Jon Stewart 1, Tucker "Dick" Carlson 0

Apparently, Crossfire will no longer be its own show in the near future, as it has also no longer renewed the contract of one pundit, Tucker Carlson.

Thinking that Jon Stewart's appearance (part of the transcript and videoclip HERE, google elsewhere for the full thing) is the reason for Crossfire's cancellation would give him too much credit. What he did was announce to the viewers outright what they knew, that the show was not a debate show. He merely said what no one would. As the article states, viewership had decreased from last season and had lost its previous slot for the show.

While the very public fight between Carlson and Stewart probably made the decision easier, it doesn't make CNN's job any easier. The fight probably brought some viewers to the show, even if it was to see for themselves how bad it was. Of course, that kind of viewership doesn't last long. While the slot to be filled isn't too important, I wonder whether CNN will try again with another debate-type show and try to compete again with the likes of Hannity and Colmes from Fox News or whether they'll keep a good distance from that show idea.

Either way, it's not a total victory for Jon Stewart's vision of media programs. We've removed a bad, vacuous show. Now it's time to replace it with a better, insightful, more thought-provoking one.