Ed out: Carley In?

Queens boy out: Jersey girl in? Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Ed Henry appears to be on his way–given the Tucker Carlson treatment. Both seemed to bristle at being treated to the F&FW trials where they were not given the Anderson Cooper coddling but they had to find a way to endear themselves to the “implorables,” the backbone of America who are not ensconced in the elitist Establishment’s Ivory towers.

Tucker’s trial by fire (where he actually had to eat on air contrary to his sworn attestations aforehand and to suffer other motley indignities to the delight of the Everywo/man) resulted in his becoming an FNC prime-time host of his highly-rated eponymous show. Now, oft decried as the “journalist” co-anchor on F&FW by his beloved tattooed Army co-host serviceman Pete Hegseth, Ed seems set to be on a similar path as the co-anchor with the lovely LSU alum, Sandra Smith, on America’s Newsroom as Bill Hemmer moves on to “green pastures” in the afternoon to take over Shep’s erstwhile grazing milieu.

Perhaps, Fox & Friends (in its various iterations) blond beauty Carley Shimkus from New Jersey will join slightly harder-edged brunette Jersey girl Jedediah Bila on the curvy couch with Pete to sweeten the pot. As longtime fans of F&FW know full well, it would not be the first time that two gorgeous gals ruled the roost in the early FNC weekend morn. Once the comely Kiran Chetry, Jersey-girl Alisyn Camerota, and Julian Phillips made up the two-gal, one-boy ensemble that awakened F&FW fans to greet the dawn.

Much success, Ed! And, hopefully, Carley will fill your footsteps in her sleek, sexy stilettos.

 

Suspended FNC “Total Pu*sy” Contributor Returns

Lt. Col. Ralph Peters (Ret.): “Merry Christmas, Abby!” On the eve of Christmas Eve, Christian charity has returned to the airwaves: The FNC contributor who called the President a “total pu*sy” and who was summarily suspended by Fox News for two weeks was welcomed back warmly today by FNC’s latest lovely score, the gorgeous Abby Huntsman, on America’s Newsroom.*

In a segment subtitled, “GOP Criticizes Secy of State Kerry over Visa Waivers for Iran,” Abby introduced Lt. Col. Peters to her audience and then welcomed him, saying, “Sir, thank you for being with us.” In answer, he exclaimed, Merry Christmas, Abby!” As she smiling replied, “Merry Christmas to you, too!,” he responded with a puckish grin, “And to all!”

No more expletives today comparing the President with feminine genitalia from Lt. Col. Peters but he lambasted POTUS anew with vigor. Lt. Col. Peters asserted that President Obama is doing nothing as “Iran is building this new Persian Empire across the Middle East…get[ting], at least, a hundred billion dollars from the Iran-nuke-give-away deal…still testing rockets that can hit Israel and go beyond Israel [and] they’re holding Americans hostage.” In conclusion, he declared, “Abby, the Persians, the Iranians are building the greatest Iranian empire in 2500 years on Obama’s watch. And, frankly, much of what we’re doing militarily in Iraq and Syria is actually helping the Iranians…and we have no strategic vision under this Administration. None!” Sardonically, he added, “Merry Christmas!”

Perchance, Lt. Col. Peters “suspension” room mate, Stacey Dash will also be welcomed back during this Christmas holiday season: Her two weeks are up, too.

*America’s Newsroom – 12/23/15 (@ 10:33 a.m. ET).

Gregg Jarrett Uncomfortable: Awkward!

“F**king…stupid…a**!” Today, America’s Newsroom guest go-host Gregg Jarrett got rather uncomfortable today [as he reported a story about the suspension of ESPN reporter Britt McHenry‘s after her “really bizarre foul-mouthed rant against a parking lot attendant for a tow truck company…filled with insults caught on video and then going viral” (via FNC vid)]. And, co-anchor Martha McCallum and Happening Now co-host Jenna Lee did not help things.

For FNC fill-in anchor Jarrett, who recently returned to Fox News after taking off for “serious personal issues,” his segment on McHenry’s suspension was an uncomfortable one for him and his viewers. As his fans may know, Jarrett recently pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct pertaining to an incident at a Minneapolis/St. Paul airport bar and grill: Allegedly, he was intoxicated and he “refused to follow orders and was arrested for obstruction of the legal process and taken to jail.” In a video of Jarrett in an apparent airport holding cell, a belligerent Jarrett calls an officer a “f**king…stupid…a**” and is summarily subdued and cuffed.

