FNC’s New Future: Megyn In for Greta?

Van Susteren: “I’ve been been bucking to get an earlier hour for years….”* Apparently, her boss Roger Ailes was listening: Only five days after FNC On the Record anchor Greta van Susteren uttered those very words to her old friend Larry King on his 06/27/13 eponymous online show, Fox News issued a release which read, “[America Live anchor] Megyn Kelly will move to Fox News Channel’s (FNC) primetime lineup upon her return, announced Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO, FOX News.” However, FNC took pains to highlight the fact that Greta had been signed to a long-term contract (as well as FNC’s other prime time hosts Bret Baier, Shepard Smith, Bill O’Reilly, and Sean Hannity).

In King’s interview of Greta, the former CNN anchor discussed the possible personnel changes of new CNN honcho Jeff Zucker: In so doing, she referenced FNC and her long-time chief, saying, “Look at Fox News….Roger Ailes has been there the whole time I’ve been there. We haven’t had a change in eleven and half years.” Nonchalantly or not, she continued, “I’ve been bucking to get an earlier hour for years but that ain’t happening….If anyone ever left, I would put in a pitch.”

Now that Ailes has decided to change his storied FNC schedule, it seems that Greta will get her wish of an earlier hour. But, whom will she replace or with whom will she pair? If Greta replaces anyone, it will probably be Fox Report host Shepard Smith who could continue to work in his “long-term contract” as anchor of Studio B. But, if Greta were to co-host instead, a likely pairing would be with fellow conservative Sean Hannity who sorely needs fresh blood to reinvigorate his recently ratings-challenged show.

And, if Greta does vacate her 10 p.m. ET throne, it seems that Fox’s long-suffering “rising star” has finally achieved her rightful place in the FNC ether. In December of 2008, Carpe Diem warned Greta to watch out for Megyn. Six months later, the New York Times eyed Megyn as a “potential heir to Ms. Van Susteren.”

Now, Megyn’s time has come: Prime time!

*Larry King Now – 06/27/13 (@ 11:29/28:19

F&FW 2013: Tucker Time? Shhh!

Alisyn Camerota, Clayton Morris–and Tucker Carlson? With nary a word Saturday, Fox & Friends Weekend producers seemed to be sneaking Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson into their permanent co-anchor roster to replace recently departed Dave Briggs. Only a week earlier, co-host Alisyn Camerota told Tucker that he was enduring a “sort of hazing” that F&FW did to its “new co-anchors” (when he had to brave an automaton’s emetic expectoration during a “Fighting the Flu” segment).

Yesterday, at the start of each hour, instead of the usual presentation of all three co-hosts by one of the permanent ones, Tucker, Aly, and Clayton uttered not a syllable of introduction. Rather, they let their individual chyrons do the talking, “Tucker Carlson, Alisyn Camerota, [and] Clayton Morris” as if to indicate all three co-hosts, including Tucker, were now equals in a new F&FW iteration. In an apparent attempt to distract their long-time viewers from these new odd introductory voids, respectively, they discursively discussed, Aly’s being “slaphappy,” Aly’s “beloved assistant,” Andrew Dice Clay‘s F&FW intro, and Clayton’s at-home “Superman” garb.

Since Dave left the show on New Year’s Eve 2012, Tucker has taken on his mantle without fail in the New Year 2013. The only exception has been F&F‘s January 20 special edition when FNC  “scrambled” their F&F “A-Team” co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade to join Aly for Inauguration coverage a la 2009.*

F&FW 2013? Apparently, it’s now Tucker time!

*F&FW – 01/20/13 (@ 8:15 a.m.) – [Referring to himself, Steve, and Aly, Brian remarked, “That fact (Vice President Biden’s swearing-in) does not elude…Bret Baier who is scrambled on a Sunday like us because of [this] historic day in Washington.” (Italics added for emphasis.)]

Megyn & Kirsten Make Up

Catfights to pillow fights? Perhaps, heeding that seductive slogan of peace, “Make love not war,” America’s Newsroom Megyn Kelly and Kirsten Powers appeared ready to sheath their claws and to mew together anew last night on FNC’s American Election HQ. Over three months ago,  the FNC blond beauties had a vicious scratching session during an alleged Black Panther voter intimidation segment. However, last night, the feisty felines appeared on the same set and seemed rather ready to let bygones be bygones.

When Kirsten concluded her AEHQ segment with fellow guests On the Record anchor Greta van Susteren and former Senator Rick Santorum, she segued backed to co-anchors Megyn and Bret Baier at another table.* (Perhaps, not inadvertently, Kirsten and Megyn sat at opposite ends of the two tables.) After Kirsten’s toss, Megyn playfully demanded an answer about the purported Black Panther voter intimidation.* Initially, Kirsten looked surprised but then laughed heartily in reply. Chuckling, Megyn smiled warmly back at her. Joining in the fun, Brett jested that the two gals should be kept apart, and Santorum sportingly stretched out his arms between them as if to do so.

All is well again at their FNC home, apparently. No more catfights! But, pillow fights are another matter altogether.

*American Election HQ – 11/03/10 (@10:49 a.m. ET)

Leave It to Baier

FNC’s Special Report anchor Bret Baier did not particularly appreciate being compared by Glenn Beck to Beaver Cleaver today. After Baier’s preview of his program during the Glenn Beck show, Beck commented, “Bret, you look, honestly, you look like somebody that should be on ‘Leave It to Beaver’: You look like you’re eighteen years old.” Visibly miffed, the fresh-faced replacement for FNC’s journalistic pillar Britt Hume deadpanned, “That’s really, that’s really wonderful: That’s a wonderful tease. Thank you very much.”

Beck replied, “I don’t mean that as a slam. I guess that sounded bad, didn’t it?” Trying to dig himself out of the hole that he had dug for himself, he said, “You just look like a clean-cut, all-American, I’m-in-there-pitching-for-you kind  of guy.” Ostensibly accepting his explanation, Bret replied, “Well that’s it: I am.” As an aside, after the segue, Beck commented, “He’s going to hate me.”

In truth, Baier does look a bit like the Beaver.