Ace of Spades HQ

March 03, 2014

Top Gear Host Jeremy Clarkson Writes Entire Column Goofing on Piers Morgan's Failures
— Ace

It's behind a paywall, but you can read him calling Morgan "a ghastly little weasel."

A tabloid, the Mirror, quotes more of Clarkson's piece. Quotes from Clarkson:

"I heard that he was going to be dropped about six months ago.
"And have been sitting here for all of that time, loving his stupid Twitter boasts about his huge fame and lavish lifestyle, knowing that he didn't know what I knew.
"This was a show, remember, that was being aired round the world.
"Billions had the ability to watch it but few did.
"In fact, Morgan attracted a global audience smaller than the BBC daytime show Cash in the Attic.
"He's trying to argue his CNN show failed because the Americans didn't take kindly to his misguided attempt to spark a debate on gun control.
"Nonsense. His show failed because the viewers hated him.
"Everyone hates him.
"And that's a big problem when you are trying to play the fame game.
"You can upset some of the people some of the time and survive - thrive even.
"But if you upset all of the people all of the time, you will fail - and he has.

Posted by: Ace at 09:06 AM | Comments (204)
Post contains 221 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Still doesn't explain-- Chris Matthews.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 09:08 AM (RJMhd)

2 Heh. And to think, I have occasional issues with Clarkson. This is rich, I'd better pace myself.

Posted by: Klawnet at March 03, 2014 09:09 AM (AYfPj)

3 Oh, Tasker...I have plenty of relatives who regard Matthews as not only sane, but sage.

Posted by: Klawnet at March 03, 2014 09:10 AM (AYfPj)

4 I'd like to kill that man with a machine gun.

Posted by: Piers Morgan at March 03, 2014 09:10 AM (Aif/5)

5 So, Piers Morgan was sort-of like a weasel?

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 09:11 AM (7ObY1)

6 You need to add this video to the post: Top gear - Set fire to Piers Morgan http://tinyurl.com/lsh3eqf

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 03, 2014 09:11 AM (bCEmE)

7 It's behind a paywall, but you can read him calling Morgan "a ghastly little weasel." Hell, you can read that here for free!

Posted by: rickb223 at March 03, 2014 09:11 AM (b1/nQ)

8 Weasels don't deserve this.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 03, 2014 09:11 AM (8ZskC)

9 Ten years a Ukrainian.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 03, 2014 09:12 AM (bitz6)

10 I don't care what Jeremy Clarkson says, I am still willing to give Piers a Cleveland Steamer.

Posted by: Martin Bashir at March 03, 2014 09:12 AM (Agsf/)

11 I think he was more like a Meerkat. A stand-uppy sort of weasel.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 09:12 AM (7ObY1)

12 3 Oh, Tasker...I have plenty of relatives who regard Matthews as not only sane, but sage. Posted by: Klawnet at March 03, 2014 01:10 PM (AYfPj) ********* Didn't they hate Matthews during the Clinton impeachment? MSNBC is run as a tax write off scheme for GE--that's the only thing that makes sense.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 09:13 AM (RJMhd)

13 Are you sure he didn't say 'nasty little crap weasel'? Because that seems more appropriate.

Posted by: garrett at March 03, 2014 09:13 AM (Agsf/)

14 you can read him calling Morgan "a ghastly little weasel."

I don't understand the antipathy for the weasel. It is a noble creature that fends for itself, and when pressed, can do real damage.

Morgan is more of a purse dog, except they're usually housebroken.

Posted by: pep at March 03, 2014 09:14 AM (6TB1Z)

15 Jeremy is a visionary. Morgan should be punched on sight, by everyone.

Posted by: real joe at March 03, 2014 09:15 AM (YsebW)

16 Piers Morgen has been in the past and is now the least of my concerns. Never watched him. Never wanted to watch him.

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 09:15 AM (xMLV7)

17
I like Jeremy Clarkson. That song "Stronger" is on my I-tunes.

Posted by: Joe Biden at March 03, 2014 09:16 AM (nELVU)

18 I'd like to revise my previous comments. He's always doing that pursed-mouth thing that makes him look like a lamprey, which in turn looks like an anus.

The anus, of course, has its uses.

Posted by: pep at March 03, 2014 09:16 AM (6TB1Z)

19 Pierce who?

Posted by: flounder at March 03, 2014 09:17 AM (Kkt/i)

20 Some say he was born from a vat of used tabloid ink, bathed in the miasma from Liberal speechifying...some say he devours days' worth of MSNBC and Guardian offerings at a time, only to regurgitate it out later on camera...all we know is...he's called, The Git.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, future overlord of the winter wastes at March 03, 2014 09:17 AM (naUcP)

21 POWERRRR!!!!!!

Posted by: pilot141 at March 03, 2014 09:17 AM (nPwzA)

22 OT: Top o the Drudge: Russia China agree on Ukraine. http://tinyurl.com/padts2h Hmmmm...... Oh, Morgan? pfffftt...got nothing, but utter contempt.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at March 03, 2014 09:18 AM (rY5WG)

23 Still doesn't explain--
Chris Matthews.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 01:08 PM (RJMhd)

Easy. Chris Matthews is a bloviating, bloated buffoon. He's a textbook example of undiagnosed mental illness prancing around onscreen for the world to laugh at. He's his own carny sideshow act. People watch him to either point nd laugh or because they're as crazy as he is.

Piers was just boring and snobbish.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:19 AM (4df7R)

24 Wait- was Obama his agent?

Posted by: Marcus T. Just, well, Plain Disgusted. at March 03, 2014 09:19 AM (GGCsk)

25 "You can upset some of the people some of the time and survive - thrive even.

"But if you upset all of the people all of the time, you will fail - and he has.

In many ways, this is the story of Obama.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:19 AM (4df7R)

26 Heh. Jezza bringing the smackdown.

Posted by: DangerGirl at March 03, 2014 09:20 AM (GrtrJ)

27 If I had a twin brother, he would act just like Piers Morgan and yet still be President of the United States.

Posted by: Barack Obama at March 03, 2014 09:20 AM (FcR7P)

28 From Reddit:

http://i.imgur.com/7NMAgOb.jpg

The article from the paper not the site.. (fair use .. I think..)

Posted by: catman at March 03, 2014 09:20 AM (xZovl)

29 "He's trying to argue his CNN show failed because the Americans didn't take kindly to his misguided attempt to spark a debate on gun control.

"Nonsense. His show failed because the viewers hated him.

By the way, this could easily be a continuation of the previous thread. Piers is a self-styled elitist, and he can't admit his own mistakes. I treasure his tears and tantrums.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:20 AM (4df7R)

30 Abbas warned the Israeli faction leader that he will not extend negotiations if the framework agreement doesnÂ’t deal with the core issues: "I will put the keys on the table and turn to international organizations." Obama passed a subtle threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview with Bloomberg's Jeffrey Goldberg Â– and right before the two leaders' meeting at the White House Â– that if Israel rejects the Kerry agreement, it may face a bleak future and international isolation. The American president claimed that Abbas is a willing partner for peace, though the Palestinians have yet to accept the conditions of the Kerry agreement. But obama is not taking sides? Fuck him

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 03, 2014 09:20 AM (t3UFN)

31 I'd like to revise my previous comments. He's always doing that pursed-mouth thing that makes him look like a lamprey, which in turn looks like an anus. The anus, of course, has its uses. Anus with teeth would bite, though.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 03, 2014 09:21 AM (b1/nQ)

32 From dead thread. ...as he cedes Alaska to Russia and Texas to Mexico. Posted by: t-bird at March 03, 2014 01:10 PM (FcR7P) Obama gave Russia three or four disputed islands in Alaska back to Russia.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 03, 2014 09:21 AM (0FSuD)

33 I have been waiting for Jeremy Clarkson to stick that knife in and twist it all about. This does not disappoint.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies with whipped cream. at March 03, 2014 09:21 AM (VtjlW)

34 Iran executed two gay men on Sunday for the crime of Â“perversionÂ” and has sentenced a third individual to death for Â“insulting the prophet,Â” according to human rights activists tracking the situation. The head of IranÂ’s judiciary department in the northern city of Rasht announced on Sunday that two homosexual men had been executed for Â“perversion,Â” which is considered a severe crime under IranÂ’s hardline Islamic law. liberals all over America are silent

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 03, 2014 09:21 AM (t3UFN)

35 When YouTubes of kittens playing have more view than you have viewers- it's time to pack it up. Or get a kitten.

Posted by: Marcus T. Just, well, Plain Disgusted. at March 03, 2014 09:21 AM (GGCsk)

36 http://i.imgur.com/7NMAgOb.jpg

'img" goes in the space

Posted by: catman at March 03, 2014 09:22 AM (gY+CK)

37 Nope, wouldn't hit it.

Posted by: edward ii at March 03, 2014 09:22 AM (NG2mq)

38 1. It sounds even better if you read it to yourself in jeremy's voice. 2. if you replace "piers" with obama it pretty much works and is even funnier!

