CNN Letting Tucker Carlson Go

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/01/05/entertainment1658EST0684.DTL&type=printable

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.

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.

Wow...that's quite a zinger from Carlson's (former) boss!

Tucker's got some good taste in music, but that's as far as I go right now.

ahhh, the problem with enjoying a show run by a slacker is you never know when he is going to actually get back to work and make new episodes...

Way to go Jon!!

Carlson is a dick. He was right about shows like Crossfire being bad for America, too.

Mz Pip
:dem:

crap host and crap show


"Jane, you ignorant slut"

was a reference to:

POINT/COUNTERPOINT

not CROSSFIRE.

Wasn't it the way 60 minutes ended, long before Andy Rooney? Maybe not.

And remind them that Carlson is an obnoxious twit whom, I can assure them, I won't be watching.

viewerservices@msnbc.com should any of the rest of you feel so inspired.

and thankee for the link!

Thanks for the link.

CROSSFIRE used to be a classic, must-watch show. Now it's turned into a parody of itself.

Time to flip the switch and call it a day. Long past time, imo. Begala and Carville haven't been helping the Left much with their half-assed defenses against the Right and "bi-partisan" attacks upon the base anyway. Who here forgets or forgives Begala for his McKinney statements? They were great in the beginning, but they totally lost it around the time of the 2002 election.

back when Michael Kinsely was on the show - they had some great debates, it was indeed a great show that really went downhill.

Smart and funny. And a great writer too. I met him at one of the early live Crossfire shows and got him to autograph a copy of one of his out-of-print books. He and Pat Buchanan would spar, of course, but they obviously respected each other and could have relatively civil (non-shouting), intelligent conversations. (Except for one time I remember that Buchanan said, "Michael, don't be a simpleton!" and for once he was speechless!) I actually could come away from watching the show and learn something. Those were the days.....

while he was skewering republicans to the wall. I enjoyed Pat too - there's something about Pat - no matter how revolting he can be he doesn't come across as PHONY like so many conservatives do - he doesn't hide what he is and when he sees something he doesn't like he doesn't care about goose-stepping to the party line.

Do you remember the name of the very old guy who was on Crossfire - that guy used to crack me up.

He was ex-CIA, I think. Old and sleepy? I only saw him a couple of times.

The thing that I liked about Pat Buchanan was that he actually seemed to have a sense of humor. I got the impression that he knew he was ridiculous at times and would laugh at himself. And shoot me if you must, but he had a cute way of giggling at his more outrageous statements.

Which is more than what 90% of the RW pundits do. I won't defend him for much, but for that I will.

Pat seems like he is really listening to another point of view, like he really wants to understand it, before he goes on a rant. Yes, like you, there are times I just want to punch him. Yet other times he seems almost human to me which is more than I will say about a lot of fascist conservatives.

Tom Braden held his own and made the most hilarious faces when he found something distasteful. And I love Pat's laught - he has a genuine, honest laugh that is almost child-like. :)

We seem to think alike! :hi:

I have never tuned in with the live audience - saw that for the first time watching the Jon Stewart piece.

It used to be a really smart show - you learned something. It had a tone to it that had a sense of class. Now it's a shoutfest trying to attract the nascar viewers.

sick and disgusting. I HATE the MSM... :grr:

The beginning of the end was when they switched the time slot to "too early in the day" and then cut the format from a full, in depth hour with TIME to quiz a guest about issues, to a half hour of screaming and swatting, with no substance. CNN should take responsibility for ruining what was an informative, energetic program.

after their horrid coverage of the Democratic National Convention. The new director sounds like a more sensible person so perhaps they'll get back on the right track. They need to get rid of Bob Novak, too.

and....I don't remember the other name.

Seems like the discourse on that show was usually pretty good as well. Matalin actually seemed reasonable back then.

Nowadays, the only place you can find reasoned discussion in anything but the thirty-second-byte formula is on NOW. I hope Broncaccio carries the torch as well as his former mentor and predcessor!

that schmuck is a smug, bow-tied, snide little prick.

They had him filling in for Aaron Brown over the holidays. It made me really miss Aaron.

I did a double take when I read that, and then busted out laughing.

Watch out liberals, they want in our wallets.

Apparently they have woken up from their deep sleep and realized that we actuall buy shit.

I hope Jon Stewart says something about this on his show.

I would stop watching CNN forever

were it not for the fact this douche could actually get his own prime time show on MSNBC. Wow, it's just great to know Donahue wasn't up to their high standards but this intellectual midget is.

The difference though is that he is more of a solid conservative than Colmes is a solid liberal. I will say, however, that Carlson is at least a gentleman.

