FBN:AM “Shining” Twin?

Riva Gold: Yes, she’s a little scary but, a barrette would make her even more so. Yes, Wall Street Journal markets reporter Riva Gold seems quite competent at what she does in the final segment of FBN:AM: But, truth be told she seems unnerving. The first time the author saw her he thought he was watching a little girl give a grownup report with a sense of Stanley Kubrick lurking in the background filming his sequel to The Shining.

Riva seems rather good at reporting the global market scene: But, she does so in an unnerving fashion–especially, so early in the morn. Riva, please go to a trusted, high-end hair stylist to get a cut that suggests a more welcoming TV personality look. Otherwise, FBN:AM fans will not want to “come play with [you] forever and ever and ever” (vid).

FBN:AM‘s finale? Eyes Wide Shut!

[Author’s aside: Ever since the Greek goddess Nicole Petallides has left the FBN:AM building and the politically correct table was added to obscure the gorgeous gams of the gal co-hosts, FBN:AM fans have had less and less reason to tune in. And, the new Shining reporter makes them even more likely to do so until she ups her game.]

Gretchen Out: Bitter?

Sues Roger Ailes: Her “lawyers…say Ailes is the ‘Bill Cosby of media.'” Wow! Former Fox & Friends co-host and anchor of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, Gretchen Carlson, is apparently not amused that her tenure is over: Reportedly, she is suing FNC honcho Roger Ailes for sexual harassment after her contract was not renewed.

According to the Daily Mail, Gretchen said that Ailes asked her to “turn around so he could view her posterior.” Furthermore, the NYT reported that Gretchen alleged that Ailes had eyed her in his office and called her sexy and “explicitly asked [her] in his office for a sexual relationship.”

In response, Gretchen’s former female FNC colleagues pushed back. “On the Record” anchor Greta van Susteren said that she has “‘absolutely never’ seen …Ailes act inappropriately toward women” and described Gretchen as “a very unhappy employee that lost her job” according to The Wrap. According to the same publication, hitting Gretchen even harder, “Justice with Judge Jeanine” anchor Jeanine Pirro declared, “I know know the man. I have been in a room with him. He has never said or done anything [inappropriate].”: Taking aim at her former FNC colleague, Jeanine added that the lawsuit was “absurd” and remarked, “I don’t know that she, the plaintiff [Gretchen], even has a friend in that building.” On a softer note FBN anchor Maria Bartiromo said, “It’s not in keeping with what I know, and my experience at Fox” according to Variety. Morever, The Five co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle chimed in (according to TVNewser), “Total disbelief. I’ve known Roger Ailes for 15 years and I have been treated with the utmost professionalism and respect: He’s been a fantastic mentor in television for me.” To boot, in her HuffPo article, former Fox & Friends First co-anchor Kiran Chetry, who had a self-proclaimed “parting [that] was ugly and public,” defended Ailes, saying, “Over the years at Fox, I met with Roger Ailes one-on-one many times and never once did Roger ever make me feel uncomfortable or put forth any sexual advances.”

According to the Hollywood Report, Ailes hit back hard at Gretchen, saying:

“Gretchen Carlson’s allegations are false. This is a retaliatory suit for the network’s decision not to renew her contract, which was due to the fact that her disappointingly low ratings were dragging down the afternoon lineup. When Fox News did not commence any negotiations to renew her contract, Ms. Carlson became aware that her career with the network was likely over and conveniently began to pursue a lawsuit. Ironically, Fox News provided her with more on-air opportunities over her 11-year tenure than any other employer in the industry, for which she thanked me in her recent book. This defamatory lawsuit is not only offensive, it is wholly without merit and will be defended vigorously.”

