“I’m just waiting on a Friend!” Today, FNC announced that Fox & Friends co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck is on her way out and that she is expected to exit the early morn cable news champ in late December according to “Variety” magazine. Elisabeth, F&F fans barely knew you!
Only two years ago (September 16, 2013), sexy Survivor celeb and The View’s erstwhile conservative co-anchor Elisabeth became the belle of the ball, replacing flirty 1989 Miss America beauty, Gretchen Carlson, who never really seemed to quite click with her male co-hosts, Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade. In contrast, Elisabeth was the sweet married hottie that put her boys on the curvy couch on notice from the start that she considered them brothers.
To the author who has followed F&F since the days of E. D. Donahey (a/k/a E. D. Hill), Elisabeth seemed like such a sweet, sincere soul that he could not easily snark or snipe at her–even when she became mawkish and maudlin. Nevertheless, she seemed like an odd choice for F&F‘s then EVP of Programming Bill Shine over the much beloved Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Alisyn Camerota who oft held court from the center seat on the weekend curvy couch when Gretchen was away. Of course, the long-time F&F fan was not overly surprised since Shine had similarly overlooked E. D.’s obvious successor, the smart, sexy, and charismatic F&FW co-anchor Kiran Chetry.
Perhaps, Shine will bring back comely Kiran: But, it is somewhat doubtful in light of the manner that Kiran was reportedly dismissed. If he is not ready to bring Kiran back into the fold, perchance, he will consider Aly who was always there for him on F&F First, F&F Weekend, and F&F weekday (as a sub, especially during the big news special editions). If Shine wants to stay with the Fox stable, he may want to consider Greek goddess Nicole Petallides who brings sexy back on FBN:AM on a daily basis (as F&FF once did).
[Author’s aside: Best of luck, Elisabeth! Hopefully, you will enjoy much joy, peace, success with the fam in the present and in your career in the future.]
Tags: Alisyn Camerotta, Bill Shine, Brian Kilmeade, E. D. Donahey, E. D. Hill, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, FBN:AM, FNC, Fox & Friends, Fox and Friends, Fox News, Gretchen Carlson, Kiran Chetry, Miss America, Nicole Petallides, Rolling Stones, Steve Doocy, Survivor, The View, Variety, Waiting on a Friend
Carpe Diem 
November 23, 2015 at 11:29 pm
There’s no question it should be Ainsley.
She’s the right age, she has the most experience, she can do hard news and the light stuff, she has the perfect personality for a morning show and she now is a new mom, which can’t be underestimated as a factor in the Fox target audience. The question is if she will want it she she is very proud of F&FF but there’s no doubt Ainsley is the best candidate.
November 23, 2015 at 11:41 pm
Wow.. didn’t mind Elisabeth; she was certainly better suited than Gretchen. For me Aly was always the stand out replacement. Don’t think that any of the current crop of stand-ins (Anna/Ainsley etc) show much potential when it comes to covering the more serious news stories. The next year or so is a presidential campaign; maybe there’s scope for one of the Washington bureau ladies!
November 24, 2015 at 3:03 am
I’m surprised you didn’t mention Kimberly Guilfoyle as a possible replacement. She’s smart and can carry her own weight in interviews or bantering with the guys without appearing to try too hard. I liked Elizabeth but her voice was too shrill for early morning IMHO. I doubt Aly will move back so soon after exiting, but we’ll see….
November 24, 2015 at 9:26 am
[…] Kilmeade makes book: ‘fast paced, breezy‘. Hogue: Some thoughts on F&F. […]
November 24, 2015 at 3:27 pm
Please bring back Aly on weekends and put anna on weekdays I do not care for Anna. I used to love weekends but not since she appeared and only watch when I see Jhuddie or some other replacement
November 25, 2015 at 1:11 am
Still curious why both E! News and People wrote the following:
“Reports circulated earlier today (Monday) noting that Hasselbeck was offered a new contract with Fox News, who was allegedly begging her to stay. But a source confirms that ‘she was not offered a new contract,’ and ‘there certainly was no begging’.”
Plus what to make of Roger Ailes saying, ““Elisabeth and I discussed this at length over several weeks.”
What were they discussing those three weeks?
Terms of a buyout?
Possible desire by EH for a later time slot on another show like Outnumbered?
Who knows. Maybe it’s all legit.
But the timing, the 5-week notice and the fact she is giving up so much when she and Tim have a $4.8M home to maintain makes it all a little suspicious in the eyes of some that there is more to this story.
November 26, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Definitely won’t miss her squeaky, annoying voice.
Though she might be aspiring for her own show after her dust up with Josh E-but I guess not.
December 6, 2015 at 8:49 am
While I did enjoy Elizabeth during her stint on Fox & Friends I never felt she really quite belonged there… Elizabeth seems like such a people person and I feel she may me better suited in a situation that better enhances her personality strengths. Also wonder if there was more to the story of why she is leaving. I agree that Ainsley would be a good candidate to place her however I really like Heather Nauert too. Either would be ideal.
October 25, 2018 at 7:49 am
What’s up, every time i used to check blog posts here early in the dawn, because i love to gain knowledge of more and
more.