Today, a smiling Jarrett introduced his segment on McHenry, saying, “ESPN is suspending reporter Britt MacHenry after she let loose.”* Chuckling, he continued, “[I]n a really bizarre foul-mouthed rant against a parking lot attendant for a tow truck company. The ugly outburst–that’s with a capital “U”–filled with insults caught on video and then going viral.”

Subsequently, producers ran the footage of McHenry horridly raving, “I’m in the news, sweetheart. I will f**king sue this place….I wouldn’t work at a scumbag place like this. Makes my skin crawl even being here. Maybe, if I was [sic] missing some teeth they would hire me, huh?…Lose some weight, baby girl!”

In the segment, Jarrett moderated a discussion whether ESPN had the right to suspend McHenry. During it, he rightly noted, “We all have bad moments, frustrated, and we lash out and feel bad about it afterwards.”

As the block concluded, Martha seemed to gauchely throw Jarrett a lifeline, saying, “I want to go back to Britt McHenry here: I mean…obviously, she was acting like a complete jerk. I think what she needs to do is go back and apologize to that woman. But, the fact that she’s suspended from her job for a week, people have jerky behavior all the time. What’s the limit to that? Where does that end where you’re going to be monitored at home and [unintelligible] well, you said something nasty to your neighbor, and I think that you should be suspended for a week?”

Rightly, Jarrett noted, “Yeah, well the trouble is that she used her position in television in that remark.” He added, “Her biggest punishment is public humiliation. And, boy, check out social media!”

Laughing Martha said, “She’ll probably get more attention….You know how that works. You know how that works in the media world, right?”

All too aptly, Jarrett replied, “I do.”

Probably ready for a modicum of relief from Martha’s ill-conceived banter, Jarrett segued to the promo for the upcoming show, saying, “Jenna Lee is standing by for Happening Now. Hey, Jenna!”

But, there was no relief for poor Jarrett. Jenna began, remarking, “None of us have ever acted…none of us have ever acted like a jerk EVER! Anyways!”

“Anyways.” The elephant in the room remained–unremarked upon. Awkwardly for Jarrett–and the viewer.

*America’s Newsroom – 04/17/15 (@ 10:42 a.m. ET).

Hemmer: Carlson’s “Fun” Parties

“Mom says, ‘Don’t tell me that stuff, Gretchen. I don’t want to know!” Gretchen Carlson, host of The Real Story shared the scoop on her wild ways with American Newsroom Bill Hemmer in their early days. FNC fun: Beefcake Bill and Carlson Cheesecake!

In a new segment entitled “My Friends at Fox,” Gretchen brought out Bill for its inaugural debut with the seeming double entendre hashtag #WHATSYOURBEEF. After posing political queries to Bill, Gretch concluded the interview, saying, “As part of my ‘Friends at Fox,’ we’re also interested in our guests giving us just one more thing, maybe, something that people don’t know about you!”*

Raising his eyebrows and chuckling, Bill sheepishly exclaimed, “Now!”

Giggling, Gretchen replied, “Now, Hemmer…I’ve known you for a long time. I know that you left your job and traveled the world for a year: you’ve been to sixty countries. I know that you love golf–I know a lot more about you!”

After some additional idle chatter, Gretchen concluded their segment together [FNI vid], saying, “Well, time for my take now. Today we kicked off My Friends at Fox is because one of the best things about working in the TV business is what a small world it actually and how you keep running into the same people you’ve worked with before in another life. Well, that happened right here at this office a couple times.”

As a throwback pic of the happy duo embracing appeared onscreen [FNI pics (w/i vid)], Gretchen remarked, “Take a look at these gems! Yep, this is Bill Hemmer and Gretchen Carlson from the early days in our careers.” As Bill jested, “PhotoShop!,” yet another pic of the two happily together appeared: Giggling, Gretchen continued,”The late ’90’s when we were both still in our very young twenties, hanging out and working together at WCPO in Cincinnati. We had a lot of fun, right, Bill!”

Seemingly, starting to remember those times together anew, Bill suggestively responded, “Ah, hnh!”