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 03, 2014 09:22 AM (rDidD)

39 dammit.... i..m..g goes in the space

Posted by: catman at March 03, 2014 09:22 AM (xZovl)

40 Morgan brags about his Astin Martin Rapide. He thinks he's James Bond.

I'd love for him to audition for the part and for somebody to leak his audition tape. It'd be comedy gold and I'd die an even happier man.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at March 03, 2014 09:23 AM (P7Wsr)

41 Smug, shitcanned, Brit comes over here and tells American audience that they shouldn't have gun rights. About the only chance at successful TV he'd have here would be about him catching tomatoes off his priggish mug. Â….or bent over at the range wearing kevlar skivvies with a bullseye.

Posted by: ontherocks at March 03, 2014 09:23 AM (rSNKG)

42 liberals all over America are silent

Too busy bitching about Duck Dynasty.

Posted by: HR at March 03, 2014 09:23 AM (ZKzrr)

43 Morgan is an arrogant asshole who cuts off his guests repeatedly.

Posted by: Judge Pug at March 03, 2014 09:23 AM (6Nj7A)

44 But, why is cnn keeping him around?

Posted by: Judge Pug at March 03, 2014 09:23 AM (6Nj7A)

45 36 http://i.___ur.com/7NMAgOb.jpg '___" goes in the space Posted by: catman March 03, 2014 01:22 PM (gY+CK) at You can't use 'i m g' Use tinyurl to create a link.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 03, 2014 09:23 AM (bCEmE)

46 >>Iran executed two gay men on Sunday for the crime of Â“perversionÂ” and has sentenced a third individual to death for Â“insulting the prophet,Â” according to human rights activists tracking the situation. <<

Insert "Christians" or "protestors" or "blasphemers" for "gay men" and that's a reusable, every day paragraph in Iran. Hanging is a regular, blase occurrence.

Posted by: Marcus T. Just, well, Plain Disgusted. at March 03, 2014 09:24 AM (GGCsk)

47 read piers is staying at cnn.....he's going to do 12 shows or something a year....you know......what he actually wanted to do.....not what he was apparently forced to do.....lol....what a buffoon

Posted by: phoenixgirl @phxazgrl at March 03, 2014 09:24 AM (u8GsB)

48 Iran executed two gay men on Sunday for the crime of Â“perversion� and has sentenced a third individual to death for Â“insulting the prophet,� according to human rights activists tracking the situation. Pro tip: Do not antagonize Iranian bakers about baking cakes......

Posted by: rickb223 at March 03, 2014 09:24 AM (b1/nQ)

49 The American president claimed that Abbas is a willing partner for peace - And those Obamacare websites will be up and running by the end of the week.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 03, 2014 09:25 AM (Hx5uv)

50 "Some say that his hair is the exact same shape as a hat. And that if he worked for CNN...he wouldn't get such pitiful low ratings that his show got canceled. *giant smirk* All we know is...he's called The Stig!" - Top Gear March 2, 2014 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW36mm6xvFc

Posted by: DangerGirl at March 03, 2014 09:25 AM (GrtrJ)

51 it is illegal to simply "get rid" morgan, the epa has rules, you have to "dispose" of him

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 03, 2014 09:25 AM (rDidD)

52 Hanging(in Iran)is a regular, blase occurrence. Posted by: Marcus T. Just, well, Plain Disgusted. at March 03, 2014 01:24 PM (GGCsk) Not if your the guest of honor?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 03, 2014 09:25 AM (t3UFN)

53 Pierced Organ is the British Leyland of broadcast journalism. Now shuffle off to the scrapyard, Piers.

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at March 03, 2014 09:25 AM (l3vZN)

54 What?

Posted by: Piers Morgam upon hearing a muttered, "A douche says what." at March 03, 2014 09:26 AM (bUmSq)

55 MSNBC is run as a tax write off scheme for GE--that's the only thing that makes sense. Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 01:13 PM (RJMhd) Well, that would be illegal as hell, since Comcast owns MSNBC now. GE abandoned ship two years ago.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 03, 2014 09:26 AM (0FSuD)

56 So has Piers Morgan established the upper bounds for smug, narcissistic prickery in the media biz? Actually, I think the lesson is you need at least some core audience you don't piss off. You can be maximum douchebag, as long as there is some group you don't offend. Maddow is max prick, but she directs her prickness to her enemies, not the Left. Morgan had more of an omnidirectional douchiness that repelled even his ideological allies.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 09:27 AM (ZPrif)

57 Still doesn't explain-- Chris Matthews. You see the pictures I have.

Posted by: Tingle Legs, UNC grad at March 03, 2014 09:27 AM (0FSuD)

58 http://tinyurl.com/lln4e36

You can read the whole thing here.

Big M little organ. heh

Posted by: LC LaWedgie at March 03, 2014 09:28 AM (KQp38)

59 33 I have been waiting for Jeremy Clarkson to stick that knife in and twist it all about. This does not disappoint.

Agreed. I've been a big Top Gear fan pretty much forever, but my appreciation for Clarkson increased ten-fold when I heard that he punched Morgan in the face

http://tinyurl.com/72hnbn3

Posted by: Moebius at March 03, 2014 09:28 AM (EyWI5)

60 He was a smarmy smug dick on America's got talent, he was a smarmy smug dick.

MSLSD hired him to be. . . (wait for it) . . . a smarmy smug dick but it just didn't work as a talk show.

Now he can go back to Blimey and get thrown in Gaol.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Microaggressive SoCon) at March 03, 2014 09:28 AM (LSDdO)

61 Iran also sentenced a guy to have his ears cut off and his eyes gouged out but he got that for throwing acid into the face of a woman who refused to marry him causing her to be blinded and disfigured so my take is stopped watch, twice a day.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 03, 2014 09:28 AM (Hx5uv)

62 Clarkson is an anti-American asshole but he has punched Piers, so that buys him some good will from me.

Posted by: joncelli at March 03, 2014 09:28 AM (RD7QR)

63 MSNBC is a profit-center and gets good ratings. I wish it weren't true, but MSNBC's business decision to go hard left and amp up the progtard prickitude has been a good business decision. They have crushed CNN with that strategy.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 09:29 AM (ZPrif)

64 My bad CNN.

I get them mixed up for some reason.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Microaggressive SoCon) at March 03, 2014 09:29 AM (LSDdO)

65 "If my daughters were actually my daughters, they would look like Piers Morgan."

Posted by: President Choad-Load at March 03, 2014 09:29 AM (vHRtU)

66 Big M little organ. heh

I liked that line too.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at March 03, 2014 09:29 AM (P7Wsr)

67 It's a shame CurrentTV is no more, because that's where Piers would find his next job.

Actually, he might be a good fit with Al Jazeera America....

Posted by: Lizzy at March 03, 2014 09:31 AM (aq/zi)

68 Cash in the Attic is a great antiques show!

Posted by: [/i]andycanuck[/b] at March 03, 2014 09:31 AM (hn5v5)

69 Morgan is a vain bastard. If you really want to get under his skin suggest that he looks like Roy Hodgson's (England manager) younger brother.

Posted by: boniface ballers at March 03, 2014 09:31 AM (l3RZ9)

70 I've been a big Top Gear fan pretty much forever, but my appreciation for Clarkson increased ten-fold when I heard that he punched Morgan in the face.

In the article he also describes dumping a glass of water in Morgan's lap just before he's getting off a plane with a bunch of reporters waiting to catch Morgan. Clarkson points out the wet spot to the reporters, "The idiot's pissed himself!"

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at March 03, 2014 09:32 AM (P7Wsr)

71 Some pretty cool pictures on Twitchy of Russian self propelled artillery moving into the Crimea. And by cool I mean OMG.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 03, 2014 09:32 AM (Hx5uv)

72 Brits. Another reason for more immigration control.

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 09:32 AM (xMLV7)

73 So I punched him. And then I punched him again. And then I thought: "You know what? I don't think this would ever get boring." So I punched him again. LMAO

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 03, 2014 09:32 AM (IXrOn)

74 Morgan had more of an omnidirectional douchiness that repelled even his ideological allies. Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 01:27 PM (ZPrif) This is the reason we're getting this from the Left. He committed the unforgivable sin -- he made them look bad.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 09:32 AM (T0NGe)

75 Piers Morgan is smarter than the rest of us.

Posted by: John McCain at March 03, 2014 09:33 AM (hHFOx)

76 It's a shame CurrentTV is no more, because that's where Piers would find his next job. I know the Cabinet is full- is the State Department hiring?

