for The Weekly Standard; Danielle Crittenden, author and commentator; Felix Sanchez, president of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts; and Terry Neal, a media consultant for Burson-Marsteller.

"This young, dynamic group of panelists has a different point of view on everything from President Bush's tax plan to how to curb school violence to why reality TV is popular," said Lucy Spiegel, senior executive producer of TAKE 5. "The diversity of opinions on TAKE 5will make for provocative and insightful discussions on the week's top stories — giving viewers the full scope of the debate — not simply one or two points of view."

Viewers will be encouraged to go to CNN.com to e-mail questions and comments regarding the show's topics, and some of the contributions will be discussed on the show.

CNN, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., an AOL Time Warner Company, is one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information. Its reach extends to 15 cable and satellite television networks; three private place-based networks; two radio networks; 15 Web sites, including CNN.com, the first major news and information Web site; CNN Mobile, which provides news and information to mobile devices; and CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively syndicated news service.

Contact Info:
Christa Robinson (New York)
212/714-5542 502523
christa.robinson@cnn.com