2008 Woodie Awards
Tucker Carlson speaks at MU after show cancellation
Roger Sauerhaft
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Campus
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The appearance was Carlson's first public engagement following MSNBC's cancellation of his evening show, Tucker, just two days earlier. Interestingly enough, Carlson appeared before Miami without his signature bowtie during his small question and answer session and in his speech.
Despite the final airing of the show March 16, Carlson, 38, is staying with MSNBC under the title of senior campaign correspondent.
"I think (the cancellation is) a mistake," Carlson said. "Obviously we had a good show and had good ratings."
Carlson said MSNBC is headed in a different direction with its programming.
"They have plans for the network that are not where I'm going," Carlson said. "I'm just going off in my own direction as always."
Carlson reasoned that each network or company has a certain brand or image to uphold or evolve-or as he put it, "a way of presenting itself to the world"-and that MSNBC is currently changing its ways. This type of change, he said, should be expected within the television industry and he said he believes his cancellation had little to do with his ratings.
"When you work in TV, you wake up every morning expecting to get cancelled and some mornings it comes true," Carlson said. "If you're into stability and predictability and knowing where your paycheck is coming from, this is probably not the business for you."
During the lecture, which was planned by the Campus Activities Council (CAC) Lecture Board, Carlson showed his humorous side with multiple Green Beer Day references. For the most part, though, he centered his speech on the ongoing presidential primaries, his disdain for partisanship and his belief that the next president will be a Democrat.
"Any Democrat can beat any Republican right now," said Carlson, an independent libertarian who supported Texas Congressman Ron Paul, a Republican and a fellow libertarian.
With Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) recently sewing up the Republican nomination, Carlson predicted a fiery comeback on the blue side with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) coming out on top against Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
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