I can listen to Tucker when I have to, I'll give him that.

(Bush also hates him...IIRC his nickname for him is Mothertucker, so that helps)

Now Novakula? Now that's a man I can't even look at.

I can handle Tucker. Bush hates him for revealing the truth about his heartlessness in Talk magazine years ago when he made fun of Karla Faye Tucker's execution. Tucker has some morals, unlike Novalula, Hannity, OxyRush, etc.

So Bush nicknamed him MF? More bornagin values, I see.

http://homepage.mac.com/duffyb/nobush/iMovieTheater231.html

peace

I'm more firmly in the Jon Stewart camp, too!

So now what is going to happen to Paul Begala? He had much better TV skills than Carville and I think CNN ought to use him. For the most part Begala was a pretty good advocate for the Democrats (except that he wouldn't criticize Zell Miller, his former boss).

and asinine bow tie.. Hey wait! My tax dollars go to his PBS show: guess I'll have more chances to see his puerile ramblings.

And goodbye to Crossfire! Good-fucking-bye!

Everyone who usually gives to PBS ought to write a letter this year instead, explaining that you won't be making a gift as long as Tucker is a part of their lineup.

Just a thought.

awhile back- Told them I would never dend another dime. PBS is slowly sinking down the tubes.

eom

not just a talking head. He does the hiring and firing and is an exec at CNN as well. Make sense now why he still has a job?

I'm glad CNN is "folding up" Novak and phasing him out. That's probably all they could do under the circumstances. I hope the whole right/left debate format goes away too!

It can't happen a minute too soon. And while they're cleaning house they can get rid of O'Beirne too.

fully appreciated for spewing "off the wall" wingnut propaganda. Humm? An right wing infotainment outlet such as FOX. LOL

The concept is a good one. I suppose it's too much to ask that it be done properly in this day and age.

"I guess I come down more firmly in the Jon Stewart camp," Klein told The Associated Press.

:wow:

but i won't hold my breath for more serious jurnalism comming from the teeVee news any time soon, though i'd be the first to praise it.

bowtie boy and the other clown tried to point out how silly JS's program was - lol

john had to politely remind them his program was friggin COMEDY show :crazy:

peace

Which is taped at around 5:30 or 6pm in NYC.

Awesome for Jon though!!!

It was great to see Liberals finally fighting back instead of being steamrollered and outnumbered on conservative programs. Sure, Crossfire seemed to be going downhill after being cut down to a half hour in the afternoon instead of an hour in almost-prime time. Who's left? Olbermann and who else? Stewart, maybe. Tweety blows with the wind. We seem to be heading back to the bad old days.

The number of liberal hosts is regressing, not increasing. Our only hope was that the conservative hosts would be obnoxious, unlikable jerks that would help our side by turning the impressionable off. If looked at that way, this is a loss, too, my modern warped TV news standards.

Though I am sure one or both will show up on MSRNC.

In that "he's so obnoxious you can't help but like him" sort of way. But, no doubt, he's only good at yelling. A serious news program? Uh, I won't be watching THAT.

But! *snort* I think I'm going to like this new chief executive.

He's not a total freeper.

-- but Jesus, the right-wing sludge that comes out of his mouth.

He's maybe replacing Deborah Norville on MSNBC?

Wow. Talk about hitching your wagon to a star.

Please.

She gets my vote...take Judy Woofwoof too.

I swear I would puke if the election season lasted any longer. Candy with her scathing reports about Kerry, and Judy always emphasizing the polls showing * ahead, but whenever Kerry happened to show a lead it was always, always "too close to call".

They suck!!

Wow. Lot's of interesting reads on this one in the thread.

I guess I take it as a point of pride that I've never seen his show with the exception of the episode w/ John Stewart (of which, I was given the heads-up and the link to the streaming video here at DU).

So my opinion that he comes across as a smug, pseudo-intellectual, Ma-ma's boy is not really valid- regardless of how correct it is :)

Tomorrow will be Tucker's last day on Crossfire. Rumors are flying that the show will not continue much longer.

Tucker seems upset with CNN's management. There are no replacements talked about yet. The MSNBC deal is all but locked up it appears. He was waiting to hear about a CNN counteroffer which Klein did not extend.

If you want tickets to see Tucker's last performance on the show call: 202-994-8CNN.

for more inside info abt this email mediainsider007@yahoo.com

The poster above was correct--it was great when Kinsley appeared on the show, over 20 years ago, when people actually talked to each other.

But now it's nothing but a scripted shoutfest. Really awful. But then I haven't watched any cable news in quite some time because all of it appears so artificial.

Nice

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

biggest backer of the war in Iraq in all of corporate media, and "they" would not stand for Tucker saying the war was a mistake, and security was even worse than reported. That finished him with CNN.

