Alan Colmes Leaving Hannity and Colmes (Wizbang)

Alan will remain with FNC but he's leaving the show. I am listening to Sean Hannity discuss this on his radio show as I write this. He truly sounds sad, which is understandable. He and Alan have worked together for 12 years on H&C, so I'm sure they have become close friends. Alan will address his decision later tonight. Here's what the report from TV Newser says:

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.

TV Newser wants to know who you think should replace him. You can take their poll at the same link as above.

Comments (35)

I won't miss him. Granted ... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by steve sturm | November 24, 2008 3:39 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

steve sturm:

I won't miss him. Granted he was on the wrong side and didn't have a lot to work with, but he did a particularly weak job of sparring with Hannity, both in substance and in style. Colmes was the Washington Generals and I stopped watching because, after a while, it was no fun watching Hannity score points against such a hapless foe. If Fox is going to have a point-counterpoint show, they ought to be pick someone who can do a whole lot better.

Posted on November 24, 2008 15:39

I have gotten a vibe of lat... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by Andrew X | November 24, 2008 3:54 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

Andrew X:

I have gotten a vibe of late that Sean and Allen were maybe not getting along as well as in the past, though I have nothing to base that on. Did anyone else pick up on that, or hear anything in the grapevine to that effect?

Posted on November 24, 2008 15:54

Good riddance.I wo... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by retired miilitary | November 24, 2008 4:14 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)

retired miilitary:

Good riddance.

I would never watch Hannidy and Colmes strictly because of his high pitched whining voice not to mention his views.

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:14

"who you think should repla... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Adrian Browne | November 24, 2008 4:21 PM | Score: -3 (9 votes cast)

Adrian Browne:

"who you think should replace him"

How about a blob of rancid ham fat?

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:21

Having vastly greater intel... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by A Blob of Rancid Ham Fat | November 24, 2008 4:27 PM | Score: 6 (8 votes cast)

A Blob of Rancid Ham Fat:

Having vastly greater intelligence than Alan "Skeletor" Colmes, as well as superior personal hygiene, I would consider myself to be a step up as co-host.

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:27

Well, if FOX needs to get a... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 4:42 PM | Score: 10 (10 votes cast)

OregonMuse:

Well, if FOX needs to get a guy who has made a career out of trashing Republicans and opposing conservative ideas, I hear John McCain's available.

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:42

Also, there is no truth to ... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 4:45 PM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)

Also, there is no truth to the rumor that the reason Colmes is leaving is because it's time to molt.

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:45

Granted he was on ... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 4:48 PM | Score: 9 (9 votes cast)

Granted he was on the wrong side and didn't have a lot to work with, but he did a particularly weak job of sparring with Hannity

That's because the crafty Hannity always kept the studio thermostat at a low temperature, which causes cold-blooded creatures to be sluggish and slow to respond.

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:48

And when asked about his fu... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 4:50 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)

And when asked about his future plans, Colmes said, "After I spend the winter hibernating in my cave, I'm going to Disneyland."

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:50

OK, I guess I've beaten the... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 4:50 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)

OK, I guess I've beaten the lizard/reptile jokes to death.

He's leaving because he's b... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by Adrian Browne | November 24, 2008 4:51 PM | Score: -5 (11 votes cast)

He's leaving because he's been cast as The Liberal on the Cartoon Network.

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:51

No, I guess I haven't, here... (Below threshold)

12. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 4:54 PM | Score: 5 (7 votes cast)

No, I guess I haven't, here's one more: When Colmes is gone, how are they going to keep the rat population down in the FOX studios?

Posted on November 24, 2008 16:54

A good replacement would be... (Below threshold)

13. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 5:17 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)

A good replacement would be James Carville, but I doubt he'd do it.

Posted on November 24, 2008 17:17

FoxNews should sign Olberma... (Below threshold)

14. Posted by chsw | November 24, 2008 5:43 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)

chsw

FoxNews should sign Olbermann to pair with Hannity. Just make it a Huntley-Brinkley set-up - different cities or studios - to prevent physical harm. I think that Olby's outbursts would deliver great Nielsen numbers.

Posted on November 24, 2008 17:43

Darn -- Now I won't know wh... (Below threshold)

15. Posted by jd watson | November 24, 2008 5:59 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

jd watson:

Darn -- Now I won't know what the daily propaganda talking points are at HuffPo and DailyKos, and won't get to enjoy the rude liberal tactic of interrupting everyone before they can complete a sentence.

Posted on November 24, 2008 17:59

have you all seen "outfoxed... (Below threshold)

16. Posted by peabody3000 | November 24, 2008 6:03 PM | Score: -8 (16 votes cast)

peabody3000:

have you all seen "outfoxed: rupert murdoch's war on journalism"?

you HAVENT??

go watch.. among other things they talk about how the hairy elf colmes seems to be intentionally cast as a creepy punching bag

Posted on November 24, 2008 18:03

I hope things go well Colme... (Below threshold)

17. Posted by Jason | November 24, 2008 6:06 PM | Score: 0 (4 votes cast)

Jason:

I hope things go well Colmes. For a liberal, Colmes sure seems like a reasonable guy.
http://rightklik.blogspot.com/

Posted on November 24, 2008 18:06

have you all seen ... (Below threshold)

18. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 6:14 PM | Score: 8 (10 votes cast)

yeah, that's the one where they get their panties all in a knot because they have regular news program hosts and commentators who aren't in-the-tank liberals. Gasp! Horrors!

Posted on November 24, 2008 18:14

go watch it, oregon!<... (Below threshold)

19. Posted by peabody3000 | November 24, 2008 6:16 PM | Score: -8 (14 votes cast)

go watch it, oregon!