Gretchen and her fellow femme fatale predecessor co-hosts on Fox & Friends have always been sexually empowered since the fun, flirty, racy, E. D. Hill made her debut in 1998: And, for those that embrace it, that is modern liberated feminism, women unashamed of their potent power of feminine pulchritude and seduction and are not afraid to embrace it. E.g., Gretchen seemed to tout this “new” feminism in her somewhat tempting “twerking” and awkward aping of “scandalous” Miley Cyrus on F&F. Also, naughty Fetchin’ Gretchen had her sultry take on sharing her momcave with Chris Wallace, nipple clips, and licked thighs on F&F (02/04/11). Not to mention Gretchen’s saucy flirtation with Chris Wallace when the Fox News Sunday host  exclaimed, “Let me just say…I was thinking how to clean this up. Gretchen, when you were wearing that cowboy hat and smoking that cigar you looked fetching.” (In response, Gretchen, re-enacted and accentuated her sultry cowboy/cigar look for Chris to which he responded, Oh, Mama! You should take that home for your husband tonight.”) Maybe, Ailes was having fun with that vibe from Gretchen–if in fact he said what he purportedly said.

Nevertheless, a woman or a man’s employment, advancement, etc. should never be predicated on her/his employer’s reaction to their employee’s sexual power. Nor, should the employee ever be subject to his/her unwanted advances.

Sandra Smith: Sexy Enough?

Not yet! Recently, staid Outnumbered co-host Sandra Smith has become a fixture on the curvy couch on both Fox & Friends and F&F Weekend recently. The FBN/FNC co-anchor is a lovely but she is not exactly the eye candy that F&F fans expect. I.e., Sandra is the tom boy, the whilom LSU track athlete who likes to win the race but does not really care how she looks doing it.

And, that may be okay. However, on FNC, she needs to up her game. Sex it up a bit: a dab of decolletage or a mite more gam never hurts. After all, Fox & Friends means something: the gal in the center seat on the curvy couch needs to be the fox, and the boys are her friends.

If Sandra wants to compete for the center seat on the curvy couch on either F&F or F&FW, she has to bring her game: F&FW co-anchor Anna Kooiman appears ready to move from F&FW to F&F, and F&FW seems to be in flux or possibly awaiting the return of the lovely Ainsley Earhardt (after her maternity leave expires). To boot, FNC lovelies Kimberly Guilfoyle, Jedediah Bila, Andrea Tantaros, Nicole Petallides, and the like are at the ready–and the F&F fan will not settle. Not to mention (at least, on the weekday)–the delectable Alisyn Camerota is on the other channel!

Anna’s Holiday Hosts: F&F Fail!

Guest co-host Leland Vittert: “We may never leave!” Scary. Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Anna Kooiman looked ill at ease on the curvy couch sandwiched between F&FW virgin co-hosts Leland Vittert and Connell McShane. (Leland is a FNC foreign correspondent based in Jerusalem, and Connell is the FBN “Imus in the Morning” newsreader.) The ever gregarious Energizer Bunny tried her hardest to introduce the two newbies to F&FW fans and to create, at least, a modicum of chemistry. Anna succeeded–barely, to put it charitably.

The usual playful banter and racy double entendres that have been F&FW staples were not existent. Even the small talk among Anna, Leland, and Connell seemed strained and stilted. To make matters worse, Leland took a strange shot at his dad’s looks* and Connell delivered a gratuitous jab to Fox & Friends Weekend.**

Perhaps, FNC’s Bill Shine (or his underlings) decided that he could foist the two tyros on his most dedicated F&FW fans for a tryout (since they would probably watch no matter what): Well, this loyal F&FW fan did watch–and almost wished he had not.

The youthful Anna is great: But, she is no Alisyn Camerota who could carry F&FW no matter who her bookends were. F&FW fan favorite and FNC meteorologist Rick Reichmuth was on the set today and should have been the obvious choice to be one of Anna’s guest co-hosts: Together, he and Anna could have more successfully shepherded either Leland or Connell in his debut.

[Author’s aside: Re the provenance of the subtitle, Leland made his “threat” as Anna welcomed him and Connell to the third hour. Chiming in, Connell jested, “Right, you’re stuck with us, Anna!”]

*During a “Meet Leland” segment with baby photos, Leland bizarrely barbed, “I do look a little bit like…my father in those pictures. And, it’s a good thing that I now look like my mother: Otherwise, I would have a fabulous career…in radio.” (@ 6:34 a.m. ET.)

**In the “Meet Leland” segment, supra, (which included Leland’s war footage), Connell sarcastically commented, “Let me be the first to congratulate you on the promotion (to F&FW guest co-host) to now narrating dog video (earlier on F&FW) from…these frivolous foreign videos that we just looked at.” (6:34 a.m. ET.)

