Shepard Smith: I’m Gonna Go Away for a Bit

“When I eventually do return, I’ll be returning from the Fox News Deck.” Fox Report host Shepard Smith signed off Thursday from his evening show for good, sounding even more optimistic about his future at Fox News than Alan Colmes did when he left Hannity and Colmes for “greener pastures” five years ago.

Apparently making way for Megyn Kelly‘s imminent move to prime time, Shep bid adieu to his audience and announced the end of his evening show Thursday. In the final segment of Fox Report, Shep remarked, “I’ve been saying good night…for years and anchoring this newscast since 1999. But, for a while really, I’ve been well aware that most of you already know the news or much of it before we even sign on each evening.” Explicating the denouement of his Fox Report further, Shep said, “The world’s changed a lot in the last fourteen years: smartphones, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and all the rest: We get the news in real time across lots of platforms, and frankly, this concept of anchor in the box telling you what happened hasn’t change that much since the 1960’s. It’s time for something new: And, we’re gonna lead the way!”

Announcing a hiatus of unknown duration, Shep added, “So, I’m gonna go away for a bit and get my bum shoulder fixed.” Assuring his FNC fans that his departure would not be permanent, Shep declared, “When I eventually do return, I’ll be returning from the Fox News Deck.” Elaborating, he said, “From there we’ll fuse multiple platforms and bring the global resources of this amazing company including social media and digital content to the screen all at once. And, on its time, not on ours!”

Optimistically, he promised, “I’ll report whenever the news happens no matter what program is scheduled.”  Shaking his head for emphasis, Shep declared, “It’s the most exciting venture of my career. My team and I are pumped. And, I hope you’ll come along for the ride.”

Concluding somewhat sentimentally, Shep remarked, “So, Fox Report‘s going away in the next few weeks. It’s been an honor and a privilege to anchor this newscast. Bigger and better is coming with Shepard Smith reporting from the Fox News Deck.”

Shep on Fox News Deck: But, will Ailes’ promise mean a real chance for Shep to go to bat and get a hit for himself and Fox News? If so, good luck, Shep: Get a hit!

Prime-Time Megyn: “Hannity & Kelly”?

Roger Ailes’ “Minor Change”? In an exclusive Thursday, the Drudge Report reported that Fox News was “set to make its first primetime schedule change in 10 years” and that “superstar newswoman Megyn Kelly [had] landed the 9 PM slot” according to its top sources. When asked about that “rumor” by Fox News’s Neil Cavuto, FNC chief Roger Ailes responded, “Well, generally, I don’t confirm or deny any rumors….However, Megyn has earned a better time period: She’ll be in our prime-time lineup. But, I must quickly say that all of our stars will be back: We have new deals with (Sean) Hannity and Greta (Van Susteren) and Shep(ard Smith).” Noticing Ailes’ obvious omission, Cavuto quizzically commented, “So, it sounds to me like (Bill) O’Reilly‘s gone: Mischievously, Ailes answered, “Yep, he’s finished, that’s it! No, I’m just kidding.”*

According to New York Times columnist Bill Carter, the prevailing speculation is that Megyn will get her own hour and Sean Hannity will move to the 7:00 p.m. slot (replacing Fox Report with Shepard Smith) and Shep will move to an afternoon hour. However, in his Cavuto interview, Ailes himself cryptically remarked, “We have a great roster of talent: I am making a few minor changes….You have to choose well in the first place and have the guts to stay with people who can do the job. And, that’s what I try to do.”** Furthermore, he reportedly explained, “One of my jobs is to get the best audience flow between shows and that’s one of the reason[s] I’m making a few changes right now.”***

And, that very audience of Ailes in both prime-time and full-day ratings “has had a median age of 65-plus (according to the aforementioned NYT author). If the anecdotal observation that older people tend to be resistant to change is true, Ailes would do well to only “[make] a few minor changes” as he seeks to facilitate the “best audience flow” of his hyper-loyal older viewers (and tries  to attract a younger demographic at the same time). Creating three new shows for Megyn, Hannity, and Shep, as the NYT suggested, seems more than a few major changes–especially, when Gretchen Carlson’s new fall show and, an imminent iteration of Fox & Friends (with new co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck) are added into the mix.

“Hannity and Kelly”? Don’t count it out.

*Therightscoop.com (video and text) – 08/08/13.

