Pete: Tucker’s Heir?

Bringing gravitas back! Strangely, Fox & Friends Weekend “co-host” Pete Hegseth is still listed as a contributor for Fox News Channel (FNC) in his FNC bio and on his Twitter page.  But, he appears to be the unannounced co-anchor of Fox & Friends Weekend a la his apparent predecessor Tucker Carlson and his seeming co-host Abby Huntsman. Perhaps, the F&FW suits have learned from the time they awkwardly replaced Fox & Friends co-anchors Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly with Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris without notice to F&FW fans.

Abby and Ainsley’s loose lips? Friday, Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley sat between guest co-hosts Pete and Clayton on the curvy couch and Abby Huntsman was the newsreader. Before Abby read the headlines at the top of the seven o’clock hour (ET), she pointed to Pete, Clayton, and Ainsley, declaring, “My weekend crew, Ainsley! You’re sitting right…[inaudible]….I love it!” Even though she was the queen of the F&F curvy couch, Ainsley sweetly cooed, “I know! I love being a part of you all! Thank you for letting me do this!”

On Fox & Friends Weekend (Saturday) and today, Pete’s ascendancy to F&FW co-anchor seemed crystal clear. Yesterday, at the top of each hour, the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were displayed as chyrons at the bottom of the screen underneath them: For the doubting Thomases at the top of the second hour, Clayton seemed to adduce evidence to Pete’s apparent new position, saying, “Pete, Abby, and Clayton in the house for you.” On F&FW today, the chyrons of the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were back at the top of each hour.

Perhaps, it is a mite premature, Pete: But, welcome aboard the F&FW ship! Your first mate Abby is a young smart beauty who is heir to her father’s political acumen and Clayton is the entertaining class clown who loves UFO’s, comic book cines, and the latest in tech products: And, you bring Tucker’s gravitas to the mix with your Princeton and Harvard education; much more importantly, your service to the nation; and your dedication to the nation’s vets.

For Pete’s sake, Pete, do yourself and your F&FW fans proud! Break a leg!

 

 

 

Clayton Morris: “NY’s Funniest Reporter”?

F&FW’s “Rodney Dangerfield”: Really can’t believe I won.  Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor  Clayton Morris was crowned “New York’s Funniest Reporter”at the Comedy Strip Live Comedy Club on last Thursday night (September 27). bested his FOX fellows, Dr. Manny Alvarez (FNC) and Greg Kelly (Fox 5) and the foxy femmes, Lauren Lyster (RRTV), Michele Steele (ESPN); and Marianne Garvey (In Touch Weekly). After winning the laurel and proudly hoisting his trophy, Clayton Tweeted, “Really can’t believe I won.” Critiquing his routine, he joked, “I was like Rodney Dangerfield up there.*

Apparently, Clayton’s needed “pre-show cocktail” at Toloache 82 was just what the doctor ordered. Congratulations, Clayton!

H/t, J$P.

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 09/29/12 (@7:01 a.m. ET)

Update: In the After the Show Show Saturday, Clayton discussed his comedic approach with Dave and Aly. According to a review by the New York Comedy World, Clayton “did his homework and really came off as a stand-up.”

Missing Morris: “Pneumonia!”

Another weekend off? Today, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris continued to be M.I.A. from his post–for the second week in a row. Unfortunately, his co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs provided scant commentary for Clayton’s extended absence other than his being sick. Given F&FW‘s past anchor defenestrations (e.g., Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly), unexplained departures (Kiran Chetry), and questionable leaves of absence (Alisyn Camerota), Clayton’s fans surely deserved much more transparency. Happily, apparently, Clayton provided those answers last week–via Twitter.

On the day before F&FW Saturday (last week), Clayton Tweeted, “My wife [Natali Morris nee Del Conte] is a saint. Taking care of two kids and a husband with a 103 degree fever. I’m useless. Well, more than usual.” After the show, he remarked, “Chest X-Ray time to find out if this is pneumonia.” On the following Monday (two days later), Clayton comically revealed the results: He jested, “I’ve lost 6 pounds! My diet secret? Pneumonia!”

At least, Clayton gets it. Get well soon, Clayton!

“The Shin(e)ing”: Trick or Treat!

Or, Trick and Treat? For Halloween, Fox & Friends Weekend fans will not get their favorite co-hosts Alisyn Camerota, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris. Instead, they will be “tricked” or “treated” with Fox & Friends weekday co-anchors, Gretchen Carlson, Brian Kilmeade, and Steve Doocy for the mid-term elections special. Apparently, FNC Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine is still not ready to give his full F&F “B Team” a chance to show their game on the big day.

However, Fox & Friends Weekend aficionados did get a real Halloween treat (albeit early), i.e., a four-hour F&FW for today, for the “near future,” and, possibly, “from now on.” Alerting her Twitter followers to the change yesterday, Aly Tweeted, “[F]rom now on FOX & Friends will be starting at 6am EVERY Saturday and Sunday.” Subsequently, when the author asked Dave for a clarification, Dave cautiously answered, “FOX & Friends is 6-10 ET tomorrow & every Sat/Sun in the near future.” [Underscoring added for emphasis to Aly and Dave’s respective quotes.]

Consequently, if the F&FW devotees see the Halloween substitution of the “A Team” for their beloved “B Team” as “The Shin(e)ing” trick, at least, they get the treat of a new four-hour F&FW. So, they may want to reconsider “TP’ing” Shine’s house tomorrow night. On the other hand, they may still want to get him for his past tricks, e.g., the F&F selection of Gretchen over Kiran Chetry; the F&FW defenestration of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly; etc.