Innocently, Gretchen intoned, “But, the best thing is that we’ve remained friends all these years….Bill and I both shared the same dream, to work hard and [to] see where we ended up. And, as fate would have it, we both ended up here at the Fox News Channel…Hemmer, truly one of my friends at Fox!”

Apparently, not quite ready for the conversation to end on that note, Bill chimed in, “Thank you, Gretchen. The parties you threw back in day!” As Gretchen try to shush him, Bill laughed, “Do your parents have any idea!”

Gretchen replied, “They do actually.” As Bill arched his eyebrows incredibly,  Gretchen saucily answered, “My mom says, ‘Don’t tell me that stuff, Gretchen: I don’t want to know!’ We had some fun, Hemmer!”

Real Story Throwback Thursday: Hemmer time–with Gretchen!

*The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson – 02/19/15 (@ 2:45 p.m. ET).

 

Aly to CNN! A la Kiran?

Fox’s finest foxes have left the building: But, the vixens did it different ways. Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Kiran Chetry was unceremoniously escorted out of the FNC den sans her personal belongings according to NYMag.com whereas whilom F&FW co-anchor Alisyn Camerota was given an “emotional @FoxNews send-off” with her belongings packed by her colleagues. Happily for their respective fans, they both subsequently found a home–at CNN.

As long-time Fox News viewers may well remember, Kiran was a rising star at FNC as co-host of both Fox & Friends Weekend (and Fox & Friends First) in 2006 and she was widely expected by her phalanx of fans to take over for E.D. Hill whenever she left her center seat on the curvy couch: However, FNC Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine dashed her and their hopes when he selected the rather awkward and too oft solipsist Gretchen Carlson for the position on September 22, 2006. Later, in early  2007, Kiran negotiated for a new contract with a high-powered agent who, according to FNC, wanted a term for Kiran to replace Gretchen by a certain date: Conversely, purportedly, she simply wanted a provision that she could escape her contract if she were not awarded that position by a certain date. Consequently, FNC cut off contract negotiations with Kiran in a royal row, and eager CNN’s Prez Jonathan Klein hired the prized journalist that day within an hour of learning of the “extraordinary circumstances.” (According to NYMag.com, a less impressed FNC had the Nepalese lovely escorted out of the building without her personal effects in her office and hubby FNC weatherman Chris Knowles had to “raid her office” to get them–before being “released from his Fox News contract” the very next day.)

Similarly, Kiran’s former FNC colleague, Aly, has been a shining star in the Fox News constellation, deftly doing double duty as the captain of Fox & Friends Weekend and ably subbing for Gretchen on the F&F “A-Team” at the drop of a hat during even the most momentous moments. When Gretchen renegotiated her contract and received her own show, viewers naturally assumed Aly would finally be coronated as F&F weekday queen. Using the same “wisdom” that inanely snubbed Kiran seven years earlier, Shine chose The View‘s discarded damsel Elisabeth Hasselbeck for the role over fan fave Aly: Shortly thereafter, he sent Aly “out to “pasture” with Bill Hemmer for a short while on America’s Newsroom and replaced her on F&FW with his new hire, Anna Kooiman. Subsequently, with Kiran’s purportedly ill-conceived forced exit in mind, FNC and Aly crafted a happier meme: Aly Tweeted a pic of her in her office with her files (with a sweet note that @lauraingle, @JennRiveraTV, and @rickreichmuth had helped her pack) and another of her in the hallway hugging one of many in a gauntlet of FNC colleagues. To any doubting Thomas,  she returned to the building to guest on Kilmeade and Friends, telling her fans, “I left on great terms. I love everybody here: I think the feeling is mutual. And, it’s fun to be back in the building.” But, not for long: On Monday, CNN Worldwide Prez Jeff Zucker announced that he had grabbed the “seasoned journalist with a great curiosity and passion for the news…[that]…has a presence on camera…[that]…is very hard to find.”

Who knows? Maybe, Aly and Kiran fans will be treated to a double espresso of the arousing Aphrodites in the morning. When one Twitter follower Tweeted, “You and @kiranchetrytv should team up again. You two were great,” Aly answered, “That would be a blast.”

Indeed, it would. Vintage Fox & Friends Weekend on CNN? Aly and Kiran: A real “New Day”!