Posted by: t-bird at March 03, 2014 09:33 AM (FcR7P)

77 63 MSNBC is a profit-center and gets good ratings. I wish it weren't true, but MSNBC's business decision to go hard left and amp up the progtard prickitude has been a good business decision. They have crushed CNN with that strategy. Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 01:29 PM (ZPrif) ******* Really MSNBC makes a profit? I don't know why I always assume they don't--ugh.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 09:33 AM (RJMhd)

78 Brits. Another reason for more immigration control.

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 01:32 PM (xMLV7)

Hey!

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:34 AM (4df7R)

79 What the fuck is up with this "Manly Style" hipster douche ad?

Posted by: drill_thrawl at March 03, 2014 09:34 AM (rdiUQ)

80 MWR is British?

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at March 03, 2014 09:35 AM (P7Wsr)

81 Piers was great when he was on American Idol. Don't know why he gave up the t-shirts.

Posted by: Caliban at March 03, 2014 09:35 AM (DrC22)

82 63 MSNBC is a profit-center and gets good ratings. I wish it weren't true, but MSNBC's business decision to go hard left and amp up the progtard prickitude has been a good business decision. They have crushed CNN with that strategy. Yeah, we are up to 20% of Fox's audience! Who told you we were making money? I want a raise.

Posted by: Tingle Legs, UNC grad at March 03, 2014 09:35 AM (0FSuD)

83 Be gone wit ye pasty knob gobbler.

Posted by: Captain Morgan at March 03, 2014 09:35 AM (bUmSq)

Brits. Another reason for more immigration control.

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 01:32 PM (xMLV7)

Hey!

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at March 03, 2014 01:34 PM (4df7R)

-------------------------------------------------

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 09:35 AM (xMLV7)

85 MWR is British?

Posted by: bonhomme at March 03, 2014 01:35 PM (P7Wsr)

Ah, no. But my mom is. So HEY! still stands.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:36 AM (4df7R)

86 MSNBC does NOT make a profit. I call BS. Link?

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 03, 2014 09:36 AM (0FSuD)

87 MSNBC does NOT make a profit. I call BS. Link?

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 03, 2014 01:36 PM (0FSuD)

It's easy to make a profit when you're employing talent that, together, is only worth a handful of Circus Peanuts and a bent safety pin.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:37 AM (4df7R)

88 62 this. Great show but he has bad mouthed the US military, and our Shuttle losses he's a prick but a funny one. The little red 3 wheeled car show was firkin nuts where they rolled it about ten times.

Posted by: Stig's 1974 Datsun 260z at March 03, 2014 09:37 AM (5pFr6)

89 67 It's a shame CurrentTV is no more, because that's where Piers would find his next job. Actually, he might be a good fit with Al Jazeera America.... Posted by: Lizzy at March 03, 2014 01:31 PM (aq/zi) There's still PivotTV. He can co host Chubs McCains show.

Posted by: Judge Pug at March 03, 2014 09:38 AM (6Nj7A)

90 yeah, I can hear him saying it in his voice. Pacing and all. ""But if you upset all of the people all of the time, you will fail - and he has." Some say, he has the intellect of a fig and that he sleeps on the air.

Posted by: joe dagostino at March 03, 2014 09:38 AM (5vRRq)

91 TV news business is pretty lucrative. Costs are low compared to other TV shows. Just some talking head in a studio. MSNBC also gets to use NBC News assets and bureaus -- not sure whose bottom line gets those costs. CNN has a much higher cost structure than MSNBC -- a lot more foreign bureaus. Plus CNN works weekends when viewership is low. MSNBC just shows prison documentaries on the weekend.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 09:39 AM (ZPrif)

92 Isn't Clarkson himself a wanker? Ehh doesn't matter. If they're both douchebags they can beat up on one another.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 03, 2014 09:41 AM (oFCZn)

93 OT: Stevens Pass, WA avalanche control. Pretty decent soundtrack, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJkZgjrzJ40

Posted by: flounder at March 03, 2014 09:42 AM (Kkt/i)

94 Has the "still in the closet" Brooks made a statement on "Mr Creased pants makes me wet" foreign policy?

Posted by: Seems legit at March 03, 2014 09:42 AM (A98Xu)

95 When I heard "Piers Morgan" I had something else entirely in mind. Guy came on, no earrings, no nose studs, nothing.

Posted by: Rachel Maddow at March 03, 2014 09:43 AM (DrC22)

96 I saw a link on drudge to a daily beast story about obama planning an economic war on russia. kinda mixed about this. as lousy as our ecnonmy is we are probably better off not having an economic war . on the other hand if someone knows how to wreck an economy it is obama, so.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 03, 2014 09:43 AM (rDidD)

97 State of the Media 2013 http://stateofthemedia.org/2013/cable-a-growing-medium-reaching-its-ceiling/ Cable news continues to operate with more stability than most other news sectors today. But financial growth tapered off in 2012, and audience figures started to show signs of languishingÂ—at least raising the question of whether there is a ceiling for this niche news genre. The three main news channelsÂ—CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBCÂ—saw a less positive revenue picture than in years past. Fox and MSNBC continued to grow both total revenues and profits in 2012, but at slower rates. Total revenues at CNN, meanwhile, were flat and for the second time in three years the channelÂ’s cash flow decreased. The total day and prime-time viewership inched only slightly upward in 2012, an election- year gain that paled in comparison to the audience growth that occurred during the previous presidential race. Individually, MSNBC saw the greatest audience gains and for the first time, surpassed CNN in two key ratings metrics, daytime and total day viewership.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 09:44 AM (ZPrif)

98 41 Smug, shitcanned, Brit comes over here and tells American audience that they shouldn't have gun rights. About the only chance at successful TV he'd have here would be about him catching tomatoes off his priggish mug. He was just on the wrong network. They'd have loved him at MSDNC. And he would have had tens more viewers to boot.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 09:44 AM (7ObY1)

99 Isn't Clarkson himself a wanker? Ehh doesn't matter. If they're both douchebags they can beat up on one another. Posted by: Dack Thrombosis red on red

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 03, 2014 09:44 AM (rDidD)

100 MSNBC has very low subscriber fees compared to FoxNews and CNN -- but live programming has been getting boosts in recent years and MSNBC has many of their carriage deals up for renewal soon. If they can get similar deals to CNN -- whom MSNBC beats in ratings -- that would be a financial windfall for MSNBC.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 09:47 AM (ZPrif)

101 Hate is a pretty strong word.

OK, maybe not in this case.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at March 03, 2014 09:47 AM (BZAd3)

102 The three main news channelsÂ—CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBCÂ—saw a less positive revenue picture than in years past. Fox and MSNBC continued to grow both total revenues and profits in 2012, but at slower rates. Total revenues at CNN, meanwhile, were flat and for the second time in three years the channelÂ’s cash flow decreased. The total day and prime-time viewership inched only slightly upward in 2012, an election- year gain that paled in comparison to the audience growth that occurred during the previous presidential race. Individually, MSNBC saw the greatest audience gains and for the first time, surpassed CNN in two key ratings metrics, daytime and total day viewership. Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 01:44 PM (ZPrif) ******** Ack! Thanks Flatbush Joe. And--MWR thanks for your Chris Matthews analysis up thread.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 09:47 AM (RJMhd)

103 Senior WH Official: Putin Is The Â“WeakÂ” One, Not ObamaÂ… Yeah, and water isnÂ’t wet. Weasel Zippers: Par for the course I'd say

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 03, 2014 09:47 AM (t3UFN)

104 In many ways the story of Piers Morgan is the story of Obama.

Posted by: Cheri at March 03, 2014 09:48 AM (G+Wff)

105 38 1. It sounds even better if you read it to yourself in jeremy's voice ------------ I just realized I did exactly that =). And then I thought: Â“You know what? I donÂ’t think this would ever get boring" so I punched him again. Classic Clarkson.

Posted by: bill_in_kennesaw at March 03, 2014 09:48 AM (f28MD)

106 I saw a link on drudge to a daily beast story about obama planning an economic war on russia.

If Obammy wanted to put the economic hurt on Russia, he'd okay the Keystone Pipeline, open up public lands to fracking and drilling, and get cracking on okaying more offshore oil rigs.

