Another media giant has fallen. Tony Snow, co-creator of Fox News Sunday, host of his eponymous radio show, and presidential speech writer (Bush 41) and press secretary (Bush 43) died early this morning of colon cancer at the age of 53. He is remembered as a man of good will toward all, including his political foes, who cherished God, his country, and his family above all else. Among the luminaries feting Tony today on Fox & Friends Saturday were President George H.W. Bush, former First Lady Barbara Bush, Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, NPR commentator and FNC contributor Juan Williams, and Roll Call executive editor and Beltway Boys co-anchor Mort Kondracke.
President George W. Bush also weighed in. Fox News’ Washington bureau correspondent Julie Kirtz read his eulogizing statement which said, “Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of our dear friend, Tony Snow. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jill and their children….The Snow family has lost a beloved husband and father and America has lost a devoted public servant and a man of character….All of us here at the White House will miss Tony as well as the millions of Americans he inspired with his brave struggle against cancer. One of the things that sustained Tony Snow was his faith and Laura and I join people across our country praying that this good man has now found comfort in the arms of his Creator.”
Today F&F’s A-Team did not step in as it had when Pope Benedict XVI visited the U.S. and when NBC’s Meet the Press legend Tim Russert died. However, F&F’s B-Team stepped up to the plate today: Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris acquitted themselves well and maintained a sober and respectful atmosphere. Even tragedy-averse Courtney Friel seemed subdued and did her best to dignify Tony’s death.
F&FW, a job well done: Tony deserved it.
Tags: Ainsely Earhardt, Barbara Bush, Beltway Boys, Clayton Morris, Dennis Hastert, Fox & Friends, Fox News, Fox News Sunday, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Juan Williams, Julie Kirtz, Meet the Press, Mort Kondracke, NBC, NPR, Pope Benedict XVI, Roger Ailes, Roll Call, Tim Russert, Tony Snow
Carpe Diem 
July 12, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I woke up this morning to a phone call that Tony had passed. I flipped on F&FW, of course, and toggled between it and CNN’s Saturday Morning. The weekend F&F crew did ok, I suppose, but I couldn’t help but notice the awkwardness in their questioning of guests. The phone interview with President and Barbara Bush, for example, seemed shallow and ended with me thinking that they had almost managed to miss an opportunity to extract a newsworthy quotation in praise of Tony from a former president. I bet Steve, Brian, or Alisyn could have asked identical questions yet somehow lift the exchange to a more memorable level. They did maintain the proper and respectful tone that Tony so much deserved. CNN’s lackluster morning coverage still out-shined F&FW, though… and I hate that.
Was Courtney Friel even on F&FW this morning? I must have missed the news readings.
At the noon hour, Kelly Wright interviewed Carl Cameron about working in the White House with Tony and the contrast of his interviewing skills to those of the F&FW gang was almost like night and day. In the next segment Jamie Colby interacted with Senator Graham in a seemingly effortless manner, again a contrast to Ainsley Earhardt’s earlier sputtering flow and mis-timed interruptions.
It’s probably inevitable that there will be numerous comparisons made between Tony Snow and Tim Russert. For all the things that really matter in life, these parallels ring true. Both had a warm, personal, and down-to-earth outlook along with other personal qualities that we should all aspire to. Tony Snow is someone I am going to miss.
July 12, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Yes, Al, Britney was on – but not a whole lot. Perhaps the PTB thought better of it after her ad-lib at the end of her first newsbreak. Something about being sad that she never got to meet Tony Snow, but hoping that it will still happen. Unless she was making some religious talk about an afterlife, there’s something seriously wrong in that woman’s head. Neurons and synapses misfiring badly, if firing at all.
I have to disagree with Jake about how the Z-team handled this breaking tragic news. They were visibly awkward, almost as if they’d been warned ahead of time not to disrespect this man’s death, as they’ve done to so many others. They also added nothing and might as well have been talking about some old dude they never heard of before.
Claytoon kept referring to former President Bush as “Mr. H.W. Bush.” Ainsley had a hard time concentrating on anything other than herself and what she was going to say next. And I never noticed before, but Dave’s fidgeting and general mannerisms struck me as being very feminine.
I hope Roger Ailes was watching that travesty of a show after he got off the phone with the morons.
July 12, 2008 at 1:15 pm
It ocurred to me after reading boogie’s post that there were probably two phone calls made during the wee morning hours, one to Alisyn Camerotta and the other to Brian Kilmeade, asking if they could make it in. With one already en route to a vacation destination and the other not yet having returned, TPTB made the decision not to call Steve Doocy in to work with two of the weekenders. Then, I imagine, the weekend team were all greeted with an early morning email reminding them of how they are expected to act.
