Right-wing satire 'axed'

Broadcast industry website TV Newser reports that the Half Hour News Hour will end in September.

It quotes an internal email between executives saying the show, created by 24 producer Joel Surnow, would not return after its current 15-episode series.

However the memo did say: ‘we are considering ways to retool the show for future scheduling needs. There is still a chance you will see the program at some point in the future.’

The show launched in February 18 with more than 1.4 million viewers watching the first episode. But it is now averaging 258,000 viewers aged 25-54.

At its launch, Surnow said: ‘One of the things that's definitely not out there is a satirical voice that skews to the right as opposed to the left.

‘You can turn on any comedy satire show on TV and you're going to hear ten Bush jokes, ten Cheney jokes. But you'll never hear a Hillary Clinton joke or a global warming send-up. It's just not out there. I really felt that something was missing.’

Here’s a clip:

Published: 16 Aug 2007