“The Five”: Shine’s Summer Show Permanent?

“We’ll be watching you over the course of a year on The Five.” Oops! Did America’s Newsroom co-anchor Martha MacCallum let the proverbial cat out of the bag? Yesterday, after presiding over a 2012 Presidential election segment with The Five co-hosts, Andrea Tantaros and Bob Beckel, Martha concluded, “We have a long way to go here, over a year….A lot can happen over the course of a year, Bob and Andrea.” Then, seemingly with a slip of her tongue, she added, “And, we’ll be watching you over the course of a year on The Five.” As a beaming Andrea nodded her head, a slightly smiling Bob, replied, “Thank you.”

The Five: Less than three months ago (in a June 30 FNC press release), Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine announced the premier of his new summer show, which was supposed to replace the departing Glenn Beck‘s eponymous show for a few months. Before the debut of The Five, Shine’s concept of this “revolving FOX personalities” panel was panned by media watchers such as Inside Cable News (including, in full disclosure, the author). However, The Five has surprised the critics: in fact, it has garnered comparable ratings to the Glenn Beck Show according to the Washington Examiner. Perhaps, Shine has taken note and has decided that he does not need an FNC daytime “shakeup” after all.

If so, thanks for the tip, Martha, and, congrats, Five’rs!

[Author’s aside: In addition to Andrea and Bob, The Five co-hosts include Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Eric Bolling, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Juan Williams, Monica Crowley, Judge Andrew Napolitano, and, purportedly, Geraldo Rivera.]

America’s Newsroom – 09/26/11 (@ 9:37 a.m. ET)

Update: More evidence of The Five‘s apparent new status: After Carpe Diem‘s report, The Five co-host Andrea Tantaros announced her show’s new Twitter address and her co-host Bob Beckel’s one as well. N.B. Unfortunately, Andrea gave the wrong address to her program: it links to @TheFive held by a “giuseppe” with protected Tweets.

The Five: Shine’s “Scramble” or Shakeup?

Waiting for Megyn Kelly? Thursday Fox News Channel Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine announced that FNC will temporarily replace the Glenn Beck Show this summer with The Five. According to his press release, the prosaically dubbed opinion program will consist of five constantly changing “FOX personalities” such as Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Judge Andrew Napolitano, etc. who will be joined by various guests. On an optimistic note, Shine stated, “The Five brings together an eclectic group of FOX talent whose knowledge of key issues and unique insights will undoubtedly make for a dynamic program.”

Not too surprisingly, Shine’s decision to air this inchoate, amorphous show was not universally well received. To wit, Inside Cable News was not the least bit impressed. Rather, blogger Spud scoffed, “This is probably the most uninspiring offering FNC has put on the air….FNC is apparently out of new ideas and unsure of a future course of action regarding 5pm.” He acerbically added, “Nobody involved in this project should feel too secure about its future when the press release announcing it spells out that it has a short shelf life: This is FNC in a rare public manifestation of scramble mode…coming up with something to fill the space without regard to the suitability of that kind of programming at that time of day.

Spud appears exactly right that Shine is “coming up with something to fill the space without regard to [its] suitability.” However, in the author’s view, he may be mistaken that Shine is in “scramble mode.” Rather, Shine seems to be in the midst of a daytime shakeup.

By adopting the summer-long The Five, Shine places the spot virtually on a short hold for something–or, someone. In the author’s opinion, that someone may well be America Live anchor Megyn Kelly who is still on maternity leave. When she returns in a month or so, Shine will finally have the obvious slot for his still “rising star.”

In fact, Shine appears to have already anticipated Kelly’s move from the America Live slot to the later five o’clock hour.  Since she left for maternity leave in April, Shine has appeared to prepare for the possible transition by auditioning Kelly’s fellow FNC female daytime anchors for the America Live anchor seat. To wit, he has showcased Martha MacCallum (America’s Newsroom), Alisyn Camerota (Fox & Friends Weekend), and Gretchen Carlson (Fox & Friends weekday) in Kelly’s chair, not in the usual short rotations, but for long stints instead. In doing so, he has already acclimated the AL audience to their presence and their respective audiences to their absence. Not to mention, he has already brought in “the new girl,” Molly Line, to Fox & Friends Weekend to fill the empty seat in any future musical chairs.

Scramble or shakeup? Time will tell. Soon.

