Why 1/2 Hour was cancelled…
Yesterday, I speculated that there was more going on than meets they eye with the cancellation of the current version of FNC’s 1/2 Hour News Hour. Tomorrow, The New York Times’ Brian Stelter explains why…
“It’s a financial issue,” said the executive producer, Joel Surnow, best known as the co-creator of Fox’s “24.” “It’s a very expensive show by their standards. It has to make business sense before anything else.”
Didn’t think about that, but our ol’ friend over at the Times makes a good point, I mean, FNC could replace the program with a cheap crime show and people would probably still watch. Anyway, I guess the thing I have against THHNH is that I am just not a fan of the SNL-like format more than anything.
Comment by Chris (clind) — August 19, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
“Anyone looking for evidence that liberals are funnier than conservatives might be tempted to point to the demise of Fox News Channel’s “1/2 Hour News Hour,” the network’s answer to left-wing news parodies like “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central.”
Did ol’ Brian and the NYTimes say (admit) that the “Daily Show” and “Colbert” are “left-wing news parodies?” I thought according to Comedy-Central-News-defenders that those shows “skewer everyone equally?”
I hope Brian’s not going to get in trouble for this brief moment of clarity… although I’m not sure how many people are “looking for evidence that liberals are funnier than conservatives.” But perhaps I just don’t hang out in the right circles.
Comment by ImNotBlue — August 19, 2007 @ 10:44 pm
If it’s too expensive, then make it pay per view. I have come to LOVE this program.
And how expensive could it be? It’s not like it’s got a lot of special effects, like a Star Wars film, the Ten Commandments or something animated. Maybe one of you “insiders” could explain it to those of us who are clueless about production costs.
Comment by Missy — August 19, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
I hated to see it go, but I guess I understand if it simply wasn’t working from a financial perspective. Does anyone know it there are going to air the remaining episodes? I seem to remember reading that they were slated to tape 15 or so episodes.
Comment by Caufield — August 20, 2007 @ 9:11 am
Too expensive? Why? Rupert going broke?
Comment by Roger C. — August 20, 2007 @ 10:51 am