NBC Releases ‘To Catch a Predator’ Host Chris Hansen

"Hi there, I'm the HR Rep from NBC. Please have a seat"

Longtime NBC newsman and memorable "Dateline" segment host Chris Hansen has left the network — and TheWrap newsroom had some fun imagining how his departure was handled.

(Hansen's "To Catch a Predator," in which he confronted men who tried to set up sexual encounters with children, was a ratings success in the mid-2000s — but was discontinued in 2007 after one man caught in a sting committed suicide.)

Also read: 'To Catch a Predator' Lawsuit OK'd by Judge

NBC did not elaborate on Hansen's exit, but come on — it had to be something like …

HR Rep: Hi, I'm the HR Rep from NBC. Why don't you have a seat over there?

Chris Hansen: (nervously) Um … okay, I guess. What — what's going on here?

HR Rep: Would you like a drink of water?

Chris Hansen: No — no. I don't know.

HR Rep: What's in that bag you brought?

Chris Hansen: My laptop? What's going on here?

HR Rep: Uh huh, uh huh. Listen, what did you think was going to happen here? Why are you here?

Chris Hansen: I was called in … my contract's up for renewal, right?

HR Rep: Mm hm, mm hm. How old did you think that contract was? How many years did you think you'd have on that contract?

Chris Hansen: Okay, look, that contract is at least 20 years old. I joined the network in 1993!

HR Rep: Well, we're not renewing it.

(an NBC Security Officer dressed as an office plant jumps up and ushers Hansen out)

~~fin~~

TV Guide first reported the news.

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