CNN axes Crossfire

[Jobber of the Week]

NEW YORK (AP) - 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.

 

Damn. Everybody has to have their favorite political show that's pure party spin, and Crossfire was mine simply because it represented real politics more than O'Reilly or the radio hosts do. Nobody's demonizing everyone on the other side like the one-sided shows like Rush or Hannity do, but everyone is a total party wonk and will stick up for the most ridiculous ideas if their party is for them.

 

There were times when I agreed with the Republicans just because Begala was trying to defend someting so awful that even I as a moderate liberal couldn't agree.

 

Now THAT's what politics is like.

[NoCalMike]

Well being that I am never home to watch it anymore. Oh well.

[Highland]

It definately lost alot when they went with the live audience format.

[Jobber of the Week]

It definately lost alot when they went with the live audience format.

Begala: *Bush wisecrack*

Crowd: *roar of approval*

Carlson: *witty (or unwitty) retort*

Crowd: *crickets chirp* *golf clap*

 

Or:

 

Carville: *crazy Southerner talk*

Novak: *drunken-sounding slurred words*

Crowd: *no-sells, silence*

 

As much as I wish more people in the party had the spine to speak on-camera as strongly as Carville does, his manner of speech isn't good for TV. Novak/Carville shows are a disaster. Carlson/Carville shows are entertaining, because Carlson treats him like a crazy old man and acts like he can never get a word in, even when what he's trying to do is interrupt Carville's turn to talk.

[CheesalaIsGood]

Here is a sort of link to an IFILM post of an old Crossfire with Frank Zappa right after he testified in Washington at the PMRC hearings. The show was SO "local access" at the time and Zappa whoops the conservative blowhard so damn bad. He even tells him to his face to "Kiss MY ass!". Zappa was the man.

 

http://www.ifilm.com/viralvideo

[CBright7831]

Tucker carlson is gone?

 

I'm going to miss the bowties.

[kkktookmybabyaway]

I forgot it was even on anymore. And Tucker going to MSNBC? If Joe Scarborough is still on that network we might as well start calling MSNBC "LOL2005 Jr." or perhaps "lol2005..."

[Red Baron]

Zappa on crossfire is fucking hilarious.

[Guest Loss]

Now if we can get rid of Hardball on MSNBC, we'll be going somewhere.

[Slayer]

The Zappa video was hilarious, but also reminds me of why I avoid this kind of television

[The Czech Republic]

Best Zappa interview comment:

 

Interviewer (who had a leg amputated):"You have long hair. That makes you a woman."

FZ: "You have a wooden leg. That makes you a table."

[Highland]

Best Zappa interview comment:

 

Interviewer (who had a leg amputated):"You have long hair. That makes you a woman."

FZ: "You have a wooden leg. That makes you a table."

[The Czech Republic]

My grandfather listened to Frank Zappa. He owned Hot Rats and a few others on vinyl and/or open reel. That's so cool.

[Guest Cerebus]

Good. So when does Anderson Cooper get his severence check for $360? (lol2005)

[Special K]

That Zappa Crossfire is great.

 

I want a Carville versus Backlund debate. That would be ratings gold, baybuh

[Guest netslob]

this reminds me of an old MST3K quote from 'Mitchell':

 

"Why are you repeating what I say?"

 

"...tonight on 'Crossfire'."

[MrRant]

Yay

[NoCalMike]

Crossfire in the current format was the best when they would get someone on like Nader or Jon Stewart that would basically berate both the hosts and turn the audience on BOTH OF THEM, and the hosts had to act like the audience was just playing along. It was hilarious.

[Ace309]

So, will Carlson now be contractually free to get a big-boy haircut?

Edited January 7, 2005 by Ace309

[Jobber of the Week]

Zappa on crossfire is fucking hilarious.

Wow, Novak was listenable back then.

 

And holy shit, the WashTimes wasn't just Paper Fox News back in the mid 80s, but their columnist looked like an extremely stereotypical nerd.

 

And hey, they didn't seat guests according to their political affiliation back then.

[Justice]

Zappa on crossfire is fucking hilarious.

Wow, Novak was listenable back then.

 

And holy shit, the WashTimes wasn't just Paper Fox News back in the mid 80s, but their columnist looked like an extremely stereotypical nerd.

 

And hey, they didn't seat guests according to their political affiliation back then.

Isn't it sad how far politics have degenerated since then?

[Jobber of the Week]

Isn't it sad how far politics have degenerated since then?

On the other hand, we aren't as much talking about how music should be banned from the government to protect families. I stress "as much," it's more of an extremist stance.

 

You realize just how fast liberalism spreads socially when just 20 years ago, about as old as the typical poster here give or take, we were talking about the government banning music for containing things considered culturally objectionable. And the only thing the Democratic Party Hack on the debate show could say is "Well, who's going to judge what stays and who goes? Who?" instead of objecting to the concept of censorship like most Americans would do now.

 

Sure, the south is rising again and we've been marginalized nationally by Jesus buffs and people who use "hippie" as an insult, but you can't say we didn't make an impact.

[SuperJerk]

"Well, who's going to judge what stays and who goes? Who?" instead of objecting to the concept of censorship like most Americans would do now.

By pointing out that no one is qualified to do the job, that argument IS a objection to the concept of censorship.

[BX]

Isn't it sad how far politics have degenerated since then?

On the other hand, we aren't as much talking about how music should be banned from the government to protect families. I stress "as much," it's more of an extremist stance.

 

You realize just how fast liberalism spreads socially when just 20 years ago, about as old as the typical poster here give or take, we were talking about the government banning music for containing things considered culturally objectionable. And the only thing the Democratic Party Hack on the debate show could say is "Well, who's going to judge what stays and who goes? Who?" instead of objecting to the concept of censorship like most Americans would do now.

 

Sure, the south is rising again and we've been marginalized nationally by Jesus buffs and people who use "hippie" as an insult, but you can't say we didn't make an impact.

Well, consider that twenty-seven years ago, give or take, Jimmy Carter and his drug czar were seriously considering decriminalizing marijuana.

 

We all see how quickly it swung the other way, don't we?

[Vyce]

CNN is cancelling Crossfire?

 

Hey, that network is starting to suck a little less.