[Author’s aside: It may be no anomaly that Kiran (CNN’s former American Morning co-host) made her return to the CNN morn Sunday on Reliable Sources as a guest journalist in a segment entitled “Women, TV News, and Attractiveness.”]

 

Cheryl Casone: Holiday Honey?

Lady in red lacking: But, four for Fourth! Today, blond beauty FBN anchor Cheryl Casone did double duty subbing for fellow towheads Ainsley Earhardt on Fox & Friends First and Martha MacCallum on America’s Newsroom. As Cheryl filled in ably for her vacationing FNC counterparts today, she seemed to think that today was all business and to forget that it is a fun national holiday.

Dressed aptly in a patriotic red dress, she wore it just a little too long o’er the knee–at least, by Ainsley’s standard and even the more demure Martha’s metric.  If was almost as if the tyro co-host were saying, “If you’re tuning in to F&FF and AN on Independence Day, you are such an FNC diehard that you are going to watch regardless of what I don or don’t.”

Nevertheless, it was delightful to see Cheryl finally sit in the F&FF and AN co-anchor chairs. The FBN jobs babe proved that she definitely has the potential to be an FNC anchor: I.e., she has the beauty–and brains. But, she may well want to remember that a visibly leggy blond goes a long way on the channel–especially, during the holidays.

Break a leg, Cheryl: Or, show ’em a bit more!

 

Bill Hemmer: No F&FW Fan?

Oblivious Bill: Tucker, “where’s the bow, where’s the bow tie?” Fox & Friends Weekend gets no respect from FNC host Bill Hemmer. First, the eminently likeable “blow-dry anchor” stole the queen of the curvy couch, three-time F&FW co-host Alisyn Camerota from her fans for good on October 1 of last year. Now, he almost acknowledges that he is no fan of the show–or, if he ever were, he has not seen it since Tucker Carlson took Dave Briggs‘ vacant seat.

During America’s Newsroom this morning, Bill interviewed Tucker and Alan Colmes: After introducing his erstwhile CNN colleague Tucker, he animatedly asked, “Where’s the bow? Where’s the bow tie?”* As Alan chuckled, Tucker grimaced, riposting, “Oh, it’s been about ten [years].” Smiling, an oblivious Bill continued, “New fashion sense!” Charitably, Tucker laughed, “I may bring it back!”

When Tucker began his stint on F&F over a year ago (before he officially took the job), he explained essentially why he had given up the bow tie. In a segment on America returning to more formal Fridays, Tucker, then co-anchor Aly, and co-host Clayton Morris discussed the bow tie. During the segment, Tucker remarked, “People despise you when you wear a bow tie…especially, the Big Apple.” Even though he ignored Aly when she asked him, “Is that why you gave up the bow?,” the answer seemed manifest.

Fox & Friends Weekend: The Rodney Dangerfield of FNC, Bill? At least, watch the show. Or, better yet, give Aly back!

*America’s Newsroom – 01/15/14 (@ 10:32 a.m. ET)

Huddy’s “Hell”: To Freeze Over?

O’Reilly: “We’re gonna keep it…at least, for the time being.” Good Day NY anchor Juliet Huddy was given an entirely new weekly segment from Bill O’Reilly entitled “Mad as Hell” Thursday on his eponymous show. A day earlier, Juliet’s erstwhile signature slot on the O’Reilly Factor, “Did You See That,” was handed to America’s Newsroom co-host Martha MacCallum. Stranger yet, O’Reilly himself seemed to suggest that Juliet’s new gig might not be long-lived.

Apparently, signaling the changes afoot on the Factor a week earlier (September 25), Martha Tweeted, “I will be on @oreillyfactor every Wed night.” Then, this past Wednesday, Martha appeared in Juliet’s place on “Did You See That” with no mention of the missing Juliet by either Martha or O’Reilly. However, at the end of the show, O’Reilly announced that the Factor on Thursday would “launch a brand new segment called ‘Mad as Hell'” with Juliet commenting on viewers’ missives about what really ticks them off.

True to O’Reilly’s word, Juliet appeared Thursday on “Mad,” opining with her “William” about e-mail from peeved viewers.* And, at the end of her segment, “O’Reilly asked for more such letters to them for the following Thursday.

