Veteran "gonzo" journalist and confrontational talkshow host Geraldo Rivera was back in syndication for this daily, half-hour newsmagazine, designed to replaced A Current Affair in most markets. Not dissimilar to Rivera's previous cable series on CNBC and Fox News Channel, Geraldo at Large dealt with hot-button current-event issues, heart-tugging human-interest stories, and exposes of corruption and other abuses of the public trust. Taped "live" each day at 4PM EST, then beamed out via satellite to local markets, the series took full advantage of late-breaking news stories, allowing Rivera not only to offer his up-to-the-minute perspective (which he described as "hard news" rather than commentary), but also in many cases affording viewers their first glimpses of the people involved in those stories. Produced for Fox's news division by Roger Ailes, who'd recently assumed control of all Fox-owned TV stations, the series also featured a number of that service's top correspondents, notably Laurie Dhue. Geraldo at Large debuted October 31, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Debuting in national syndication on October 31, 2005 as a replacement for A Current Affair, the show had been on Fox News Channel in a slightly different format since July 6, 2002 as the program, At Large with Geraldo Rivera.
Rivera has emphasized that the show would be about "people." The program is seen by Rivera as a test for a potential evening newscast produced by the Fox News Channel. The program aired in the time slot normally designated for national news programs in many markets. However, the program is more similar to the show that it replaced, A Current Affair, in its focus on tabloid-type stories.
Anchors and correspondents from Fox News, including anchor Laurie Dhue, Laura Ingle, Phil Keating, and Arthel Neville, serve as correspondents of the newsmagazine.
On October 3, 2009, Geraldo at Large began broadcasting in 720pHD and debuted a whole new on-air look, which included a new program logo and new graphics.
End of Syndication
On January 4, 2007, it was announced that the syndicated program would be canceled due to a "soft ad marketplace, the lack of an early news lead-in for his show in several cities and the timeline for financial success." The program's final syndicated episode aired on January 26, 2007.