He was critical of the Iraq occupation before the election. Said he might not vote because he didn't like either candidate.
Criticism of Bush or the occupation is not tolerated at CNN.

He came back obviously shocked by what he saw there, and was never the same again. I give Tucker credit for believing his own "Lying eyes" over Bush's bullshit.

It will interesting to see if Tucker retains his independent streak, or if he tries to crawl back into Republican good graces on his hands and knees.

As much as I loathe bowtie boy and as much as I would like to give Jon Stewart credit for bitchslapping him into the unemployment line, the simple truth is he didn't follow the company line on IraqNam. That was an unforgivable sin for CNN

too bad we'll still see him around on some other Corporate "news" distortion show.

I disagree with him strongly on just about anything, but there's something about him that is not totally on board the neo-fascist agenda unfoldong presently.

they are reporting how they whored for the bush regime.
When they admit they were whores and change their ways of broadcasting, then and only then will I even think about looking at a CNN network again.
I have actually enjoyed not watching any televised news, I actually have a life with out them.

other things to do with my time. It was like a huge burden was lifted off my shoulders when I deleted all those season passes for CNN and MSNBC shows off my Tivo :)

My TiVo is set for Keith Olberman, Boston Legal, Jon Stewart and a few new things I'm trying out.

What a relief. :)

if I read on DU that something good is coming up, I'll sneak a peak, but other than that, he's gone from my Tivo schedule too. It's just the Daily Show, 24, SNL, Will & Grace, and the McLaughlin Group (and only because if you listen to what Tony Blankley has to say, it's pretty revealing of where the RW is heading.)

It's on a bumper sticker. I don't watch him but I understand he's a Bush proponent. He must have been bragging.

STEWART: Will jump on it. In many ways, it's funny. And I made a special effort to come on the show today, because I have privately, amongst my friends and also in occasional newspapers and television shows, mentioned this show as being bad.

BEGALA: We have noticed.

STEWART: And I wanted to -- I felt that that wasn't fair and I should come here and tell you that I don't -- it's not so much that it's bad, as it's hurting America. But I wanted to come here today and say...

STEWART: Stop, stop, stop, stop hurting America.

BEGALA: OK. Now

(CROSSTALK)

STEWART: And come work for us, because we, as the people...

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/bljonstewartcrossfire.htm

Tucker is very dangerous just watch he will be picked up by Fox soon. His days are numbered on PBS too. I watch Crossfire everyday and it has been getting bad. I hate how Paul is too nice to the evil Novak. Tucker and Novak are very nasty hatefull men.

One can only hope that this gerbil gets a little humility...doubtful though.:smoke:

Got a solicitation from one of the local PBS stations. Told them I'd never contribute as long as that joker was on.
Hip, hip, hip, hooray!!!!!!!

Heh..buh bye.:smoke:

Novak's still got that weekend shoutfest witht he other three shouters .... I can't recall the name of the show, but he's a regular.

How does this disgusting, treasonous, smelly old man stay on TV and out of jail?

Tucker is bad, Novak is wretched.

At least Tucker spilled the beans on bush after he mocked Karla Fay Tucker after her execution. Novak has never done anything I can think of to vaguely admire. He is meaner, uglier and nastier then anyone else on CNN...and that is some competition.

Klein is doing some major overhauls over there and all the staff, including on-air folks, are shaking in their boots. Klein has made several comments lately that he's out to get the numbers back up and take back control of the cable news ratings, and he's going to slim and trim up operations.

Carlson was playing games, letting it be known he was in negotiations with MSNBC, who has let Norville go. Klein stuck him in Aaron Brown's spot, and Carlson just doesn't have what it takes to do a straight news show.

Novak has too many negatives to keep him around much longer. Klein doesn't want the screamfests and nastiness...he says he wants to take it back to straight news. He could be right. I'd like to come home at the end of the day and have people stop telling me what to think and start just telling me what happened that day.

No kidding!

Didja catch his "wet behind the ears" faux pas when he reported on bandleader Artie Shaw's death?

He referred to Shaw's most famous arrangement, "Begin the Beguin", and pronounced "Beguin" as "Beg-wine".

What an idiot.

It was like fingernails on a blackboard to hear him say that.

Around here, when I get home, all I want is a news wrap-up. I don't want an interview show, or a screaming match. I despise our local network news, so that leaves cable. Aaron Brown's show is the only one I can really get a handle on what might have gone on during the day. When I saw Carlson on there for that week, I knew I wouldn't be watching any news that week at all. He was so out of his league, and couldn't keep his blatant bias out of his news reporting.

but I think that's what Artie Shaw's band was most famous for.