However, on Friday, O’Reilly indicated that he and Juliet might not be entertaining such correspondence permanently. At the end of his show Friday, Bill read an e-mail from a fan of “Mad,” saying, “Mr. O, if you discontinue the Mad as Hell segment, I will be mad as hell.” In response, O’Reilly remarked, “Alright, we’re gonna keep it…at least, for the time being.”

In Ailes’ world lately, that “time being” is rather tenuous–at best.

*O’Reilly Factor – 10/03/13 (@ 7:29 p.m. ET)

**O’Reilly Factor – 10/04/13 (@8:55 p.m. ET)

F&FW’s Alisyn Camerota: “I’m in Denial”

Anna Koiman: I have big shoes to fill at Fox & Friends Weekend. Before her curtain call on Saturday, the queen of the curvy couch, Alisyn Camerota, seemed somewhat reluctant to give up her throne and to leave her acolytes alone. Perchance, as succor, her successor, at least, “for now,” Anna Kooiman gave her apt homage, Tweeting, “Congrats on ur new show @AlisynCamerota[:] You are amazing in every way. I [have] big shoes to fill @ffweekend.”

Indeed, Anna does! Aly has regally ruled that curvy couch thrice. As faithful fans of Fox & Friends Weekend may well remember, the Bristol Bay babe first held court on the curvy couch with the incomparable Nepalese beauty Kiran Chetry in the early-and-mid 00’s. Subsequently, Aly was “promoted” to the weekday F&F crew as newsreader: But, a wise Shine summoned her back in 2008 to captain Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs on a more certain course (than a then too callow Ainsley Earhardt could fathom). About a year later, Shine gave Aly a strange five-month Sabbatical, pairing her oft with Bill Hemmer of America’s Newsroom (during then co-host Megyn Kelly‘s maternity leave and beyond): After auditioning apparent aspirants who did not quite measure up to the role, Shine brought Aly back for yet another run.

In true form, Aly was stellar yet again. And, now, as she is about to be paired more permanently with Bill Hemmer (in a new America’s News HQ slot), Aly’s able assistant aptly asserts, “The journey continues, enjoy the ride.” But, speaking, perhaps, for her fervid F&FW fans, Aly empathized, “I’m in denial.”

Huddy: “On Oreilly every Wednesday.” Not!

[Updated, infra.] “Did You See That?” Fox & Friends First co-host Heather Nauert took Juliet Huddy‘s signature segment tonight on the O’Reilly Factor with nary a word of explanation from Bill (nor even a Tweet peep from Juliet).* In fact, when Bill introduced Heather to the absent Juliet’s “Did You See That?” audience (on CDC excessive alcohol use data), he simply said, “And, here now to explain further, Fox News correspondent Heather Nauert.” When Heather had finished opining and bantering with Bill, Bill presented the blond beauty further to his audience as a Fox & Friends First co-host on at 5:00 a.m.–the show that followed his own in its final airing of the night: But, no mention of Juliet.

Simply an oversight by “William” of his faithful friend? Perhaps. However, only yesterday, Juliet had confidently proclaimed, “On Oreilly [sic] every Wednesday” (when a Twitter follower had asked, “Where have you been…no more Oreilly or curvy couch?”). This Wednesday, she was nowhere to be found on O’Reilly: But, she was assuredly on Twitter, Tweeting thirteen missives–not a single one about her absence tonight.

O’Reilly Factor: Huddy out, Heather in? Stay tuned.

O’Reilly Factor – 08/21/13 (@ 8:49 p.m. ET)

Update: For the second week in a row (08/28/13), Huddy was still M.I.A.: America’s Newsroom co-anchor Martha MacCallum served instead as O’Reilly’s correspondent on “Did You See That?” Once again, Bill made no mention of Juliet on his show nor did Juliet provide any explanation via her Twitter chatter. O’Reilly Factor – 08/28/13 (11:49 p.m. ET).

Hemmer’s Cryptic Condolences to MacCallum

Martha’s secret pain revealed. Yesterday, America’s Newsroom co-host Bill Hemmer offered his heartfelt sympathy to his grateful co-anchor Martha MacCallum without any explanation as the show ended. Similarly, Martha provided her own emotional enigmatic aside four days earlier in a Tweet, simply saying, “Thanks for your kind notes.” For AN viewers and Martha’s other fans who were left in the dark, Carpe Diem discovered the secret source of her pain.