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!

 

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)

Aphrodite Nicole Petallides: Woman of the Year!

FBN correspondent and Greek goddess Nicole Petallides was feted as “Woman of the Year” according to the Hellenic Medical Society of New York on March 3. In a brief Facebook post (with a fab photo of the long-tressed, long-legged lovely in a dazzling  off-the-shoulders, form-fitting purple dress), HMSNY announced that Nicole had been so designated by the Cypriot Women’s Issues Network (and it’s Dr. Florentia Christodoulou). Unfortunately, it provided no further details as to Nicole’s accolades on its site for the sexy siren’s FB/FNC followers or her FBN fans: Hopefully, they will soon be forthcoming.

Congratulations, Nicole!

H/t J$P!

Cheryl Casone: “You’re So Bad! You’re So Bad!”

Brian Kilmeade: “Everyone remembers their first Scholtzsky’s sandwich!” Puckish Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade made sexy FBN anchor and triathlete Cheryl Casone blush this morning (on F&F during her regular “Jobs in America” report). Just one jest: that’s all it took.

During Cheryl’s report on companies that were hiring in the United States, she cited Dallas-based Schlotzky’s, ad-libbing that she once lived in Dallas and that she had had her first Schotzky’s sandwich there. At the end of that portion of her report, Brian bawdily interjected, “Everyone remembers their first Scholtzsky’s sandwich!”*

Appearing to take Brian’s risque remark literally, Cheryl shrugged, chuckling, “Pretty good!” However, after Cheryl’s segment had ended (and Brian had teased an upcoming Laura Ingraham interview), Cheryl seemed to have got Brian’s double entendre all too well. After Ingraham’s pic appeared onscreen, the camera returned to Cheryl and Brian: As Brian stood up, a still sitting Cheryl looked up at Brian and shook her head.

Reddening, she mouthed, “You’re so bad! You’re so bad!” Beaming, Brian reached out to Cheryl with his right hand as if to explain his impish tease. Flushed but smiling, Cheryl playfully smacked her naughty boy on the arm with her papers. Grinning, an unchastened Brian walked away with a goatish glint in his eye.

*Fox & Friends – 01/29/13 (@ 7:55 a.m. ET)

[Author’s aside: If the reader is unfamiliar with the more salacious meanings of sandwich, s/he may want to consult the Urban Dictionary: Link here.]

MJ: “Oh, We Love Nicole [Petallides]! Don’t We?”

Dave Briggs: “We do indeed!” FBN’s sultry siren Nicole Petallides heated up the Fox & Friends Weekend studio again this morning, much to the delight of co-anchors Mike Jerrick and Dave Briggs. As the long-legged, short-skirted Greek beauty sashayed toward the curvy couch in a tease for her post-break upcoming business segment), Mike sighed, “Oh, we love Nicole! Don’t we?”* As Nicole beamed broadly, Dave exclaimed, “We do indeed!”

And, do they ever. As F&FW fans may remember almost two years ago, Nicole saucily displayed her Red Eye “exhibitionist” side: With two memorable hikes of her skirt, she seduced her F&FW audience and mesmerized its co-hosts (especially, a very appreciative Mike). Earlier this year (January 28), Nicole was simply her usual sensual self on the curvy couch: Clad in a short black skirt and a low-cut blue top, she rendered an enraptured Dave virtually mute as he nervously coughed continuously throughout their interview.

Apparently, it just comes naturally for Nicole. On F&FW (March 24) as a guest co-host, she revealed her “little secret” to captivated co-anchor Clatyon Morris that she her (pre-cell) CB handle was “Wonder Woman” as she cruised the the Long Island Expressway in her Datsun 280ZX.** Furthermore, she has enchanted her FBN fans as a “Foxy’s Angel” on Happy Hour (alongside regular Rebecca Diamond nee Gomez and guest Sandra Smith). And, now, she serves as FBN’s resident “Stocks Fox.”

FBN’s Nicole: FNC’s future F&FW Fox?