**Ibid.

***Therightscoop.com (video) – 08/08/3 (@ 02:12/04:13).

[Author’s aside: If Megyn does indeed join Hannity, Ailes real primetime schedule (8-11 p.m.), the hosts will represent true-blue gender equality surpassing rivals CNN and MSNBC.]

Yep, Julie Banderas Gravid Again

“Yes haven’t u heard?” In case, anyone missed her big announcement a month ago, FNC correspondent Julie Banderas reminded her fans that she was preggers today with her second child. For her uninitiated acolytes, she subtly teased, “Check out my good friend and Senior Producer of @HappeningNow @ClintPHenderson ‘s blog featuring my Addison! :) fxn.ws/LM0d1u.” When one linked to Henderson’s post titled, “Sneak Peak of Baby Banderas Celebrating the 4th of July!,” a photo appeared of Julie’s darling daughter Addison walking hand-in-hand with her gravid mom.

In response, one apparent new follower of Julie queried, “So… is there another little Banderas on the way?” In response, she cheerfully declared, “Yes haven’t u heard? I’m 5 1/2 weeks pregnant due in November.” For any other such new devotee enraptured by their goddess’ miraculous short gestation period, Julie later Tweeted, “I meant MONTHS not weeks!”

Lately, Julie has seemed especially ebullient about her and her husband Andrew Sansone‘s second “bun in the oven”: on Independence Day, she sent a pic of Addison and baby bump, Tweeting, “Happy 4th from 2 kids! ;).” She has every right to be proud.

Congratulations, Julie and Andrew!

[Author’s aside: For Julie’s fans who can barely wait for her second baby’s pics, cf. here for a vid link to her firstborn Addison Melissa’s Fox Report debut.]

Shep the Schlep

Shepard still wallowing in his own vomit. And, Fox News is still enabling the Ole Miss good old boy that failed to graduate–or mature. Friday, on Fox Report, Shep de Sade (er, Shep de Sad) once again exploited the black bear, ironically, the mascot of his beloved school, during yet another infamous “Bear Alert.”

After reporting on an Alaskan-black-bear-hibernation study, including video (more aptly, a “Cool Critters” segment), with potential benefits for astronauts on long missions, Shep seized the opportunity to air gratuitously yet again the cringe-inducing excerpt of the Trampoline Bear video. As he concluded his story, Shep jested that instead of aiding human astronauts, that “we could just bounce the bears into space.”* Of course, he simultaneously ran the repugnant eight-year-old footage of a tranquilized black bear’s horrific headfirst plunge into an unforgiving terra firma.

Most disconcerting was–and is–Shep’s ignoble glee in the black bear’s plight. If he treats animals so poorly on television, one may ask if he treats humans much better off of it. E.g., did Shep really stand up heroically for the Hurricane Katrina victims or did he simply Pharisaically pose for his Fox News fans.

It’s high time for FNC to tell Shep to shape up or ship out!

*Fox Report with Shepard Smith – 02/18/11 (@ 7:57 p.m. ET)

Ole Miss’ Colonel Shep

Trampoline Bear Abuse or Cool Critter Celebration? As Shepard Smith‘s beloved Ole Miss progresses forward with its mascot pick of the Rebel Black Bear to replace Colonel Reb, the Studio B and Fox Report anchor continues to be conflicted about moving forward from his signature segment “Bear Alert” to a more animal-friendly “Cool Critters.” As a case in point, last Thursday, Shep reported the very same story (about a newborn Atlanta panda cub) under the respective rubrics differently on his two daily FNC programs: To wit, on Studio B, Shep narrated the tale as the “Bear Alert,” accompanying it as usual with the cruel Trampoline Bear video (showing a tranquilized bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline, being hurled high into the air, and then crashing headfirst into the unyielding ground) whereas on the Fox Report, Shep retold it as a “Cool Critters” story without the repugnant Trampoline Bear clip.

Unfortunately, Shep’s recent setback occurred just a mere week to the day that he showed significant promise on Studio B during his “Bear Report.” On that show, he aired the Trampoline Bear clip but he elided the offensive frames of the black bear crashing into the concrete-like earth albeit jesting about “bear trampoline safety.” Optimistic that Shep may have turned a proverbial corner, the author penned, Carpe Diem‘s “Hope Springs Eternal” that he would not “return to his vomit.”

