Posted on

Glenn Beck & FOX News Parting Ways

As we reported previously, there were rumors swirling about the Glenn Beck and Fox News relationship breaking up. It began with sources (NYT said they were Fox News producers) telling the New York Times that they were looking to cancel his show (many didn’t believe it, calling anyone who reported the NYT News as a liberal bias news source, including us!), then news turned into Beck leaving on his own accord about a week or two later, which is what the Beck fans were more than happy to point out to us when that news broke. Whatever the circumstances, the relationship break has become official, with Beck stating that he will be slowly “transitioning” off his show on Fox to pursue other projects on his own.

It seems the relationship between the two had gotten a bit precarious recently anyway. His ratings were still up, but had been steadily falling over the last year. Many advertisers had pulled their sponsorship, stating they did not want to be associated with the gloom and doom of Beck, leaving him with mainly Gold sellers and the like as far as sponsors go. On the other hand, Beck himself felt confined in his role on Fox, wanting to branch out to pursue Documentaries, focus more on his radio show, and maybe even start his own network.

So the break was pretty natural it seems, on both ends, and may just benefit them both.  In a mutual statement put out by Beck and Fox, they added that Beck and Fox may pursue special projects together in the future.

** Disclaimer: We here at the Yak just report it as the news breaks folks. If it’s a News story about a TV show, whether it comes from what you believe to be right or left leaning, it’s still News. We often put in our sources as well. We leave it up to the reader to make up their own mind about the breaking stories and news, and will continue to do so, rather than tell people what to think. Sure, we let our writers put in some of their own opinions and commentary, but regardless, the news story is what leads. We apologize if the News itself is not what you would like to hear, or is somehow in conflict with your opinion. We welcome opinions from all over the spectrum, either below in the comments, or in the Forum where we discuss all the shows regularly.

Are you a Glenn Beck fan? Sad to see him go from Fox? Do you think the break was mutual? Is Beck really leaving on his own accord, or was he pushed out by FOX behind the scenes? We are talking about it in the FORUM!

Posted on

Fox to Send Glenn Beck Packing?

Glenn Beck’s number may finally be up, at Fox News that is. With his ratings down a third since last summer, and his lunacy getting well, more crazy if that’s possible, insiders at the network say they may not renew his contract.

His nightly numbers are still outshining his competitors, but even Fox thinks his message is just too depressing. Joel Cheatwood, the Senior Vice President of Development for Fox News downplays that viewers may be getting tired of his incessant rants and messages, but does admit that keeping the show upbeat is a concern and priority.

“We have talked about that, at his instigation,” Cheatwood said, “It is really important that no matter how dire he thinks things are or what horrible direction things may be going from his perspective that the show maintains a sense of hope.”

“What you see on television with Glenn is the real guy,” he added, “and that is a double-edged sword. If he is upset about something, you see it.”

“He used to be a lot funnier,” David Von Drehle, who wrote an article about Beck in Time magazine said. “He was the befuddled everyman and something entirely new, but the longer people have listened to his ranting and raving, the wearier they become. Now you are just getting down to diehards. I mean, how many people were in the Waco compound at the end? A couple of hundred?”

Funny how Mr. Von Drehle compared him to a cult leader, as this writer tends to agree. In my opinion, we are watching a man unfold on National Television, much in the same respects we see Charlie Sheen unfolding, sans the drugs. I have no problem with a different view politically, but to take this into outerspace with conspiracy theories is hurtful to this nation. How I really feel about him personally I will refrain.

Fox Execs even cringe at some of his outrageous behavior (like suggesting Barack Obama has a “deep seated hatred for white people” or suggesting that anyone who differs from him politically is a terrorist or the “antichrist”) Execs admit this challenges the credibility of the News Organization as a whole, and nearly 300 advertisers have pulled the plug on his show, leaving mostly Gold marketers with doomsday messages that support Beck’s message.

He still sells tons of books, has a “hit” radio show, owns “The Blaze” website, and sells out stage performances, so I am assuming he will be alright without Fox. It’s just too bad, in my opinion, that people still listen to him at all.

In fact, it wasn’t too long ago that Beck himself was criticizing Keith Olbermann’s “pain in the ass” behavior that resulted in Keith’s early departure from MSNBC. I guess it’s yet another pot calling the kettle?

What do you think? Do you watch Beck? Will you be sad to see him go? Let us know below!