But he doesn't, so he won't.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:48 AM (4df7R)

107 Senior WH Official: Putin Is The Â“WeakÂ” One, Not ObamaÂ… Yeah, and water isnÂ’t wet. Weasel Zippers: Par for the course I'd say Posted by: Nevergiveup this is not the peninsula you are looking for.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 03, 2014 09:49 AM (rDidD)

108 Yeah keep calling Putin weak. Great idea.

Posted by: Adam at March 03, 2014 09:49 AM (Aif/5)

109 State of the Media 2013 -- CNN executives have for some time argued that the hand-wringing about the channelÂ’s prime-time ratings trouble is misplaced. As recently as May 2012, Jim Walton, then CNN Worldwide president, argued that, since prime-time ad revenues represent only 10% of the CNN Worldwide revenue pie, it is misleading to suggest that the network stands or falls on that particular part of the day.8 Yet 2012, even more than recent years, brought evidence that the financial impact of weak ratings was catching up with the channel. Cash flowÂ—a measure of profitabilityÂ—was estimated to have dropped 5% for the channel, according to industry research firm SNL Kagan, even as it was expected to grow 11% for Fox and 4% for MSNBC. Total revenues were projected to inch upward 1% for CNN, compared with more robust growth for Fox (11%) and MSNBC (6%). CNNÂ’s weak revenue growth stemmed from flagging advertising on the networkÂ’s programs, which was down 4%. (Ad revenue was projected to have increased for the channelÂ’s two competitors.)

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 03, 2014 09:49 AM (ZPrif)

110 I just realized I did exactly that =). And then I thought: Â“You know what? I donÂ’t think this would ever get boring" so I punched him again. Classic Clarkson. Posted by: bill_in_kennesaw he is an anti-American ass and a one trick pony, but it is a good trick.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 03, 2014 09:50 AM (rDidD)

111 Yeah keep calling Putin weak. Great idea. Posted by: Adam well you remember how obama snubbed putin when he got out of his limo at the russian g8 or whatever. vlad got learned good.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 03, 2014 09:51 AM (rDidD)

112 Great picture with that new WeaselZippers story.

Posted by: garrett at March 03, 2014 09:51 AM (uFLQU)

113 Gassy or ghastly? Piers is one and the same.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 03, 2014 09:52 AM (HVff2)

114 107 Senior WH Official: Putin Is The Â“WeakÂ” One, Not ObamaÂ… Oh wow...our foreign policy sounds like a nerdy kid who gets his ass kicked every day, vainly screaming his attackers are the real wimps.

Posted by: Bevel Lemelisk at March 03, 2014 09:52 AM (iy7de)

115 I read that Podhoretz poece that is in the sidebar and damn,the actual loathing Obama has for Israel is pretty obvious.

Posted by: steevy at March 03, 2014 09:52 AM (zqvg6)

116 I'm pretty sure we told the Brits that we didn't care for them here sometime about 250 years ago, or so. I don't think that attitude has changed appreciably. Frankly, they are a bunch of boring twiddleheads with bad teeth and boring food, and warm beer.

Posted by: tcn at March 03, 2014 09:54 AM (fwcEs)

117 Senior WH Official: Putin Is The Â“WeakÂ” One, Not ObamaÂ… Obama, quit bullying Putin!

Posted by: t-bird at March 03, 2014 09:54 AM (FcR7P)

118 Clarkson is an anti-American asshole but he has punched Piers, so that buys him some good will from me.
Posted by: joncelli at March 03, 2014 01:28 PM

I think he's probably less anti-American than the average "Colonist" is anti-British. After all, he uses the Allman Brothers as his theme song.

Posted by: LC LaWedgie at March 03, 2014 09:54 AM (KQp38)

119 44 But, why is cnn keeping him around? Posted by: Judge Pug at March 03, 2014 01:23 PM (6Nj7A) Cuz they are fucking stupid and don't know how to run a business.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 03, 2014 09:55 AM (HVff2)

120 The Colonial Butthurt around here is almost as bad as the Southern Butthurt.

Posted by: garrett at March 03, 2014 09:55 AM (uFLQU)

121 Cuz they are fucking stupid and don't know how to run a business. The current theory is that they are trying to make the channel look as cheap as possible for a potential buyer. Like Newsweek, the most valuable asset they have is their name.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 09:56 AM (T0NGe)

122 I saw a link on drudge to a daily beast story about obama planning an economic war on russia. I would LOVE! it if he became President of Russia. Say, this month?

Posted by: t-bird at March 03, 2014 09:56 AM (FcR7P)

123 112 Great picture with that new WeaselZippers story. Can't help picturing Ronaldus Maximus astride his horse, whenever I see President Mom Jeans in action.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 09:56 AM (7ObY1)

124 107 Senior WH Official: Putin Is The Â“WeakÂ” One, Not ObamaÂ…

I assume this Senior WH Official is    Horseface, since he said the same damn thing to Bob Schieffer.

"Russia chose this brazen act aggression and moved in with its forces on a completely trumped set of pre-texts claiming that people were threatened and the fact is that is not the act of somebody who is strong, that is the act of somebody who is acting out of weakness and out of a certain kind of desperation. "

Full fucking transcript, if you can stomach it:   http://tinyurl.com/mdapbfs

So got it, everyone?   The new talking point is that Putin is WEAK.   He's a weak little nancy boy.      Understand?

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 09:57 AM (4df7R)

125 Huge Top Gear fan here, and after watching for years, I have to say I am not surprised Jezza slapped down Morgan. For those who believe Clarkson is an American hater, I would suggest you take a closer look at Clarkson's biting humor, and the many times he has praised Americans. When his dog died, he reproached Brits for their nasty tweets, and praised the sympathetic tweets from Americans. He has often said he is glad Americans are not down for the eco mania the UK and EU has adopted. It drives him crazy. Hence his hatred of the Prius. LOL! Clarkson has frequently bemoaned the fact that Britain does not manufacture things anymore. He is very upset the once great nation is lagging in this department. He has praised America for not totally gone down this road. Speaking of roads, he hates those of ours which are straight and offer less than most European touring roads. He made this comment while going from Florida to New Orleans, and being that we here have made that trip, we agree it is not up to European travels Top Gear has featured, or those European roads we have personally travelled down. Then again, our nation is not as old. Clarkson is a proud Brit who wants his country to return to what most Americans would love to see; a strong, more free from the EU and liberal clutches country. I do not take his American knocks as hate. Hate is what we see coming from the WH. During the Vietnam special, when he did cross the critic/sarcasm/humor line regarding America, he wrecked his bike, and injured himself greatly. LOL! Karma. If you have not seen Top Gear, Netflix has the series from the start. It is simply hilarious, and makes you long for the days when vehicles were unique to their makers, looked vastly different from each other, and made you marvel and people's creative abilities. It also will make you laugh your butt off when Jeremy, Richard, and James either wreck something, set it on fire, or sink it. It is a fabulous show, and I for one will be sad to see it go.

Posted by: freeus at March 03, 2014 09:57 AM (caDgg)

126 I know it's a little graphic, but I'll say it again: Obama is Jodie Foster and Ukraine is the pinball machine.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 09:57 AM (T0NGe)

127 The British are like an older brother who has realized that his younger brother is better than himself. All of their anti-American humor needs to be tempered with that knowledge.

Posted by: garrett at March 03, 2014 09:57 AM (uFLQU)

128 Jeremy Clarkson secretly loves America, hidden behind layers of humour at our expense. If I ever see him I'd like to take him for a ride in a Camaro. (Top Gear joke)

Posted by: Beagle at March 03, 2014 09:58 AM (sOtz/)

129

My wife thought otherwise. And at the British Press awards gave him one of her hard stares from across the room. Â“WhyÂ’s your f****** wife looking at me like that?Â” he thundered. So I punched him. And then I punched him again.

And then I thought, "You know what? I don't think this would ever get boring." So I punched him again.

Gosh darn I loves me some Jezza!

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at March 03, 2014 09:59 AM (A0sHn)

130 120 The Colonial Butthurt around here is almost as bad as the Southern Butthurt. Posted by: garrett at March 03, 2014 01:55 PM (uFLQU) I hired a British butler and maid so I can make them surrender to me every morning.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 03, 2014 09:59 AM (oFCZn)

131 Obama is Ned Beatty and Ukraine is an inbred hillbilly.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 10:00 AM (7ObY1)

132 The British are like an older brother who has realized that his younger brother is better than himself.

All of their anti-American humor needs to be tempered with that knowledge.

