TV host fired for homophobic remarks

NEW YORK, July 7 (UPI) -- Controversial television talk show host Michael Savage was fired during the weekend by MSNBC for homophobic comments he made to a Saturday night caller.

The Hollywood Reporter said Savage made derogatory comments against gays during an exchange with a caller. Savage told the man, "Oh, you're one of the sodomites. You should only get AIDS and die, you pig."

An MSNBC spokesman called the comments "extremely inappropriate," and added, "the decision to cancel the show was an easy one."

The newspaper said MSNBC hired the controversial right-wing radio talk show host in February, but denied reports that it hired Savage in an effort to copy the conservative model of the Fox News Channel.

The show ran for 15 weeks and averaged only a 0.4 rating, with 347,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

The Reporter said there was no word what might replace Savage on Saturday, although MSNBC sources said the network would likely air news in the short-term.