What Is 1/2 Hour News Hour

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Last updated: April 11, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1/2 Hour News Hour was a satirical news comedy show that aired on Fox News from April 2, 2007, to March 28, 2010. The half-hour program parodied news broadcasts with sketch comedy, fake reports, and comedic commentary on current events and politics.

Key Facts

Aired on Fox News for nearly three years from 2007 to 2010
30-minute format designed as Fox News' answer to The Daily Show
Featured fictional anchor Kurt Perry and ensemble cast
Produced by Cinemax and Fox News to attract younger audiences
Combined sketch comedy with political satire and parody news segments

Overview

The 1/2 Hour News Hour was an American satirical news comedy program that debuted on Fox News on April 2, 2007. The show was a half-hour program that blended traditional news format elements with sketch comedy, parodies, and comedic commentary on current events and politics. It was produced as Fox News' response to the success of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, attempting to bring satirical humor to the 24-hour news network.

The program ran for nearly three years, concluding on March 28, 2010, after producing multiple seasons of episodes. The show attempted to capture younger viewers by offering humorous takes on news stories, political figures, and media criticism. Despite its premise of combining news and comedy, the show's satirical approach and comedic execution became a notable part of mid-2000s television history.

How It Works

The show operated through several comedic formats and segments:

News Anchoring: A fictional anchor character named Kurt Perry (played by Gregg Godlin) hosted the show and presented fake news stories with comedic twists and absurd punchlines.
Sketch Comedy: The program featured recurring sketch comedy segments that parodied news broadcasting conventions, political events, and media personalities.
Parody Reports: Mock field correspondents delivered satirical coverage of political campaigns, government proceedings, and public figures.
Political Commentary: The show offered humorous commentary on election cycles, legislative activities, and prominent political figures of the era.
Celebrity Guests: Political figures and entertainment personalities occasionally appeared for comedic interviews and segments.

Key Comparisons

Aspect	The 1/2 Hour News Hour	The Daily Show	Traditional News
Format	Sketch comedy + news parody	Monologue + clip commentary	Factual reporting
Network	Fox News (cable news)	Comedy Central (comedy)	Major broadcast/cable networks
Length	30 minutes	30 minutes	30-60 minutes
Primary Goal	Entertainment/satire	Comedy commentary	Information delivery
Target Audience	Young Fox News viewers	Young adults seeking comedy	General audience

Why It Matters

Network Experimentation: The show represented Fox News' effort to expand beyond traditional news programming and compete in the satirical comedy space dominated by Comedy Central.
Cable News Evolution: It demonstrated how major news networks attempted to reach younger demographics through entertainment-focused content alongside news programming.
Media Landscape: The program reflected the growing intersection of news, comedy, and political commentary in early 21st-century television.
Satire in News: The show exemplified how satirical news formats had become viable components of cable news strategy, influencing programming decisions at various networks.

While The 1/2 Hour News Hour ultimately concluded after three seasons, it represented an important moment in television history when traditional news networks attempted to engage with satirical comedy as a vehicle for news consumption. The show's existence underscored the popularity of news-based comedy and the appetite for humorous political commentary among television audiences during the mid-to-late 2000s.