Unfortunately, Shep did just that as he returned to his folly Thursday on Studio B‘s “Bear Alert.” But, did he repent a mere three hours later on Fox Report‘s “Cool Critters”? Hope may spring eternal, but its flame is dimmed with each passing day.

Colonel Shep, walk into the light!

Update: Eight days later (last Friday), Fox Report producers took a different tack. Instead of choosing between the rubric “Bear Alert” or “Cool Critters,” they did both basically. As guest host Jon Scott previewed the FR‘s final segment entitled “Bear Buddies” (about an older female polar bear at Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie, Scotland, being introduced to a twenty-three-month-old male as a companion), Jon commented, “Now, Bear Alert and Cute [sic?] Critter Alert, Britain’s only polar bear getting a new friend but don’t expect cubbies anytime soon.” The odious Trampoline Bear video did not run after this conflated alert. More progress?

*Fox Report with Shepard Smith – 11/12/10 (@ 7:54 a.m. ET)

Hope Springs Eternal

Trampoline Bear suspended in mid-air. Perhaps, Studio B (and Fox Report) anchor Shepard Smith was toying with the author and the black bear yesterday as Charles Shulz’ Peanuts character Lucy continuously did with Charlie Brown and the football. However, hopefully, he is simply beginning to realize that repeatedly and gleefully showing an animal (albeit anesthetized) being pummeled into the ground by its own weight is rather cruel.

As Studio B drew to a close, Shep did a “Bear Alert” about the proliferation of black bears at Yellowstone National Park. Then he aired a photo of Fox Report chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt and a field producer Lisa Kaplan posing with a black bear statue at the Black Bear Diner in Reno, Nevada. Segueing to his Trampoline Bear video, Shep stated, “Jonathan Hunt on the road compiling stories…[about]…issues that matter to ordinary Americans which includes bears obviously.”*

Then, as the vid began of the Trampoline Bear falling from the tree and being propelled high into the air, Shep continued, “Word is they were discussing.” When the producer stopped the video with the bear mid-air (and showing the last frame for approximately five full seconds), Shep chuckled, “Bear trampoline safety!” Laughing with him, tellingly, was, apparently, the producer and a floor crew member.

Bear trampoline safety: a worthy Shepard “Bear Alert.”

Studio B – 10/28/10 (@3:56 p.m. ET)

As a Dog Returns to Its Vomit

So Shep returns to his Trampoline Bear video. Alas, Fox News’ Shepard Smith’s “‘Bear Alert’ to end all ‘Bear Alerts”  (Ole Miss mascot) Thursday was not to be. Unfortunately, on the Fox Report Friday, Shep aired yet another “Bear Report”–and, of course, his favorite animal cruelty cine.*

As Shep read his “Bear Report” about an errant black bear on New York’s Rochester Institute of Technology campus that had to be tranquilized and trapped, he showed a photo of the downed animal. Joking, Shep remarked, “At just one and a half years old, the bear is too young for college anyway.” Then, as he ran the Trampoline Bear vid, supra, he laughed, “It should be playing on trampolines.”

Interestingly, Shep did not air the video chronologically this time, instead he began it midway with the Trampoline Bear a/k/a Black Bear Reb barreling into the ground headfirst and crumpling under its weight (and then looped it to show the black bear falling from the tree onto the trampoline and bouncing high into the air.) Perhaps, like a spoiled and petulant child, Shep just could not wait for his “dessert.”

Apparently, the coronation of Ole Miss’ Black Bear Reb has sadly changed nothing for Shep. Like a party-hardy frat boy, Shep just cannot seem to quit throwing up. If he does not, just how long Shep’s Fox News viewers can tolerate the stench is the salient question.

Fox Report – 10/15/10 (@7:58 p.m. ET)

The Good Shepard Hydes

FNC’s genteel Dr. Jeckyll, the good Shepard Smith, transmogrified into the hideous Mr. Hyde on Studio B but later returned to his saner self on the Fox Report. On Studio B, Shep reveled anew in the cruel Trampoline Bear video as he inserted it twice into his “Bear Alert” on an unrelated Lake Tahoe bear burglar report. However, later, when he ran the same story again on Fox Report, Shep found the decency to cut the offending frames (of the black bear crumpling under its own weight as it plunged headfirst into the hard ground) from the clip.** Just who the hell is Fox News’ Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hyde? Flim Flam, Bim Bam, Ole Miss, by Damn!