Beck: “Sorry” for Ganges Gaffe

Today Glenn Beck offered a hurried apology at the end of his show, apparently, for offending Hindus and others with his reckless religious remark. Right before saying adieu to his audience, he quickly stated, “By the way, the name of the river in India, Ganges, I said last week that it sounded like a disease. Didn’t mean to offend anybody. Sorry.” And, that was it.

Perhaps, Beck was responding to a complaint filed with the FCC against Fox News by Bhavna Shinde of Forum for Hindu Awakening that alleged that Beck’s comments concerning the Hindu holy river constituted an aspersion of Hinduism and its followers. (The FCC has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and has promised to review it.) Furthermore, Beck may have been swayed in part by Rajan Zed, president of Universal Society of Hinduism, who requested FNC be more sensitive to faith-based matters and urged Beck (as well as Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch) to make a statement.

*The Glenn Beck Show (12/16/09) – @6:00 p.m. ET

Beck: Baucus or Bacchus?

FNC’s Glenn Beck seemed to indicate they may be one and the same, i.e., Montana’s Democratic Senator Max Baucus. As he derided the government’s burgeoning salaries, he revealed his favorite outrage, the raise given by the Senator Baucus to his then aide and girlfriend Melodie Hanes in 2008.*

With large pics of the two juxtaposed, Beck turned toward Hanes’ photo and said, “He gave $14,000 of your dollars in a pay raise to this woman.” Tapping her pic, he stated, “She’s a looker. Or, at least, that’s what he thought. Oh, yeah!” Beck added, “He was romantically involved with her.”

Then Beck elaborated, “Later that year, he took her on a taxpayer-funded trip to Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Oh, that’s fantastic!” Pointing at Hanes’ picture again, he laughed, “Even though that’s not her specialty, foreign policy.” Then, giving the visual image of Senator Baucus a suggestive jab to the chin, he rhetorically queried, “Oh, Max! What is her specialty? Rwwrr!”

Yow! Beck may bawl like a baby but he’s got balls.

*The Glenn Beck Show – 12/11/09 (@5:11 p.m. ET)

F&F Rally Redux?

Another Fox News producer rallying another crowd? It certainly appeared so. However, it may not be a big deal this time. Earlier, an FNC producer got into trouble with her bureau chief because she was caught rallying a Tea Bag Party crowd for Griff Jenkins during a Glenn Beck show. Today, a young man who looked like a FNC producer was seen similarly goading the troops on the U.S.S. New York into enthusiastic applause with a like hand gesture for the F&F program held on deck.*

It may be no big deal if F&F is primarily an entertainment show vis-a-vis a news program. In defending his popular morning news program for airing caricatures of New York Times staffers last year, former FNC Exec VP of News Editorial John Moody did contend that F&F is an “entertainment show that does some news.” However, in a Tweet to the author (defending his failure to wear a Phillies uniform for an entire as to a lost bet to his colleague Clayton Morris), F&F Weekend co-host Dave Briggs acerbically asserted, @Jakeho that’s absolutely ridiculous, Clayton never said I’d wear the uni for 3 hours, we actually have a job to do, we are a news show.” [Italics added for emphasis.]

The manufactured approbation is probably no big deal but it seemed to blur the line needlessly between news and entertainment. (One could almost imagine being on a game show with the lighted sign blinking, “Applause! Applause! Applause!”) Since the hearty clapping seemed to be for F&F itself vis-a-vis any patently political point, perhaps, it was indeed adiaphorous. Nevertheless, the apparent F&F producer conjured up today memories of that earlier censured producer.

Fox & Friends (11/05/09) – @8:12 a.m. ET

Beck Sources: Rahm Moving On

According to Glenn Beck (host of FNC’s highly rated and rather controversial Glenn Beck Show) on Fox & Friends this morning, Rahm Emanuel’s days as chief of staff for President Obama are numbered. When was asked about the Chamber of Commerce inviting Emanuel to speak on November 4th (by co-anchor Gretchen Carlson), he replied, “You have one of the guys who has done…such an amazingly bad job on strategy recently that my sources tell me, ‘Rahm is going to be, Rahm is going to be moving some place.'”* He jested, “Maybe, he’s focusing on the future or something.”

