Satire sinks at Fox News 'Half Hour News Hour' cancelled

Variety ^ | Aug. 14, 2007 | Michael Learmonth

[tlb]

Fox News Channel is getting out of the comedy game, canceling its news parody "The Half Hour News Hour" after a 15-episode run.

Co-created by "24" producers Joel Surnow and Manny Coto, the show was an attempt to create a right-wing sendup of the news, a "Daily Show" for conservatives.

The first episode, which featured guest appearances by Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham, beat its cable news competition and drew 1.4 million viewers, which qualifies for hit status on Sunday nights on Fox News Channel.

But considerable buzz in the blogosphere and plugs on Limbaugh's show weren't enough to keep it around.

In a memo to staff, FNC programming chief Bill Shine said the skein could return in a different form. "We are considering ways to retool the show for future scheduling needs," he said. "There is still a chance you will see the program at some point in the future."

[relictele]

Very funny & memorable show, although the looped Eric Clapton theme song got a bit old.

Considering Reagan’s domination of the decade it’s no wonder they took shots at him.

And Anne Bloom (the blonde) was a hottie!

[billbears]

It was bad. There's no other word for it but bad, real bad

[1Old Pro]

The first episode, which featured guest appearances by Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham, beat its cable news competition and drew 1.4 million viewers, which qualifies for hit status on Sunday nights on Fox News Channel.

I thought they also had Ann Coulter. Anyway I digress, if they want a BIG HIT they should have a Sunday night hourlong program featuring RUSH and possibly Laura.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"... If they wanted a comedy show it should have been on Fox Entertainment, not Fox News."

There is that and the fact that it wasn't funny.

[mimaw]

What exactly distinguished this half hour news show from what we see in the MSM every day?

[dusttoyou]

The other day Rush said something about the 1/2 Hour News Hour was being moved to Friday night.

Don’t think Roger Ails would blindside Rush like that.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Hey, don't forget this one either---17 Update Early, with Bill Tush on old WTCG (later WTBS) Atlanta, which was literally the 1970s forerunner of CNN.

LOL!

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

“It was stupid satire. I hated the anchors and their overacted serious voices.”

The canned laughter was also irritating to say the least since the show was stupid.

[NordP]

It is a shame. I overlooked the overacting and it reminding me of the Jane Curtain days because it felt so goooooood to hear the words coming out of their mouths. It made me happy.

While they're at it...tell those 24 guys if they don't want to lose their 24 audience, stop the PSA's about Global Warming and leave our heros intact. If they make Chloe a left-wing propagandist, I'll scream! It's bad enough KS wants to take Jack away from us.

[RockinRight]

I thought it was hilarious, myself.

[RockinRight]

I wonder if Comedy Central would be willing to pick it up.

Equal time and all.

[PurpleMan]

That Was The Week That Was (circa 1962)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131188/plotsummary

[Pistolshot]

I had better things to do on Sunday nights at that time, like sleep.

[peggybac]

Oh my. I wonder what Ian Ziering and Lorenzo Lamas will do now for work.

[highball]

It is a shame. I overlooked the overacting and it reminding me of the Jane Curtain days because it felt so goooooood to hear the words coming out of their mouths. It made me happy.

And that's the problem - it was never about quality, it was about advancing the agenda. Which makes for lousy comedy.

[cowdog77]

I’m sorry to see it go. It ignored the stink of PC and often addressed issues that aren’t mentioned anywhere else. I especially liked the “ACLU” segment.

[Badeye]

Same here. I haven’t seen anything other than this variety article saying its been cancelled, btw.

[NordP]

Yep, you’re right, but it felt soooo good to listen.

[Exit148]

No big loss to me, but there are a few other things they should change:

Shep Smith, Greta, Geraldo and the endless useless sidewalk antics on Fox and Friends.

When Shep comes on after Brit -— I go to Glenn Beck on CNN.

When Greta or Geraldo or inane stuff on Fx/Friends come on I surf other news or put on the weather channel.

The radio is better than that endess twit.

[fulldeck]

Fox News Channel is getting out of the comedy game,

Murdoch don't want to PO Queen Hillary