MSNBC Cancels Tucker Carlson's Show

UPDATE: David Gregory will headline a show in Tucker's old timeslow. Read about the changes here.

ORIGINAL ITEM: TVNewser is reporting that MSNBC will announce Monday that Tucker Carlson's TV show is being canceled:

Insiders tell TVNewser Tucker Carlson's 6pmET show Tucker is getting the axe, but Carlson stays on as a political contributor to all MSNBC shows at least through the 2008 election. The official announcement, expected tomorrow, will include details about who will replace Tucker at 6pmET as well as other political programming additions. Sources say the network is going to beef up its schedule with more NBC News talent.

In recent days, Jossip, as well as other blogs, ratcheted up the talk that Tucker would be replaced "for a new project." In its 33-month run, Carlson's show has had two names, four time slots and multiple formats. At 6pmET, it builds on its Harbdall lead-in on some days, but loses audience on others.

Keep reading.

Michael Calderone at the Politico spoke with Carlson Sunday night, who confirmed that MSNBC canceled his show:

Tucker Carlson's MSNBC show "Tucker" has been canceled, with an announcement from the network coming tomorrow.

I spoke with Carlson this evening, and the host confirmed reports on media blogs in the past few days about the show getting canceled. But otherwise, Carlson declined comment at this time.

Carlson was on his way to New York where he'll appear on Joe Scarborough's "Morning Joe" at around 6:30. Have a feeling Scarborough will bring it up then.

The move is hardly unexpected. In November, the New York Observer reported that Tucker's days at the network were numbered:

Rumors have been flying recently that Tucker Carlson could soon be on the way out at MSNBC. In a report that aired this morning on NPR, Phil Griffin, a senior vice president at the cable network, described Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as part of the MSNBC "brand". Asked whether Mr. Carlson was also part of that brand, Mr. Griffin replied: "He is right now."

Comments

[CheshireCat2]

This is another sad commentary on news and politics. I quit listening to MSNBC about five years ago because it was so partisan and negative then returned in the last year. It has been a scream. I think some of these commentators like Dobbs, Matthews, Olberman and yeah, Tucker can be highly controversial. So what is wrong with that? They touch some nerves, yeah! But why the hell is everyone so sensitive? I don't have to believe everything these guys say, but what the hell. They are not hard news. They are more like live Op-Ed's. Now, every one seems to want to play watch dog calling everyone else out who steps "over the line." Granted Imus' remark was way out there. I was more offended about his remark from the sports realm. I couldn't care what color they were, I know that Rutgers was competing with big schools. That was an impressive feat all on it's own and worthy of note. He was careless and his characterization was worse that sloppy and racism has no place in the arena. But the real point is that MSNBC is in disarray. The replacements need to take place at the management level. A few WAR room meetings with the execs and journalists woulnd't hurt either laying out a clear vision of what they want to do. This is crazy canning everyone. Both sides of the aisle pointing fingers at one another to try to see who made the biggest screw up with week to capitalize on it........­.

[mombabytiger]

I agree - Rachel Maddow would be fabulous. Alex Witt has that annoying voice thing where on some words she goes up six octaves. All the other female anchors are pretty much interchangeable. I didn't really have a problem with Tucker but he was a bit much at the dinner hour.

[engineer68]

About time! Now get rid of Matthews, Russert, Olbermann and MSNBC might be credible again.

[American Pie]

what? the dip with the bowtie is gone? How about training your guns on that oberman goofball? He is clearly the biggest dip they have on the air.

[timmyaches]

In a year of bad news this is a welcome respite. Tucker is a nerdy, perdantic loser whose stock and trade was reminding you why you avoided College Rupublicans as a kid.

[OldBlueDog]

About time they got rid of him, how about sending Olberman back to doing sports as well, if we have to have these shows get some really unbiased hosts.

[hillaryj]

That is great news, hatefulness does not pay!
Now, when is Joe Scarborough going to get the axe? He has become almost intolerable since they gave him his own morning show!
Do you ever get the feeling the others just tolerate him when they are covering a political event? Some of the remarks he makes are horrible!

Tucker is a brat, but the old one is even worse!!

[Anie]

I seldom agree with Tucker but his show has a lot of energy, and he and Rachel Maddow showed that people can disagree tremendously but with respect and even a bit of laughter.

However, he has his really obnoxious side too, as shown in this quote at Mediamatters.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200802080011

"(MSNBC can't say they didn't know what they were getting when they hired Carlson; before joining the cable channel, he said women "want to be spanked vigorously every once in a while" and told Elle magazine that Clinton is his "guilty fantasy," explaining: "Every time I see her I think I could, you know, help. ... She seems tense.")"

He managed to be both unduly hostile and also delusional there.

[NappyRoots100]

Nooooooooo­ooo....Who is going to defend the wealthy now? Is there anyone out there brave enough to take on their plight? For the love of Pete, will anyone please think about the wealthy?

[BlueOnBlue]

I've been saying for some time (and posting to Dan Abram's blog) that Norah Roberts should replace Tucker. She's an excellent interviewer, often getting to the heart of the matter and never acting like a doofus (e.g., Tucker and Matthews). Giving her the show would be a public service.

[American Pie]

one dip down and one oberman to go

[Hitsong]

FINALLY!!! SO THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN. Now when are they booting moronjoe?

[cedricryan]

I liked Tucker for the most part. Interesting show most of the time. Too bad MSNBC thinks the country stops at the Hudson river so the west coast only sees their political shows if you TIVO. Other than that, the west coast gets prison shows.

Hope you find a new gig soon Tucker!

[deb123]

Just when I was beginning to like him ...

[BishkekBuddy]

SCARBOROUGH first! .... Not only the show (which I never watch) but having him as a player in ANY of the "analysis" .... the man is poisonous.­..

I vote for Rachel Maddow!!!! Love her radio show, love her on msnbc..... give her her own show!!