Top 10 Times People Were Fired or Quit on Live TV

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Published 2023-05-28
These folks were just not a good fit... For this list, we’ll be looking at instances where people were either terminated or terminated themselves around the time cameras were rolling. Our countdown includes A.J. Clemente, Chris Matthews, Gwen Dean and more! Know of any other on-air dismissals? Let us know in the comments!

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All Comments (21)
  • @Groggy_Gamer
    I know this is kinda controversial to mention, but Budd Dwyer shooting himself live was about as permanent a resignation that you can get.
  • I was in the entertainment industry for years, starting as a wee girl. The first thing I was taught, at just 6, was to ALWAYS assume the mic was hot. Even if I was off stage, it was treated as hot. You can't know for sure if the sound guy has muted your mic.
  • @michaeloptv
    Keith Olbermann got fired TWICE on air!! Once at ESPN…the other at MSNBC. I’m shocked he didn’t make the list.
  • @MrCopacetic23
    “As there’s a drive into deep left field by Castellanos it’ll be a home run.” That wasn’t the last time Nick hit a home run during an on air apology 😂
  • @Mbarnstein62891
    F it I quit is definitely the greatest I quit/you're fired moment on TV!
  • @mtlnascarfan
    Let's not forget the time that, live on-air during a game against the Detroit Red Wings in 1993/1994 in which he let in 9 goals, Montreal Canadians goalie Patrick Roy told then-head coach Mario Tremblay that "I've played my last game in Montreal". He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche less than a week later.
  • A classic. Joey Bishop leaving his talk show right after his monologue, leaving his sidekick Regis Philbin to take the helm.
  • @A1441
    There's also a Filipina broadcast journalist who quit after reading the news that former First Lady IMELDA MARCOS (wife of former Philippine President and Dictator FERDINAND MARCOS) was being feted by fellow politicians. She announced her resignation on air after saying "We should not be celebrating people who destroyed the future of our country." (or something along those lines.
  • @rluv4evr
    You forgot Connie Chung. She was abruptly fired for lying to a guest she was interviewing.
  • That Twitter employee holding the phone is EXACTLY what id expect one to look like
  • @THE-X-Force
    The bit with Gwen Dean (7:13) really hit me. What AM I doing with my life? What could possibly be better than bringing joy to an audience of children? Kids giving you a standing ovation? The smiles on all of their faces? There's not much in the want-ads for "puppeteer" .. but maybe I could find a path .. the way she did. I'd much rather leave this world knowing that at least I made some child feel happiness, than looking back at whatever meaningless "success" I have in my career now.
  • Idk but #1 is my favorite though 😂 and the other coworker looking straight up 😂
  • @marshall6113
    In NZ recently there was a good radio one, where they essentially shut down the entire station while a team was on the air. The response from the team was reasonably angry.
  • @KillaD69
    Whenever Vince McMahon says "YOU'RE FIRED!" on Monday Night Raw
  • Smith really went out in the most respectable way for such an erratic and insane workplace
  • @amsuther
    Mal Walden - HSV7 Melbourne Australia evening newsreader for eight years, sacked minutes before going on air in 1987 by the new Sydney based owners. Mal professionally completed the entire program until the end , finishing off with a teary heart felt farewell to his viewers. This caused an angry backlash from now previous loyal viewers across Victoria. It also led to public protests, staff walkouts and a plunge in news ratings to an unprecedented zero. His immediate move to the TEN Network brought a record news rating of 40% market share - the equivalent of one million viewers a night.
  • WMAQ in Chicago,decided to hire Jerry Springer to do commentary during the 10 O'Clock news.This was around 2003 or 2004 I believe.Then the Anchors Carol Marin and Ron Magers both resigned a couple of nights later.They felt Springers commentaries didn't belong on the news.
  • On the Jack Parr story they did find a kinescope broadcast of that night its really cool to see it as it was live then
  • @sol20051
    Why is it, when they know they've been caught, they bring up religion?