*Studio B – 08/25/10 (@3:55 p.m. ET)

**Fox Report – 08/25/10 (@7:28 p.m. ET)

The Good Shepard?

News of great joy? Fox News’ Shepard Smith appears to have crossed over from the dark side when it comes to the Trampoline Bear video. Last Friday, the weekday Fox Report (and Studio B) anchor defended his use of the exploitative tape (of a tranquilized black bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline, being propelled high into the air, and then crashing face-first into the hard ground), saying, “You know that, that bear there didn’t get hurt.” Happily, however, this week, Shep took the higher ground, eschewing his painful “Bear Alerts” (with the “requisite” Trampoline Bear clips) in favor of more animal-friendly “Cool Critters” segments. Specifically, on Monday, he featured two newborn Taiwanese liger cubs, and, on Thursday, he showed three Aussie-adopted pet crocodiles.

Well done, Shep! “Cool Critters” indeed.

Shep Defends Trampoline Bear Video

“You know that, that bear there didn’t get hurt.” Today, on Fox Report, Shepard Smith finally seemed to get it, i.e., that his Trampoline Bear video can be seen as animal cruelty. After earlier playing the exploitative clip on his Studio B,* receiving flak from the author for doing so, and seemingly suspending his Twitter account, Shep ran the Trampoline Bear footage during the Fox Report** but with the aforementioned explanatory coda.**

During Studio B, Shep Tweeted the upcoming “Bear Alert” to his followers shortly before showing it to his audience. Then, when he aired the footage of a young black bear who had had his head removed from a jar, he gleefully ran the Trampoline Bear clip (of the black bear falling from a tree, being propelled high into the ground, and crashing head-first into the ground) as usual. After the exploitative video had run, the author Tweeted, “Shep de Sade, er, Sad strikes again with his “Studio B Trampoline” bear vid.”

Shortly thereafter (and before Shep’s Fox Report aired) Shep’s Twitter page (including his Tweet, supra), strangely disappeared (“suspended”). Nevertheless, when the Fox Report ran, Shep still replayed the “Bear Alert” with the offensive Trampoline Bear footage appended thereto. However, in a later segment at the very end of the show, Shep defended his use of the clip. To wit, after a story about Disney film Bambi, Shep deadpanned, “I wonder how Bambi would like the trampoline”: then, he added, “You know that, that bear there didn’t get hurt.”***

Shep, please quit airing this exploitative video of Trampoline Bear. As your good friend and weekend counterpart, Julie Banderas, has acknowledged, it contains an element of animal cruelty and should be barred from her weekend Fox Report. Shep, just can it for good from your weekday Fox Report and your Studio B. At the very least, cut the repulsive frames of Trampoline Bear crashing face-first into the hard ground.

And, come back to Twitter!

*Studio B with Shepard Smith – 08/12/10 (@3:59 p.m. ET)
**Fox Report with Shepard Smith – 08/12/10 (@7:54 p.m. ET)
***Fox Report with Shepard Smith – 08/12/10 (@7:59 p.m. ET)

Shep de Sade: Kubrick’s Clare Quilty?

The Marquis is back! However, Studio B‘s Shepard Smith de Sade reappeared as the spent, jaded Clare Quilty as he reran his evil tired tripe, i.e., the Trampoline Bear video today. He seemed almost desperate to find anew that thrill that now eluded him and that Viagra could not even bring back. With a stone face and a monotone delivery, he announced, “Bear Alert.”*

Before polluting Fox News’ airwaves again with his favorite animal cruelty cine, he showed an adorable black bear cub chowing down on garbage in a Georgia driveway. After doing so, he cautioned, “While cute, the local sheriff is warning residents ‘do not leave food out for the bears.'” Then, as he aired once again the Trampoline Bear clip (of a black bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline, being propelled high into the air, and then crashing headfirst into the ground), Shep cackled, “And, of course, trampolines are always–ha, ha, ha, ha, ha–trampolines are always a great deterrent.”

Poor Shepard Smith was more of a sad spectacle today than even his Trampoline Bear.

Update: Perhaps, Shep changed his prescription to Cialis or Levitra after Studio B. For his Fox Report, he tried again to find his thrill and prematurely injected his “Bear Alert” at mid-show.** However, this time he seemed to, at least, fake a bit more enthusiasm as the video climaxed, as almost verbatim he repeated, “And, of course, trampolines are always an excellent deterrent.”

