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.

 

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.”]

 

Missing Aly: I Plan to Come Back

Camerota and Chetry back together again: “That would be a blast.” Former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Alisyn Camerota has been reaching out to her fervid fans and letting them know that she may have left the FNC building but she is ready for an encore. In a fab flurry of Tweets, the formerly Twitter-phobic queen of the curvy couch is loving on her acolytes in an unprecedented fashion. And, the too oft censored Camerota has a website for them and it ain’t FoxandFriends.com: It’s the one and only alisyncamerota.com.

Last month, the Bristol Bay Babe roiled the intrigue, when an admirer Tweeted, “Where ARE you??!”: Coyly, Aly answered, “At the moment CVS.” Subsequently, another devotee wrote, “What kind of dastardly scheme is this? Where are you going, Alisyn?” Deftly, she jested, “It’s quite nefarious.” When another asked why she had left FNC and whether it had been her former America’s News Headquarter’s co-host Bill Hemmer’s fault, she joked, “Exactly! @BillHemmer = diva.” Fanning her devotee’s desire all the more, she later Tweeted, “For anyone wondering what I’ve been up to…: Included in her missive was an pulchritudinous photo of the bathing beauty posing like a Hollywood starlet with a sexy come-hither look.

Less than two weeks ago, Aly continued to stoke the fires of her fervent followers. When a true-blue F&FW fan of hers Tweeted, “You and @kiranchetrytv should team up again. You two were great.” Quickening the zeal of such votaries from the golden age of F&FW, she teased, “That would be a blast:” When another devotee chimed, “Bring back Julian Phillips so you’ll have someone to pick on ;),” Aly artfully answered, “Another good idea.”

Later, the queen of the curvy couch gave her restless troops a semi-serious message. When a soldier in her amorous army asked, “My queen, we miss u so much. any marching orders for the nation of camerota?,” she declared, “I preach patience — pizza for all!

The pizza sounds good, Aly: But, your return would be even better! Hurry back–and bring the comely Kiran Chetry with you!

[Author’s aside: Re the title, supra, when an Aly Twitter follower yesterday remarked, “@AlisynCamerota hope all is well..will you ever come back to TV so we can see your beautiful smile again?,” she answered, Thanks! I plan to….”]

 

Aly Rocking & Ringless Again?

Camerota’s new “camera.” Today, America’s News HQ anchor Alisyn Camerota got a new room with her hunky single counterpart, Bill Hemmer. Rocking without her marital rock this afternoon (a la F&F 06/10/11), the sexy siren brought her beauty and brains to bear as she and Bill proclaimed the news again from the “broom closet” (because of “technical issues”).* Safely ensconced behind a desk that blocked a view of her svelte shape, the Bristol Bay babe brought very little to bare–but she did flash her naked bronzed ring finger.

Yesterday’s “Lovergirl” Aly: “Working [it] for the weekend”? Her F&FW fans can only hope.

*America’s News Headquarters – 01/04/14 (@ 1:33 p.m. ET).

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)

Aly & Bill: “In the Closet”?

Camerota seems ready to get out of it with Ms. “Money.” For three days straight,  America’s News HQ co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Bill Hemmer have appeared in their “new studio,” an apparent homage to a bourgeois master bedchamber closet. Instead of heralding from their usual capacious, plush high-tech studio with multiple sets, they are doing so from a small Spartan one that simply features two chairs and a desk. To make matters worse, poor Aly and Bill seem so crowded in their new quarters that they can barely read their papers without the camera itself physically intruding into their personal space.

In her first show in her new digs Monday, Aly appeared to inadvertently disclose that she was less than thrilled with the change. Before interviewing Money (FBN) anchor Melissa Francis who appeared on screen (from the FBN studio), Aly chuckled, “We’re in a new studio! And, you’re still money!”* Laughing, ANHQ co-host Bill Hemmer concurred, “And, you’re still money, all the way from here.”

At least, Bill still has a nice studio on America’s Newsroom with Martha MacCallum. But, Aly does not: She has more than paid her dues on Fox News as her Fox & Friends Weekend fans will attest. It’s time for FNC to treat Aly with the respect that she has earned.

*America’s Newsroom – 12/02/13 (@ 1:16 p.m. ET)

Camerota: “It’s Going Too Quickly”

Aly: “Ha! Leave ’em wanting more.” Yesterday, Fox & Friends Weekend queen of the curvy couch Alisyn Camerota made her move yesterday to a new throne on America’s News HQ next to the “thieving” Bill Hemmer. Apparently, producers realized that Aly’s Fox & Friends Weekend fans were not necessarily overly amused with the loss of their beloved beauty: Thus, they opened the new ANHQ with a humorous show-starting skit a la Saturday Night Live (of lovely Aly with a huge curler in her hair being served a bagel by an obsequious Bill before they both frantically realized that they were running late for their premiere program).

Continuing the meme mid-show, Bill asked, “How you doing? You alright?” Smiling knowingly, Aly answered, “Doing well. It’s going too quickly!” Grinning  back almost impishly, Bill replied, “Is it?” Beaming beautifully, Aly responded, “Yes, stretch it out a little more, Bill. Slow it down! Too fast for me!”

Too fast for Aly’s F&FW fans, too–by three hours! When the author suggested as much to Aly, she aptly Tweeted, “Ha! Leave ’em wanting more.”

And, indeed she does!

Update: Aly and Bill’s ANHQ opening vid via J$P.