*F&FW – 11/10/12 (@ 8:42 a.m. ET)

**F&FW – 03/24/12 (@ 6:33 a.m. ET)

F&FF Acknowledges Williams/Malkin Dustup BUT

Fox & Friends ignores it altogether. Last night, conservative FNC contributor Michele Malkin and liberal Five co-anchor Juan Williams got into a fiery debate last night on Hannity: this morning, Fox News’ earliest morning news show Fox & Friends First showcased the two going after each other (albeit a bit bowdlerized to exclude the more acidic comments) whereas the regular Fox & Friends did not mention the dust-up even though both Williams and Malkin both appeared on the show in different segments. Perhaps, FNC did not want to throw too much gas on those smoldering embers.

Apparently, according to Mediaite, the verbal fisticuffs began when Malkin mocked Williams and other liberals for blaming former POTUS Bush 43 for President Obama’s shortcomings during a debate segment about Attorney General Eric Holder. During their polemics, Malkin taunted Williams, saying, “All you can do, Juan, is say Plame, Plame, Plame, and blame, blame, blame, Bush, Bush, Bush.” Caustically, Williams exclaimed, “Listen, I tell you what. I tell you what, Michele. I’m a real reporter. I’m not a blogger out in the blogosphere somewhere.”

Then, as Williams began to make his case that the White House had not leaked any classified information, an irate Malkin interrupted, “Right…I’m not a real reporter and you are!” Subsequently, after Williams and eponymous host Sean Hannity had argued about the matter further, Hannity gave Malkin the “last word.” Still fuming, Malkin acerbically remarked, “The American people are sick of the kind of snotty condescension from liberal elite journalists like Juan Williams who tell us that the rest of us are not doing our jobs, when the point is that…when Eric Holder was shamefully…nominated and approved to be Attorney General, he already had a long record of bastardizing national security and the rule of law.”

Unamused, Williams responded that she was way off topic; that she and Hannity were just beating up Holder and that the matter did not even include classified documents. In a parting shot, a still fuming Malkin sniped, “So, real journalists are apologists for corruptocracy? We got it!” Derisively, Williams exclaimed, “Oh, my gosh!” as he put both his hands to his head and rolled his eyes.

It was must see TV: Or, it should have been. However, unfortunately, Fox & Friends producers decided not to share the testy exchange between FNC colleagues Williams and Malkin. Happily, for F&F fans who may have missed it, Mediaite columnist Frances Martel did so in an article and via a concomitant video (link).

Update:  Williams’ co-host Five co-anchor Bob Beckel blasted Malkin with almost ominous rhetoric in his appearance on Imus today. Opining on the purported White House leaks, an enraged Beckel declared, “The idea that Barack Obama would leak that stuff is absolutely obscene. And, anybody who’d suggest that like that Michelle Malkin who…if I were Juan…I’d wake up next to her with a shotgun. She’s a, what a waste of time!” [@2:17 in J$P video] H/t, Johnny!

Gretchen: “Unless You’d Like Me Nude” Again

Brian: How many people want to see Gretchen naked? FBN anchor Stuart Varney, for one, apparently. Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson got FBN’s biz brain all excited this morning as the “naked” weather gal this morning. And, he was ready for an encore!

Immediately, before Varney’s appearance, Gretchen and co-anchor Brian Kilmeade did the weathercast (since co-anchor and Kansas Jayhawks FAN Steve Doocy had been “forced” to do sports and report the Kentucky NCAA championship victory over Kansas).* Initially, Brian stepped before the “weather wall” and asked Gretchen to join him as his assistant. Waving her in, Brian rakishly queried, “How many people want to see Gretchen naked? Let’s make this thing happen!” Exclaiming, “What!,” Gretchen sashayed to join him at the green “weather wall” in her  similarly colored dress.” When her dress became invisible, she began to seductively dance a la a cinematic Arabian harem girl. In response, Brian joked, “Finally, the ghost of Mrs. Muir to 1968!”

Subsequently, Gretchen and Brian joined Steve on the curvy couch for their interview of Varney on the GSA Vegas party brouhaha. As Varney’s segment concluded, Brian teased FBN’s Varney & Co. and then Steve jested, “Do you need Brian and Gretch to come help you with weather?” Without a scintilla of hesitation, Varney emphatically exclaimed, “I’d like another forecast like that one! Yes, sir!”

