8/16/2016 1:53 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
Breaking News
Legendary political commentator Dr. John McLaughlin — whose long-running show inspired famous ‘SNL’ spoofs — has died … just days after missing his program for the first time ever.
“The McLaughlin Group” — a round table political discussion — has been on the air for more than 34 years, and John hosted every weekly episode. During the airing this past weekend … the show began with a slate explaining McLaughlin was “under the weather” and would not appear on the panel. His voice was heard though saying the familiar … “Issue one.”
McLaughlin was an ordained priest with a PhD in philosophy, who had also been a speech writer for Richard Nixon … before his TV show launched in 1982.
The show released a statement announcing his passing, but did not specify what caused it.
Dana Carvey famously played the irascible host in a recurring “Saturday Night Live” skit.
McLaughlin was 89.
