Co-host Brian Kilmeade: “He finally found himself on the right network!“ Fox & Friends gave CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta a very warm reception as he touted his brand new book, Monday Mornings.* In turn, Sanjay did not mention FNC’s rival CNN by name but he did open up to Brian and his co-anchors Eric Bolling and Gretchen Carlson with notable frankness about his favorite CNN colleague.
When Eric introduced Sanjay’s segment, he dubbed him “one of America’s top docs.” Subsequently, Brian elaborated that Sanjay was a “practicing physician at Emory University Hospital and author of the brand new novel Monday Mornings.”Then, a smiling Brian exclaimed, “And, he finally found himself on the right network!” In response, a smiling Dr. Sanjay chuckled heartily. Thereafter, he discussed his book with an eager audience of co-hosts.
As the interview of Sanjay began to conclude, Brian mischievously queried, “Can I ask you one question? You can duck this question if you want. But, if you had a choice between hanging out with Anderson Cooper or Wolf Blitzer (both top CNN anchors), who would you choose? Without a scintilla of hesitation, a grinning Gupta replied, “Wolfman every single time!”
Egging him on, Brian asked, “Much better than Anderson Cooper?” Beginning to hedge a tad, Sanjay said, “Well, not much better but Wolf’s a….” Before Sanjay could finish, Brian interposed, “A lot better? Smiling, Sanjay conceded, “A lot.”
Interjecting, a surprised Gretchen exclaimed, “Wow! I like, you didn’t take the Fifth on that question! Sanjay responded, “Well, I like to answer the questions, not duck.” Meanwhile, a beaming Brian softly chorused, “He doesn’t duck!” Admiringly, Gretchen added, “Wow! Good for you!”
Unrepentant, Sanjay exclaimed, “Wolfman’s great!”
Then, as Sanjay’s segment concluded, Gretchen wished him continued success and promo’d his book once more. Grateful for his enthusiastic embrace by his FNC competitors, Sanjay earnestly exclaimed, “Thanks for having me! Appreciate it, guys!”
CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta: A future FNC “Medical A-Team” leader?
[Author’s aside: For American Morning fans during the John Roberts/Kiran Chetry era, F&F provided a redux almost: before erstwhile AM contributor Sanjay’s segment, his “bromance” buddy, whilom AM co-host John Roberts, appeared approximately thirty minutes earlier (as now an FNC senior national correspondent).** Had Sanjay brought along another certain friend who attended his big book bash last night, it really would have been AM revisited. That friend? Quondam AM co-anchor Kiran Chetry–ironically, a former Fox & Friends co-anchor.]
*Fox & Friends – 03/14/12 (@ 8:36 a.m. ET)
**Fox & Friends – 03/14/12 (@ 8:02 a.m. ET)
Update: Video of Sanjay’s segment via TVNewser.
Carpe Diem 