Posted by: garrett at March 03, 2014 01:57 PM (uFLQU)

British humor is also, by and large, of the cutting and sarcastic variety towards EVERYONE, including themselves. That's not to say there aren't plenty of anti-American twats over there, but not all of them are that way.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 10:00 AM (4df7R)

133 "In another encounter, on the very last flight of Concorde into London, he was seated in the row behind me, droning on about his brilliance, so as we began our descent into London, and an inevitable encounter with the waiting bank of television cameras, I turned round and emptied a glass of water into his crotch.
Â“Look,Â” I said to journalists as we walked down the aircraft steps, Â“the idiotÂ’s wet himself.Â”

I don't care who you are, that's funny, right there.

Posted by: grognard at March 03, 2014 10:00 AM (/29Nl)

134 I saw Top Gear open for Mike and the Mechanics back in '88. It was a gut-wrenching experience.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 03, 2014 10:00 AM (g4TxM)

135 Pooty Poot is smart. He dares not even think about trying to establish a Tea Party 501(c)(4).

Posted by: flounder at March 03, 2014 10:01 AM (Kkt/i)

136 131 Obama is Ned Beatty and Ukraine is an inbred hillbilly. Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 02:00 PM (7ObY1) No, no, Putin is the inbred hillbilly. Ukraine isn't the perpetrator, it's just the platform.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 10:01 AM (T0NGe)

137 Someone posted MSNBC's gross vs. net a few weeks ago, compared to the other two, and it's obscene.

If we had anyone with real balls on our side, they would question them about why profit is evil only when others do it.

Posted by: Mega, AoS Commenter of the Year at March 03, 2014 10:01 AM (hHFOx)

138 Anybody else think that there are a few countries reviewing their strategic defense postures, evaluating the USA as a defense partner, and deciding a few nuclear missiles might be a nice insurance policy? I'm looking at you Germany & Japan. I bet they could even make them hybrids just to be green.

Posted by: buzzsaw90 at March 03, 2014 10:01 AM (FpHdx)

139 I'm pretty sure we told the Brits that we didn't care for them here sometime about 250 years ago, or so. I don't think that attitude has changed appreciably. Frankly, they are a bunch of boring twiddleheads with bad teeth and boring food, and warm beer.

Posted by: tcn at March 03, 2014 01:54 PM (fwcEs)

I'm not entirely sure where all the "anti-Brit" sentiment is coming from around here, but sheesh.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 10:02 AM (4df7R)

140 126 I know it's a little graphic, but I'll say it again: Obama is Jodie Foster and Ukraine is the pinball machine. Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 01:57 PM (T0NGe) I saw this the other day but got distracted. Early favorite for comment of the year.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 03, 2014 10:02 AM (oFCZn)

141 131 Obama is Ned Beatty and Ukraine is an inbred hillbilly.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 02:00 PM (7ObY1)

Russia's the hillbilly and Ukraine's Ned Beatty. Obama's the creepy kid with the banjo.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 10:02 AM (4df7R)

142 137 Someone posted MSNBC's gross vs. net a few weeks ago, compared to the other two, and it's obscene. I question that because MSNBC is inseparable from NBC News and I suspect that a lot of the accounting assigns costs to NBC News.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 10:03 AM (T0NGe)

143 France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia. Game, set, match Here's hoping the bear eats them last

Posted by: Putin at March 03, 2014 10:04 AM (zOTsN)

144 I'm not entirely sure where all the "anti-Brit" sentiment is coming from around here, but sheesh. I'm a big fan of British rock music. But when I play it, I always say: "Perform for me, Old Worlder Losers. Where's your King George now, see? Where's your monarch now, see?"

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 10:04 AM (7ObY1)

145 I'm not entirely sure where all the "anti-Brit" sentiment is coming from around here, but sheesh.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at March 03, 2014 02:02 PM (4df7R)

It's not personal, Kay. It's business.

Posted by: Mega, AoS Commenter of the Year at March 03, 2014 10:04 AM (hHFOx)

146 I question that because MSNBC is inseparable from NBC News and I suspect that a lot of the accounting assigns costs to NBC News.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 02:03 PM (T0NGe)

Even so, that just means MSNBC has a lot more wiggle room in which to fuck up and fuck up royally than do some of the other cable news stations.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 10:04 AM (4df7R)

147 143 France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia. Then France went ahead and surrendered. Just in case.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 03, 2014 10:04 AM (7ObY1)

148 143 France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia. No war for oil! Or something.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 10:05 AM (T0NGe)

149 Even so, that just means MSNBC has a lot more wiggle room in which to fuck up and fuck up royally than do some of the other cable news stations. Absolutely.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 03, 2014 10:05 AM (T0NGe)

150 You're welcome, Democracy.

Posted by: Bill Clinton at March 03, 2014 10:06 AM (tmzN0)

151 France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia.

Europe is dependent on Russia for its oil. Putin's got the upper hand now matter which way you slice it.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 10:06 AM (4df7R)

152 Ace,

Clarkson actually punched Morgan awhile back...physically punched him. Google it, you;ll find the story. There's no love lost between these two.

Posted by: SGT York at March 03, 2014 10:06 AM (jOqJB)

153 France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia. ---- We're fracked

Posted by: France and Germany at March 03, 2014 10:07 AM (FpHdx)

154

France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia.

------------------------------------------------

And Pooty knew this beforehand. Don't think that he didn't.

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 10:07 AM (xMLV7)

155 Poland better be careful

Posted by: Putin at March 03, 2014 10:07 AM (zOTsN)

156 Meanwhile, on Wall Street, the Dow is plummeting like a lead weight.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 03, 2014 10:08 AM (4df7R)

157 143 France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia. Game, set, match Here's hoping the bear eats them last Posted by: Putin at March 03, 2014 02:04 PM (zOTsN) ******** Gawd! Is Germany still going to the G-8. At least France said they were not going. I think it is Canada, Brits, US, and France so far that are boycotting. Cripes--Stephen Harper could be -- Leader of the Free World--now. I smell a vacuum.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 10:09 AM (RJMhd)

158 I'm not entirely sure where all the "anti-Brit" sentiment is coming from around here, but sheesh.

Oddly SCOAMFian, isn't it?

Posted by: HR at March 03, 2014 10:09 AM (ZKzrr)

159 Why should we expand fracking and exports? So we can sell it to our allies and become self sufficient? I don't know, let me watch last nights True Detective and I'll get back to you.

Posted by: Emperor Baraka at March 03, 2014 10:09 AM (Aif/5)

160 I'm eagerly awaiting the episode when Jeremy test drives the new 918 Porsche with Piers Morgan tethered to the back bumper I would assume that Jeremy is also

Posted by: kbdabear at March 03, 2014 10:10 AM (aTXUx)

161 Cripes--Stephen Harper could be --

Leader of the Free World--now.

I smell a vacuum.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 02:09 PM (RJMhd)

Ideologically, maybe. His problem is that he lacks divisions.

Posted by: grognard at March 03, 2014 10:10 AM (/29Nl)

162 Saw the picture of President Mom Jeans on twitchy this weekend. Denim on denim so he looks so dreamy, in charge, and macho macho. I for one feel so much better now.

Posted by: Cheri at March 03, 2014 10:10 AM (G+Wff)

163 161 Cripes--Stephen Harper could be -- Leader of the Free World--now. I smell a vacuum. Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 02:09 PM (RJMhd) Ideologically, maybe. His problem is that he lacks divisions. Posted by: grognard at March 03, 2014 02:10 PM (/29Nl) *********** Ya--I was sort of joking. Although Obama lacks--giving a damn. Butter for his base at any cost.

Posted by: tasker at March 03, 2014 10:12 AM (RJMhd)

164 Meanwhile, on Wall Street, the Dow is plummeting like a lead weight.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at March 03, 2014 02:08 PM (4df7R)

-----------------------------------------------

I think now would be a good time to get everything out of stocks, bonds, or anything that has to do with speculation. The crash is coming.

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 10:12 AM (xMLV7)

165 Clarkson is an annoying brit twit in his own way, of course. But Top Gear is at least amusing. And I read that he once broke a finger from punching Piers at some awards show. He earns a gold star for that alone.

