Pete: Tucker’s Heir?

Bringing gravitas back! Strangely, Fox & Friends Weekend “co-host” Pete Hegseth is still listed as a contributor for Fox News Channel (FNC) in his FNC bio and on his Twitter page.  But, he appears to be the unannounced co-anchor of Fox & Friends Weekend a la his apparent predecessor Tucker Carlson and his seeming co-host Abby Huntsman. Perhaps, the F&FW suits have learned from the time they awkwardly replaced Fox & Friends co-anchors Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly with Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris without notice to F&FW fans.

Abby and Ainsley’s loose lips? Friday, Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley sat between guest co-hosts Pete and Clayton on the curvy couch and Abby Huntsman was the newsreader. Before Abby read the headlines at the top of the seven o’clock hour (ET), she pointed to Pete, Clayton, and Ainsley, declaring, “My weekend crew, Ainsley! You’re sitting right…[inaudible]….I love it!” Even though she was the queen of the F&F curvy couch, Ainsley sweetly cooed, “I know! I love being a part of you all! Thank you for letting me do this!”

On Fox & Friends Weekend (Saturday) and today, Pete’s ascendancy to F&FW co-anchor seemed crystal clear. Yesterday, at the top of each hour, the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were displayed as chyrons at the bottom of the screen underneath them: For the doubting Thomases at the top of the second hour, Clayton seemed to adduce evidence to Pete’s apparent new position, saying, “Pete, Abby, and Clayton in the house for you.” On F&FW today, the chyrons of the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were back at the top of each hour.

Perhaps, it is a mite premature, Pete: But, welcome aboard the F&FW ship! Your first mate Abby is a young smart beauty who is heir to her father’s political acumen and Clayton is the entertaining class clown who loves UFO’s, comic book cines, and the latest in tech products: And, you bring Tucker’s gravitas to the mix with your Princeton and Harvard education; much more importantly, your service to the nation; and your dedication to the nation’s vets.

For Pete’s sake, Pete, do yourself and your F&FW fans proud! Break a leg!

 

 

 

Uncensored Dana: “Fu**ing Camel”!

Greg: “Could you watch your language, young lady?” Riding a camel with her The Five co-host Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino sounded a mite like her former co-host Bob Beckel today. In a vid clip aired from their visit to the Columbus Zoo on their bus tour to Cleveland, Ohio, for the GOP Presidential convention, Dana got somewhat salty in her language. After The Five co-anchors watched the “free-range” lions who were not to be fed according to the zookeeper’s orders to Greg, Dana mounted the dromedary and then Greg struggled mightily to get on behind her.

Bizarrely, or, perchance, after a few drinks of her fave vino, Dana unsympathetically exclaimed, “It isn’t, it’s not a fu**ing camel!”*

Chastening his usually chaste co-host on her vulgarity but not her inanity, Greg irascibly retorted, “Could you watch your language, young lady?”

Strangely, producers did not bleep out Dana’s obscenity. But, perhaps, they wanted to proclaim to viewers that Dana is no priggish prude: Rather, she can get naughty on occasion–but, probably, not quite like her comely co-anchor Kimberly Guilfoyle!

*The Five – 07/18/16 (@ 5:40 p.m. ET).

Update: J$P (Johnny Dollar’s Place) vid link: http://video.foxnews.com/v/video-embed.html?video_id=5040699610001

 

Missing Morris: “Pneumonia!”

Another weekend off? Today, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris continued to be M.I.A. from his post–for the second week in a row. Unfortunately, his co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs provided scant commentary for Clayton’s extended absence other than his being sick. Given F&FW‘s past anchor defenestrations (e.g., Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly), unexplained departures (Kiran Chetry), and questionable leaves of absence (Alisyn Camerota), Clayton’s fans surely deserved much more transparency. Happily, apparently, Clayton provided those answers last week–via Twitter.

