A Final Farewell: Tucker Carlson Says Goodbye To His Show With Friends And A Look Back

After four timeslot switches, a name change, two years of lackluster ratings, and one discarded bow-tie, Tucker Carlson's show on MSNBC drew to a close tonight after it was announced earlier this week that it would be replaced by an election-themed show hosted by NBC Senior White House Correspondent David Gregory. "Tucker," which was formerly known as "The Situation with Tucker Carlson" signed off with a minimum of fanfare, engaging the headlines of the day as per usual (Obama's Jeremiah Wright problem; McCain's travel abroad; who's more electable, Clinton or Obama?) and managing not to mention auto-erotic asphyxiation even once. Other than a quick mention at the top (and a chyron reading: "Welcome To Our Final Show! We've Truly Saved The Best For Last"), it was largely business as usual — except that it wasn't, and his guests let him know it.

Two rather notable aw-shucks moments stood out, courtesy of regular guest Lanny Davis and former show producer-cum-"Morning Joe" co-host Willie Geist. Davis came on to argue strenuously in favor of Hillary Clinton, as is his wont, and at the end Davis surprised Tucker with a heartfelt tribute, saying that he thought it was "unfortunate that this network has stopped this program because, for me, being able to disagree agreeably is what you stand for. I think it's a great loss for all of us." Aw. Watch:

Is it us, or did Tucker look as ferklempt as Hillary Clinton at a New Hampshire Q&A? He recovered nicely (commercial breaks help with that), and after welcoming (and receiving kudos from) the Rev. Al Sharpton, The Hill's A.B. Stoddard, the LAT's Rosa Brooks, and "Washington D.C. Mayor for Life Marion Barry ("Why? Because frankly we kind of like Marion Barry"), he was ready to head into the final segment of the show, which really was meant to be a look-back. Here he welcomed Geist, joining him from New York, for a quick trip through some of the show's greatest hits from timeslots gone bye — but not before he gave Tucker a heartfelt tribute of his own:

Suffice it to say that I wouldn't be on this show, the 6 a.m. show or any show without you, your friendship and your advocacy... If you had told me three years ago that I'd be sitting in the front row of 'Dancing With The Stars' with a vested interest, angry with the results — without irony — I would have called you a fool, but that actually happened. Hang around Tucker Carlson enough, your life will be fun, I promise you that.

Aw. Man-love is sweet. Then they went on to watch clips of animals doing funny stuff. We'll show you that clip in a moment — enjoy a long-lost flash of bow-tie! (He lost it ages ago, AP writer, sheesh) — but before you get all sad, remember that Tucker really isn't going anywhere, because he'll still be a senior MSNBC correspondent popping up across the schedule, ostensibly including in his former timeslot. (Which is why Willie Geist said "I'll see you next week.") Stil, it was an ending, and the last word was Tucker, who gave a special shout-out to Senior Producer Jamieson Lesko and Producer Alexis Vena before signing off with brevity and class: "Well that's it! That's the end of our show. We won't be joining you on Monday. We'd like to thank you for tuning in all these years and to say that, if nothing else, I've sincerely enjoyed it.... Goodnight, and have a great weekend." You too, Tucker! See you on the other side.

Comments

[SILVANUS]

SOMEONE WROTE: "Without his family's connections and wealth, he'd have ended up the assistant night manager at Walgreen's somewhere. Buh-bye."

COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER.

[VSamuels]

Exactly. Tucker spent alot of time making the connection between blacks and Affirmative Action, while ironically his entire career and early life was a host of quotas, timetables and get-ahead free passes because of his parent's status and wealth. He saw no issue at all with the many folks like himself who are vaulted to the top of the line with a handshake at the country club or a favor to a pal or legacy relationships, but he maintained his outrage because he believes that some African Americans were gaining something at the expense of some white Americans.

Tucker is intellectually dishonest and confined to the reality of his own wealthy lifestyle that predisposes that those folks who are rich like himself aren't subject to the types of scrutiny in how they advance behind their gated communities, but who know what is best for all others who lack these same types of connections which makes their careers soar.