Posted by: Stu-22 at March 03, 2014 10:12 AM (KbrNh)

166 "Clarkson is a proud Brit who wants his country to return to what most Americans would love to see; a strong, more free from the EU and liberal clutches country. I do not take his American knocks as hate. Hate is what we see coming from the WH." I have said here that Jeremy Clarkson is a moron, only a British one. He loves his country, loud cars, the UK military, and hates multiculturalism and government meddling. That being said, I was SCREAMING at the TV during the US Southern road trip and his comments about Katrina. But on the whole, his nasty comments about Vietnam were underscored by him wiping out on his bike right after he crowed them while crossing the border(which he could have cut.) On the whole, I'm glad Jeremy Clarkson is on my TV, and around in general. Especially considering Pier's brilliant riposte to his thorough dismantling was to post a picture of Clarkson in grade school and call him "little sis." Oooooohhhhh.

Posted by: Filly at March 03, 2014 10:12 AM (gr/p1)

167 Progressive billionaire George Soros and the Obama administration help fund the Chicago nonprofit that set up Obamacare enrollment programs for prison inmates. Chicago-based Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC) helped establish Obamacare enrollment programs for prisoners at ChicagoÂ’s Cook County Jail. Cook County is one of at least six states and counties enrolling prisoners to help shift inmate medical costs to federal taxpayers. Â“A lot of states will come to this, because state corrections budgets are huge and county jail budgets are huge,Â” said TASC spokesperson Maureen McDonnell. TASC, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, is funded by SorosÂ’ Open Society Foundations and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), records reveal. SorosÂ’ foundation and HHSÂ’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are part of a small group of TASC donors that includes Cook County, the city of Chicago, and the state of IllinoisÂ’ Department of Corrections, Department of Human Services, and Department of Children and Family Services. Weasel Zippers: Makes me want to puke

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 03, 2014 10:12 AM (t3UFN)

168
I'd like to kill that man with a machine gun.

Posted by: Piers Morgan at March 03, 2014 01:10 PM (Aif/5)

Yessssssss. Another meme starts to take root.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at March 03, 2014 10:13 AM (TIIx5)

169 Here's Clarkson talking about when he punched Piers Morgan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfzu2ObrYzc

Posted by: SGT York at March 03, 2014 10:15 AM (jOqJB)

170 How is it that our own US version of Top Gear show is so very lame ? Eh, they had a couple of good ones but over all not so much.

Posted by: Stig's 1974 Datsun 260z at March 03, 2014 10:15 AM (5pFr6)

171 Where are sanctions gonna come from? The UN? Good luck getting those pushed through when RUSSIA and China have veto powers and a lot of pull.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 03, 2014 10:16 AM (oFCZn)

172 Michigan and the Crimea have something in common--their motto: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you

Posted by: Jinx the Cat at March 03, 2014 10:16 AM (l3vZN)

173 Clarkson actually punched Morgan awhile back...physically punched him. Google it, you;ll find the story. There's no love lost between these two. Posted by: SGT York at March 03, 2014 02:06 PM (jOqJB) "Women ask me why I punched Piers Morgan. Men ask me where I punched him" - Jeremy Clarkson

Posted by: kbdabear at March 03, 2014 10:16 AM (aTXUx)

174 Richard Hammond's narrative of D-Day "Bloody Omaha":

http://tinyurl.com/l5mw6zk (part one)

Posted by: LC LaWedgie at March 03, 2014 10:17 AM (KQp38)

175 (Reuters) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged world leaders on Sunday to work to calm the crisis in Ukraine and defended Russia's membership of the Group of Eight leading economies, which enabled the West to talk directly with Moscow. "The format of the G8 is actually the only one in which we in the West can speak directly with Russia," he told the public broadcaster ARD. "Should we really give up this unique format?" France Great Britain out of predatory talks for G 8 Germany totally against pulling out of G 8

Posted by: Putin at March 03, 2014 10:17 AM (zOTsN)

176 I'm eagerly awaiting the episode when Jeremy test drives the new 918 Porsche with Piers Morgan tethered to the back bumper

I would assume that Jeremy is also

He'd really like to set fire to Piers but your idea might appeal until Clarkson gets matches.

Posted by: Retread at March 03, 2014 10:17 AM (cHwk5)

177 Preparatory not predatory

Posted by: Putin at March 03, 2014 10:20 AM (zOTsN)

178 Russia's the hillbilly and Ukraine's Ned Beatty. Obama's the creepy kid with the banjo.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Assault Hobbit at March 03, 2014 02:02 PM
----------------------

Obama is Beatty's underwear.

Posted by: irright at March 03, 2014 10:20 AM (8GKDa)

179 118 Clarkson is an anti-American asshole but he has punched Piers, so that buys him some good will from me. Posted by: joncelli at March 03, 2014 01:28 PM I think he's probably less anti-American than the average "Colonist" is anti-British. After all, he uses the Allman Brothers as his theme song. Posted by: LC LaWedgie at March 03, 2014 01:54 PM (KQp3 Don't forget, his favorite car is his Ford GT. Ford, an American company that usually tops their "best car" segment. Yeah, he busts on the US. Also on UK, China, Japan, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Russia, and most every other country. Although, I have never heard them say anything negative about Israel. Plus, they all make fun of "global warming" and government controls.

Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, used to be MrCaniac at March 03, 2014 10:21 AM (HxSXm)

180 I've read some of the Twitter fights between Jezza and Piers. What's hilarious is that Morgan claimed that he was a HUGE celebrity in America while Americans had no idea who Clarkson is Never mind that through BBC America and Youtube, Americans are quite familiar with Top Gear, which is watch around the world by 360 million people Of course in Piers cocooned existence, if someone isn't on Asskiss Hollywood or TMZ, they don't exist

Posted by: kbdabear at March 03, 2014 10:21 AM (aTXUx)

181 The most recent Top Gear can typically be found on Streetfire .net

I'd order the McLaren P1, but just can't decide on the color...

Posted by: AE at March 03, 2014 10:21 AM (sSKe8)

182 Piers is the living illustration of those British terms, ponce and twee.

Posted by: Semi-engaged scroller at March 03, 2014 10:22 AM (/cUUk)

183 I smell a vacuum. --- technically I don't think it has a smell

Posted by: Mr Pedantic at March 03, 2014 10:22 AM (FpHdx)

184 Wanna see my Top Gear?

Posted by: Christina Hendricks at March 03, 2014 10:23 AM (/cUUk)

185 Wow. It's up to 17 degrees here in OKC. We might hit the forecast high of 19 today.

Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 10:23 AM (xMLV7)

186 183 I smell a vacuum.

---

technically I don't think it has a smell Posted by: Mr Pedantic at March 03, 2014 02:22 PM
----------------------------------

Don't try it. Vacuums smell like blood and nasal cavity.

Posted by: Joey Biden at March 03, 2014 10:24 AM (8GKDa)

187 I'm eagerly awaiting the episode when Jeremy test drives the new 918 Porsche with Piers Morgan tethered to the back bumper

I would assume that Jeremy is also
Posted by: kbdabear at March 03, 2014 02:10 PM

http://tinyurl.com/m872gw5

He got to test the P1, so Hammond gets the 918. I think that's on tonight. Anyway, Clarkson says Stig will track both of them and if the Porsche wins, he'll change his name to Jennifer.

Posted by: LC LaWedgie at March 03, 2014 10:25 AM (KQp38)

188 I'd order the McLaren P1, but just can't decide on the color... --- Get a brown/yellow interior. Just to be safe...

Posted by: Mr Pedantic at March 03, 2014 10:26 AM (FpHdx)

189 Piers Morgan is the Lucas Electric of journalism

Posted by: kbdabear at March 03, 2014 10:28 AM (aTXUx)

190 154 France and Germany just said they don't even want economic sanctions against Russia. ------------------------------------------------ And Pooty knew this beforehand. Don't think that he didn't. Posted by: Soona at March 03, 2014 02:07 PM (xMLV7) They know who runs Bartertown, Vlad. Vlad sends them the gas they need to heat their homes in the winter, and I do believe the winter over in Europe has been a little chilly this year.

Posted by: Ashley Judd's Puffy Scamper, used to be MrCaniac at March 03, 2014 10:31 AM (HxSXm)

191 Piers Morgan is the Hyacinth Bucket (Bouquet) from Keeping Up Appearances in male drag.

Posted by: Anchovy at March 03, 2014 10:40 AM (MNxW+)

192 Jeremy Clarkson is The Man.

I enjoy his TV show about silly stunts with cars because it is run by 3 blokes who love cars, even to the point of doing silly things with them. Jeremy is British, but he shares the American love affair with the automobile, and I cheer every time he gives the "Pry-us" snobs and econobox architects the boot for completely missing out on the best part of owning a car. to wit: you get to drive it! As a car lover, he has seen the effect pushy know-it-all loudmouths like Piers Morgan have had on the automotive industry, so it's no surprise he & Morgan are enemies.