When a CD reader asked the author what tragedy had befallen Martha after AN had aired, the author decided to find out. In his research, he detected the answer from a funeral home obit in Martha’s small hometown of Wyckoff, New Jersey (population of 16,696): It was for a certain Elizabeth Jane Bowes MacCallum who had died on April 14.

In the Wyckoff Vander Plaat Funeral Home encomium, Elizabeth MacCallum is described as the loving wife of her college sweetheart, Douglas C. MacCallum, Jr., of 57 years: But, more pertinently, for the Carpe Diem reader, it reveals that she was the devoted mother of three daughters, including Martha MacCallum Gregory. (Martha is married to Gregory Packaging Director and Vice-President Daniel John Gregory.) Reaffirming the obvious, Martha’s New York Times wedding announcement clearly evinces that the aforementioned Elizabeth B. MacCallum of Wyckoff, N.J. (and wife of Douglas C. MacCallum, Jr.) is the now deceased mother of Martha.

Condolences from this CD author, too, Martha!

Update: On the elder Ms. MacCallum’s online obit, there is a pic of Martha flanked by her two sisters seemingly: A loop of the family photos including Martha can be found at the top of the page on the left-hand side next to a “Click her to light a Memorial CANDLE” chyron.

How Dana Perino Found Love: On the Fly!

“True story!” America’s Newsroom co-host Bill Hemmer revealed how his FNC colleague Five co-anchor Dana Perino found her hubby Peter McMahon. After an AN story on a website that told singles where the best place to find their “soul mates” last week (March 27), Bill remarked, “How many people do you know…[who]…meet a partner on an airplane and they get married? It happens!”* Shaking her head incredulously, his AN guest co-anchor Alisyn Camerota replied, “Zero!”

In riposte, Bill declared, “Zero? I do! I know several people, actually. Dana Perino is one of ’em!” Her face suddenly brightening, Aly gasped, “That’s right! I did know that.” Smiling triumphantly, Bill responded, “True story! See? I bring you the truth here, kid.”

A mile-high romance: “How Peter met Dana.”

*America’s Newsroom – 03/27/13 (@10:39 a.m. ET)

Aly in Red: Naked Again!

Rocking and ringless anew? Sexy Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Alisyn Camerota guest-hosted America’s Newsroom in a state of connubial dishabille yesterday. Filling in for AN co-host Martha MacCallum (who also has had her own “ringless” AM moments), Aly sported a demure fire-red dress with tanned-nude high heels to match sans wedding band.* Sitting beside her co-anchor Bill Hemmer, a lovely Aly appeared unencumbered, embodying DeBurgh’s lovely lady in red.

As long-time F&FW fans may remember, Aly interrupted her five-month abdication of her throne in 2011 to guest-host F&F weekday on July 10, 2011. While doing so, the Bohemian beauty ditched her marital band and rocked out during Loverboy’s live rendition of “Working for the Weekend” in her “‘hep’ headband and a matching wristband” atop the shoulders of an appreciative co-anchor Brian Kilmeade.** Since Carpe Diem chronicled that festive event (Aly’s Back: She’s Rocking–& Ringless), she has dutifully adorned herself in her connubial bond to hubby Tim Lewis.

“Lady in Red”: naked again! Tethered or not, Aly’s never “shine(d) so bright.”

*America’s Newsroom – 03/27/13 (vid – 2:47/5:35)

**Fox & Friends – 06/10/11 (vid – 1:59/4:13)

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)

Relationship? Hemmer and MacCallum Mum

Steve Doocy: A lot of people think they are married. Yesterday, America’s Newsroom co-anchors Martha MacCallum and Bill Hemmer seemed somewhat disquieted when it came to the scuttlebutt about a possible off-camera relationship between the television couple.

On Fox News Radio’s Kilmeade & Friends, guest host Steve Doocy introduced Bill and Martha to his audience, remarking, “A lot of people think that they are married.”* When an uncomfortable silence ensued, Steve said, “I thought you were going to say something.” Succinctly, Martha responded, “We don’t want to talk about that.” Chuckling, Bill added, “Especially here.”

