UT alum Paul Begala hosted ‘Crossfire’ with Tucker Carlson during famous Jon Stewart episode

Fox News and CNN have announced major changes to their programming, with Fox ousting commentator Tucker Carlson and CNN firing TV anchor and journalist Don Lemon.

The news broke Monday morning, leading Lemon to express surprise by the move. Lemon had worked at CNN since 2006 after previously working at local news stations and appearing on NBC and MSNBC news broadcasts.

Carlson had worked on Fox since 2009, previously hosting a show on MSNBC from 2005 to 2008, on PBS from 2004 to 2005, and on CNN from 2000 to 2005. While on other networks he was the sole host, Carlson co-hosted “Crossfire” on CNN with University of Texas alumnus Paul Begala.

How Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson joined 'Crossfire' on CNN

In 2001, Mary Matlin exited from “Crossfire” to join President George W. Bush’s presidential administration, providing an opening for Carlson to join the program. He previously was a co-host of CNN's “The Spin Room."

The following year, Bill Press also left the show, allowing Begala, a former Counselor to President Bill Clinton, to join the program. The show utilized a debate show format, with Begala representing a more liberal perspective whereas Carlson represented a more conservative one.

The show had been part of CNN since 1982, cycling through different hosts on the ideological perspective until 2005.

What Paul Begala said about Jon Stewart's 'Crossfire' criticisms

In an episode, which has since been replayed and shared on social media countless times, Begala and Carlson had "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart on the program. Stewart suggests the format played into the hands of political parties by focusing on partisan talking points, rather than addressing real issues impacting Americans.

"You're doing theater when you should be doing debate. It's not honest. What you do is partisan hackery," Stewart said. "You have a responsibility to the public discourse, and you fail miserably."

In remembering the episode almost ten years later, Begala, who was raised in Texas and received both his bachelor's and law degree at the University of Texas, called the show a "debacle" in an essay on CNN.com.

"I thought his charge that a 30-minute debate show was 'hurting America' was fatuous," Begala said.

Begala said the full critique from Stewart, who labeled both Begala and Carlson as "partisan hacks" on the program, came after the episode was recorded.

"The show went off the rails and Stewart, who began by denouncing our hostile environment, was within minutes calling Tucker Carlson 'a dick.' So he never got to deliver his thoughtful, insightful criticism of our show – until after the cameras were turned off."

Begala noted that during a 90-minute conversation with him and the executive producer of the show following its recording, Stewart shared his critiques with them. Begala then said while he agreed with some of Stewart's observations, he went on to support the hearing of two perspectives on an issue rather than just one.

"I felt then – and now – that rather than pretend there is not a major philosophical difference, or that there is one objectively perfect solution, we should debate our policy options vigorously," Begala said.

The show aired in October of 2004 and by January of the following year, the network had it canceled. Begala said the impact of the show's end made him more free to criticize liberal politicians. To this day, Begala remains a political analyst on CNN.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Tucker Carlson was at CNN on Crossfire with Paul Begala before Fox