Hannity and Colmes

Hannity and Colmes is a primetime news and politics program airing on the Fox News Channel. On the program, liberal pundit Alan Colmes discusses and debates major events of the day with conservative pundit Sean Hannity and a rotating crop of guests. The show debuted on the network in 1996. On November 24, 2008, Colmes announced his departure from the show at the end of that year.The New York Times: One Half of Hannity and Colmes is Leaving (November 24, 2008) Hannity will thereafter serve as the program's sole host.The New York Times: Hannity to Go It Alone, Without Colmes (November 24, 2008)

Hannity and Colmes was conceived as Fox News' answer to a debate program, similar in style to CNN's Crossfire.The New York Times: One Half of Hannity and Colmes is Leaving (November 24, 2008) Hannity was hired first and then the search began for what was known as an LTBD - "a liberal to be determined."The New York Times: Liberal or Conservative, Both are From L.I. (March 1, 1998) After producers settled on Colmes, he was occasionally derided by bloggers and pundits as a "Fox News liberal" or "token liberal," there to provide a false impression of political "balance" while really turning over the show to the more forceful Hannity.AlterNet: Meet a Token Liberal (April 22, 2002)Media Matters: Despite touting Colmes as "balance," Hannity to host own Fox News show (January 5, 2007)dKosopedia: Fox News liberal Daily Show host Jon Stewart has referred to the show as "Hannity and Whoever" to emphasize this point, and Colmes has also been criticized as too meek and moderate by Al Franken.PBS: Online NewsHour: Al Franken (October 2003)