Alan Colmes Leaving Hannity & Colmes
Alan Colmes’ departure from his Fox News show is the first talent change the network has seen in prime time since Greta Van Susteren replaced Paula Zahn in 2002.
Unlike its competitors, Fox News has had a consistent prime time lineup for nearly its entire existence: Fox Report with Shepard Smith at 7pmET, The O’Reilly Factor at 8, Hannity & Colmes at 9 and On the Record with Van Susteren at 10. In fact, H&C is the only FNC show that has remained in its original time slot since the network launched 12 years ago. It’s been the #1 rated show at 9pm since 2003, and FNC’s second-highest rated program after The Factor.
So, what’s behind the move? Insiders tell us Colmes was looking for a change and went to programming SVP Bill Shine several months ago. The idea was tabled until after the election and a new deal reached within the past few weeks.
I don’t see eye-to-eye with Alan Colmes on much, but as a caller during last night’s Say Anything show told me, he was the sort of liberal you could respect in that he was always forthright in his views. And was fairly consistent too.
What I don’t understand is why Colmes would want to leave the #1 rated cable news show in the whole world. I don’t watch it often myself, but it’s hard to argue with the show’s success. How do you walk away from that?
And will Hannity and his producers be able to find someone capable of filling Colmes’ shoes? It’s not easy being the token liberal in a Fox News lineup. Colmes always seemed unflappable on air, and it’s hard to imagine another liberal commentator who could match that.
For those of you who are curious, Colmes will be on the Scott Hennen Show tomorrow for an interview. I’m sure his departure will be a topic for discussion.