Later, F&F co-host Brian Kilmeade asked, “Let me just follow up with something you just said before. And, you just said [that] you heard Rahm’s going to be moved. He could be moving out?” Shaking his heading and smiling impishly, he deadpanned, “I don’t know where that, that’s, that’s just me off the top of my head.” Not satisfied with his response, an incredulous Brian replied, “Oh, really?” Echoing Brian’s sentiment, Gretchen laughed, “Yeah, right, Glenn!”

Beck did not elaborate further.

*F&F (10/27/09) – @7:08 a.m.

PAB: The Beck Girl

Is a sexier side of Patti Ann Browne, Glenn Beck’s headline reader, being revealed for the FNC viewer? The summa cum laude NY Institute of Technology of NY alum has seemed to shed her modest, mousy mien and embraced a saucier, edgier aura–at least, at night on Red Eye. With her ribald commentary and more daring wardrobe, she, FNC, or both appear to be trying to raise her profile.

If so, it appears to be working. As she continues to develop a faithful Red Eye and Internet fan base, she is enjoying success with the Glenn Beck Show. In fact, it won the cable news key viewer demographic (25-54) last Wednesday and last Thursday (including the O’Reilly Factor even though it is not in prime time: Perhaps, she is helping spike those ratings somewhat.* As an aside, her most recent appearance on Red Eye was such a hit that host Greg Gutfeld gleefully replayed footage of her daring display of decolletage the very next night.

Today, Patti Ann filled in as co-host of America’s Newsroom for the gorgeous gravid Megyn Kelly. Perhaps, she is being groomed to take Megyn’s place during her maternity leave. Or, even longer on AN if Greta Van Susteren’s contract is not renewed.**

*http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/08/27/big-beck-goes-over-3-million-viewers-beats-oreilly-in-demo-cable-news-ratings-for-wednesday-august-26-2009/25541

**http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/business/media/25greta.html

“All About Megyn”: Fox Redux?

Carpe Diem told you, Greta, that you better watch out! Now, the New York Times, apparently, is sounding a similar alarm. I.e., your On the Record “understudy” Megyn Kelly may be your Eve.

According to the NYT, Greta van Susteren’s contract with Fox News is completed next year. Although she regularly beats CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, she lags her more opinionated FNC brethren Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, and newcomer Glenn Beck. If Greta is not retained, some have speculated that Beck might be moved from his 5:00 p.m. ET slot to Greta’s prime time one: however, three NYT sources privy to the deliberations indicate that Megyn Kelly would be the prime candidate for the position.

Not surprising. As America’s Newsroom co-anchor, Kelly has exhibited a sharp, witty, and saucy side. On the O’Reilly Factor, she has shown her ability to go head-to-head with FNC’s cable king and often best him. Finally, in her guest host appearances she has manifested that she has the personality, presence, and gravitas to successfully to rule the hour.

Tip of the hat, TVNewser.

Links:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/business/media/25greta.html?_r=2&hpw

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/fox-news-claims-9-of-top_n_181878.html

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/what_does_the_future_hold_for_greta_van_susteren_117276.asp

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/megyn-gretas-eve/

UPDATE: Gretchen’s non-reponse. Cf. http://gretawire.foxnews.com/2009/05/25/some-tongue-in-cheek-fun-with-the-media-this-memorial-day-weekend/

Thanks for the “heads up,” J$P.

Gretchen Goes Down

In a somewhat surreal moment, Fox & Friends co-anchor Gretchen Carlson got down under the curvy couch table and lay in a fetal position after ominous warnings by the eponymous host of the Glenn Beck show. After previously predicting a possible depression and revolution to a rather skeptical Bill O’Reilly, Beck iterated the same forecast to the F&F co-hosts Gretch, Brian Kilmeade, and Steve Doocy with more elaboration. When Beck mentioned that the military was preparing for a potential revolution, Gretch got alarmed.

As Beck began to go more and more into detail, Gretch said, “You know what, I’m just going to get down here ’cause you’re scaring me so much; I’m just taking a break; [and] I’m going to be hiding underneath here, Glen, okay? Tell me when the world is okay to come back out, okay?” Beck and Brian began laughing and Steve just looked down with incredulity. Gretch remained there for the remainder of the segment while the others humored her.

Even though Gretch looked a bit silly and not quite with it, she was endearing. She seemed to be making an effort to go beyond her CBS comfort zone and reach out to her zanier F&F audience. Good effort, Gretch!