HOT CORNER

A consumer’s guide to the best and worst of sports media and merchandise. Ground rules: If it can be read, played, heard, observed, worn, viewed, dialed or downloaded, it’s in play here. One exception: No products will be endorsed.

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What: “Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson”

Where: TNT, Thursdays, 4 p.m.

Yes, Charles Barkley has his own talk show. The half-hour weekly show makes its debut Thursday. Barkley says it’s going to be unique -- not your typical talk show, and not just about sports.

“We’re going to cover different subjects,” he said while in Los Angeles this week to promote his show with an appearance on a rival show, Fox Sports Net’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period.” “Obviously, sometimes we’ll have some actors and people on to hype their movie, but we’re going to try to reach a compromise between serious-funny and funny-serious.”

Comedian Bernie Mac, who has a show on Fox, will be Barkley’s first guest.

“I’d like to get Bill Clinton on the show,” Barkley said. “I’d like Dr. Phil.”

Barkley, during a morning interview, looked at Tuesday’s Hot Corner about an HBO “Real Sports” segment on former NFL player Esera Tuaolo announcing he was gay.

“Now that’s the kind of guest I’d love to have on the show,” he said. “I have a lot of gay friends and I think we could have an interesting conversation.”

Mark Lazarus, Turner Sports president, said, “This show will be interactive, topical, both funny and serious and promises to tackle any topic -- just like Charles.”

-- Larry Stewart