On the day before F&FW Saturday (last week), Clayton Tweeted, “My wife [Natali Morris nee Del Conte] is a saint. Taking care of two kids and a husband with a 103 degree fever. I’m useless. Well, more than usual.” After the show, he remarked, “Chest X-Ray time to find out if this is pneumonia.” On the following Monday (two days later), Clayton comically revealed the results: He jested, “I’ve lost 6 pounds! My diet secret? Pneumonia!”

At least, Clayton gets it. Get well soon, Clayton!

F&FW: More Courtney & Less Aly?

Reichmuth revelation? After Fox & Friends guest co-anchor Courtney Friel read a story Sunday about a breastfeeding mom who was ousted from McDonald’s and co-host Clayton Morris subsequently tossed to him, FNC meteorologist Rich Reichmuth jested, ““I’m just wondering now with [mom-to-be] Courtney there and [new father] Clayton, how many of these breastfeeding stories are there gonna be.”* In reply, Clayton deadpanned, “We’re actually building a whole block into the show now just for breastfeeding stories.” Laughing, Rick responded, “Of course.” Chiming in, co-anchor Dave Briggs joked, “We need a sponsor!” Perchance, aptly, Rick chuckled: “I know. I believe it. It’s perfect!”

Nothing would be unusual about Rick’s remark if he had uttered it at the beginning of the three-hour program (and, if his colleagues Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs had not then so readily embraced it). However, Rick made his comment with only twenty-two minutes, including commercial breaks, left in F&FW‘s last (and Courtney’s only) show of the weekend. Clearly, Rick indicated that a gravid Courtney’s presence would facilitate those future “breastfeeding stories.” And, Clayton and Dave’s respective remarks about creating a nursing “whole block” and obtaining a breastfeeding “sponsor” added credence to his implication.

Obviously, if Rick’s “revelation” rings true and Courtney returns to F&FW on a more regular basis, she would probably go back to her former role as newsreader or replace F&FW‘s current queen Alisyn Camerota. In that vein, could Aly’s apparent decision to possibly kybosh her blog, Alisyn in the Greenroom,  and to announce it Sunday before the show possibly indicate such a more tenuous relationship to Fox & Friends Weekend. Furthermore, was Dave’s comment at the beginning of F&F Sunday that Aly was taking off “a bit more than the President’s 27 hrs, a few more days than that” more pregnant with meaning that it first appeared to be?**

Conversely, Aly has played such an important role in righting the Fox & Friends Weekend ship after the defenestration debacle (of trio Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly) and its aftermath (Ainsley Earnhardt, Clayton, and Dave) that it seems highly unlikely that FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine would send Aly elsewhere or allow her to leave. However, it is conceivable if Shine thinks that her erstwhile wards, Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs, have grown sufficiently to carry the show with a less able captain. But, perish the thought!

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@9:39 a.m.)

**Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@6:01 a.m.)

Aly & her Doublemen Twins

“New and improved”: Double your pleasure? Double your fun? Fox & Friends (Independence Day edition) finally gave viewers a fireworks display yesterday after two prior years of virtual duds. In 2008, F&FW’s very green crew of Southern belle Ainsley Earhardt and her daft Doublemen twins Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs  made viewers yearn for the then recently defenestrated trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly. In 2009, F&F Weekend’s new queen Alisyn Camerota and her Doublemen major-domos still did not have the F&F house quite in order with their pedestrian music, dreadful duds, and arid air. However, this year, Aly, Dave, and Clayton treated their viewers to a hipper, smarter, and more sophisticated holiday fare: festive yet respective with their  military jazz band, jauntier garb, and vibrant tempo.

Even Aly seemed to have sensed the program’s progress since she joined Clayton and Dave. When producers put a photo of them together on the screen after a segment showing “other” happy couples who looked alike, Aly conversely noted that she was just beginning to be able to tell them apart (an apparently puckish reference to their earlier Doublemen Twin days). Happily, F&FW viewers are beginning to notice the difference, too.