I think it was written by Cole Porter.





(Edited for typo.)

clarinet solo on beguine is still the standard for clarinetists...they say no one has been able to duplicate it...and when he got older and could not play it anymore...he retired...and never played the clarinet again...

"I did all you can do with a clarinet," he said. "Any more would have been less."

Gotta be.

finally!

Granted that bow-tied dick will probably be heading over to MSNBC but at least that god awful CF will finally be history.

Maybe this will give Begala and Carville some time to think about refocusing on the party in a useful way!

Join the Army and see what you did! :hi:

...Bush Cabana Boy, Bill "The Hummer" Hemmer.

Send that jerk-off to work at the Bush Family Compound

Tucker always seemed a bit stale compared to the rhetoric on FNC. Everyone sees this as good news, but I'm afraid they might try to substitute with something louder and more obnoxious (If that's possible!) then Fox offers. They gotta keep up with the Foxes.

;)

The ratings were not bad, he did not commit a faux pas. Bill Press was just too critical of the war that was brewing so CNN replaced him with prowar "Democrats" Paul Begala and the ragin' cajun.

So Sorry Tucker!!!

interruptions will there ever be any guest who will be able to get two words in, if they pair tweety and tucker in a program togehter?

will the two every learn?

weekend show, "The Chris Matthews Show".

It makes that show unwatchable, too.

:-)

It has to be very humiliating!!!

Bye bye bowtieboy.

riddance.

It's turnabout fairplay, since nearly every show featured T-boy asking Begala/Carville/liberal guest if they were embarrassed about ...

He'd better come up with new material or else he'll get axed again.:boring:

During the presidential debates Tucker admitted that Bush
stunk and was disappointing which at that point in time he
riled up the far right.

We all know how vengeful this far right fraction is.

I do believe this is why CNN fired tucker to begin with.

But happy to say....I've been disappointed with James Carvel.

James Carvel came to visit my neck of the woods and totally disappointed me that he trusted the vote count. He came to suppress
any national anger that lingered.

For all you folks who missed the Hindenburg crash, this one dresses in suits and ties--sort of--as he mouths the usual RW boilerplate stuff.

Watch tension build as viewers wonder which overstressed seam will submit first, and what color combos he'll wear next--all of which is far more interesting than any commentary he makes.

It's what keeps McLaughlin Group viewers coming back for more. Why not give him a try, CNN? You've got enough space for him now, eh?

:P

Free as the wind! Follow your silly little bow tie wherever it leads!

...I did enjoy making fun of him.

Glad for the good news!

Why was he Whore Blitzer's replacement?

Best news I have heard for awhile. Now if PBS would dump him.

and it's a good feeling!

but for the most part he is harmless. Novak, on the other hand, belongs in an orange jumpsuit, not on a national political opinion show. What on earth is wrong with CNN for keeping him on????

in the spotlight. That traitor has been lurking in the shadows, dodging the Plame issue for too long.

There would be no end to joy were Novak and Stewart to be placed in a forum of debate.

With Carlson gone, they have to dump Novak, or put him out front. Either is a move in the right direction.

FL

Once upon a time, which was about 20-something years ago, I used to watch Crossfire religiously. I quit looking at it years ago when it started devolving into an unbridled hatefest of intolerance.

Nothing made me happier than to hear Jon Stewart rip a new one into those shills. And I won't be sorry to see Crossfire get a drive by shooting into television hell.

If anyone should be rudefully fired it's Bob Novak...
he's also 100% more obnoxious that the bowtie guy.

I don't think this is fair or something stinks...

they keep Novak who's guilty as hell of being a pawn for the white
house evil deeds...
notice NOVAK not going to JAIL unlike NYTimes journalists and so on
for protecting sources...he hasn't even been brought up to any
court whatsoever on it!

And now he keeps his job over the bowtie guy?

No way.

(I do hate crossfire, unless, uninformative, no valid logic point of view pissing contest)

Unless of course they allow him to broadcast from his cell.

bow-tie too!!!!!!!!

my night just got better. Limbaugh and Coulter next...

to say to such a cute wi-uhl boy!

ha. he had it coming. he had some balls with the Karla Faye story and for saying how PATHETIC BUSH SUCKED ASS AT THE DEBATES (this guy got elected??????? he sounded like a psychotic in therapy!), but overall, he still backed THUGlican values....

So one of the less effective propogandists is let go.
There will be more in line for the next election cycle.

Time for you to get a job you deserve and can handle, maybe as a game show host.

:::sigh::: if we can't take the country back for the next 4 years, maybe we should try and educate the MSM ho's? This is a good sign!

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