The 1/2 Hour News Hour

:

Season 1
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
2.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 380 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 97 out of 380
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 380
  3. Negative: 273 out of 380

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User Reviews

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  1. dare-as
    Feb 21, 2007
    2
    (2) for concept, (0) for execution, neither news nor entertainment
  2. AlyceN
    Feb 21, 2007
    2
    I chuckled once or twice. I like to watch funny people making fun of liberal shibboleths. These are not funny people.
  3. MelodyC
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    Heroically, historically bad. The Plan 9 from Outer Space of TV comedy.
  4. JayW
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    between the obvious canned laughter and the overly kinetic "news anchors", this was a piss poor take-off on the very good Daily Show with John Stewart. Do Conservatives just not have a funny bone because this was a real disappointment.
  5. DrunkenMaster
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    How funny is the "half hour news hour"? Well, if you find the realization that Barack Obama's initials = BO hilarious, this is right up your alley. Otherwise (ie, if you have an IQ higher than that of a Basset Hound), stikck with The Daily Show. Raving rightwing reactionaries just aren't funny.
  6. MarkD
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    Wow ... just ... wow. This show is historically bad, not because it's partisan, but because it just isn't funny. There is a fine line between satire and hateful insults, and this show is on the wrong side. But that's what happens when you start a show not to be funny, but to further an ideological agenda. The fact that this is on what is supposed to be a NEWS network Wow ... just ... wow. This show is historically bad, not because it's partisan, but because it just isn't funny. There is a fine line between satire and hateful insults, and this show is on the wrong side. But that's what happens when you start a show not to be funny, but to further an ideological agenda. The fact that this is on what is supposed to be a NEWS network doesn't help, either.… Expand
  7. ChefClark
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    To effectively review this show, you need to observe it with a politically-neutral viewpoint. To review this show on comedic merit, it is absolutely horrible. Its structure of set-up, punchline, set-up, punchline, combined with its poor sketch acting and a LAUGH TRACK creates a dismal production that should never have even made it to a pilot episode.
  8. Damien
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    Bathroom humor just isn't funny. Nice how they added a canned laugh track to it. Awful, just awful.
  9. dough
    Feb 21, 2007
    10
    Aww, the poor liberals don't like satire about the truth. They have the daly show, kind of. How about decent review without politics.
  10. StewartL
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    I would have given it a 1 had they had Bush doing fart jokes.
  11. DanielA
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    They should probably try to spend more time on being funny and less on trying to be "right wing." I have never seen material is forced and, well, stupid. And this is coming from a regestered Independent. One of the least funny television shows I have ever seen.
  12. RossA
    Feb 21, 2007
    1
    A satire doesn't work if you parody a different world altogether (whatever planet Fox lives on, because its not mine rofl). However, that complete lack of cohesion made this show unintentionally funny, so I give it a 1 for mockery purposes. Fox's ultimate paradox is that it has a parody news show on the worst news station on television. Before it gets to make fun of "good" news A satire doesn't work if you parody a different world altogether (whatever planet Fox lives on, because its not mine rofl). However, that complete lack of cohesion made this show unintentionally funny, so I give it a 1 for mockery purposes. Fox's ultimate paradox is that it has a parody news show on the worst news station on television. Before it gets to make fun of "good" news stations, it might want to consider getting its own. This show will be canceled in 6 episodes, tops.… Expand
  13. JohnM
    Feb 21, 2007
    0
    Painfully unfunny. The use of a laugh track is pathetic at best. What is a comdey show doing on a news network. It should be on FX channel or some other fox channel.
  14. AndrewS
    Feb 20, 2007
    0
    No where near as funny as the regular programming on fox news.
  15. JC
    Feb 20, 2007
    0
    When I was a kid we did fake news shows that even embarassed us then. This show is worse. The critical scorn has nothing to do with its politics, it is just the very worst program possible with no rival in decades. In one case, a line that could have been very funny was delivered as if the person saying it had no idea what the actual humor was. It took me a while to notice that "hey, that When I was a kid we did fake news shows that even embarassed us then. This show is worse. The critical scorn has nothing to do with its politics, it is just the very worst program possible with no rival in decades. In one case, a line that could have been very funny was delivered as if the person saying it had no idea what the actual humor was. It took me a while to notice that "hey, that was actually funny". One of the problems with this show is that it has to make up stuff about the people it is supposedly making fun of, such as Cindy Sheehan (a completely non-violent person) going on a shooting spree. It doesn't have a clue about reality and therefore has to make up lies to ATTEMPT to be funny. It also tends to be nasty. Contrast that with other shows that are genuinely funny that take reality and real clips and let the absurdity of ALL of us stand out on its own. The "real" world is silly enough and doesn't need help. That the writers have to resort to falsities may be a pretty good example of how people of this persuasion seem to be way out of touch with reality. This could be a window into the distorted, paranoid, and fearful mind of many cons.… Expand
  16. andrewO
    Feb 20, 2007
    0
    so bad... i mean i would watch, IF IT WERE AT ALL FUNNY
  17. AbeI
    Feb 20, 2007
    10
    It was a riot. I would like to see it every night.
  18. EmmaM
    Feb 20, 2007
    1
    Unbelievably horrible!!! This show is painfully unfunny.
  19. AlmaC
    Feb 20, 2007
    10
    Enjoyed it a lot
  20. EdwinC
    Feb 20, 2007
    10
    This was a very funny show. Weedend update has been lame for two years now and this is very refreshing. I hope this has a looooooooong run on fox news.
  21. PoDawg
    Feb 20, 2007
    0
    Awful
  22. eclipsgtboy
    Feb 20, 2007
    10
    I love it. Finally a show that gives back a little something to the lefties. Of course they don't find it funny! It touches their golden man, Barack Obama. There is SOOOOO much material out there. Go for it!
  23. JeffK
    Feb 20, 2007
    1
    The only thing I really found funny was how poorly the laugh track was applied.
  24. JeffM
    Feb 20, 2007
    1
    The premise is stupid, the jokes dumb and juvenile, and the performance are so dull, it looks like even the actors hate doing it. Comedy only works if everything is up for grabs, narrowing down to make fun of a select group of people to pander to a "base" is why this will inevitably fail.
  25. DavidP
    Feb 20, 2007
    0
    Chewing on tinfoil and repeatedly whacking my big toe with a sledgehammer would be more fun than watching this again. Good Lord, was this show horrible.
  26. JohnB
    Feb 20, 2007
    10
    At last the answer to those smug arrogant fools on Weekend Update. And this is actually funny!
  27. HughJass
    Feb 20, 2007
    7
    This is a little funnier than the critics say. Not extremely funny, but still funny.
  28. JakeL
    Feb 20, 2007
    0
    The worst thing you can imagine -- on a bad day.
  29. KlarthL
    Feb 19, 2007
    0
    Awful... so awful.
  30. NoneofYourbusiness
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    Absolutely brilliant. One of the best shows on TV can't wait until it goes beyond promos and gets better production values.
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Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Best TV Season of 2007
3
#3 Most Discussed TV Season of 2007
41
#41 Most Shared TV Season of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
13

Overwhelming dislike - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 11
  3. Negative: 10 out of 11
  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Barry Garron
    20
    A look at the first episode suggests that, just as A.M. radio is the unassailable province of the right, TV might better be left to the left.
    Read full review
  2. Orlando Sentinel
    Reviewed by: Hal Boedeker
    0
    "Weekend Update" on its worst night isn't this bad.
    Read full review
  3. Slate
    Reviewed by: Troy Patterson
    0
    You couldn't skewer a cube of tofu with material this dull.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »