tucker carlson

FTVLive is reporting that there are rumors going around that two MSNBC personalities, Tucker Carlson and Rita Cosby, are being let go from the network. As we've told you earlier, NBC has laid off 700 people and MSNBC is going through a massive restructuring and Carlson and Cosby might be part of those changes (there are also reports that Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews will be going over to CNBC and MSNBC will go to an all documentary and taped feature format).

But wait! Carlson says it's not true, and so does MSNBC chief Dan Abrams.

Regardless of whether they're gone or not, I still think that making CNBC the news station for NBC is a good idea, if for one reason: they'll get out from under that "MS" in MSNBC and become their own news entity. There were rumors a year or so ago that NBC was going to end its association with Microsoft, but that hasn't happened yet. Maybe this could be the first step to rebranding. What does CNBC stand for anyway? Isn't it something like Cable NBC? If that's the case, the change makes sense.

[via TV Newser]

S03E02 - As Tom says, "The ballroom can be so cruel." It's the results show, and somebody has to go. But not yet. First we have to wait. And then Tom and Samantha have to fill. Then a Tom Jones performance. Maybe two of those. Add in a little stalling. And finally we'll find out just what happened. My point, this should probably be a half hour results show.

Anyway... Emmit and Cheryl get things started with the encore performance of their Cha Cha Cha from the previous night. They're followed up by Tom Jones performing 'It's Not Unusual' while Louis Van Amstell and Karina Smirnoff dance. My guess is that Mario & Karina didn't get the encore because she was already scheduled for this performance. And the producers know they have plenty of weeks left to give them an encore.

(S02E01) It's hard to make a hit show, and it's hard to predict what show will be a hit. When I first heard the idea for Dancing with the Stars before the first season I thought, 'Why would anyone watch that?' Yet, here we are starting the third season and ABC has a bona fide hit on their hands. And I'm watching it. Go figure.

Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris return as hosts. And if I can go off-topic for just a minute, I have to mention Breakfast Time. I've been a Bergeron fan since he hosted the best morning show that ever was. When Tom goes into the Hall of Fame he should be wearing his Breakfast Time cap. That said, they have eleven new stars ready to dance it up. Celebrity men danced the Cha Cha Cha while the women did the Fox Trot. Here are the couples and their results.

The big news on Good Morning America this morning wasn't about the UK terror plot or the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. The big news was... drumroll please... the announcement of the new cast of Dancing with the Stars!

Thaaat's right, kiddies... the new group of has-beens, never-wases and out-of-place sports legends is now set to strut their stuff on the dance floor this fall, and this group is a doozy. We already knew that MSNBC's Tucker Carlson is participating, and there had been rumors that soon-to-be Hall of Fame running back Emmit Smith was going to be there, so those two aren't a big surprise. But we also get to see Jerry Springer, Joey ("Whoa!") Lawrence, Vivica A. Fox, Harry Hamlin (probably glomming on wife Lisa Rinna's success last year), Willa Ford, Monique Coleman of High School Musical, Sara Evans, Mario Lopez, and model and ex-Mrs. Barker Shanna Moakler (probably in the spot that was reserved for Beth Ostrosky).

Looks like it's going to be an interesting season. Maybe Emmit Smith will surprise everyone and win it all. Cowboy fans must be hiding their heads in their hats right now.

FishbowlDC reports that MSNBC's Tucker Carlson is to participate in the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars.

... Let me give you a second to process that.

Alright, I originally had no intention on watching this program -- didn't even bother with the first two seasons -- but now, my morbid fascination has compelled me to tune in. Will Tucker sport a bowtie? What if he ends up being a really hot dancer? Will he and Paul Begala re-unite as surprise dance partners? You got me good, ABC. You got me real good.

Gosh. I really can't believe this. It's like Carlson wants Jon Stewart to make fun of him now. Wasn't the infamous Crossfire throw-down enough? I'm going to have to hear the official announcements on Monday's Good Morning America before this really sinks in.

Quick, name a show on MSNBC. Easy, right? Now name a show on MSNBC that isn't either Hardball or Countdown.

Not so easy, is it? That's because, besides Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann, most people ignore the channel; it has consistently come in third among the cable news channels, behind Fox and CNN. And it's more than likely the reason why network president Rick Kaplan has stepped down from his job after two-and-a-half years. Because of Matthews and Olbermann, ratings for the channel have gone up, but some of Kaplan's programming decisions have been a bit questionable, such as the shows he created for Tucker Carlson and Rita Cosby.

Rumors are going around that one of Kaplan's last executive decisions was to force Carlson to get rid of his signature bow tie. Huh. With winners like those, no wonder why he had to step down.