CNN has canceled Eliot Spitzer's nightly news show 'In the Arena,' a move that the network announced today in conjunction with additional re-shuffling of their nightly lineup. Spitzer, the former New York governor who resigned in disgrace after being caught in a prostitution scandal, used the show as a vehicle for a mainstream comeback, but it never took hold with viewers and consistently struggled for ratings. CNN had tried to re-tool the program, originally launched as 'Parker Spitzer' in the summer of 2010, but the numbers never picked up, and the network decided to cut their losses and move on.

Spitzer reflected on his brief run at CNN in a statement: "We engaged serious people in conversations about national and global issues in a way that was informative and challenging. I believe that we provided diverse and valuable perspectives during the show's tenure."

The accompanying moves will shift 'Anderson Cooper 360' into Spitzer's 8PM slot. 'AC360' will also replay again at 10PM, its current time. 'The Situation Room With Wolf Blitzer,' which had previously aired from 5-7PM, will move to 4-6, with 'John King USA' moving to 6, followed by Erin Burnett's as-yet-unnamed new show at 7PM. 'Piers Morgan Tonight' will remain in the 9PM slot.

Over the years, I've spilled a fair amount of pixels in this space poking fun at Ann Curry. By all accounts, though, she's a top journalist and an overall good egg. One thing she's been over everything else is loyal: She's been in the newsreader role on 'Today' since 1997, and stayed with the no. 1 morning show after she was passed over in favor of Meredith Vieira five years ago.

Now, with word that Vieira and Lauer are likely leaving 'Today' when her contract ends in September, it's time to give Ann Curry the opportunity to anchor the show on a permanent basis, and not just for the 14-year apprenticeship she's put in as the newsreader. It's the smartest move for NBC to make in order to keep the show at the top of the heap.

Of course, now that we've given her the job ... does she want it? Some of the things she's said and done in the past make me wonder. More on that -- and some speculation on who else might get the job -- after the jump.