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.
Carlson is a wimp. He is also nominally Republican. He's not even bright. He'd make a great democrat.
You are finally growing up politically.
Tucker is a twinkie. If his wife is Margaret, that speaks volumes.
Give Klein credit for at least being upfront about his liberal bias.
CNN sucks and CROSSFIRE was virtually unwatchable..
Here to correct several of you. If I decided to stick around long enough, it seems this might be an endless task.
1. Tucker Carlson has absolutely no relation to Margaret Carlson. Chances are you know more than one Smith. Does that mean they're related? Is everyone with the name Carlson in the yellow pages related?
2. First, you criticize Crossfire and Carlson and then you criticize Klein for subscribing to Stewart's view that the show is bad. Well, which is it? Either the show was bad and Stewart is right, or the show was good and Stewart is wrong. Bear in mind, Stewart did not criticize the show for being conservative but for being stupid. That's not a "liberal" critique of the show. That's an unbiased, honest critique.
3. Conservatism does not equal mindless loyalty to a political party and a president. In fact, it is precisely the opposite.
IF Crossfire survives Klein's desire for a less "confrontational" programming standard (like ABCCBSNBCNYTWP, et al.?), you will see the serpent (Carville) on the left and Paul Begala on the further left or vice versa not that it matters any more than CNN does.
heh, you must only sit through their line-up just so you can get that lastest breath-taker from Greta - ;)
Agree.
And, yet I smile as CNN takes another step into the trash bin of pundit history ;-)
I gotta say THANK GOD FOR FOX NEWS!
This was probably for "street cred" in the CNNeurope et al markets.
Where are the MSM panic alarms of the MSM dying?
Whoa...never knew that Margaret Carlson was wifey of Tucker. The two of them are such milque toast! I can admire the fiesty, firey banter of Mary & James...but the two of them? Give me a break.
Speaking of Stewart (I'm repeating myself here), during his run, Tom Snyder's "Daily Show" averaged 1.6 million viewers and a 0.7 rating among 18-to-49-year-olds; the median age of his audience was 42 1/2 years.
In his tenure, Craig Kilborn's "Daily Show" averaged 1.5 million viewers and a 0.7 among 18-to-49-year-olds; the median age of his audience is 41 1/2 years, according to Nielsen. In his last season Kilborn's show, averaged 1.7 million viewers and a 0.7 rating in the demographic group.
Yet the media continue to puff this horse's ass Stewart like he's the second coming. He gets more promotion for no good reason than a black lesbian cripple. So far this year, viewership has averaged 1 million for the weeknight 11 p.m. ET airing —which USA Today calls "an all-time high for the show."
Gosh, there's that pesky .7 million more Kilborn averaged, or that .6 million more even Tom "Nightol" Snyder averaged. They must mean an all-time high for the STEWART version of the show.
F Stewart and his pathetic liberal audience. I can't stomach his self-congratulating show, or his constant mugging for the camera, and I tuned out as soon as he replaced Kilborn. Stewart has never been funny and won't ever be funny. I look forward to the Viacom stockholders catching on for their next meeting. They compare Nielsens, ask what happened, and hear that lame TV producers' excuse, "but...but...everyone's ratings are down because of cable." Then the stockholders realize that Comedy Central IS ON cable and toss the show off the air.
CNN listening to Jon Stewart is GREAT news. Fire all those lameass conservatives, Klein! You don't need ratings anyway, you can sell ads to foolish leftist companies!
Ping to 52 RE: Stewart.
Tucker Carlson has been married to his high school sweetie Susie since 1991. They have 4 kids and live in Virginia.
Ping to 52 RE: Stewart.
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!Now go on Bill Maher like you did before election and trash Bush again you Damn Orville Reddenbaccher liberal!
Perhaps I am wrong about the connection with Margaret and Tucker...I will stand corrected if that is true.
Ping to 52 RE: Stewart.
And Kondrake stammers but they are good guys when Kondrake is on his meds - when not, he is vulnerable to the liberal line but still a decent person.
I don't know why they wear them. I suppose it's to show they're independent thinking and willing to go against the style of the day. A puffy shirt or a cod piece could serve the same purpose, and I for one can imagine little Tlight weight Tucker wearing either one.
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