Posted by: exdem13 at March 03, 2014 10:42 AM (lJaja)

193 I believe Clarkson's hatred of Morgan began in earnest when Morgan was behind the totally fake news story about the British troop abuse in Iraq. Apparently Morgan went to the fake but could be accurate journalism school and lets run with a story before fact checking.

Clarkson is a huge supporter of the British military and veterans.

Posted by: lobsterlen at March 03, 2014 10:51 AM (7Nabg)

194 Get a brown/yellow interior. Just to be safe... Posted by: Mr Pedantic at March 03, 2014 02:26 PM

http://tinyurl.com/medzjuw (youtube)

Posted by: LC LaWedgie at March 03, 2014 10:51 AM (KQp38)

195 "In fact, Morgan attracted a global audience smaller than the BBC daytime show [Rats] in the Attic." Did Jeremy Clarkson really punch Pierce three times in the face, and not end up arrested and jailed in PC Britain? /remembering the Euro fun/games of Lilyhammer, Norwegian "pretty please stop hitting me" socialism

Posted by: panzernashorn at March 03, 2014 11:04 AM (MhA4j)

196 188 - Now that's funny.

On one of our projects we got to work with a really high end home builder. When I visited his shop he asked "Would you like to see my brother's car collection?" Not having any idea I said sure, and he led be through a connecting door into a garage. There was a Ferrari GTO ($15M+) Ferrari Enzo, Ford GT and various other Ferrari, Porsche, and Lotus cars. He turned up his nose at a Veyron but later bought a Bugatti 57C (which may have cost a dozen times as much)

(That's as close as I get to that type of car other than watching it on Top Gear)

Posted by: AE at March 03, 2014 11:12 AM (sSKe8)

197 Ironic, the noted America-basher (and complete moron) Jeremy Clarkson wailing away on Ole Boatdocks for doing exactly what JC himself is serially guilty of himself.

Posted by: PJ Emeritus at March 03, 2014 11:28 AM (Gz2Xo)

198 Jeremy Clarkson is a wonderful chap. He is hilarious. Who cares if he says disparaging comments about 'merica. The glory days are gone so we might as well spend more time laughing and less time being outrageously outraged.

Posted by: Seriously Serious Susan at March 03, 2014 12:47 PM (yLD1g)

199 Ok then, well that makes his mockery of the deaths of our astronauts much more acceptable. Because entertainment !

Posted by: Stig's 1974 Datsun 260z at March 03, 2014 03:48 PM (5pFr6)

200 People make jokes about awful stuff. I can understand why you were offended about that particular comment. If someone speaks as often as clarkson , he is bound to offend everyone.

Posted by: Seriously Serious Susan at March 03, 2014 05:32 PM (yLD1g)

201 I was going to write about Angela Merkel this morning. I really was, I promise. But then I thought: Â“Nah. Come on, Jeremy. Piers MorganÂ’s lost yet another job. He really is down this time. So why not fire up the laptop and kick him a bit?Â” As you may know, the ghastly little weasel and I have history. He ran some unpleasant stories about me on the front page of the Mirror several years ago, and whenever we met afterwards he thought it was all a huge laugh. A joke. No harm done. My wife thought otherwise. And at the British Press awards gave him one of her hard stares from across the room. Â“WhyÂ’s your f****** wife looking at me like that?Â” he thundered. So I punched him. And then I punched him again. And then I thought: Â“You know what? I donÂ’t think this would ever get boring.Â” So I punched him again. And, annoyingly, broke my finger. In another encounter, on the very last flight of Concorde into London, he was seated in the row behind me, droning on about his brilliance, so as we began our descent into London, and an inevitable encounter with the waiting bank of television cameras, I turned round and emptied a glass of water into his crotch. Â“Look,Â” I said to journalists as we walked down the aircraft steps, Â“the idiotÂ’s wet himself.Â” WeÂ’ve tried over the years to shake hands and make amends but he always ends up doing something moronic and the feud starts all over again. Only recently he wrote in his truly amazing Mail on Sunday column about how heÂ’d been chatting at a party to Samuel L Jackson and various other big-name Hollywood stars when IÂ’d walked over. Apparently I stood on the fringes of their matey chat until the humiliation of being a small fish in a big pond was too much to bear and I sloped off. That simply didnÂ’t happen. It makes you wonder about all the other events that Morgan writes on. All those chance meetings with Â“BobbyÂ” De Niro in swish Los Angeles restaurants. All those clever put-downs to his detractors. All that Hello! magazine back-patting bonhomie. How much of it happened only in his imagination? ItÂ’s more likely he spends his evenings in a hotel suite, on his own, with all the TVs tuned in to his CNN show in a one-man quest to shore up the ratings. God, they were low. This was a show, remember, that was being aired round the world. Billions had the ability to watch it but few did. In fact Morgan attracted a global audience smaller than the BBC daytime show Cash in the Attic. He was even beaten by Kerry Katona: The Next Chapter, an ITV2 programme that followed the downward spiral of the dimwitted cocaine enthusiast. I heard that he was going to be dropped about six months ago. And have been sitting here for all of that time, loving his stupid Twitter boasts about his huge fame and lavish lifestyle, knowing that he didnÂ’t know what I knew. Things arenÂ’t much better for big M, little organ, back home in Britain. Because here his show Piers MorganÂ’s Life Stories, in which he makes orange people cry, has obviously run its course. Gone are the days when he could get the prime minister to come on and sob; now itÂ’s Tony Blackburn and Beverley Callard (nope, me neither). This, then, is a man who was fired from the Mirror for publishing obviously faked pictures of British Army bods abusing Iraqi prisoners. A man who was accused of insider dealing. A man who is about to lose his show on CNN and who might very well hesitate over returning to Britain because the police may want to talk to him, again, about phone hacking. He is a friendless, broken shell. So you might imagine that with his life in tatters, heÂ’s sitting in his condo, crying his eyes out over pictures of himself. But no. Instead heÂ’s busy telling everyone that he now has more Google pages than the Pope. Yup. He really does believe that there is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. And he thinks that so long as he can keep his name in the papers he will get another job. Yeah, right. Morgan probably thinks heÂ’s cast himself as a sort of pantomime baddie, and in time he may indeed end up at the Swindon Wyvern doing just that, throwing sweets into the audience and then trying to duck and weave when they are thrown back Â— along with all the chairs. But actually he isnÂ’t a pantomime baddie. He really is genuinely awful. ItÂ’s something weÂ’ve all known since we first clapped eyes on him with his arm round some teenage pin-up in the showbiz pages of The Sun. Â“My Â‘palÂ’ Simon Le BonÂ”, the caption would read. Really? So why doesnÂ’t Simon have his arm round you? Later we saw him strutting his stuff on a Simon Cowell talent show and we wonÂ’t go into detail here about how he got that gig. And today heÂ’s trying to argue his CNN show failed because the Americans didnÂ’t take kindly to his misguided attempt to spark a debate on gun control. Nonsense. His show failed because the viewers hated him. Everyone hates him. And thatÂ’s a big problem when you are trying to play the fame game. You can upset some of the people some of the time and survive Â— thrive even. But if you upset all of the people all of the time, you will fail. And he has. And I couldnÂ’t help but notice that as the news broke, it stopped raining and the sun came out.