Good job, Aly, Dave, and Clayton!

F&FW Goes South (with Dave)

What happened today to Fox & Friends Weekend? F&FW co-host Dave Briggs decided to go south (Buenos Aires, Argentinea) and, unfortunately, so did F&FW. Filling in for Dave was the somewhat smug, unctuous Peter Johnson, Jr. Unfortunately, he threw co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris off of their respective games this morning.

Say what one may about Dave, but he knows his place. The sports guys is the beta male: Like the youngest son who wants to be loved and pampered, he knows to go along and not to buck up to the alpha bitch or the alpha male. On the other hand, Johnson, is like the brainy nerd who returns to a school reunion with a new wardrobe, more self-confidence, and unwarranted hubris: He still does not know quite how to fit in.

Unfortunately, FNC Senior Veep of Programming Bill Shine seems slow on the F&FW uptake, too. As long-time fans remember, Shine defenestrated the trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without warning and rather abruptly replaced them with Ainsley Earhardt, Clayton, and Dave. Then he let F&FW languish long under those callow hands until he was finally forced to conscript Alisyn Camerota to captain the listing ship. Now he appears happy to use the next Hobson’s choice to temp.

Bill, how about riding a new horse? E.g., why not bring Clayton’s fellow Phillie Mike Jerrick back into your stable to substitute? Or use meteorologist Rick Reichmuth on the curvy couch with Domenica Davis replacing him at the green screen? Or even return for the moment to a girl/girl/boy format with former F&FW filly and new contract girl Juliet Huddy back in the mix?

Dave, you were missed.

F&FW 2day: Past or Future?

“I like [M]ike!” For long-time fans of Fox & Friends Weekend, the return of former F&FW co-anchor Mike Jerrick was a welcome blast from the past. The “old master” showed that he still had the goods, i.e., a wicked wit, audacious ad libbing, and a real rapport with the audience.

Today was a delightful amalgam of the various incarnations of F&FW (save the Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly one). Mike represented the first (Mike, Juliet Huddy, and Julian Phillips); Alisyn Camerota the second (Aly, Kiran Chetry, and Julian Phillips); and Clayton Morris the penultimate one (Clayton, Ainsley Earhardt, and Dave Briggs). Of course, F&FW has had various other manifestations that were too fleeting to mention.

Today Mike, Aly, and Clayton informed and entertained the viewer seamlessly. It was as it should be–especially, on the weekend. No self-absorption, cause celebres, or excessive emotiveness. They simply allowed their audience to sit back and enjoy their coffee, mimosa, or other fave bev.

Bravo, Aly and the boys!

F&FW Four Scores

What a difference a year makes. Only one year ago when Dave Briggs joined Fox & Friends Weekend, four whole hours of Fox & Friends Weekend would have been virtually intolerable: yesterday, they were a pleasure. The difference: Alisyn Camerota and her more mature Doublemen Twins.

Last year, FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine had just defenestrated F&FW’s trusted trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without warning to the F&FW fan. To make matters worse, he had replaced it with the very callow crew  of Ainsley Earhardt, Clayton Morris, and Dave Briggs. The show was floundering with no leader: Clayton was its clowning camera hog; Dave was its stereotypical sports guy; and Ainsley was its much too sweet, compliant girl in the middle.

Happily, since then, Shine brought back F&FW veteran  Alisyn Camerota to rudder the off-course crew in a more certain direction. Aly has done it admirably: she has helped Clayton to be less silly and more focused and given Dave discipline and confidence. She has taught her wards well, and they seem to be earning her respect and that of the viewers.

Happily, the castrato choir appears to be singing its own dirge.

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/aly-to-ffws-rescue/

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/one-more-week/

F&FW Back on Course?

No gratuitous groping, no scandalous shots, and nothing overtly outrageous. Yet, it still clicked! Nothing remarkable about Fox & Friends Weekend today but that may be the very reason it was.