New(s) Starts Monday

Sambolin and Berman; Camerota & Hemmer; and solo Carlson. Early Start gets even earlier as Zoraida Sambolin and John Berman‘s show starts 4:00 a.m. ET as it expands to two hours Monday (September 30).* Also, America’s News HQ gains a new hour slot at 1:00 p.m. ET with the end of Megyn Kelly‘s America Live: The abdicating queen of Fox & Friends Weekend Alisyn Camerota and her single “sidekick” Bill Hemmer host. Furthermore, the former diva of the weekday curvy couch debuts on her eponymous new show The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson at 2 p.m. ET.

[Author’s aside: FIVE hours of CNN morning news dawn; Aly AND Gretch rule Megyn’s former throne; and Bill FINALLY gets the girl.]

*Early Start – 09/27/13 (5:09 a.m. ET)

Camerota Says Ciao

Aly: “I know it’s disruptive.” Today, Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Alisyn Camerota gave her F&FW fans a final farewell in “Say Goodbye to Aly” (a vid generated by now former co-anchor Clayton Morris). Apparently, acknowledging that her loyal F&FW audience may be miffed by her unexplained departure–yet another–from the weekend morning show (to the afternoon America’s News HQ with Bill Hemmer), the three-time co-host declared, “I do want to say to all of the viewers…I don’t make this move lightly….I love our dedicated fans…and I know its’ disruptive.” Unconvincingly, Aly added, “But…sometimes change is good.”*

And, Aly, sometimes it’s not. Food for thought, Shine: Future fourpeat?

* Say Goodbye to Aly – 09/28/13 (7:07/11:36)

Aly Abandons F&FW?

“I’ve got to go with Bill. I’m sorry.” Sorry, Alisyn Camerota fans: your fave gal has taken flight after three unforgettable stints as a fab Fox & Friends Weekend co-host. F&FW co-host Alisyn Camerota will leave F&FW to host America’s News HQ on the weekdays with Bill Hemmer at 1 p.m. ET according to TV Newser. The move should come as little surprise to long-time followers of F&FW who watched Aly leave her F&FW hubbies Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs for five full months in 2011 (during Megyn Kelly‘s “maternity shuffle” and a month more) to cavort shamelessly with America’s Newroom co-anchor Bill Hemmer and other FNC co-anchor rakes.

All levity aside, Aly has more than paid her dues on Fox & Friends Weekend (and other F&F iterations). In fact, in the author’s opinion, she assuredly merited a permanent seat on the curvy couch with Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade on the weekday Fox & Friends. But, unfortunately, she lost out to Shine’s choice Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Not bad–but she’s no Aly!

Thanks for the memories, Aly! First, you and Kiran Chetry made F&FW must-see TV in your first stint at F&FW. Second, you came to the rescue when newbies Clayton and Dave desperately needed someone to steer their ship on a more certain course. And, third, you gallantly returned to the helm when you reluctantly realized that your F&FW wannabe replacements could not quite measure up.

Good luck, Aly! But, you’ll be missed–sorely!

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)

Bill Hemmer: “So How Do We Look?”

Martha MacCallum: Please send in your Tweets and messages. Please vote.” A new Hemmer hint? Today, America’s Newsroom co-anchor Bill Hemmer seemed to fan the flames about any notion that he and his recently “ringless” co-host Martha MacCallum may be a hot new item indeed. And, Martha seemed to add gas to that very fire.

Less than a week ago (last Thursday), AN producers aired a pic of Bill and Martha posing together in a rather romantic setting  (i.e., against the backdrop of the New York skyline on an Ailes-hosted evening harbor charity cruise) from the night before: when they did so, Bill laughed, “Oh, my gosh! The bride and the groom!” Today, after a segment referencing putative GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s VP quest, Martha declared, “It’s like speed dating: traveling around the country spending a little time with each one of the contestants. Right?” In a seemingly incongruent response, Bill pointed to Martha, to himself, and then to Martha again, asking, “So, how do we look?”

As they both chuckled heartily, Martha remarked, “Please send in your Tweets and messages. Please vote.”

Please do.

*America’s Newsroom – 05/02/12 (@ 10:32 a.m. ET)

MacCallum & Hemmer: “Bride & Groom”?

America’s Newsroom’s beauty in black and her bad boy in tux. Single America’s Newsroom co-anchor Bill Hemmer and his recently “ringless” co-host Martha MacCallum a hot item? Intentionally or not, Bill may have stoked the rumor fires this morning when he mentioned his “big night” with Megyn last night and gave a “personal shout-out” to his FNC colleague Geraldo Rivera (who was the guest of honor at a NYC Open Gate fundraiser/cruise last night) and his wife Erica as AN concluded.* Subsequently, after producers had aired a photo of Geraldo and Erica together at the New York harbor dinner charity cruise (hosted by FNC head honcho Roger Ailes and his wife Beth for them and other FNC luminaries), they then showed an al fresco pic of Martha in her beautiful black dress and Bill in his black-tie tux posing together with the NY harbor in the background. When Bill saw the photo of the two of them beaming side-by-side, he chuckled and exclaimed, “Oh, my gosh! There’s the bride and groom!”

Perhaps, in an attempt to tamp down any resultant rumors, Martha immediately remarked, “I thought it was James Bond. It’s you, though, in a self-tied bow tie…. You took that great picture of Erica and Geraldo. And, I think you should, maybe, be available for weddings because that’s a beautiful shot of them.”

Martha, be careful for what you wish. Bill might just be available for a wedding. After all, he did once opine to his former AM co-host Megyn Kelly (as a guest on her America Live show in a pertinent discussion) that he did not see anything wrong with office romance if it did not interfere with the lovers’ work.

Bill, see what you have started!

*America’s Newsroom – 04/26/12 (@ 10:59 a.m. ET)