Tucker Carlson

Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson (born May 16, 1969) is a libertarian-leaning conservative pundit best known as a former co-host for CNN's Crossfire, representing "the right." Distinguished by his moppish hair and colorful bow ties, Carlson is generally considered one of the most recognizable conservative personalities in American television.

Notable Crossfire moments

In July 2003, after Senator Hillary Clinton's book Living History was published, Carlson doubted the potential popularity of the book and declared during a broadcast that if it sold more than one million copies he "Will in fact eat my shoes because I'm a man of my word." When her book eventually passed the millionth copy sales mark, Clinton made a surprise appearance on the show in which she brought Carlson a chocolate cake designed like a shoe.

Related Topics:
Hillary Clinton - Living History

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In October 2004, Carlson and liberal co-host Paul Begala were engaged in an unusually frank and confrontational episode of Crossfire with comedian and television talk show host Jon Stewart of The Daily Show, the footage of which was widely circulated through the Internet and commented on throughout the media. Although Stewart was ostensibly scheduled to promote his best-selling comedy book, America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, Stewart spent the entire episode seriously criticizing the premise of shows such as Crossfire, arguing that the heated polemical exchanges were "hurting America." In a memorable verbal exchange of that episode, after instructing Stewart to "be funny," Carlson remarked:

Related Topics:
October - Liberal - Paul Begala - Jon Stewart - The Daily Show

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: "I do think you're more fun on your show."

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to which Stewart responded:

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: "You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show."

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For his part, Carlson said after the broadcast and during the ensuing media frenzy that while he agreed with some of Stewart's comments, Stewart is "the most sanctimonious comedian I've ever met," and that Stewart "needs to recognize where Crossfire is on the media food chain."

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Carlson's last day on Crossfire was January 6, 2005. CNN CEO Jonathan Klein commented to the Associated Press, "I guess I come down more firmly in the Jon Stewart camp." It has been speculated that the Stewart episode was important in his decision to cancel the show and to not renew Carlson's contract, but Klein has said that decision was actually made six months earlier, in April. It also has been speculated that Carlson failed to meet CNN's ratings expectations when he guest-hosted NewsNight with Aaron Brown for a week towards the end of his contract.

Related Topics:
January 6 - 2005 - Associated Press - NewsNight with Aaron Brown

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