Posted by: Establishment RINO at March 04, 2014 03:54 AM (ofmrm)

202 I was going to write about Angela Merkel this morning. I really was, I promise. But then I thought: Â“Nah. Come on, Jeremy. Piers MorganÂ’s lost yet another job. He really is down this time. So why not fire up the laptop and kick him a bit?Â” As you may know, the ghastly little weasel and I have history. He ran some unpleasant stories about me on the front page of the Mirror several years ago, and whenever we met afterwards he thought it was all a huge laugh. A joke. No harm done. My wife thought otherwise. And at the British Press awards gave him one of her hard stares from across the room. Â“WhyÂ’s your f****** wife looking at me like that?Â” he thundered. So I punched him. And then I punched him again. And then I thought: Â“You know what? I donÂ’t think this would ever get boring.Â” So I punched him again. And, annoyingly, broke my finger. In another encounter, on the very last flight of Concorde into London, he was seated in the row behind me, droning on about his brilliance, so as we began our descent into London, and an inevitable encounter with the waiting bank of television cameras, I turned round and emptied a glass of water into his crotch. Â“Look,Â” I said to journalists as we walked down the aircraft steps, Â“the idiotÂ’s wet himself.Â” WeÂ’ve tried over the years to shake hands and make amends but he always ends up doing something moronic and the feud starts all over again. Only recently he wrote in his truly amazing Mail on Sunday column about how heÂ’d been chatting at a party to Samuel L Jackson and various other big-name Hollywood stars when IÂ’d walked over. Apparently I stood on the fringes of their matey chat until the humiliation of being a small fish in a big pond was too much to bear and I sloped off. That simply didnÂ’t happen. It makes you wonder about all the other events that Morgan writes on. All those chance meetings with Â“BobbyÂ” De Niro in swish Los Angeles restaurants. All those clever put-downs to his detractors. All that Hello! magazine back-patting bonhomie. How much of it happened only in his imagination? ItÂ’s more likely he spends his evenings in a hotel suite, on his own, with all the TVs tuned in to his CNN show in a one-man quest to shore up the ratings. God, they were low. This was a show, remember, that was being aired round the world. Billions had the ability to watch it but few did. In fact Morgan attracted a global audience smaller than the BBC daytime show Cash in the Attic. He was even beaten by Kerry Katona: The Next Chapter, an ITV2 programme that followed the downward spiral of the dimwitted cocaine enthusiast. I heard that he was going to be dropped about six months ago. And have been sitting here for all of that time, loving his stupid Twitter boasts about his huge fame and lavish lifestyle, knowing that he didnÂ’t know what I knew. Things arenÂ’t much better for big M, little organ, back home in Britain. Because here his show Piers MorganÂ’s Life Stories, in which he makes orange people cry, has obviously run its course. Gone are the days when he could get the prime minister to come on and sob; now itÂ’s Tony Blackburn and Beverley Callard (nope, me neither). This, then, is a man who was fired from the Mirror for publishing obviously faked pictures of British Army bods abusing Iraqi prisoners. A man who was accused of insider dealing. A man who is about to lose his show on CNN and who might very well hesitate over returning to Britain because the police may want to talk to him, again, about phone hacking. He is a friendless, broken shell. So you might imagine that with his life in tatters, heÂ’s sitting in his condo, crying his eyes out over pictures of himself. But no. Instead heÂ’s busy telling everyone that he now has more Google pages than the Pope. Yup. He really does believe that there is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. And he thinks that so long as he can keep his name in the papers he will get another job. Yeah, right. Morgan probably thinks heÂ’s cast himself as a sort of pantomime baddie, and in time he may indeed end up at the Swindon Wyvern doing just that, throwing sweets into the audience and then trying to duck and weave when they are thrown back Â— along with all the chairs. But actually he isnÂ’t a pantomime baddie. He really is genuinely awful. ItÂ’s something weÂ’ve all known since we first clapped eyes on him with his arm round some teenage pin-up in the showbiz pages of The Sun. Â“My Â‘palÂ’ Simon Le BonÂ”, the caption would read. Really? So why doesnÂ’t Simon have his arm round you? Later we saw him strutting his stuff on a Simon Cowell talent show and we wonÂ’t go into detail here about how he got that gig. And today heÂ’s trying to argue his CNN show failed because the Americans didnÂ’t take kindly to his misguided attempt to spark a debate on gun control. Nonsense. His show failed because the viewers hated him. Everyone hates him. And thatÂ’s a big problem when you are trying to play the fame game. You can upset some of the people some of the time and survive Â— thrive even. But if you upset all of the people all of the time, you will fail. And he has. And I couldnÂ’t help but notice that as the news broke, it stopped raining and the sun came out.

Posted by: Establishment RINO at March 04, 2014 03:54 AM (ofmrm)

203 I was going to write about Angela Merkel this morning. I really was, I promise. But then I thought: Â“Nah. Come on, Jeremy. Piers MorganÂ’s lost yet another job. He really is down this time. So why not fire up the laptop and kick him a bit?Â” As you may know, the ghastly little weasel and I have history. He ran some unpleasant stories about me on the front page of the Mirror several years ago, and whenever we met afterwards he thought it was all a huge laugh. A joke. No harm done. My wife thought otherwise. And at the British Press awards gave him one of her hard stares from across the room. Â“WhyÂ’s your f****** wife looking at me like that?Â” he thundered. So I punched him. And then I punched him again. And then I thought: Â“You know what? I donÂ’t think this would ever get boring.Â” So I punched him again. And, annoyingly, broke my finger. In another encounter, on the very last flight of Concorde into London, he was seated in the row behind me, droning on about his brilliance, so as we began our descent into London, and an inevitable encounter with the waiting bank of television cameras, I turned round and emptied a glass of water into his crotch. Â“Look,Â” I said to journalists as we walked down the aircraft steps, Â“the idiotÂ’s wet himself.Â” WeÂ’ve tried over the years to shake hands and make amends but he always ends up doing something moronic and the feud starts all over again. Only recently he wrote in his truly amazing Mail on Sunday column about how heÂ’d been chatting at a party to Samuel L Jackson and various other big-name Hollywood stars when IÂ’d walked over. Apparently I stood on the fringes of their matey chat until the humiliation of being a small fish in a big pond was too much to bear and I sloped off. That simply didnÂ’t happen. It makes you wonder about all the other events that Morgan writes on. All those chance meetings with Â“BobbyÂ” De Niro in swish Los Angeles restaurants. All those clever put-downs to his detractors. All that Hello! magazine back-patting bonhomie. How much of it happened only in his imagination? ItÂ’s more likely he spends his evenings in a hotel suite, on his own, with all the TVs tuned in to his CNN show in a one-man quest to shore up the ratings. God, they were low. This was a show, remember, that was being aired round the world. Billions had the ability to watch it but few did. In fact Morgan attracted a global audience smaller than the BBC daytime show Cash in the Attic. He was even beaten by Kerry Katona: The Next Chapter, an ITV2 programme that followed the downward spiral of the dimwitted cocaine enthusiast. I heard that he was going to be dropped about six months ago. And have been sitting here for all of that time, loving his stupid Twitter boasts about his huge fame and lavish lifestyle, knowing that he didnÂ’t know what I knew. Things arenÂ’t much better for big M, little organ, back home in Britain. Because here his show Piers MorganÂ’s Life Stories, in which he makes orange people cry, has obviously run its course. Gone are the days when he could get the prime minister to come on and sob; now itÂ’s Tony Blackburn and Beverley Callard (nope, me neither). This, then, is a man who was fired from the Mirror for publishing obviously faked pictures of British Army bods abusing Iraqi prisoners. A man who was accused of insider dealing. A man who is about to lose his show on CNN and who might very well hesitate over returning to Britain because the police may want to talk to him, again, about phone hacking. He is a friendless, broken shell. So you might imagine that with his life in tatters, heÂ’s sitting in his condo, crying his eyes out over pictures of himself. But no. Instead heÂ’s busy telling everyone that he now has more Google pages than the Pope. Yup. He really does believe that there is only one thing worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about. And he thinks that so long as he can keep his name in the papers he will get another job. Yeah, right. Morgan probably thinks heÂ’s cast himself as a sort of pantomime baddie, and in time he may indeed end up at the Swindon Wyvern doing just that, throwing sweets into the audience and then trying to duck and weave when they are thrown back Â— along with all the chairs. But actually he isnÂ’t a pantomime baddie. He really is genuinely awful. ItÂ’s something weÂ’ve all known since we first clapped eyes on him with his arm round some teenage pin-up in the showbiz pages of The Sun. Â“My Â‘palÂ’ Simon Le BonÂ”, the caption would read. Really? So why doesnÂ’t Simon have his arm round you? Later we saw him strutting his stuff on a Simon Cowell talent show and we wonÂ’t go into detail here about how he got that gig. And today heÂ’s trying to argue his CNN show failed because the Americans didnÂ’t take kindly to his misguided attempt to spark a debate on gun control. Nonsense. His show failed because the viewers hated him. Everyone hates him. And thatÂ’s a big problem when you are trying to play the fame game. You can upset some of the people some of the time and survive Â— thrive even. But if you upset all of the people all of the time, you will fail. And he has. And I couldnÂ’t help but notice that as the news broke, it stopped raining and the sun came out.

Posted by: Establishment RINO at March 04, 2014 03:54 AM (ofmrm)

204 Thank you , Mr Rino. That was a great read.

Posted by: Seriously Serious Susan at March 04, 2014 07:35 AM (O41ji)

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