CNBC Cancels ‘Dennis Miller’

CNBC has canceled the “Dennis Miller” show as part of a move back to an all-business focus.

CNBC cancels ‘Dennis Miller’ (CNN/Money)

CNBC is canceling “Dennis Miller” in an attempt to revive the network’s struggling primetime, according to Variety. “Dennis Miller” will be replaced with a second airing of “Mad Money With Jim Cramer” at 9 p.m. ET. The network will also replace “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” with a new business show at 7 p.m. that will debut in the third quarter.

Both moves are part of a repositioning of CNBC’s primetime back to the network’s focus on financial news and away from failed attempts at entertainment, according to the report.

I’m a fan of Miller but found his show unwatchable. As I wrote in reviewing the first episode,

I just watched as much of the debut of Dennis Miller’s CNBC show as I could bear. It was, to be kind, not very good. Maybe this was opening first day jitters and the show will hit a groove after a few episode. If it doesn’t get better, though, the execs at the network will rue the day they cancelled Alan Keyes.

I watched sporadically for a few weeks. It never got markedly better.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Bachbone says:

    Anyone in the market for a bunch of “bleeps” should find them available cheap from Miller’s producers.

  2. wavemaker says:

    A less-than-memorable, seldom-clever brand of locker room humor, featuring obtuse political perspective and lame wisecracks (in my view). Feh.

  3. Corvid says:

    Obtuse and not-so-funny, perhaps (especially lately), even to this dyed-in-the-wool Canadian fan but Dennis remains a favourite of mine and has opened my eyes to some of the issues affecting the US of late, in a very entertaining manner. The show itself could have used some streamlining (too many guests, too many segments) and having his rant sponsored by Allstate took the sting out of the humour and his message. It also seems his heart hasn’t been in it lately. Love ‘im, but he had to go – Deutsch has been kicking his ass lately. Here’s hoping he shows up again somewhere – soon.

  4. Corvid says:

    Obtuse and not-so-funny, perhaps (especially lately), even to this dyed-in-the-wool Canadian fan but Dennis remains a favourite of mine and has opened my eyes to some of the issues affecting the US of late, in a very entertaining manner. The show itself could have used some streamlining (too many guests, too many segments) and having his rant sponsored by Allstate took the sting out of the humour and his message. It also seems his heart hasn’t been in it lately. Love ‘im, but he had to go – Deutsch has been kicking his ass lately. Here’s hoping he shows up again somewhere – soon.

  5. Melanie says:

    This is from my website, An Open Letter to Dennis Miller:

    May 16, 2005
    CNBC has let go…Dennis Miller’s show is no more.

    Thu May 12, 9:01 AM ET
    NEW YORK – CNBC is canceling comic Dennis Miller’s low-rated political talk show after less than 16 months, replacing it with a business show rerun…
    CNBC Canceling Dennis Miller’s Talk Show

    Now when Miller lost Monday Night Football on ABC and Dennis Miller Live on HBO in 2002, MAD Magazine printed an article probably called “Career Advice for Dennis Miller”: he could become a journalism professor, write political speeches, or other things. Of course, here in 2005, Miller still has Republican fundraisers, the occasional charity benefit, and NetZero commercials. He won’t starve.

    Dennis, why not try starring in a sitcom about a journalism professor who writes political speeches…or what I wrote on 4/7/2003: a TV series based on my church, and you play my pastor? 😀