F&FW has come a long way indeed since FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine first threw Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly overboard without warning F&F fans and replaced them with the very callow crew of Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris. The ensuing very rough ride on the ill-fated excursion precipitated the necessary mid-voyage conscription of captain and co-anchor Alisyn Camerota. Under her nurturing leadership, her co-hosts Dave Briggs and Clayton Morris have begun to evolve into more mature mateys.

For example, today when Dave was called Steve [Doocy] at the end of an interview by a guest, he did not bristle as a young buck normally might. Rather, he took it in good humor and then segued to an upcoming Clayton Morris interview with Stevie Nicks by referring to Clayton as Brian [Kilmeade]. Not surprisingly, Aly seamlessly joined in by addressing Dave as “Steve” and exclusively calling Clayton “Brian” throughout the tease. I.e., no worries: it’s all good!

F&FW appears back on course.

Clayton: “I’m the Flake”

As Fox & Friends opened today, guest co-host Clayton Morris upstaged the weekday regulars with his self-deprecatory humor. Introducing the show with the viewer slogan du jour, Clayton read, “If morning shows were breakfast cereal, Fox & Friends are like flakes I’d eat in the morning.” Co-anchor Steve Doocy exclaimed, “Ouch! Can we have a do-over on that one? Hey, welcome to the flakecast!”

Taking herself a tad seriously, too, co-anchor Gretchen Carlson declared, “I’m not so sure I’m ready to call myself a flake just yet: I get enough blonde jokes as it is.” Steve concurred, “Just by putting that into the open, it seems as if we’re going along with it: I’m with Gretchen on this!” Good-naturedly self-effacing, Clayton responded, “Why don’t you just say flake? I’ll take the hit for that….I’m the flake this morning, yeah!”

Clayton seems to be growing into his role as F&F guest co-host (and F&FW co-anchor). After FNC made Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly walk the proverbial plank, newly conscripted Clayton and his co-hosts, Ainsley Earhardt and Dave Briggs, were like sailors on a rudderless ship. However, now that a recommissioned Camerota is captaining the ship, Clayton seems to have found his sea legs.

F&F: Alpha Bitches Needed

The demure and attractive Ainsley Earhardt returned to Fox & Friends’ curvy couch today as guest host and reminded the author of the sine qua non of a successful F&F, an alpha bitch. The sweet Southern belle does not quite fit the bill. E.g., when co-anchor Dave Briggs questioned who was still stirring and who had just awakened, Ainsley replied that she had been working all night and was still awake: no response from Dave. Also, when Ainsley queried who Clayton Morris and Dave had kissed at midnight, they answered but did not inquire the same of her. Nothing big but Alisyn Camerota would not have been so lightly regarded.

An essential element of F&F has been a strong woman who can stand up to the boys and put them in their place. On F&FW, a jaunty Juliet Huddy kept her salty pal Mike Jerrick corralled and third wheel Julian Phillips cowed; luscious lovelies Kiran Chetry and Alisyn Camerota ran the show as Julian watched from the sidelines; and siren Page Hopkins kept her uncertain colleagues Greg Kelly and Kelly Wright on a slow burn. On F&F, cowgirl E.D. Hill held Four-H’r Steve Doocy and city slicker Brian Kilmeade firmly in her riata.

Now Fox & Friends Weekend has returned to its formula for success. F&FW took the reins from a diffident, callow Ainsley and handed them to a confident, veteran Aly. Aly took charge of the show and Clayton and Dave fell in line.

On the other hand, Fox & Friends weekday has not quite regained its moorings since E.D. left. Gretchen seems to try to ape her predecesssor in her diurnal diatribes but receives less deference from her colleagues than did E.D. Steve and Brian are the alpha males, and they know it. However, Gretch is not the alpha bitch, and she knows it. Whether she can grow into the position is yet to be seen.

Colmes: Ciao!