*Studio B with Shepard Smith – 08/12/10 (@3:59 p.m. ET)

**Fox Report with Shepard Smith – 08/12/10 (@7:29 p.m. ET)

Shep de Sade’s Bad Boys

When the Marquis is away, the servant boys will play. And so they did yesterday. With their master away Friday, stand-ins Trace Gallagher (Studio B) and Jon Scott (Fox Report) looked like naughty school boys who had just discovered a stag film hidden in their dad’s sock drawer.

On Studio B, guest anchor Trace practically giggled with glee after he got his peek at the Trampoline Bear. After airing a “Bear Alert” about a pizza-pilfering black bear in Montana, he exclaimed, “Montana’s own bare-foot bandit is still on the loose: And, someone set a trap with pizza and a trampoline.”*  As he did, of course, the predictable Trampoline Bear clip ran (with a tranquilized black bear falling from a tree, bouncing high into the air, and crashing face first into the ground). Post-climatically, Trace beamed, “I’ve always wanted to see the video again. I love it!”

Almost four hours later, on Fox Report, a generally gentle John Scott got his guilty pleasure after he echoed Trace’s “Bear Alert.” As the pizza-pilfering bear segment concluded, Scott aired the Trampoline Bear footage. Smiling, Scott joked, “The bear is still on the run. Next time, try setting a trap with a pizza and a trampoline. Bears love trampolines, don’t you know?”**

Do they now, Jon? What a truly bad boy you are. Your master Shep will be proud but your mistress Julie surely will not.

*Studio B – 08/06/10 (3:59 p.m.)

**Fox Report – 08/06/10 (7:46 p.m.)

Banderas: “Not My Fault”

Censored “Bear Alert” video appears on Fox Report. Less than a week after Julie Banderas told her Twitter followers that she “would never condone animal cruelty” and had instructed her producers “not to air the bear on a trampoline video on [her] show ever again,” her recalcitrant FR producers did just that. Albeit briefly AND censored.

Caught in the middle of an internecine Fox Report “feud” between weekday anchor Shepard Smith (who strangely relishes the video of a sedated black bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline, being catapulted high into the air, and falling forcefully face-first into the ground) and weekend host Julie Banderas (who has renounced the video, has banished it from her show forever but also has strangely purged those very proclamations from her Twitter page), Fox Report producers appeared to search for a middle ground. And, perchance, they actually found it on the “Bear Alert” Sunday.

With Banderas’ animal rights bona fides in question  (in light of her strong positive Tweets against “animal cruelty” and consequent decision against ever airing the Trampoline Bear video again coupled with her almost immediate erasures of those Tweets from her Twitter page), Banderas seemed eager to clear the air. Before her “Bear Alert” segment, to her fans and followers, she Tweeted, “[C]oming up.. a fox bear alert!”

Later, when Banderas was reading the “Bear Alert” about a New Hampshire black bear “house thief” as field bear footage ran, prankster producers inserted a censored Trampoline Bear clip into the video. (The bowdlerized footage showed only the Trampoline Bear falling onto the trampoline and bouncing high into the air: the bear’s crashing into the earth was appropriately excised.) When the Trampoline bear clip aired, Banderas exclaimed, “You guys!” as the floor crew erupted in laughter. When Banderas finished her report, she shook her head and remarked, “Hm. Tried to get that one past me. Not my fault!”

Happily, Banderas appears to be standing firm in her animal rights position. Furthermore, perhaps, adventitiously, the Fox Report producers may have found a Trampoline Bear video compromise that will still amuse Shepard Smith. If not, i.e., Smith really needs the bear’s crashing head-first into the hard ground and crumpling underneath its own weight for a laugh, then he may well earn the title Shep de Sade.

Shep de Sade?

“Face-Planted” Trampoline Bear vid returns. Fox Report weekend anchor Julie Banderas decided to ban it from her show Monday: However, Fox Report weekday anchor Shepard Smith brought it back on his show today (after giving it a rest yesterday). To paraphrase Marquis de Sade, apparently, Smith thinks that the best way to the viewers heart is through torment–of the trampoline bear.

The saga of FNC’s Fox Report and the Trampoline Bear video continues to be a strange one. Sunday, during her Fox Report, Banderas gave a “Bear Alert” about New Jersey allowing its first bear hunt in five years with bear footage, including the approximately seven-year-old controversial Trampoline Bear clip. As it ran, Banderas laughed, “Maybe, all they [New Jersey authorities] need is a few trampolines. That’ll take care of ‘em: It’ll wipe ‘em all out!”