Chuckling heartily, Gretchen declared, “I might have to change my dress, though.” Suddenly, snapping his head toward her, Varney pleaded, “Don’t!” Perhaps, channeling Mae West, Gretchen purred, “Unless you’d like me nude for a second time around.” Looking down and shaking his head, Varney replied, “No comment!”

Gretchen, ‘nuf said?

*Fox & Friends – 04/03/12 (@ 6:37 a.m. ET)

Fox & Friends: “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”

FBN’s Melissa Francis again today: Where is Nicole Petallides? Former child actress Melissa may have been Charles Ingall’s cute little girl Cassandra on “Little House on the Prairie” but she’s all grown up now. The Harvard grad and whilom CNBC anchor is a recent FBN hire who has filled in for the frequently absent Fox & Friends anchor Gretchen Carlson for the last two days. Yes, she is attractive and competent: But, she is not FBN’s real “Stocks Fox,” Nicole Petallides.

Even though Nicole does oft appear on F&F and its weekend version, FNC Executive VP of Programming Bill Shine still has not given Nicole a chance to co-anchor either to the author’s knowledge. The gorgeous Greek goddess with the gams “2 hot 4 F&FW” certainly turns up the heat on the set whenever she appears. So much so that Red Eye’s TV’s Andy Levy aptly dubbed her the “Stocks Fox.”

Of course, Shine may have wanted to give FBN’s new hire Melissa added exposure. And, cable news juggernaut Fox & Friends is the perfect place to do that. However, Nicole has been at FBN for approximately five years: The brainy beauty certainly has earned her chance to co-anchor on the curvy couch.

Time for Nicole to rise and “shine,” Bill!

Nicole Petallides: FBN’s “Stocks Fox”?

“I’m always looking for the wardrobe malfunction.” Red Eye guest host, “TV’s Andy Levy,” nailed it when he introduced FNC’s NYSE correspondent Nicole Petallides as the “Stocks Fox” in her guest appearance on RE Tuesday. Perhaps, flattered by the apt appellation, the toned, bronzed beauty served it up with her usual sensual sass and her “2 Hot 4 F&FW” gorgeous gams.

Clad in a short, sleeveless blue dress and sexy strappy inky stilettos, Nicole owned RE‘s leg chair with flair. Not only was she the continuous cynosure of the camera but also she was the seductive siren of the airwaves–especially, during the Oscars review segment. Viz., Nicole could not let Angelina Jolie’s leg or Jennifer Lopez’s nip go without either a saucy display or a concupiscent comment.

When “TV’s Andy Levy” expressed his bewilderment as to Angelina’s jaunty display of her stem at the Academy Awards, Nicole concurred, “A little odd that she kept putting her leg out. It was all sort of like, so weird! Weird!”* As the cam panned out to show her full figure, Nicole sensually crossed her own sexy stems as the shot lingered. Then, as if acknowledging her acolytes’ adoration, the Greek goddess chuckled to herself and broke into a broad smile.

Subsequently, when the discussion turned to Jennifer Lopez’s apparent nip slip, Nicole naughtily remarked, “I’m always looking for the wardrobe malfunction.”As a pulchritudinous photo of a questionably covered J.Lo appeared on the screen, she (Levy and the other panelists) seemed to enjoy the view–but could not quite decide of just what. Meanwhile, viewers may have may have pruriently recalled RE‘s newly dubbed Stocks Fox’s own “angelic exhibition,” i.e., her double F&FW hem hike.**

Nicole Petallides: FNC’s “Stocks Fox” rocks.

*Red Eye – 02/28/12 (@ 3:25 a.m. ET)

Dave’s Nervous Cough: Petallides’ Allure?

 Nicole: “You did a great job getting through that.” This morning, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Dave Briggs seemed somewhat nervous as he interviewed FBN beauty Nicole Petallides. Introducing her business segment (“Another One Bites the Dust: Gov’t-Backed ‘Green’ Co. Goes Bankrupt”), Dave abruptly began to cough repeatedly.* When he did so the second time, he laughed, “Not going to get through this one.”