An odd farewell from and to Alan Colmes, the liberal counterpart to Sean Hannity on FNC’s popular political polemics program, Hannity & Colmes. During the show, Alan mentioned with little fanfare that he had an announcement to make and Sean seemed to treat it rather lightly: However, in the final segment, Alan announced that he would be leaving the show after twelve years to continue his radio program (“Alan Colmes Show”), contribute to FNC, and to, perhaps, do occasional specials for FNC. He and Sean affirmed their on-screen, off-screen long-time friendship and traded pleasantries. And then the usual segue to Greta and it was over.

According to TVDecoder, Alan will leave at the end of the year. Fox News may be slowly learning from its mistakes. Its past pathetic partings to Fox & Friends’ E.D. Hill and F&FW’s Kiran Chetry, Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, Greg Kelly, and Ainsley Earhardt left a sour taste in its faithful fans’ mouths. Hopefully, when he leaves at the end of the year, they will give him a respectful send-off.

Adieu, Alan. You have proved yourself a vociferous and vigorous adversary to Sean. And you do so without being mean spirited. Bravo!

http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/one-half-of-hannity-colmes-is-leaving/?hp

http://soupcans.blogspot.com/2008/11/hannity-colmes-to-lose-colmes-part.html

Clayton: You Might Not See Me Ever Again

Is Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris reading his reviews? On a promo for an upcoming segment entitled “Car of the Future? Test Drive the Honda Civic GX”, co-anchor Alisyn Camerota teased, “Does it disappear or something?” Clayton said, “I’m driving it and you might not see me ever again.” When Dave Briggs droned, “Okay,” and Alisyn laughed, a self-deprecating and knowing Clayton added, “Some people might love that.”

However, Clayton and his F&F twin Dave seem to have weathered the storm for now that the FNC suits caused when they replaced Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without apprising their F&FW’s fans. Now that the castrato choir is being kept more on key by the sassy and serious Alisyn Camerota (than her sweet and attractive predecessor Ainsley Earhardt could manage), their positions seem more secure. Probably no disappearing act for Clayton or his Doublemen twin unless and until Circe Camerota chooses otherwise.

Ainsley’s Fate Sealed

The fate of Ainsley Earhardt, the South Carolina cutie, was sealed as soon as the castrato choir (and Courtney Friel) was enlisted to sail the F&FW ship with her. To Ainsley afficionados, she appears sweet, genuine, and promising whereas to her detractors, she seems saccharine, naive, and green. She may well share all of these attributes in some measure but she never was able to find her footing flanked by the castrato choir.

Why Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs were conscripted after Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly were thrown overboard is unfathomable to this author. I missed FNC’s inexplicably delayed introduction of the pair to the F&FW audience. If anyone gleaned a reasonable explanation, please comment: if not, please feel free to share the import of the segment. Thanks!

Aly on Vacation. Sound Familiar?

Is Aly on vacation or on a FNC “vacation”? Last Friday Aly told the Fox & Friends First audience that she was starting her vacation the next day. According to Johnny Dollar (JDP), Aly’s is taking a nine-day holiday which coincides with the possible expansion of Fox & Friends to three hours incorporating Fox & Friends First. Johnny Dollar ominously observes, “IF this report [F&F expansion] is correct (and I put a question mark on it deliberately) then Gretchen will be doing all three hours from now on.” (JDP references Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tim Cuprisin who said Fox & Friends with Gretchen Carlson, Steve Doocy, and Brian will expand to three hours including the time spot of F&FF.)

Is FNC pulling another fast one on its loyal fans? When it canned the comely Kiran Chetry and later the trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly, it breathed nary a word to its Fox & Friends viewers. If F&FF is indeed being replaced by F&F, then what becomes of Alisyn Camerota? Will she return from vacation as a mere newsreader on F&F? Or will she be exiled with Page Hopkins to FNC’s Siberia?