In response, after the show Sunday, the author Tweeted, “When will FR quit exploiting trampoline bear’s pain? https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/sheps-trampoline-bear-peta-mia/.” After getting no reply that evening, the author penned, “Banderas’ ‘Teachable Moment’?” before midnight.

Subsequently, Monday morning, the author Tweeted a link to Carpe Diem’s “Banderas’ ‘Teachable Moment’?” to his followers, writing, “.@JulieBanderas (like Shep) laughs at Trampoline Bear’s distress. PETA pride: Will her Kardashian friends teach her? http://bit.ly/cxzsKy”

In a direct response to the author’s article Monday evening, Banderas Tweeted, “I’d like to go on the record by saying all who know me are aware of my passion for animal rights. I would never (cont) http://tl.gd/2ou3ct.” (At the Twitlonger.com link, her entire message read, “I’d like to go on the record by saying all who know me are aware of my passion for animal rights. I would never condone animal cruelty and have informed my producers not to air the bear on a trampoline video on my show ever again. http://bit.ly/bVNExX“) Strangely, she added, “I decided to kill the video long before any writeups and PETA had nothing to do with it.” (An almost incredible statement since she had just aired it the night before on her show.) Happy with Banderas’ overall response, the author gave her kudos and asked if Shep would follow suit in his Carpe Diem article, “Banderas Responds: Bars Bear Vid.”

However, shortly thereafter, when checking Banderas’ Twitter page again, the author realized that Banderas had inexplicably expunged her message of her “passion for animal rights” and her decision to quit airing the Trampoline Bear video (as well as a follow-up Tweet and ReTweets). Nevertheless, her Tweets and ReTweets remained on the Internet elsewhere, e.g., Muckrack.com. It appeared that Banderas had recanted her apology by scrubbing her website but whether she had actually changed her mind was unclear and what the effect on Smith would be was all the more uncertain.

Interestingly, before his next Fox Report, Smith apparently opened a new Twitter account and Tweeted, “With my first tweet, you’ll join me for the Fox Report at 7pm EST, and 6pm Oxford, MS time- won’t you?” Five minutes later, seeming to hint at Banderas’ scrubbed messages, he added, “My weekend pal and colleague @JulieBanderas was on Twitter, and she’s good at it from what I hear so I had to join. You rock Jules!” Later,  when Smith aired the “Bear Alert” (with Jack Hanna) without including the Trampoline Bear video, he appeared to signal his agreement with Banderas.

Alas, Smith’s turn from his folly was not to last. Today, during his Fox Report, Smith gave another “Bear Alert” of a mother black bear rescuing an errant cub entangled in a fish net. Unfortunately, as that sweet footage ended and as the obnoxious trampoline bear clip began, Smith gleefuly proclaimed, “Then they wandered back into the woods, possibly, to find a much larger net–with some springs!” After the show, he Tweeted, “It was a great show today….How about the bear alert, and planet blago? Two of my faves.”

Maybe, it was indeed Shepard Smith who got Julie Banderas to delete from her Twitter page her strong statement in support of animal rights and her decision to bar the bear video forever from her weekend Fox Report. Happily, however, her message still got out to her followers and fans. Unfortunately, so did his: Smith still does not get it.

Update: Fox Report Thursday (07/29/10): No “Bear Alert” (with Trampoline Bear video). (However, anchor Shepard Smith did report on the serious story of a mother grizzly who killed one person and attacked two others at Yellowstone National Park in Montana.)

Update2: Fox Report Friday (07/30/10): Once again, no “Bear Alert.” (However, guest host Jon Scott updated deadly Yellowstone mother grizzly bear report.)

Update3: Fox Report Monday (08/02/10): “Bear Alert” without the offensive Trampoline Bear video (by guest anchor Jon Scott).

Banderas Recants Apology

And, deletes other related Tweets! After asserting her “passion for animal rights” and her decision not to run the Trampoline Bear video again on her weekend Fox Report last evening to her Twitter followers, Julie Banderas has taken it all back. I.e., she scrubbed her Twitter page of that particular Tweet, a follow-up one, and related reTweets. However, as Julie should know, the omitted Tweets and RT’s in chronological order can be found elsewhere, e.g., Muckrack.com, and are as follow:

JulieBanderas I’d like to go on the record by saying all who know me are aware of my passion for animal rights. I would never (cont) http://tl.gd/2ou3ct

JulieBanderas I decided to kill the video long before any writeups and PETA had nothing to do with it

JulieBanderas its the same video replayed RT @Nate592 : @JulieBanderas Is the bear alert always the same video or is it different ones?