Apparently, many Kilmeade & Friends listeners were disappointed that both Martha and Bill opted not to discuss the status of any potential personal relationship. For the third day in a row, hits were at historic highs for seven-month-old Carpe Diem post, “Martha MacCallum: Mrs. or Ms.?: ‘Miss’ing Her Marital Band.” Rumors of Martha’s marital status have been fueled by December 9, 2011 profile (201) Magazine article, “Holiday Look: Martha MacCallum and her family get dressed up to celebrate” which seemed to feature Martha and her three children but not her husband; her subsequent doffing of her wedding ring for approximately a month and half on AN; and Bill’s jesting reference to Martha and himself in a photo of the two of them together on an Ailes-hosted evening harbor charity cruise as “the bride and groom.”

Bill and Martha: a happy couple? Unfortunately, yesterday, they failed to report. Until they do, the rumors will persist.

[Author’s aside (caveat) – The quotes, supra, are to the best of the author’s recollection: he recorded them approximately fifteen minutes after hearing them in an auto.]

*Kilmeade & Friends – 10/31/12 (@ 11:48 a.m. ET)

“Mrs.” Martha MacCallum: Ring of Truth?

Martha “punking” her fervent fans? Looking lovely as ever, FNC anchor Martha MacCallum hit the floor of the Democratic National Convention for Fox News on America’s Election Headquarters in a form-fitting blue dress last night. The blonde beauty commanded rapt attention as she deftly corresponded from the hall before President Obama’s coronation. However, she looked somewhat different than she had earlier in the day on America’s Newsroom other than the wardrobe change: Unless the author’s eyes deceived him (in a ring close-up shot),* Martha was donning a simple ring with a solitary stone on her ring finger instead of her usual one with white rocks across the crest.**

As Carpe Diem readers may remember, Martha was profiled in (201) Magazine December 2011 in an article entitled, “Holiday Look: Martha MacCallum and Her Family Get Dressed Up to Celebrate.” According to the story, Martha, “her husband, Daniel, and their three kids” resided in Ridgewood, New Jersey. In the accompanying photos, Martha (with a ring on her left ring finger) was seen with her family sans her husband Daniel.

Approximately four months later on AN (March 28), the author noticed and noted that Martha was “missing” her wedding band in his Carpe Diem article “Martha MacCallum: Mrs. or Ms.?” Soon thereafter, he further related that America’s Newsroom co-host Bill Hemmer joked on AN (April 26) that Bill and Martha were the “bride and groom” in a pic of them posing together on a fundraiser cruise. Less than a week later, the author reported that on May 2 Bill playfully posited, “So how do we [Bill and Martha] look?” after mentioning “speed dating.”

Adventitiously or not, a week and a day later, Martha was once again sporting seemingly “connubial bling.”  However, almost a month later, Martha did doff her marital band again as reported by the author in Carpe Diem‘s “The Third: Martha’s Independence Day?” Perhaps, not so incidentally, that very next day (the actual Independence Day), Martha had her connubial “shackle” on anew and she seemingly has not been able to escape it since.

But, last night, the appearance of Martha’s “new” ring seemed to suggest that her crested “wedding” ring may have been merely an AN prop that she simply forgot to take last night to AEH. If it were, she should not have feared to eschew any artifice and to lay bare–at least, her left ring finger–before her avid votaries. In fact, she surely would have stoked their ardor all the more with such a naked truth.

Martha: Mrs. or Ms.? An open question.

*Fox & Friends – 09/06/12 (@ 10:59 a.m. ET)

**America’s News Headquarters – 09/06/12 (@ 9:02 p.m.)

Bill Hemmer: RE’s “Notorious PAB”

Patti Ann Browne: “Yeah, you know me.”* But, many of America’s Newsroom viewers probably do not know her, i.e., that their demurely dressed guest co-anchor has deigned to moonlight with the demimonde as an FNC late night vixen. To wit, Red Eye host Greg Gutfeld aptly marveled, “She’s so sweet: And, yet, she’s so dirty! The duality of woman!”**

For those who might think that Patti Ann appears to have been plucked from their local PTA, they may well want to remember the Harper Valley version. Only, this prim and proper mommy by day got her groove on after midnight. As her Red Eye appearances show, she can be tough, bawdy, and, oh, so sexy!

Bravo, Bill, for reminding PAB devotees that their dame is “not that innocent.”

[Author’s aside: The title is taken from the exchange between Bill and PAB as the second hour of AN began. Bill queried, “What did they call you, “Notorious PAB” on Red Eye? PAB answered, “They do! Yeah, you know me.”]