Good riddance to this slimey perveyor of double standards, who was given 4 chances to succeed in an industry that is still devoid of diversity in the theme and anchor slots. It is fitting that he goes off of the air, along with his all of his often one-side rants and unclever debating tricks.

Maybe he'll pop up at Swanson Foods, working along side of some of those folks he's spent his time at MSNBC marginalizing. Life is often funny this way: often one faces those things which he or she has sworn off as existing; sort of like him finally getting to see a real dose of reality from someone's perspective other than his own sorry viewpoint.

[biglover]

ROFL Great comment bysomeone" whoever it was.

[LorettaSingbiel]

GOOD RIDDANCE to him! He should have been AXED at least six months ago when, on August 28th on "MSNBC Live" hosted by Dan Abrams, he BRAGGED about ASSAULTING a gay man who BOTHERED him ...

"I've been BOTHERED in men's rooms. I've been BOTHERED in Georgetown Park, when I was in high school. I went back with someone I knew and grabbed the guy by the -- you know, and grabbed him, and -- and --, and hit him against the stall with his head! And then the cops came and arrested him."

After public outcry, he felt compelled to change his story, from being "BOTHERED" -- to being "ATTACKED", and from "HITTING HIM AGAINST THE STALL WITH HIS HEAD" -- to "SEIZING AND HOLDING HIM UNTIL A SECURITY GUARD ARRIVED" ...

"Let me be clear about an incident I referred to on MSNBC last night: In the mid-1980s, while I was a high school student, a man physically grabbed me in a men's room in Washington, DC. I yelled, pulled away from him and ran out of the room. Twenty-five minutes later, a friend of mine and I returned to the men's room. The man was still there, presumably waiting to do to someone else what he had done to me. My friend and I seized the man and held him until a security guard arrived. Several bloggers have characterized this is a sort of gay bashing. That's absurd, and an insult to anybody who has fought back against an unsolicited sexual attack. I wasn't angry with the man because he was gay. I was angry because he ASSAULTED me."

Perhaps Tucker should use "the buddy system" when using men's rooms, to protect his manhood from future "ASSAULTS" by gay men?

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[tumblewind]

Hurray! Another right wing wacko nut job gone! I tried listening to him once but that was enough for me!

[CountryBeforeParty]

ehhh... Tucker was ok by me.

Now that Willie Geist, always liked him. Funny guy.

[JohnFromCensornati]

"Welcome To Our Final Show! We've Truly Saved The Best For Last"
Tucker's failure truly is *the best*.
As usual, Tucker got it wrong.
You didn't save it for last sucker.
It was handed to you!

[InformedMisery]

I disagree with Tucker Carlson a lot. Sometimes I get so frustrated listening to him that I wanna put my fist through the TV screen. But he was pretty even-handed, and was just as tough on conservatives he disagreed with as he was on liberals. The regulars on his show were always interesting... Eugene Robinson, A.B. Stoddard, etc. He was the only really libertarian voice on MSNBC. I'd rather watch Tucker Carlson than the obnoxious Chris Matthews or the pompous Keith Olberman.

[kcgeezer]

Such a sweet lovefest. How come he didnt show the clip where Jon Stewart called him a "dick"?

[pheepher]

Tucker represented the truely clueless right-wing scream machine.

[midwestvoter]

Now if we could get rid of Chris Mathews and put in David Shuster. I'd like to see Rachel Maddow get her own show, too. But spittle Mathews has got to go!

[1rewd1]

So long, Pucker ....

NEXT

[bvb720]

Well then that is the first to go on the Titanic of a Cable News Network. Now getting rid of Dan Abrams would be a good idea.

He wasn't worth the time to sit down and watch. And the time slot if he had been any good to begin with was way off. Everyone is eating dinner on the east coast.

Good Bye Tucker. Don't let door hit you on the way out.

[ForRichardorPoorer]

Lets see: Tucker gone, Gibson Gone, Miller Gone......

[Unrepentantliberal]

Perhaps he could team up with another conservative looney Dennis Miller in yet another show to be cancelled.

[ResistanceisFutile]

A pusillanimous dweeb! I will not miss him.

[sherievotes]

I enjoyed watching Tucker and will miss it. The show had a conservative perspective without being toxic like many on Fox news. Good luck to you, Tucker Carlson !