CNN Adds Laughs to News Lineup

These guys get no respect, and they deserve it

(NEWSER) - You rarely see Carrot Top or Gallagher anymore, but showbiz is still full of guys who just aren’t funny. Sarah Bell of Newsweek points out the worthiest tomato targets:

• Larry the Cable Guy: A really, really poor man’s Jeff Foxworthy, minus any actual jokes.
• Carlos Mencia: Makes a living mocking mentally handicapped people and “beaners.” Dave Chappelle, he ain’t.

Comedian may be getting the boot, but tomorrow's looking pretty bright

(NEWSER) - Jay Leno might be losing his beloved "Tonight Show," writes the Hollywood Reporter, but the host still has a ratings punch and an enviable set of options (in decreasing order of probability):

1. Take ABC’s 11:30pm-12:30am slot, displacing Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live and competing with Letterman and O’Brien.
2. Launch a show on Fox at 11 or 11:30pm—Fox doesn’t currently run late-night shows, but could use Leno’s brand to push into the new territory.
3. Sony Pictures TV puts Leno’s Tonight Show into syndication, which could eventually lead to another late-night gig.

Everyone but Newt Gingrich turned it down

(NEWSER) - Newt Gingrich would probably love to fill an hour or more of debate time all by his lonesome, but CNN would rather he not. The network canceled a debate scheduled for March 1 after Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum bowed out, reports the National Journal . The trio cited hectic campaign schedules ahead of Super Tuesday on March 6. A CNN debate scheduled for Feb. 22 is still on, however. More»

His comments about David Beckham ad were seen as anti-gay

(NEWSER) - CNN has suspended commentator Roland Martin because of some iffy tweets during the Super Bowl that were seen as homophobic, reports Mediaite . After an ad featuring David Beckham in his skivvies appeared during the game, Martin tweeted, “If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!” He had a few others in the same vein, and GLAAD came out Monday demanding he be fired for encouraging violence against gays. More»

He says safety net will take care of them

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney delivered yet another grade-A attack ad sound bite today, saying he was "not concerned about the very poor." In an interview with Soledad O'Brien this morning on CNN , Romney said he was in the race because "I care about Americans. I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there; if it needs repair, I'll fix it. I'm not concerned about the very rich, they're doing just fine. I'm concerned about the very heart of America." More»