Posted on November 24, 2008 18:16

Possibly kirsten Powers. ... (Below threshold)

20. Posted by irongrampa | November 24, 2008 6:17 PM | Score: 2 (4 votes cast)

irongrampa:

Possibly kirsten Powers. She has a modicum of intelligence and personality, a definite step up.

Posted on November 24, 2008 18:17

I did.... (Below threshold)

21. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 6:50 PM | Score: 4 (6 votes cast)

I did.

Posted on November 24, 2008 18:50

then your post makes no sen... (Below threshold)

22. Posted by peabody3000 | November 24, 2008 6:54 PM | Score: -8 (16 votes cast)

then your post makes no sense. not that im shocked!

Posted on November 24, 2008 18:54

and will continue to<... (Below threshold)

23. Posted by Parthenon | November 24, 2008 7:31 PM | Score: -4 (16 votes cast)

Parthenon:

and will continue to enjoy the rude conservative tactic of interrupting everyone before they can complete a sentence, since Hannity is still on the show.

Fixed that for you.

Posted on November 24, 2008 19:31

No, I just don't think it p... (Below threshold)

24. Posted by OregonMuse | November 24, 2008 8:42 PM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)

No, I just don't think it proves anything the way you think it does.

Posted on November 24, 2008 20:42

I actually enjoy some the F... (Below threshold)

25. Posted by Paul Hooson | November 24, 2008 9:10 PM | Score: -2 (6 votes cast)

Paul Hooson:

I actually enjoy some the FOX shows myself, despite my own personal liberal politics because I like to expose myself to new opinions. But I still like CNBC and CNN more than FOX myself, for both financial and other news.

Posted on November 24, 2008 21:10

Maybe they'll put Major Gar... (Below threshold)

26. Posted by Frank | November 24, 2008 9:23 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)

Frank:

Maybe they'll put Major Garrett in that spot so he'll have the whole day covered with Obama's agitprop.

Posted on November 24, 2008 21:23

I've got an idea--why don't... (Below threshold)

27. Posted by Mitchell | November 24, 2008 10:09 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

Mitchell:

I've got an idea--why don't the choose a replacement that actually knows what the hell he's talking about?

Posted on November 24, 2008 22:09

Alan Comes was always painf... (Below threshold)

28. Posted by Bill | November 25, 2008 12:16 AM | Score: -1 (3 votes cast)

Bill:

Alan Comes was always painful to watch. He just babbled talking points and was a real pain. He was a poor choice to represent the liberal media.
Nobody took him seriously.

Posted on November 25, 2008 00:16

Alan Comes was always pa... (Below threshold)

29. Posted by Parthenon | November 25, 2008 1:04 AM | Score: -1 (9 votes cast)

At risk of belaboring the point, are you sure you're not describing Sean "play the Jeremiah Wright tape for half my show every day and repeat the same nine lines/interview Newt Gingrich for the rest" Hannity?

Posted on November 25, 2008 01:04

"A good replacement woul... (Below threshold)

30. Posted by Oyster | November 25, 2008 6:24 AM | Score: -2 (2 votes cast)

Oyster:

"A good replacement would be James Carville, but I doubt he'd do it."

Replace a reptile with Gollum? I can hear him now:

"Master looks after us now. We don't need you anymore. We wants the precioussss!"

Posted on November 25, 2008 06:24

Colmes should have been re... (Below threshold)

31. Posted by bryanD | November 25, 2008 11:44 AM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)

bryanD:

Colmes should have been replaced long ago by Ed Schultz or Lawrence O'Donnell. (People Sean might deem Blue Meanies.)

In defence of Colmes, his radio program is pretty good. It's just that on H&C, Hannity gets a vanity camera (aside from the dedicated staging camera) which he operates with his foot. For breaking the "forth wall" and sending non-verbal reassurance to his fans and other household appliances.

Posted on November 25, 2008 11:44

Screw "fair and balanced". ... (Below threshold)

32. Posted by Rioman | November 25, 2008 12:53 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)

Rioman:

Screw "fair and balanced". Replace this idiot with another conservative, or don't replace him at all. If I want to listen to morons I'll tune in to MSNBC, which is where Colmes and his fly-away left eyebrow belong. He will fail miserably if he has a solo show on Fox. FTL.

Posted on November 25, 2008 12:53

Personally, I stopped watch... (Below threshold)

33. Posted by David | November 25, 2008 6:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

David:

Personally, I stopped watching this show on a regular basis over a year ago. Colmes doesn't do his homework and Hannity keeps repeating the same talking point over and over and over ad nauseum. Ditto for his radio show.

Rush is still the king of conservative talk and with good reason. His show always sounds "new" and he has a keen intellect. All Hannity does is play on people's emotions.

Posted on November 25, 2008 18:09

The show won't be the same.... (Below threshold)

34. Posted by buddy simmons | December 12, 2008 11:14 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

buddy simmons:

The show won't be the same.
Even though I'm a dyed in the wool Republican, Alan Colmes seems like a truly nice person and I will miss his sparing with Sean.
Good Luck, Alan!

Posted on December 12, 2008 11:14

A new and equally contrasti... (Below threshold)

35. Posted by brownswegger | December 12, 2008 5:32 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

brownswegger:

A new and equally contrasting co-host replacement for Hannity could be sanity? Eh? Then Mr. a-sexual-conservative-imposer-of-opinion can change the name of the show to: Hannity & Sanity...and then Fox can move him to AM radio where he belongs.

Maybe he can just go become a minister or hot air balloon operator like I'm sure he's always wanted.

Posted on December 12, 2008 17:32