Why now?

Why, after 12 years in prime time, five of those years at #1, has Alan Colmes decided to step down from "Hannity & Colmes?"

"It's a great creative opportunity for me. I feel as though we have a Democratic President, House and Senate; I feel like my work is done," he tells TVNewser. "I can't think of a better time to make the transition."

As mentioned in the release, Colmes will begin developing other programs for FNC. "We're looking at developing something which would air perhaps on the weekend," he says. "We're going to put our heads together and conceptualize very shortly with that."

He says the program would be "much like my radio show. There would be some symmetry there."

The unlikely pairing of two men with vastly different political beliefs, Colmes and Sean Hannity, worked well for the network. "We have a good friendship on and off the air, and that's rare," says Colmes. "I'm grateful that he's been such a great partner for so many years."

As for what becomes of the 9pmET program, Colmes isn't saying: "I'm not aware of what the plans are and it's really not my call."