Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Thrawn on January 05, 2005, 05:48:18 PM
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"CNN Lets 'Crossfire' Host Carlson Go
1 hour, 34 minutes ago
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
NEW YORK - 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 (news - web sites) 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."
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=494&u=/ap/20050105/ap_en_tv/tv_carlson_crossfire_1&printer=1
My name is Thrawn and I appove this action.
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I never saw a guy get smacked down as much, classic was with Franken on Meet the Press.
Bowtie....:rofl
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"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."
Journalist? Carlson is as much a journalist as Jon Stewart.
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I saw Carlson's "test" spot in Aaron Brown's shoes and it wasn't pretty. Erhm... wasn't all that bad either, actually. But... Carlson is a character actor... and it didn't cross over.
Either way, I got a feeling he's gonna be around in one way or another for a very long time.
Overall... it sounds like CNN is finally getting it. They've spent the last long while trying to play FOX's game.... and you just sensed that every one of them went home at night and spent the the entire evening in the shower trying to scrub it off of them. It just wasn't natural.
Same with network news.
You can't compete with FOX by acting like FOX unless you really think like they do. Do as they do.
So... maybe now we'll get back to something better. 'Cuz it has sucked everywhere out there for the last 5 years.
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Carlson is a tard. Hopefully he will fade back into oblivion or AM radio...kind of the same thing actually.
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Originally posted by Torque
I never saw a guy get smacked down as much, classic was with Franken on Meet the Press.
Bowtie....:rofl
LOL Anyone who manages to allow himself to get smacked down by the likes of Al Franken needs to get out of the business.
Franken is a putz.
Saw him recently on a cable show airing of a radio show he does.
He shoulda stayed on sat night live.
Glad they are getting rid of crossfire though.
Now if they would only drop those other 2 morons Hannity and Colmes from Fox
then at least 4 villages will be able to have their idiots back
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He's been sputtering ever since Stewart called him a 'dick' on Crossfire.
I guess he's gonna be somebody's monkey now.
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Originally posted by midnight Target
He's been sputtering ever since Stewart called him a 'dick' on Crossfire.
I guess he's gonna be somebody's monkey now.
:rofl :rofl :rofl Tonight's Daily Show should be interesting.
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I hate it when people take the Daily Show serious..... Actually base their daily news from it. Might as well subscribe to the Onion if you want the facts.
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shhh tapakeg. The Daily Show is just startin' in about a minute. Don't want to miss anything important on accounta your yappin'.
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Just tell me what Kirk was saying in that .gif file.......:) I still can't figure it out.
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Originally posted by tapakeg
I hate it when people take the Daily Show serious..... Actually base their daily news from it. Might as well subscribe to the Onion if you want the facts.
The Onion is funnier
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This is a good start. When will they cancel the rest of CNN?
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why must I suffer another TEH dweeb?