Fox News ‘Lite’ Won’t Work

No one could have been surprised that MSNBC cancelled Phil Donohue’s show. It just didn’t generate the audience needed to keep it on the air.

MSNBC, in its continuing struggle for relevance, has announced some of the new “personalities” that will soon be gracing its airwaves.

“Dick Armey, the former House majority leader, has signed on as a commentator, and Mike Savage, a right-wing talk-show host, now has a show on weekends,” USA Today reports. “MSNBC spokesman Alan Winnikoff said none of the hires indicates a shift to the right.”

Mr. Winnikoff, I hope you said that over phone so the reporter wouldn’t have to watch you try and keep a straight face while saying it.

Dick Armey was an ultra-conservative lawmaker and Mike Savage coarsens our national discourse on a nearly daily basis. These hires couldn’t have anything to do with Fox News Channel’s better ratings, could it? Perish the thought!

Winnikoff said these additions are part of a strategy to “bring in a wide range of voices with different viewpoints.”

Sorry guys, but this won’t work either. Conservatives are already getting their marching orders from FNC, and liberals who didn’t bother with Donohue certainly won’t be setting their VCRs for Armey and Savage. Jesse Ventura, who will soon have his own prime time show, may generate some early buzz, but as was the case with his short tenure in public office, his shtick wears thin pretty quickly.

Carpetbagger is guessing MSNBC folds within a year. My only question is, will anyone notice when it’s gone?