When the comely Nicole appeared on camera, Dave joked, “Green jobs makes [sic] me cough, apparently.” Clad in her low-cut blue top and a short black skirt, the chuckling Greek lovely cooed, “It makes other people do other things, even worse.” Glancing down at her gorgeous gams and putting his hand to his mouth (as if to suppress yet another cough), a smiling Dave replied, “Right. That’s where I was going with that.”

Subsequently, the brainy beauty tutored an attentive Dave (on the millions of taxpayer dollars being lost on green projects of “Friends of the President”). When barely a minute had elapsed, Dave looked down at Nicole’s sexy stems anew and coughed once more. After an intervening query and,  yes, still another cough, Dave concluded his interview, “earnestly” asking Nicole a follow-up question (on private sector investment): as his luscious lecturer began to opine in her dulcet tones, Dave looked at her almost lovestruck and then dreamily turned away with a goofy grin.

When Nicole had finished, Dave more soberly remarked, “Nicole Petallides from the Fox Business Network. We appreciate it.” Smiling sweetly at Dave, Nicole responded, “Thanks. You did a great job getting though that.” Aptly, Dave answered, “Trying to get through this, right?”

Poor Nervous Nelly. Perhaps, the F&FW co-host that The Tonight Show host Jay Leno lampooned for having an appreciative eye for his FOX-y colleagues (or, to be more exact, the bonny bums of Ainsley Earhardt and Janice Dean) should be given a pass today. After all, it’s the birthday of Dave’s beautiful wife Brandi.

Fox & Friends Weekend – 01/28/12 (@ 6:46 a.m. ET)

Nicole Petallides: Future F&FW Fox?

Still too hot for Fox & Friends Weekend? FBN correspondent Nicole Anais Petallides was BACK in the F&F house Saturday. At 6:16 a.m. ET, the long-legged Greek goddess reminded her male votaries why it was time to rise and shine. And, this time she did not need to hike her skirt twice to arouse her boys.

Clad in a short charcoal gray dress accentuating her long gorgeous gams, Nicole held court as F&FW co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris interviewed her.* While FBN’s Aphrodite sagely opined on the Labor Department’s December jobs report, Aly and Clayton tried to studiously maintain eye contact with the erstwhile “Foxy’s Angel.” Meanwhile, Nicole’s Fox & Friends Weekend fans can be forgiven for not following suit, especially, since their dear Italian divine Aly seemed to care less for their tribute with her longer, more matronly attire.

Perhaps, Nicole was auditioning to fill-in for Aly on the F&FW curvy couch. If not, the beautiful married mother of two certainly should. But, if so, she certainly fits the bill with the requisite smarts, sass, and sexiness to be an F&FW fox.

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 01/07/11 (@ 6:16 a.m. ET)

Dad: Anoka’s Gretch Carlson “Excellent at Boys”

Missing Hall of Famers? Garrison Keillor declined & Michele Bachmann snubbed. Fox & Friends co-anchor Gretchen Carlson may have been a bit abashed as she was was inducted into the Hall of Fame at her high school alma mater on September 8. Not only did the renowned raconteur Garrison Keillor decline the very same honor but her “favorite babysitter,” GOP Prez candidate and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, was not even nominated for it. To boot, her dear dad zinged her with zest about being “excellent at boys” during her time at Anoka High School.

When Gretchen returned to F&F four days later, she proudly previewed a snippet of her parents introducing her at her high school’s “first ever Hall of Fame induction ceremony.”* As the footage began, her dad proudly proclaimed, “While at Anoka High, she was valedictorian, homecoming attending: then, looking up over his reading glasses with an arched eyebrow, he jauntily jibed, “and excellent at boys and socializing.”  (Of course, her doting dad also included her being Miss T.E.E.N. Minnesota and Miss Teen Nationals runner-up and alluded to her being 1989 Miss America.)

After that vid clip ran (and a subsequent one of her hugging her parents), a tearful Gretchen profusely praised both her mom and dad and thanked her community and family. However, she failed to mention the declination of the award by Keillor (who self-deprecatingly said that he “wasn’t anything in high school” but was rather “a quiet, mediocre student with no plans”) nor the obvious omission of Bachmann to be named for the honor itself or in the preliminary nominations. As to her father’s ribbing about being “excellent at boys,” Gretchen said nary a word.