*America’s Newsroom – 08/07/12 (@ 9:59 a.m. ET)

**Red Eye – 12/31/08 (Vid – 2:14/2:22)

The Fourth: Martha’s In-Dependence Day?

Shackled anew? Ironically, on Independence Day,  America’s Newsroom co-anchor Martha MacCallum returned to her show this morning with her wedding band clearly affixed to her ring finger. Only yesterday, the author had mused that Martha may have been declaring her independence a day early as she abandoned her marital ring on the Third (yet again) after an absence from AN: Not to mention, he noticed that the bronzed beauty evidenced no tan lines on her left ring finger.

As Martha’s fans may recall, Martha proudly displayed here connubial band in a 2011 (201) Magazine holiday family pictorial piece featuring her and her children. Shortly, thereafter, she quit donning it on American’s Newsroom. However, after the author noted its absence in mid-May in Carpe Diem, Martha began to embrace her wedding ring anew on the program.

But, yesterday, Martha abandoned her marital sign anew. Possibly, she was experimenting with the symbol of independence a day early. Nevertheless, she seems to have abandoned that idea today on the Fourth–or, forgive the pun, her “in-dependence day.”

Martha: Mrs. or Ms.? Regardless, Carpe Diem wishes AN‘s lovely lady well.

Update (04/05/12): Martha had her wedding band off her ring finger again today: Perchance, she now trusts her fans to remain loyal regardless of her marital status.

The Third: Martha’s Independence Day?

Unshackled? MacCallum’s wedding ring missing anew. Before her show today, FNC co-anchor Martha MacCallum Tweeted, “Happy to be back in America’s Newsroom today.” Subsequently, when she appeared on the program, guest co-anchor Gregg Jarrett enthusiastically saluted her, saying, “It is terrific to have you back: everybody missed you!” Beaming, the blonde beauty responded, “Thank you so much! It is very good to be back!” Naked.

Yes, naked again. Almost immediately after Martha expressed how wonderful it was to be back on AN, she gestured with her left hand: gone again was her wedding ring (given to her almost a decade ago).

As Carpe Diem readers may remember, Martha quit wearing her connubial band after a (201) Magazine holiday family profile but began anew after the author noted it. Ironically, today, on the eve of the Fourth, Martha seemed to signal her personal independence day had started early: i.e., she wore no wedding ring and sported no tan line which might suggest that she had ever done so.

Martha’s Independence Day? No fireworks. Hopefully.

More “Garbage”? FNC’s Odd Edit

AN’s freeze frame: Hero honored but heroine dissed anew. America’s Newsroom guest co-anchor Heather Childers reported the runaway stroller story once more this morning with a new unusual twist. Saturday, Fox & Friends Weekend twice ran the story of the garbage truck driver who helped save a baby in a runaway stroller: twice, it ran the video but ignored the lady in it who actually caught the child. Carpe Diem reported the strange omission in “F&FW ‘Garbage’: Blithely Blind Reportage?” Today, when Heather told the tale again, she recounted the same story of the gallant garbage truck driver but expurgated the heroine’s dashing deed.

Reading from her script, seemingly, with a soupcon of color commentary, Heather said,  “Take a look at this video. A hero garbage truck driver saving a baby in a runaway stroller….The driver was on his route when he saw a woman jogging with a baby. Well, apparently, she decided to park the stroller [and] went to a group of friends: And, that’s when the stroller took off. Look there–straight through the intersection. The driver using his truck to block traffic and then he ran to save the baby.”*

Strangely, the clip was freeze-framed (for @ 13 seconds) as the stroller headed toward the curve and before the hero got out to “save the baby” and as the heroine ran toward the baby in the stroller to catch it as it hit the curb. Apparently, unaware that producers had paused the film in progress, Heather continued, “The frantic mother, watch here, arriving seconds later. The baby, we can tell you, is okay.”

And, just why was that baby okay? Yes, the hero garbage driver alerted traffic and pedestrians that the baby in the errant stroller was in imminent danger. But, the heroine who actually caught the baby in the stroller before the garbage driver could get there deserves credit, too. Apparently, her heroism did not fit into FNC’s narrative Saturday nor today: And, the offending video was omitted.

Bizarre, at best.

*AN – 06/04/12 (@ 10:13 a.m. E.T.)