Ainsley: F&F’s New Queen

Ainsley Earhardt’s reign begins! Today, Ainsley finally achieved her dream of becoming queen of the curvy couch. On Leap Day 1016, she took the leap from Fox & Friends First co-host to the new co-anchor of Fox & Friends, i.e., the “Fox” in Fox & Friends.

As the show began, co-anchor Steve Doocy announced, “Today, we’re all a part of the “A Team” as in Ainsley because today it’s official: Ainsley Earhardt is the new host of Fox & Friends. Exchanging kisses, Steve exclaimed, “Welcome aboard!” Turning to co-anchor Brian Kilmeade, he remarked, “Come on and give her a kiss”: Subsequently, Ainsley and Brian embraced with kisses on the cheek. Beaming, Ainsley declared, “It’s wonderful to be here!”

As the segment ended, Steve remarked, “Alright, so today starts the Ainsley Earhardt Era here on Fox & Friends.” Introducing a montage of Ainsley’s past work [vid] as Fox & Friends fill-in, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host, Fox & Friends First co-anchor, and FNC reporter, Steve said, “We have put together a package to remind you that you have been watching her on American television right here on Fox for a very long. Watch!” After producers ran it, Brian queried, “Alright, so you are going to stick around?”

Smiling, Ainsley answered, “I’m going to stick around for a long time if you’ll have me.”

Brian responded, “Absolutely!”

Chiming in Steve exclaimed, “That’s great! Welcome aboard!”

Welcome aboard indeed, Ainsley: You’ve earned it!

“Ringless” Huddy Returns

Proud cougar tamed again? Today, former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Juliet Huddy returned to the curvy couch, filling in for vacationing ski bunny Anna Kooiman. Looking like a school marm, she sported a navy uniform with a long-sleeved white jacket with black trim and a midi black skirt: And, the most provocative part of her garb was her black peep-toe shoes. But, fear not, the suddenly priggish Hoboken honey did offer her male admirers a little skin, i.e., her bare ring finger.

Gone from Juliet’s left hand was the engagement ring of Steven Wright, her “fiance.” To the long-time F&FW viewer, this fact should come as no surprise: The proud cougar seems to go through guys like Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands. Perhaps, the more the merrier.

For better or for worse, at least, Juliet keeps F&FW fans talking.

 

Kilmeade Comforts Kooiman

Brian: “[Fox & Friends] wouldn’t be the same without you.” As F&F concluded this morning, co-anchor Steve Doocy announced, “Well, we want to officially welcome our friend Ainsley Earhardt to the curvy couch.” Chiming in, co-host Brian Kilmeade declared, “Yep, Ainsley…will be starting February 29th: She’ll join us every morning as co-host of Fox & Friends.”

Turning to guest co-host Anna Kooiman (who appeared to have a real shot at becoming the new queen on the F&F curvy couch after Elisabeth Hasselbeck‘s departure), Brian gave solace to the blond beauty, aptly remarking, “And, Anna, of course, you’re all over Fox & Friends: It wouldn’t be the same without you!” As Steve looked on with a kindly smile, Anna appreciatively answered, “Thank you so much!”

Well played, Brian. Anna, you are indeed wonderful in the center seat on the F&F curvy couch–whether you are there on the weekday or the weekend!

F&F Fox Ainz: Feels the Love

Elisabeth: “Congratulations…can’t wait to see u shine!” Coronated today as Fox & Friends latest queen, Ainsley Earhardt was feeling the love from her female friends and colleagues. Predecessors Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Gretchen Carlson and frequent fill-in Anna Kooiman congratulated her heartily and/or offered their friendly advice. Furthermore, The Five co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle and On the Record anchor Greta van Susteren weighed in for good measure.

Early this afternoon, Elisabeth Tweeted, “Congratulations to my #SisterInChrist & #SweetFriend @ainsleyearhardt on the @foxandfriends news!! This #CBO can’t wait to see you shine!” Offering her encouragement and a helpful hint, Gretchen added, “Congrats to my friend @ainsleyearhardt on being new @foxandfriends host-u will be great! Always set 3 alarms!” Frequent fill-in F&F co-host (and F&FW permanent co-host) Anna Kooiman who seemed to have a real shot at the F&F weekday spot graciously chimed, “Congratulations @ainsleyearhardt on the @foxandfriends hosting gig! It’s a good one!!”

On The Five, co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle announced Ainz’s new position on the F&F weekday curvy couch and added, “We’re super excited for her: There’s isn’t a person in the building that isn’t happy for her….This was always your dream….Congratulations.” On On the Record, anchor Greta Van Susteren exclaimed, “I am thrilled for Ainsley. And, I am also thrilled for her co-hosts, Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade….[C]ongratulations to Ainsley on the new gig!”

Break a leg, Ainsley!

H/t J$P re The Five vid.

Ainsley: F&F’s New Fox

Earhardt: “I am…thrilled to join Steve and Brian on the curvy couch.”  Fox & Friends viewers were tipped off early this morning that changes were afoot by regular F&F fill-in co-host, Anna Kooiman: As the show began today with her in the center seat (with Tucker Carlson and Pete Hegseth), she  cryptically remarked, “Good morning! We’re all visiting the couch this morning!” (After Elisabeth Hasselbeck left the F&F curvy couch, Anna has usually greeted her F&F viewers with her name as if she might be the future queen of the weekday curvy couch).