JulieBanderas Thx! was on last wknd RT @Russell_Hansen :How could any1 ever believe u wouldn’t have only the deepest love 4 animals? I miss u being on fox!

Unfortunately, Julie has done a similar scrubbing to her Twitter page before when she caught flack from followers for support of Alan Colmes (after Red Eye‘s Andy Levy quit following Alan for his use of the derogatory term “teabaggers” for Tea Party members. After Carpe Diem’s “Julie: ‘I’m Following You Now, Alan’” article about her deletions, did Julie think that she could pull it off this time without detection? Or, perhaps, did she gave in to pressure from her Fox News superiors or her weekday counterpart Shepard Smith?

Regardless, Julie made the wrong decision. She was right when she initially said, “I’d like to go on the record by saying all who know me are aware of my passion for animal rights. I would never condone animal cruelty and have informed my producers not to air the bear on a trampoline video on my show ever again. http://bit.ly/bVNExX”“

Since Julie has deleted her statement from the record, Julie’s Fox News fans and Twitter followers deserve to know where she now stands: I.e., did she really mean what she said about animal rights and the offensive bear video or not?

Update: A hopeful omen today from Julie’s colleague, Shepard Smith. In his first “Bear Alert” (07/27/10 with Jack Hanna on Studio B) since Julie’s Tweets, supra, and their erasure, he did not follow it up with the offensive Trampoline Bear footage.

Update2: A second propitious sign today from Shep. On Fox Report this evening (07/27/10), Shep recounted the earlier “Bear Alert” on Studio B (albeit abbreviated) sans Trampoline Bear video.

Stay tuned.

Banderas Responds: Bars Bear Vid

Fox Report weekend anchor Julie Banderas responded Monday evening to a critical Carpe Diem article calling for her “teachable moment” as to animal rights by banning the controversial Trampoline Bear video. In the CD column, the author had noted that Julie had “joined her weekday counterpart Shepard Smith…in finding great delight in the pain of the Trampoline Bear.” Further, the author bemoaned her laughter and remarks last Sunday during yet another odious airing by Fox Report of the approximately seven-year-old video of the black bear (falling from a tree, being propelled high into the air, and then crashing forcefully face first into the hard ground).

Citing the Carpe Diem post, Julie asserted, “I’d like to go on the record by saying all who know me are aware of my passion for animal rights. I would never condone animal cruelty and have informed my producers not to air the bear on a trampoline video on my show ever again. http://bit.ly/bVNExX”

Kudos, Julie! Now, it is time for your weekday counterpart Shepard Smith to follow your exemplary stand in pledging not to show this exploitative Trampoline Bear video ever again on his weekday Fox Report (or his Studio B).

Will you, Shep?

Update: Julie has scrubbed her Twitter page of her Trampoline Bear Tweets and reTweets, including her animal rights stand and her decision to not ever air the Trampoline Bear vid again.

Update2: In his first “Bear Alerts”  (07/27/10) on both Studio B and Fox Report since Julie’s Tweets, supra, and her deletions thereof, Shepard Smith did not include the offensive Trampoline Bear footage.

Banderas’ “Teachable Moment”?

PETA pride: Bear bashing? Fox Report weekend anchor Julie Banderas joined her weekday counterpart Shepard Smith today in finding great delight in the pain of the Trampoline Bear. In a Fox News “Bear Alert,” Julie announced that New Jersey had given approval to its first bear hunt in five years as Fox Report producers ran the exploitative almost-seven-year-old video of a tranquilized black bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline, being bounced high into the air, and then crashing headfirst into the unforgiving ground. As the footage ran, Julie laughed, “Maybe, all they [New Jersey authorities] need is a few trampolines. That’ll take care of ’em: It’ll wipe ’em all out!”* (The floor crew roared with approval.)

