Martha: “My Sweetheart” Birthday Bill

Fanning the flame? America’s Newsroom co-anchor Martha MacCallum seemed to enjoy stoking rumors of romance between herself and co-host Bill Hemmer yesterday. Only two weeks after she and Bill said that they did not want to talk about people thinking that they were married (on Fox News Radio’s Kilmeade & Friends), Martha appeared more than happy to give their fans more grist for the rumor mill with a flirty final segment yesterday.*

As she and Bill returned from ad break for their last block of the day,  Martha cooed, “So, Bill, my dear, we’ve been talking all day about how it’s a kind of special day here in America’s Newsroom: And, that is because it is young Bill Henner’s “Happy Birthday.” Handing a cupcake with a lit single candle to a smiling Bill, she lilted, “Happy birthday to you, my sweetheart.”

Looking at her with an almost childlike astonishment, Bill exclaimed, “And, you know, you got the icing right because it’s blue!”

Smiling, Martha replied, “It is blue, and that’s your favorite. And, we knew that!” Continuing her birthday tribute to the birthday boy, she declared, “But, we want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Hemmer for bringing Billy into the world just a few years ago. No, we don’t have to say how many. But…you look great!” Giggling, Martha asked, “Is that a comfort?”

Chuckling, he jested, “Thank you! And, I still act and I feel twenty-five so I think that’s going to get me a little bit on the line.”

Looking down at his still lit cupcake, Bill more solemnly said, “So, I just want to make a wish here real quick: And, this will be a ‘Fox News Alert.’ But, I’m not going to tell you!”

Lowering his head toward his cupcake, Bill blew on the flame of the candle. Flickering for a moment, it came back to life. Grinning, Bill exclaimed, “What is this! What is it! Magic candles! We did this…when we were in third grade.”

Excitedly, Martha pleaded, “Blow it out! Blow it out! Keep going. You’ve got thirty seconds!”

As Bill obeyed and blew the flame out quickly, a now more platonic Martha said, “So you made a wish, and I hope it comes true, Buddy.” Giving him a high five, she intoned, “This year!”

Bill’s secret birthday desire? Martha seems to know. For fans, Bill’s personal “Fox News Alert” may just happen “this year!” But, for now, he is not talking. Nor, is she.

So, stay tuned.

*America’s Newsroom – 11/14/12 (@ 10:58 a.m. ET)

Tags: America's Newsroom, Bill Hemmer, FNC, Fox News, Fox News Radio, Kilmeade & Friends, Martha MacCallum