If such an email exists, I’d love to read it.
July 12, 2008 at 5:27 pm
The news of Tony Snow’s death softened some of the feelings toward the new crew. I noticed how inept they were about interviewing guests. They don’t know Tony Snow, I gather, from their comments. And really, I don’t think they know a whole lot. Gosh, I hate to keep commenting on how immature they seem, because we can’t have the same people forever, but in my opinion they should have improved by now. They were just horrible.
I’m at a workshop in Lake of the Ozarks and had to leave the t.v., but was glad I could go.
July 12, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I do not think the team this morning was very good at all. Tony Snow deserved a more dignified portrayal than what the 3 sitting there gave him. I do hope Roger Ailes was watching because they were not good at all. Courtney is such a nit wit, I cannot believe they keep her on the show at all. At least she read the teleprompter without any ab libbing. I am sure Page Hopkins and Kelly Wright would have done a more fitting tribute to Tony than the 3 that had the show this morning. I am very disappointed in Fox and Friends for getting rid of Page and Kelly.
July 12, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Paige, Roger Ailes was on F&FW thrice today to honor the memory of Tony. He seems to have given the weekend crew his imprimatur. Of course, it may have been a Judas kiss.
July 12, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Jake, was he on three times, or just once which was replayed twice? I’d like to believe that after one go-round with this crew, that he felt like poking out his eyes and eardrums with a hot poker.
July 12, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I think they did an Ok job- especially since they don’t have the experience of the weekday crew. (They do need to get the experience some how.) Ailes does seem to have sanctioned them at this point. Of course not every newscaster/ host /anchor know all of the others in the industry. I think Clayton has a broader experience base than the other two and so he might have had a little more working knowlege of Tony. I’m sure the weekday crew will be doing segments on Tony all week- as well as all of the other networks.
July 12, 2008 at 7:55 pm
They need a LOT more than just experience, but a national morning show isn’t the place to acquire it.
Claytoon may have more experience than the others, but he’s still dumber than dirt. What kind of idiot keeps saying “Mr. H. W. Bush”?
July 12, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Could we ever be so lucky that Ailes gave them the Judas kiss…I have my fingers crossed that it will happen. Bring Paige and Kelly back, please!
July 12, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I caught a snippet of the show this morning … somewhere around 10 minutes into the first hour … when they were interviewing Marty Ryan on the phone … Man, it was awkward and you could tell Marty felt the same …
Stupid Painsley was an idiot with her “I see his bio says blah blah blah” … Even if she never met Tony Snow, you DON’T freakin’ go saying THAT …
The idiot boys were fidgeting … I didn’t see Dumbelina … I have a feeling that Claytonedeaf was probably truly not remorseful …
I don’t know what time Tony Snow passed away as it didn’t show up on the Fox site til about 4am pacific … There may not have been enough time for any or part of the A-Team to be called & get there by 7am eastern …
I knew that something big would happen & the idiot crew would have to cover it … It did and they sucked …
Sorry but Ailes is a blithering IDIOT for keeping those four losers … This was an opportunity to see how they are truly incompetent & they proved us to be correct …
Tony Snow was a good man & News Corp giant … He should’ve been treated better than what the idiot crew did …
July 13, 2008 at 4:58 am
Well it finally happened….. the favoured four had to deal with a breaking news story. It wasn’t terrible but neither was it particularly brilliant. Of course it didn’t help that none of them had ever met or worked with Tony Snow but good anchors should have been able to work round that. Knowing the favoured four’s capabilities it is a pity producers didn’t bring in anchors that had known him personally – Kelly Wright was already in New York and Page and Greg live down the road …………
July 13, 2008 at 7:24 am
They are still terrible. The only reason they were there, I would guess, was that when the announcement was made of Tony’s passing, it was too late to get someone else in. Those idiots were already in makeup.
I am so sorry about losing Tony. He shall be truly missed.
July 19, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I was also disapointed with the way the weekend hosts handled the passing of a great man,Tony Snow.
Will not be watching Fox & Friends Weekend like I once did . The hosts you have on the weekend, come across pretentious and not knowledgeable about ANYTHING !!!!
Why did you take the pros off and put these babies on. I miss Page , Kelly, and Greg. Just TOO MANY changes going on with programs ,may go back to CNN!!!!
Cute is not in for me and I do not like flaunting hosts !!! These gals are not ready for a news show. The guys need a little more practice also on another program !!