Fox cancels cheap Daily Show imitation "Half Hour News Hour"

motivez · 08-15-2007, 06:24 AM

Half Hour News Hour Shelved

First on TVNewser: In a memo to senior producers this afternoon, FNC's SVP of programming, Bill Shine announced the network "will not continue the Half Hour News Hour beyond its current 15 episode run." Shine did leave the door open, however: "we are considering ways to retool the show for future scheduling needs."

The TV news satire show which airs Sunday nights, stars faux anchors Kurt McNally, played by Kurt Long, and Jennifer Lange, played by Jennifer Robertson.

The first airing, February 18 was a hit, with more than 1.4 million viewers. The show averaged 258,000 viewers (25-54 demo) in its last 10 airings, winning its timeslot all but once. FNC will air the final show September 16.

Read the memo, after the jump...

August 14, 2007

TO: Senior Producers

FR: Bill Shine

RE: Half Hour News Hour/Weekend Programming

I'd like to share some news with you about weekend programming.

Joel Surnow and I have mutually decided that we will not continue the Half Hour News Hour beyond its current 15 episode run. The last show will be presented on September 16th.

While HHNH performed admirably in the ratings and Kurt Long and Jennifer Robertson did a wonderful job, we are considering ways to retool the show for future scheduling needs. There is still a chance you will see the program at some point in the future.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Joel and his team. He is a visionary in this business and he created a contrarian program that fulfilled an untapped niche in the comedy genre.

mediabistro.com: TVNewser

This thing was horrible from the start, I'm not surprised it's being canceled, some of the worst political satire I've ever had the displeasure of watching

Here's a clip:

YouTube Video

We'll always have the memories.

SoFlaJDM · 08-15-2007, 09:39 AM

15 episodes? that's about 3 times more than i thought it would last :golfclap:

congratulations

SoFlaJDM · 08-15-2007, 09:40 AM

now that host guy can go back to doing home depot commercials

lew · 08-15-2007, 10:31 AM

That entire clip was a laughter track. I saw that show on TV for the first time the other day.

It sure was funny.

Linzyhop · 08-15-2007, 10:39 AM

it was witty enough, but not really funny.... although the BO part was clever.....

Thorgrim · 08-15-2007, 12:50 PM

Crooks and Liars » Jon Stewart Battles It Out with Bill Kristol Over Iraq

Taking out the fact that the DS/CR are just plain FUNNY because they attack the entire DC establishment rather than act as cheer-leaders for the GOP...they also know how to "bring it" and are pretty respectable when it comes to guests that come on the show, Senators, Congressmen, etc

My money is that the future president of the US will go on the Daily Show, but maybe not Fox News

Linzyhop · 08-15-2007, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

My money is that the future president of the US will go on the Daily Show, but maybe not Fox News

or that he's already been on the DS!

JaJae · 08-15-2007, 01:19 PM

I've never seen the show, it looked pretty stupid to me. I think there's definitely a market for a conservative "Daily Show", but this was definitely a failure.

Scrum · 08-15-2007, 01:36 PM

Good riddance. The episode I saw was totally unwatchable.

For some reason, conservatives just can't do comedy.

nbiggershaft · 08-15-2007, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

I've never seen the show, it looked pretty stupid to me. I think there's definitely a market for a conservative "Daily Show", but this was definitely a failure.

Daily show wasn't really that liberal until years into Bush's admin.

JaJae · 08-15-2007, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

For some reason, conservatives just can't do comedy.

Sure they can, they just haven't found their niche yet. Comedians poke fun at progressive ideas all the time and very successfully. This type of thinking leads us to things like the Fairness Doctrine and media policing.

The Daily Show is popular because it attracts all age groups. I highly doubt there were a lot of 20 something males watching the Half Hour News Hour.

David Octavius · 08-15-2007, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by nbiggershaft

Daily show wasn't really that liberal until years into Bush's admin.

The Daily Show isn't liberal per se, it's more of a satrical view of government and it follies. It just so happens that the party that had major power when DS became popular so happened to be "conservative". If the Democrats win in 08 and they fuck up as badly as the Reps - which could easily happen - you would see DS do the same thing to them.

DosEquis · 08-15-2007, 02:16 PM

Personally i thought the show was terrible. The only conservative comedians doing well are on the Blue Collar Comedy tour. I also have mixed feelings about having a news spoof show on a news channel. I mean if running a fake Fox News ticker on the simpsons "might confuse viewers for actual news" than what does a show like that ..on the news channel.. do?

Thorgrim · 08-15-2007, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

Personally i thought the show was terrible. The only conservative comedians doing well are on the Blue Collar Comedy tour. I also have mixed feelings about having a news spoof show on a news channel. I mean if running a fake Fox News ticker on the simpsons "might confuse viewers for actual news" than what does a show like that ..on the news channel.. do?

They really aren't that "conservative" though, they have a lot of sexual humor and a few of use heavy drinking and cheap women in their routines...I don't think they'll be doing their show on the 700 club anytime soon...

And if you're saying "well economic conservatives" I don't think they really make jokes about the capital gains tax...

RMNIXON · 08-15-2007, 03:56 PM

I wish they would cancel "Red Eye."

That juvenile attempt to appeal to younger viewers makes me sick.

I could also do without celebrity worshiper Heraldo Rivera and his tired excuses for illegal immigration.

Perhaps Fox viewers tune in to get their news from a "news" channel, not a comedy show?

DosEquis · 08-15-2007, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

They really aren't that "conservative" though, they have a lot of sexual humor and a few of use heavy drinking and cheap women in their routines...I don't think they'll be doing their show on the 700 club anytime soon...

And if you're saying "well economic conservatives" I don't think they really make jokes about the capital gains tax...

Well... i mean foxworthy, larry the cable guy, etc claim to be republicans. I do agree they do not practice what they preach politically.

garbagemanlb · 08-15-2007, 06:37 PM

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I wish they would cancel "Red Eye."

That juvenile attempt to appeal to younger viewers makes me sick.

I could also do without celebrity worshiper Heraldo Rivera and his tired excuses for illegal immigration.

Perhaps Fox viewers tune in to get their news from a "news" channel, not a comedy show?

I watch Fox purely for the entertainment, knowing I will get pure bullshit thrown at me every second I'm watching.

I love O'Reilly's ego and Hannity's blatant stupidity, and I find it humorous that people take what they say seriously. They are akin to Larry King (a more entertaining version).

It beats the other crap that is on TV.

Darko · 08-15-2007, 06:56 PM

Red Eye is bearable for me but the half hour news hour was just pathetic.

Colmes was interviewing the anchor for the half hour news hour and asked him if he was ever going to make fun of Bush like he does Democrats. The anchor was taken by surprise and finally said "I follow the funny" or some crap like that.

RMNIXON · 08-15-2007, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by garbagemanlb

I watch Fox purely for the entertainment, knowing I will get pure bullshit thrown at me every second I'm watching.

Glad you enjoy it.

lew · 08-15-2007, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Crooks and Liars » Jon Stewart Battles It Out with Bill Kristol Over Iraq

Taking out the fact that the DS/CR are just plain FUNNY because they attack the entire DC establishment rather than act as cheer-leaders for the GOP...they also know how to "bring it" and are pretty respectable when it comes to guests that come on the show, Senators, Congressmen, etc

My money is that the future president of the US will go on the Daily Show, but maybe not Fox News

Ron Paul has already been on the Daily Sh