“They felt the day merited the weekday crew.” Today Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Dave Briggs appeared particularly piqued at being preempted once again by the F&F A-Team for yet another F&F special edition, “[Government] Shutdown Averted.” When a Twitter follower asked, “Why aren’t you on FF? I miss my Saturday Briggs-fix,” Dave plaintively replied, “They felt the day merited the weekday crew. Wish I were on.”
Meanwhile, Dave’s F&FW co-anchor Clayton Morris, who was similarly yanked from the line-up today remained mum on the matter (while sanguinely Tweeting about other topics). However, Dave and Clayton’s co-host, Alisyn Camerota, did not: In fact, Aly made no secret of the fact that, unlike Dave and Clayton, she was not only in today for F&F‘s special edition but also on–and, in charge–of the Fox & Friends A-Team.
To wit, after welcoming her F&F audience today, Aly introduced the F&F “weekday crew” [Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade], declaring, “I have called Steve and Brian in to duty for our special coverage today.” When the second hour arrived, Aly explained her usual co-hosts’ absence, saying, “Thanks to Steve and Brian for coming in for Clayton and Dave: You guys got the word last night…late that there would not be a government shutdown.” Later, as the final hour began, Aly again elucidated, “Thanks to Steve and Brian for coming in for this special coverage. Hoping that Dave and Clayton are sleeping a little bit late.”
If any F&FW viewers had any lingering doubts about why Aly was on the special edition A-Team today, Steve seemed eager to allay them. When Brian jokingly groused that they were shutdown losers “because at 11:30 at night we were all watching to find out if there was going to be a government shutdown and we were up at 2:30 to come in,” Steve responded, “But, we’re winners because we’re here with Aly.”* Perhaps, less charitably, for those F&FW viewers wondering why Dave and Clayton were not, Steve later had this to say before his interview of Governor Huckabee about the shutdown: “Of course, the reason [that] Brian and I are in today is because the government shutdown was averted.”**
Hopefully, Fox News brass will not censure Dave for his refreshing candor. Dave did little more than tell his fans and followers what Aly and Steve had pellucidly disclosed earlier this morning to their F&F audience. Not too mention, what loyal viewers (e.g., this Carpe Diem author) have long suspected.
[Author’s aside: As for usual weekday co-host Gretchen Carlson, Aly, Steve, and Brian made no mention of her absence from the “A-Team.” Perhaps, they spoke volumes in their silence.]
**Fox & Friends Weekend – 04/09/11 (@ 7:08 a.m. ET)
*Ibid at 8:33 a.m. ET
Tags: alisyn camerota, Brian Kilmeade, Clayton Morris, Dave Briggs, David Briggs, FNC, Fox & Friends, Fox and Friends, Fox News, Gretchen Carlson, Steve Doocy
Carpe Diem 
April 11, 2011 at 5:06 am
Much as I like Dave “they” were right to replace both he and Clayton. Neither of them have the gravitas to pull off a serious interview with a senior politician. It might have been more interesting if they had used someone like Andrew Napolitano though.
As for Gretchen, like ED Hill, her main difficulty is that there seems to be a lack of natural chemistry between her and the Steve/Bryan duo. It’s that indefinable quality that comes easily for instance to Alysin and Martha. Apart from that Gretch is a clever, classy lady, who seems to have worked hard to get where she is and works hard to stay there. She is certainly preferable to some of the pneumatic beauties that have been forced on us.
April 11, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I was very disappointed to see that Dave and Clayton were not on Saturday morning. I believe both men are very capable newsmen and look forward to seeing them every week end. I would be thrilled to see them more often during the week as well.
April 11, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Whether or not Mr Briggs and Mr. Morris are “serious enough” to handle the big stories on weekend mornings maybe interesting fodder for debate, but that isn’t the reason they’re sidelined for these big-story weekends. FNC has been bringing much of its weekday crew in for these events for the past couple of years and it looks like they’ll keep on doing it.