In Gretchen’s defense, she did address, at least, Bachman’s exclusion from Anoka High’s Hall of Fame with her home state’s largest newspaper. According to the Star Tribune, Gretchen said, “My favorite baby sitter….I feel completely disheartened that she’s not part of this”: she added, “In the committee’s defense, in growing up in a small town, I know this happens. It was a grass-roots effort, from the heart. This is just so unfortunate.”

Even though Gretchen’s viewers may not solicit an explanation for Keillor’s skipping out on the Hall of Fame. With little doubt, they may want to know more about her your dad’s “excellent at boys” barb. If they do, they may want to heed the advice of the eponymous host of “Your World with Neil Cavuto” as to cable news customers who do not get FBN: I.e., “Demand it!”

A belated congratulations, Gretchen!

*Fox & Friends – 09/12/11 (@ 8:32 a.m. ET)

Gretchen Carlson: “Basel, Basil, Whoever He Is”

Basel a man? Oops! More fodder for Jon Stewart’s Gretchen Carlson “dumbing [herself] down” segment? Perhaps, the former Miss America, Stanford cum laude alum, and, yes, classical violinist (vid), is not dumb but she certainly did not adequately prepare this morning for a business segment. But, co-anchor Steve Doocy and FBN Senior Correspondent Charles Gasparino seemed to wish that she had.

During an F&F segment prosaically entitled “Politics or Good Policy? Frank Pushes to Reform the Fed Voting Rights,” Steve quoted JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s attack on Basel III banking capital rules as being “anti-American.” Afterwards, Steve explained, “What the Basel is saying is that you [banks] have to up the amount of cash in the kitty.” Concurring, biz whiz Gasparino elaborated, “There is a global regulation known as the Basel Accord: This is Basel III. And, they’re saying you need to basically up the amount of cash, the amount of capital on hand for a bank.” Subsequently, Gretchen weighed in–much to her chagrin.

Almost dismissively, a prolix Gretchen opined, “Right. But, the big story here–because most Americans don’t study Basel, Basil, whoever he is on a daily basis–the big story is that this leader of JPMorgan, one of the most esteemed banks in the world, has paid many visits to this White House and appeared to be a supporter of this President and for him to come out with this kind of anti-regulation argument is very substantial.” [Underscored and italicized for emphasis.] In response, both Steve and Gasparino gulped in apparent astonishment. As they tried to remain stone-faced, Steve could not quite suppress a slight smile nor Gasparino a subtle smirk.

As Gretchen should have well known, Basel is not a he. Rather, it is Switzerland’s third largest city. More to the point, it is the home of the Secretariat of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision which developed those very “comprehensive set of reforms” known as Basel III.

No, Basel is not an herb either.

Related Carpe Diem stories include “No, I’m Not Dumbing Myself Down!” (December 14, 2009); “Gretch: Sorry, I Actually Was Valedictorian” (July 1, 2010); and “Gretchen Carlson’s ‘Release’” (December 2, 2010).

Maria Molina: Bye!

Fox News meteorologist Maria Molina bid her fans adieu anew on Fox & Friends Weekend this past Sunday. Providing her F&FW fans with a strange sense of deja vu, Maria and F&FW co-host Dave Briggs reenacted a similar final scene from almost five months ago. However, hopefully, Maria sent an additional message to her admirers this time.

As F&FW concluded Sunday, the busty brunette joined Dave and the other F&FW co-anchors, Clayton Morris and Alisyn Cameroa, on the curvy couch to offer the audience their au revoir. As Clayton, Aly, and Dave spoke, Maria sat silently and shyly on the end of the sofa in her sexy white dress, short and sleeveless but buttoned-high. When Dave concluded the final F&FW farewell, he turned to the coy, comely meteorologist and mischievously started to wave to the audience. Grinning puckishly, he commanded, “Say ‘bye,’ Maria!”

Glancing briefly at her tormentor, a smiling but embarrassed Maria quickly complied. “Bye!” echoed Maria while she animatedly waved to her fans. Meanwhile, as Aly grinned sympathetically and Clayton tried vainly to hide his smile, Dave ducked his head and chuckled at Maria’s discomfit. Blushing, Maria turned to Dave and playfully shoved him as the show ended.

