CNN host Tucker Carlson may be landing at MSNBC

Speculation about “Crossfire” co-host Tucker Carlson’s new career move may end sometime this week with an announcement by either MSNBC or his current employer, CNN.

The right-leaning commentator became a hot commodity at the end of 2004 when his contract with CNN ran out. MSNBC spokesmen confirmed reports that the network was courting the talk show host to fill its 9 p.m. slot, which Deborah Norville will vacate in mid-January.

In an apparent bid to keep Carlson at CNN, executives there had him substitute for the vacationing Aaron Brown last week during the height of the South Asia earthquake and tsunami. Brown anchors “News- Night,” a more sedate post than the adversarial style of “Crossfire.”

Ironically, Carlson’s stock rose with cable executives after he was attacked on his own show in October by guest Jon Stewart, who called him a “partisan hack” among other things and begged him to “stop hurting America.”

If MSNBC seals the deal, President Rick Kaplan would be creating his first new prime-time show with Carlson, a former colleague at CNN.

Carlson said that on the advice of his lawyer, he wouldn’t comment on any MSNBC offer. “Everyone’s been nice to me,” he said, adding during an interview last week that a decision would be made after the first of the year.

For CNN’s part, Jonathan Klein, president of CNN/U.S., has said he wants more personality and passion from his news anchors.

Carlson, an author who has written for newspapers and magazines, also hosts his own talk show on PBS: “Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.”