Alan Colmes Leaves Fox: Now 'Hannity & Hannity?'

Alan Colmes, liberal sidekick (literally) to Sean Hannity on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes," is departing after 12 years. Colmes has been derided as too deferential and timid in reaction to Sean Hannity's foreful conservative comments.

Al Franken --- the former comic (not so funny anymore) locked in a Minnesota U.S. Senate recount battle with Norm Coleman --- wrote in one of his books that Hannity was entirely dominant. To make this point, Franken arranged for the printer to repeatedly refer to "Hannity & Colmes" with the name of Colmes in tiny agate type.

Many bloggers on The New York Times' TV Decoder web site are offering similar views. To wit:

--- "Sean Hannity had a cohost?

--- "I thought he left long ago, and that was just a cardboard likeness of him on the show."

--- "I hope they replace Colmes with someone who will be a bit less deferential to the bloviating Hannity. A dead jellyfish would probably suffice."

Colmes did have some supporters. One of them reacts, "Too bad. It is very difficult to find a liberal who can tolerate the views of a conservative on the same show without spewing all kinds of garbage. ... Colmes is able to transform liberal feelings into coherent thoughts, unlike most on the left."

Colmes announced his departure on Monday's show. Colmes and Hannity thanked one another and described one another as friends, although neither exactly became tearful about things.

Sean Hannity gets good ratings in his cable television niche, but even some conservatives believe that he hurts their cause. They say their criticism is not directed so much toward Hannity's views, but toward his demeanor, especially when he interrupts guests.

This may explain the scenario in 1996, when Hannity received his Fox contract. Hannity was given the opportunity to choose a liberal cohort, and he selected the modest Alan Colmes. Furthermore, at this point, Hannity may simply continue on his own rather than finding a new partner. Some viewers feel that it's been that way all along; yet another blogger calls the show "Hannity & Hannity."

SOURCES

http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/one-half-of-hannity-colmes-is-leaving/?hp

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/fox_news_prime_time_ac_after_colmes_101633.asp