If Aly goes on permanent holiday from Fox & Friends, then I very well may join her. FNC cannot continue to treat its viewers with little to no regard without consequences. Roger Ailes, you called in to F&FW Saturday: hopefully, you’ll get back with the program in general. It needs your attention desparately.

Links:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=772056
http://homepage.mac.com/mkoldys/blog/jdp.html

Aly: Greg Kelly Here

Greg Kelly admirers, your dreamboat is still with Fox News according to Alisyn Camerota. This author has heard the murmuring about Clayton Morris filling in for Brian Kilmeade vis-a-vis G.I. Ken. Apparently, FNC does not want to roil the waters any more than they are by bringing in one of the former canned co-anchors (i.e., Greg Kelly, Kelly Wright, or Page Hopkins) to guest host. It appears determined to “stay the course” with its new cast of Clayton, Dave Briggs, Ainsley Earhardt, and Courtney Friel: seemingly, it does not want to stir a poignant nostalgia for the past.

http://greenroom.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/07/jay-thomas/#comments

XF&F Weekend Co-hosts

On this Memorial Day weekend, as the Fox & Friends Weekend viewer honors this country’s fallen heroes, in an infinitesimally lesser manner, he/she remembers past F&F Weekend co-hosts. Where are they now? TV couple Juliet Huddy and Mike Jerrick co-anchor broadcast FOX’s morning news show; Kiran Chetry animates CNN’s American Morning as co-host; Alisyn Camerota heats up F&F First as co-anchor and F&F as news reader; Julian Phillips acts as a motivational speaker; Page Hopkins makes sparing appearances as the Fox News’ Breaking News desk and, reportedly, has been heard on Fox radio; Greg Kelly serves sometimes an FNC America’s Election Headquarters co-host and a news reader on FNC; and Kelly Wright returns as a Fox News Washington D.C. correspondent. Thanks, gals and guys, for the memories.

Kelly Wright Back on F&F Weekend

Kelly Wright returned to Fox & Friends Saturday, not as co-host but as Washington correspondent. (He reported on the Bush/Obama “appeasement” controversy.) For fans of Wright and his foremer co-anchors, Page Hopkins and Greg Kelly, it brought back memories of the earlier team and their special rapport. For followers of the new team of Ainsley Earhardt, Clayton Morris, and Dave Briggs, it reminds them that this new crew may, too, change with the possible addition of Megan Henderson.

Kelly v. Kilmeade

On this morning’s Fox & Friends, guest co-host Greg Kelly dissed the vacationing Brian Kilmeade after Steve Doocy teased him about his orangish tie. Doocy said that it looked like one of Brian’s and Gretchen Carlson said it looked like a Halloween tie. Greg defensively declared, “No this is not one of his ties: Brian wears bolo ties…and…clipon ties.” He added, “Brian has trouble tying ties.” Gretchen joked that he should be glad that Brian was no where near a TV. Greg dismissively retorted, “What would he do?…he’s small…he’s about five-eight…I could take him.”

Kelly v. Kilmeade? You be the judge.

G.I. Ken’s Flight of Fantasy

After a news item about Prince William’s landing of an RAF helicopter in the garden of his amie Kate Middleton, Fox & Friends guest co-host Greg Kelly shared his flight school fantasy. (ExtraTV’s 2007 “Most Eligible Anchorman in America” and the son of NYPD’s police commissioner was a nine-year pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps and is now a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.) Kelly said, “I used to fantasize about landing my aircraft on somebody’s lawn, seriously, in flight school but I would have been court-martialed.”

When Steve Doocy and Alisyn Camerota’s queried, ‘Whose lawn?,” Kelly elaborated, “I actually had this all planned out. I showed up at some cocktail party in the afternoon with my Harrier jet and I got out…Said sorry I got to go but I’ll see YOU later.”

Ali replied, “That would have been great.” Doocy commented, “That’s the life of our Colonel McDreamy. Fox News’ Kelly answered, “But that’s my dream life: McDreamy dreams.”