TV Review: The 1/2 Hour News Show

As a writer, humorous and political/pop culture junkie; I enjoy taking the occasional satirical shot at things Washington and Hollywood. I enjoy the work of Bill Maher, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. So when I heard about the Fox News Network's new show, I thought, "Great idea." The half hour show however is not so great and it doesn't take 15 minutes to realize it.

The show premiered Sunday, February 18, 2007 on the Fox News Network at 10pm EST. I watch just 16 minutes before I tired of the heavy-handed right winged unfunny and thoroughly uncreative news stories. The laugh track was so obvious that it conjured childhood memories of an annoying toy (canned laughter) given to me by an equally annoying relative.

The mock newscast is anchored by "Jennifer Lange" and "Kent McNally" (Jennifer Robertson and Kurt Long). The two are able performers, but even their most desperate attempts at timing, subtle facial expressions and forced chemistry couldn't save this poorly written (did I mention unfunny?) material. Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtain they are not.

One major difference between The ½ Hour News Hour and late night television is that on late night whether it is Jay Leno, Dave Letterman or Conan O'Brien the humorous shots are spread evenly across the political and popular culture spectrum. The ½ Hour News Hour's "humor" is viciously heaped upon the left to the point of mean spiritedness. Another difference between the late nights (and other political humor programs) is unlike The ½ Hour News Hour those shows are funny.

I would rather not go into too much detail on any particular part of the show. As anyone with a sense of humor knows nothing kills a joke like having it told by a third party two days later. However, one example (and there are many) about why this show is so awful is the running gag about Ed Begley Jr. Ed Begley Jr. is an environmentalist and actor (the primary targets). The anchors are "tracking" Ed Begley's trip to a speaking engagement while ridiculing his hybrid car. It can only go so fast, it can't make it up a 5% grade hill it looses its charge. That probably doesn't seem funny now? Guess what. It wasn't funny on the show either.

I think it a great idea to have a right leaning news parody join the party currently dominated by Stewart, Colbert and Maher. I think that while the current shows do spread their criticism fairly a few more shows attacking the wacky fringes of the left would be refreshing. The ½ Hour News Hour on Fox News could be that show. I wouldn't even mind if it were, as political humor tends to be, unfair and unbalanced. I cannot tolerate it being unfunny.