Crossfire (American TV program)

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Crossfire (American TV program)

Crossfire was an American nightly current-events debate show on CNN. It aired from June 25, 1982, to June 3, 2005, and was revived from September 9, 2013, to August 6, 2014. The show featured two main hosts, one positioned on the left and one on the right, who debated major issues, usually with two guests—one liberal and one conservative—on each topic. The format varied, with sometimes fewer guests or two guests on one side.

Format and history
- The program began in 1982 with Tom Braden and Pat Buchanan as hosts. Over the years, the left and right seats rotated among various pundits, including personalities like Robert Novak, Mary Matalin, Tucker Carlson, and others.
- In 2002 Crossfire expanded to an hour and was broadcast live from George Washington University in Washington, DC, with a live studio audience. In 2003 the show was shortened back to 30 minutes and moved to an afternoon slot due to lower ratings.
- A famous moment came in 2004 when Jon Stewart of The Daily Show appeared on Crossfire to criticize its format and public discourse.

Cancellation
- In January 2005 CNN announced Crossfire would be canceled. Carlson’s contract was not renewed, and the last episode aired on June 3, 2005. Afterward, the pundits moved to Inside Politics, and the Crossfire set was used for other CNN programs.

Revival
- A new Crossfire premiered on September 9, 2013, with Newt Gingrich and S. E. Cupp representing the right, and Stephanie Cutter and Van Jones representing the left. The revived show introduced a closing segment called “Cease Fire” to find common ground and did not include a studio audience.
- It returned from a short hiatus in May 2014 after coverage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, but went on hiatus again following the Flight 17 incident in July 2014. The show was officially canceled again in October 2014.

See also
- Crossballs
- Firing Line
- The McLaughlin Group