Alan Colmes, a liberal who could laugh

It’s somehow fitting that Alan Colmes got his start in standup comedy, since he needed a strong sense of humor—and equally strong debating skills—to spar with Sean Hannity

The unabashedly liberal commentator, who died this morning at 66 after a brief illness that has not been disclosed, gained national fame as one-half of the “Hannity & Colmes” show that launched when FNC did in 1996. But his roots were in radio, working for such powerhouse stations as WABC and WNBC in New York. Colmes remained a Fox News contributor and Fox radio host after the channel ended the prime-time partnership and made Hannity the solo host just before the start of the Obama administration. 

The reason the duo’s chemistry worked, even as their clashes sometimes turned contentious, is that Colmes leavened his arguments with wit, often flashing a broad grin. “I take some great pride in seeing how I’ve aged you over the years,” he told Hannity on air