Not so very funny. Perhaps, the Kardashian sisters, Kloe and Kim, should have given their apparent friend Julie a lesson on animal appreciation earlier this month during their Fourth of July yacht cruise of the Hudson River.* Both of the beauties have been given an education of their own on animal rights by PETA. In 2008, Kloe posed for PETA’s “Fur? I’d Rather Go Naked” campaign against the killing of animals for their coat after the organization told her what occurred to the animals during fur harvesting. In April of this year, Kim had to defend herself for holding a kitten by the nape of the neck in a Twitter photo after coming under fire from PETA for doing so. Perhaps, they can now help explain to Julie that the Trampoline Bear deserves some respect as well.

The author is certainly not suggesting that Julie is cold-hearted after following her copious love Tweets about baby daughter Addison. However, regardless of one’s views of PETA, one would be hard pressed not to agree that animals should be treated as humanely as possible. To find humor in the harming of an animal, i.e., the Trampoline Bear, is simply regrettable at best. Hopefully, Julie (and Shep) will soon so concur.

[As to Julie’s friendship with the Kardashian family, her sister Melissa Bidwell is co-executive producer of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” As to the aforementioned cruise, Julie, hubby Andrew, and their daughter Addison all were aboard with the Kardashian family for that luxurious outing on July 4th. The next day an appreciative Julie Tweeted, “@KhloeKardashian @KimKardashian @KeepinUpWKris It was great seeing u guys! Addison says she’ll never forget her 1st 4th!!! :)”]

*Fox Report – 07/25/10 (@7:41 p.m. ET)

Update: Citing this article specifically, Julie responded, “I’d like to go on the record by saying all who know me are aware of my passion for animal rights. I would never condone animal cruelty and have informed my producers not to air the bear on a trampoline video on my show ever again. http://bit.ly/bVNExX”

Update2: Julie has scrubbed her Twitter page of her Trampoline Bear Tweets and reTweets, including her animal rights stand and her decision not to ever air the Trampoline Bear vid again on her weekend Fox Report.

Huddy Says “Goodbye”

But, Banderas to say, “Hello.” As Juliet Huddy concluded the Fox Report last night, she announced, “Julie Banderas is returning from maternity leave next week.” On a personal note, she added, “But, I would like to say, ‘Thank you so much.’ It was a wonderful, wonderful pleasure spending all of my Sundays with you.” Perhaps, to help insure that it was a similar treat for her fans, she wore a hot, red mini giving them a generous view of her gorgeous gams.

Juliet will be missed as Julie’s replacement on the weekends. Not only is she an obvious beauty but she also provides that sassy, sexy, irreverent take on the news that made FNC what it is today. However, unfortunately, as of late, FNC seems to be “growing up,” toning things down, and moving toward that “more mature” mien of a staid, stodgy CNN. After saying adieu to the dynamo Domenica Davis, Bill, do not let FNC’s jaunty Juliet go. Or, go to waste!

FNC’s Musical Chairs?

For Martha MacCallum, Juliet Huddy, and Megyn Kelly, it sounds as if the music has begun. Strangely, Fox News seems to have anchor Martha MacCallum in every chair but her own on Live Desk this week. Monday it was Fox & Friends: Tuesday, Wednesday, and today, it’s America’s Newsroom.

Perhaps, FNC Senior Veep of Programming Bill Shine is taking advantage of the remainder of Megyn Kelly’s maternity leave this year (from America’s Newsroom) to see if he can adjust the roster to accommodate his returning star Juliet Huddy. Evidence of such a move may be Shine’s moving Martha this week to Fox & Friends Monday and then to America’s Newsroom Tuesday-today even though she is currently the Live Desk co-anchor. Filling in for Martha on LD Monday-Wednesday and returning Friday, has been re-signed Juliet Huddy. (Ailes’ new Energizer bunny Alisyn Camerota is scheduled to fill in on LD today.)

If Martha settles in well with co-anchor Bill Hemmer on AN and Juliet with co-host Trace Gallagher on LD, Shine would be able to free up his rising star Megyn Kelly to host her own show. As has been rumored, she could replace Greta van Susteren in the evenings if Greta does not re-up. On the other hand, Megyn could allow Shepard Smith to concentrate on just one show instead of the two that he hosts each week day (Studio B and the Fox Report): if she did that, she would be give women greater representation on a male-dominated afternoon and evening schedule. (Of eight shows, all of the anchors are men save one, Greta van Susteren, who hosts On the Record.)

When the music stops in January, look around and see if everyone has a chair, and, if so, where exactly they are seated.