D.L. Hughley Leaves CNN!

Media

By Richard Prince for the Journal-isms

Just days after his show made news when GOP Chairman Michael Steele disparaged Rush Limbaugh — for which he later apologized — comedian D.L. Hughley is ending his Saturday night CNN show, “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News.”

“D.L. approached CNN about being permanently based in Los Angeles, where his family lives. To accommodate this, we agreed upon a new role where he will be a contributor for the network based in Los Angeles. We are eager to continue our relationship with D.L., who is a tremendous talent and a valued colleague,” according to a CNN statement. CNN told Journal-isms the New York-based show would be on through the end of this month and that the decision was Hughley’s, based on his desire to be back in Los Angeles.

The TV Newser Web site, which first reported the news, said Thursday, “Insiders tell TVNewser it would have become cost-prohibitive to produce the show in Los Angeles. The one-hour, Saturday night news/comedy show had been drawing about 200,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo in recent weeks,” referring to adults ages 25 to 54.

“It’s not known what will happen to the staff of ‘Hughley’ who were made aware of the news in a meeting this afternoon. The show debuted Oct. 25, 2008.”

The news-comedy hybrid got off to a mixed start, with some black journalists saying Hughley indulged in stereotypes. CNN officials expressed confidence in the show and said it was evolving. The show made news Saturday night when Steele made this comment in an exchange about conservative talk-show host Limbaugh:

“So let’s put it into context here. Let’s put it into context here. Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer. Rush Limbaugh, his whole thing is entertainment. Yes, it’s ugly.”

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