Beck had an unquestionably meteoric rise during his 2.5 years on Fox News.
Glenn Beck speaks at the "Restoring Honor" rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010.Thursday, June 30 marks the last day of Glenn Beck's show on Fox News Channel. In April, Fox announced it was dropping the show, citing low ratings and an advertiser boycott.
Beck had an unquestionably meteoric rise during his 2.5 years on Fox News. He generated an avid fanbase — many of whom turned out in full force at his August 2010 rally in Washington, D.C. — and an equally avid group of critics, including Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, who occasionally mimicked Beck's chalkboard segments.
For casual observers, he built a reputation for outrageous moments that made him as much of a household name as anyone in cable news.
As Fox News' Great van Susteren wrote this week, "He managed to get everyone talking about him."
And talking, and talking, and talking, and talking...
Even though it feels like the end of an era, hold off on the farewell retrospectives: Beck isn't going away.
He will continue his radio show, his website The Blaze, and begin a new online video venture called GBTV. Though Beck's future is uncertain, the elements are in place for his fan following to outlast his Fox News program. Writing in the St. Petersburg Times, Eric Deggans says:
Like MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Oprah Winfrey, Beck is counting on his fans to grant him the autonomy to say and do what he wants in media. By leaving the Fox News show, he moves his work to outlets he controls completely, including his website, the Blaze, his syndicated radio show, his books, the public speaking tours and GBTV. Beck is betting his brand is big enough to feed fans into that media network alone, free from interference by corporate bosses or critical outsiders.
But will Beck's fans open their wallets to continue watching him? The Associated Press reports that GBTV will cost $9.95 per month, or $4.95 if they just want Beck's daily show.
Preview videos of the GBTV program are already popping up online, ahead of the September 12 launch.
What's planned for Thursday's final episode at 5 PM? Beck's show page on FoxNews.com promises "Glenn reflects on his time at Fox News Channel and says goodbye in his final show."
If history is any guide, there will be tears.