According to a press release today by FNC, Ainsley Earhardt has been named the new co-anchor of Fox & Friends and she will make her debut as the official co-host on Leap Day, 2016 (February 29). FNC Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes declared, “Ainsley’s relentless work ethic, congeniality, and enthusiasm for connecting with our viewers…are extremely refreshing. She’s a superb team player and an excellent on-air host.” As for Ainsley, she declared, “I am grateful for this opportunity and am thrilled to join Steve [Doocy] and Brian [Kilmeade] on the curvy couch to deliver Americans their morning news.”

It has been a remarkable ride for Ainsley in her Fox & Friends odyssey.

Ainsley made her debut on Fox & Friends Weekend as a guest co-host in February 2008. On February 28, 2008 (almost 8 years to the date of her future debut as queen of the F&F curvy couch), Ainsley apprised the author that she was just filling in and that FNC would announce changes when they were final: Even though the lovely got into hot water initially with FNC brass for being honest and straightforward with this viewer in various missives, the chastened Southern belle did finally take the reins at F&F Weekend with fellow newbie co-hosts, Dave Briggs and Clayton Morris by her side. But Ainsley’s tenure was short-lived as her callow boys needed a surer hand to guide the F&FW ship, namely, Alisyn Camerota (who had sailed those waters before as F&FW co-anchor).

But, Ainsley has stayed the course: And, she has always been there when Ailes needed her. Ainz has been a cheerful and ready fill-in co-host for Fox & Friends weekday, and she has happily served as Fox & Friends First co-anchor with Heather Childers. She has paid her dues, and Ailes has now rewarded her.

And, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Ainsley’s predecessor hardily approves: She Tweeted, “Congratulations to my #SisterInChrist & #SweetFriend @ainsleyearhardt on the @foxandfriends news!! This #CBO can’t wait to see you shine!”

Congratulations, Ainsley!!

H/t: Motownman, Chris Ariens, and Johnny Dollar (J$P).

Sandra Smith: Sexy Enough?

Not yet! Recently, staid Outnumbered co-host Sandra Smith has become a fixture on the curvy couch on both Fox & Friends and F&F Weekend recently. The FBN/FNC co-anchor is a lovely but she is not exactly the eye candy that F&F fans expect. I.e., Sandra is the tom boy, the whilom LSU track athlete who likes to win the race but does not really care how she looks doing it.

And, that may be okay. However, on FNC, she needs to up her game. Sex it up a bit: a dab of decolletage or a mite more gam never hurts. After all, Fox & Friends means something: the gal in the center seat on the curvy couch needs to be the fox, and the boys are her friends.

If Sandra wants to compete for the center seat on the curvy couch on either F&F or F&FW, she has to bring her game: F&FW co-anchor Anna Kooiman appears ready to move from F&FW to F&F, and F&FW seems to be in flux or possibly awaiting the return of the lovely Ainsley Earhardt (after her maternity leave expires). To boot, FNC lovelies Kimberly Guilfoyle, Jedediah Bila, Andrea Tantaros, Nicole Petallides, and the like are at the ready–and the F&F fan will not settle. Not to mention (at least, on the weekday)–the delectable Alisyn Camerota is on the other channel!

Steve Doocy: “Please laugh!”

Jeb Bush: “Please Clap!” This morning, Fox & Friends seemed to signal the end of the Jeb Bush candidacy to be the Presidential standard barrier for the GOP. Not that “JEB!” necessarily needed the hint.

Today, F&F seemed to indicate Bush 3 was toast–as if anyone else needed to know, too. At the bottom of the first F&F hour, producers aired a segment of “The Tonight Show” Jimmy Fallon ridiculing Bush scion “JEB!” as someone who “still knows how to work a crowd.”* In the painful snippet, Jeb said, “I think the next President needs to be a lot quieter but send a signal that we’re prepared to act in the national security interests of this country: To get back in the business of creating a more peaceful world. Please clap!”

After Fallon bowled over in laughter in the clip after the Bush bumble, he derisively remarked, “For the love of God, can I get a, like an awkward cough, anything, a nod? Can you move? Come on!”

When the camera returned to co-host Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade and co-host Sandra Smith, Steve deadpanned, “Boy, that was funny! Please laugh!”

Ducking his head sheepishly, Brian replied, “Right!” Chiming in, Sandra exclaimed, “Uncomfortable!” Coming to the defense of the brother of his sometimes golfing buddy, 43, Brian stammered, “Well, look! In some polls, he’s as high as uh, uh second place in New Hampshire.”

Incredulous, Steve retorted, “Really? What polls?”

Smiling unconvincingly, Brian replied, “He’s coming up!”

Chiding Steve for his frankness, a smiling Sandra chided, “Now! Now!”

Poor JEB! When his only defense is from Kilmeade, a “W” acolyte a la former White House press secretary Dana Perino of The Five, things are not looking up for the Bush dynasty. Or, the GOP establishment.

“Please clap!,” or, “please laugh”! That’s the divide of the GOP–and the FNC.

*Fox & Friends – 02/04/16 (@ 6:32 a.m. ET).