Posted on 01/05/2005 2:42:56 PM PST by Cableguy
CNN said goodbye to pundit Tucker Carlson on Wednesday, and with him likely the "Crossfire" program that has been the granddaddy of high-volume political debate shows on cable television.
CNN will probably fold "Crossfire" into its other programming, perhaps as an occasional segment on the daytime show "Inside Politics," said Jonathan Klein, who was appointed in late November as chief executive of CNN's U.S. network.
Klein on Wednesday told Carlson, one of the four "Crossfire" hosts, that CNN would not be offering him a new contract. Carlson has reportedly been talking with MSNBC about a prime-time opening replacing Deborah Norville.
Carlson did not immediately return a call to his cell phone for comment.
The bow-tied wearing conservative pundit got into a public tussle last fall with comic Jon Stewart, who has been critical of cable political programs that devolve into shoutfests.
"I guess I come down more firmly in the Jon Stewart camp," Klein told The Associated Press.
He said all of the cable networks, including CNN, have overdosed on programming devoted to arguing over issues. Klein said he wants more substantive programming that is still compelling.
"I doubt that when the president sits down with his advisers they scream at him to bring him up to date on all of the issues," he said. "I don't know why we don't treat the audience with the same respect."
"Crossfire" began in 1982 and was once a mainstay of CNN's prime time. Pat Buchanan from the right and Michael Kinsley from the left were two of its most prominent hosts.
But as Fox News Channel perfected the format with popular hosts Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, "Crossfire" lost favor among CNN executives and was moved to the afternoons in 2002. It averages 447,000 viewers each weekday, down 21 percent from the previous season, according to Nielsen Media Research. Carlson rotates as host with conservative columnist Bob Novak. Paul Begala and James Carville are the left-leaning ringleaders.
Klein said he hoped Novak, Begala and Carville would continue with meaningful commentator roles at CNN.
Carlson had one failed bid at prime time on CNN with "The Spin Room," which was canceled for low ratings after less than six months in 2001.
He subbed last week for newscaster Aaron Brown as Klein wanted to see him in a different role before making a decision about his future. Klein said his views on wanting to change the tone of political coverage were separate from the decision to keep Carlson.
"His career aspirations and our programming needs just don't synch up," Klein said. "He wants to host his own nighttime show and we don't see that in the cards here. Out of respect for him and his talent, we thought it would be best to let him explore opportunities elsewhere."
An MSNBC spokesman had no comment on CNN's decision.
"We think Tucker is a great journalist and we're exploring our options for a new 9 p.m. show," said MSNBC's Jeremy Gaines.
Let me be the first to ask....Tucker who?
Take your bow tie and your cozy boy conservatism, Tucker, and go away.
losers, all of em.
I'm not a Carlson fan. But the fact that the bigwigs at CNN are openly admitting that they are in the "camp" of a liberal comic against their own conservative pundit is telling.
It's also going to be interesting to see exactly how a show that doesn't have the entertainment value of arguing is going to make it-sure the prez's advisors don't argue and grandstand, but they aren't trying to get people to watch. A show that is all substance (and likely all liberal substance on CNN) with no drama or emotion is going to fall even flatter than Crossfire.
Jonathan Klein has a big mouth, doesn't he?
That's laughable... CNN & its operatives are irrelevant and have no one to blame but themselves, imo. But go ahead and toss some money at 'em, no on else wants 'em.
one
Oh my!!!! What a loss!!!! What will we do without this snottie nosed, bow tie wearing little man? Guess we'll have to do what so many millions of others do and stay tuned to FOX. Bye Tucker.
He seemed to lose interest in conservative issues and conservatism in general. He seemed to have a hard time taking any kind of position that required bed rock values.
I'm not a fan of Tucker's but I'd take him any
day before his wife Margaret! I can never make
up my mind who is worse Margaret Carlson or
Eleanor Clift! But then the BELTWAY BOYS are
uncomfortable to listen to/watch, also! I'm
getting so I can't stand O'Reilly anymore, and
there are days when even Hannity and Colmes drive
me up a wall to the point I change channels! As
for other shows like Larry King or Chris Matthews...
I long ago stopped tuning them in, and I hardly know
what's on CBS!
So now CNN is following the advice from the ever so irrelevent John Stewart? That's priceless
For years I have suspected that CNN kept Carlson on PRECISELY because he is a whining bore. He is the poster child of what they want conservatives to be perceived as. Going to MSNBC? Hysterical. He'll find a good home there. Olberman is proof that MSNBC cares little for ratings, talent, honesty, or entertainment.
Tucker is such a light weight. he shouldn't be debating anyone. He just doesn't have the fire power. I would like to see Ann Coulter a lot more. She is the hot chick with the bazooka.
Carlson comes across as the high school kid who didn't play sports and would rather hang out with teachers than the other kids. Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but he comes off as a nerd. He never argues the republican position strongly, and has no more knowledge of the issues than the average person who isn't paid to research them. Worst sin of all for a TV personality: He's boring.
Let me be the first to ask....Tucker who?
Know who Allan Colmes is? Retarded guy who couldn't win an argument with himself? He's our version of Colmes.
Owl_Eagle
"You know, I'm going to start thanking
the woman who cleans the restroom in
the building I work in. I'm going to start
thinking of her as a human being"
I'm one of the few on here that although am not a big fan i've seen worse pundits for the conservatives....yeah he said Kerry would win, I think he was the only person in the whole deal being honest cause when do you actually see someone say that even if they thought it.....Tucker is pretty smart but he gets stepped on by much bigger idiots like "the forhead" and " James the devil Carville....Cross fire just turned into a shouting and interrupting match by the Dems anyway......it was nonsensical
I like the Beltway boys. But when Fred Barnes starts stuttering to get his point across.....
Ya-hootyyyyyyyyyy!!
I disliked all of the host on Crossfire---Begala is a whining ninny. Carville---do I have to say anything?
Novak--don't trust him, he is anti-Israel, anti-Iraq war, and I haven't fogiven him for writing the story that brought grief to Bush over the Joe Wilson wife crap--and he knew his "can't compel to reveal sources" would keep him from scrutiny.
Tucker Carlson-he is NOT a conservative and he turned on Bush re: the war--too wishy-washy.
As far as MSNBC is concerned, they need to put Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham in the Norville time slot and also get rid of Olbermann (everyone else has)
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