| Msnbc savage show canceled { July 7 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3049878http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=3049878
MSNBC Cans Savage Over AIDS Comment Mon July 7, 2003 05:12 PM ET By Andrew Grossman
NE YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - MSNBC has fired controversial right-wing talk show host Michael Savage for gay-baiting comments he made on the network on his program, "Savage Nation" on Saturday.
Savage told a caller who had just issued a vulgar derogatory comment his way that, "Oh, you're one of the sodomites. You should only get AIDS and die, you pig."
An MSNBC spokesman termed the comments "extremely inappropriate and the decision to cancel the show was an easy one."
MSNBC hired Savage in February for his one-hour slots amid heavy criticism of his views and speculation that the network was trying to copy Fox News Channel's successful model and put more conservative viewpoints on its air. The network has consistently denied that it was turning rightward. The show, which ran for 15 weeks -- -- and was pre-empted three times -- averaged a 0.2 rating, and 347,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. There was no word from MSNBC as to what might replace Savage on Saturday, although sources inside the network speculated it would likely air news in the short-term.
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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