A mere goodbye to her admirers once again? Perchance. But, she also may have said a welcome goodbye to the old demure Maria who had suddenly replaced the delectable Domenica Davis–and a happy hello to a new more self-assured one.

Possibly, a positive portent of Maria’s rebirth was her appearance on Happening Now today.* In front of the Fox News weather map stood a striking Maria almost channeling her sexy “exhibitionist” FBN colleague, Nicole Petallides as she confidently and sultrily delivered the weather. And, no, dear reader, the Nicaraguan beauty did not mercilessly tantalize her votaries a la the Greek goddess, but she did hold court in her tight, v-necked fuschia top. But, Maria certainly could have been mistaken for Nicole’s sister as she seduced them with her long, flowing locks; her big beautiful brown eyes; and her high, chiseled cheek bones.

Bye, bye, Miss AccuWeather. Maria, hello, Miss Fox?

*Happening Now – 04/06/11 (@ 12:32 p.m. ET)

JD Says: Kiran Says

What really sparked John Roberts’ infamous rant against Kiran Chetry, his co-host on CNN’s American Morning? On September 8, 2010, JD infamously berated an off-camera Kiran during his interview with President Obama’s smirking senior advisor, David Axelrod. Carpe Diem reported the story that day; Mediaite ran with it (with vid) about a week later; consequently, other media outlets (e.g., Huffington Post, Gawker, and TV Guide) picked it up, and, subsequently, it went viral. However, no one reported what Kiran had done to set off JD’s rant.

This morning, JD (now FNC’s senior national correspondent) provided his version  of the “infamous incident” during a telephone interview with FBN’s Don Imus. Succinctly, Imus asked, “Was it your co-host, one? And what was she doing?” JD stuttered, “Well, well, well, that, that morning, I was wearing a particularly lovely shade of, of plum nail polish and there had been a chip that had developed in it when I had whacked my finger on the desk, and she was trying to fix the chip in my nail polish. Explaining his errant behavior, JD continued, “And, I thought that interviewing David Axelrod, that was not an appropriate time to be fixing my nail polish. So I just said, ‘Would you mind waiting until I’m [sic] done this and then you can go ahead.'” [Vid via Mediaite.]

However, Kiran gave a completely different story during her interview with Mediaite‘s Tommy Christopher on February 18. When Christopher rather reluctantly queried her about “that clip,” she stammered, “I was, oh, um, it was just, I think it was a little bit overblown:  This is why I love you bloggers because one moment in time gets, you know, immortalized forever.” Then, putting her hands over her computer keyboard as if reenacting the scene, Kiran continued, “But, we were dealing with some breaking news: he was doing an interview and I was typing. And, I guess that got a little annoying.” Later, Christopher confidently commented, “Well, I’m glad that we could set the record straight.”

But, did Christopher and Kiran really “set the record straight”? JD certainly does not seem to think so.

The Donald Jabs Obama: Hu, Too?

“You’ll let me know whether our President drops to his knees, right?” As Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived into the United States today, New York real estate mogul Donald Trump got in a sharp jab at President Barack Obama. During a phone interview with Your World host Neil Cavuto, the potential 2012 U.S. Presidential candidate opined about American-Chinese relations as Cavuto simultaneously covered live President Hu’s arrival at St. Andrew’s Air Force Base. When Cavuto noted, “Alright, they’re rolling out the red carpet [for President Hu],” Trump laughed, “”So, I don’t have a television in front of me: You’ll let me know whether our President drops to his knees, right?”*

In response, Cavuto smiled at Trump’s apparent acerbic reference to President Obama’s past “bowing” controversies, cautioning, “Now, Donald, careful, the President, the Vice President is there.” “Chastening” Trump further, “Cavuto continued, “You could do this when you’re President but right now we have an etiquette here.” In turn, Trump simply awaited Cavuto’s next query without comment.

[Author’s aside: In response to Trump’s jest, supra, off-camera Your World guest and FBN anchor Judge Andrew Napolitano could be heard laughing heartily.]

*Your World with Neil Cavuto – 01/18/11 (4:06 p.m. ET)