Regardless, Happy Halloween!

F&FW: More Courtney & Less Aly?

Reichmuth revelation? After Fox & Friends guest co-anchor Courtney Friel read a story Sunday about a breastfeeding mom who was ousted from McDonald’s and co-host Clayton Morris subsequently tossed to him, FNC meteorologist Rich Reichmuth jested, ““I’m just wondering now with [mom-to-be] Courtney there and [new father] Clayton, how many of these breastfeeding stories are there gonna be.”* In reply, Clayton deadpanned, “We’re actually building a whole block into the show now just for breastfeeding stories.” Laughing, Rick responded, “Of course.” Chiming in, co-anchor Dave Briggs joked, “We need a sponsor!” Perchance, aptly, Rick chuckled: “I know. I believe it. It’s perfect!”

Nothing would be unusual about Rick’s remark if he had uttered it at the beginning of the three-hour program (and, if his colleagues Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs had not then so readily embraced it). However, Rick made his comment with only twenty-two minutes, including commercial breaks, left in F&FW‘s last (and Courtney’s only) show of the weekend. Clearly, Rick indicated that a gravid Courtney’s presence would facilitate those future “breastfeeding stories.” And, Clayton and Dave’s respective remarks about creating a nursing “whole block” and obtaining a breastfeeding “sponsor” added credence to his implication.

Obviously, if Rick’s “revelation” rings true and Courtney returns to F&FW on a more regular basis, she would probably go back to her former role as newsreader or replace F&FW‘s current queen Alisyn Camerota. In that vein, could Aly’s apparent decision to possibly kybosh her blog, Alisyn in the Greenroom,  and to announce it Sunday before the show possibly indicate such a more tenuous relationship to Fox & Friends Weekend. Furthermore, was Dave’s comment at the beginning of F&F Sunday that Aly was taking off “a bit more than the President’s 27 hrs, a few more days than that” more pregnant with meaning that it first appeared to be?**

Conversely, Aly has played such an important role in righting the Fox & Friends Weekend ship after the defenestration debacle (of trio Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly) and its aftermath (Ainsley Earnhardt, Clayton, and Dave) that it seems highly unlikely that FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine would send Aly elsewhere or allow her to leave. However, it is conceivable if Shine thinks that her erstwhile wards, Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs, have grown sufficiently to carry the show with a less able captain. But, perish the thought!

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@9:39 a.m.)

**Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@6:01 a.m.)

Aly & her Doublemen Twins

“New and improved”: Double your pleasure? Double your fun? Fox & Friends (Independence Day edition) finally gave viewers a fireworks display yesterday after two prior years of virtual duds. In 2008, F&FW’s very green crew of Southern belle Ainsley Earhardt and her daft Doublemen twins Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs  made viewers yearn for the then recently defenestrated trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly. In 2009, F&F Weekend’s new queen Alisyn Camerota and her Doublemen major-domos still did not have the F&F house quite in order with their pedestrian music, dreadful duds, and arid air. However, this year, Aly, Dave, and Clayton treated their viewers to a hipper, smarter, and more sophisticated holiday fare: festive yet respective with their  military jazz band, jauntier garb, and vibrant tempo.

Even Aly seemed to have sensed the program’s progress since she joined Clayton and Dave. When producers put a photo of them together on the screen after a segment showing “other” happy couples who looked alike, Aly conversely noted that she was just beginning to be able to tell them apart (an apparently puckish reference to their earlier Doublemen Twin days). Happily, F&FW viewers are beginning to notice the difference, too.

Good job, Aly, Dave, and Clayton!

F&FW Goes South (with Dave)

What happened today to Fox & Friends Weekend? F&FW co-host Dave Briggs decided to go south (Buenos Aires, Argentinea) and, unfortunately, so did F&FW. Filling in for Dave was the somewhat smug, unctuous Peter Johnson, Jr. Unfortunately, he threw co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris off of their respective games this morning.

Say what one may about Dave, but he knows his place. The sports guys is the beta male: Like the youngest son who wants to be loved and pampered, he knows to go along and not to buck up to the alpha bitch or the alpha male. On the other hand, Johnson, is like the brainy nerd who returns to a school reunion with a new wardrobe, more self-confidence, and unwarranted hubris: He still does not know quite how to fit in.

Unfortunately, FNC Senior Veep of Programming Bill Shine seems slow on the F&FW uptake, too. As long-time fans remember, Shine defenestrated the trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without warning and rather abruptly replaced them with Ainsley Earhardt, Clayton, and Dave. Then he let F&FW languish long under those callow hands until he was finally forced to conscript Alisyn Camerota to captain the listing ship. Now he appears happy to use the next Hobson’s choice to temp.

Bill, how about riding a new horse? E.g., why not bring Clayton’s fellow Phillie Mike Jerrick back into your stable to substitute? Or use meteorologist Rick Reichmuth on the curvy couch with Domenica Davis replacing him at the green screen? Or even return for the moment to a girl/girl/boy format with former F&FW filly and new contract girl Juliet Huddy back in the mix?

Dave, you were missed.

F&FW 2day: Past or Future?

“I like [M]ike!” For long-time fans of Fox & Friends Weekend, the return of former F&FW co-anchor Mike Jerrick was a welcome blast from the past. The “old master” showed that he still had the goods, i.e., a wicked wit, audacious ad libbing, and a real rapport with the audience.

Today was a delightful amalgam of the various incarnations of F&FW (save the Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly one). Mike represented the first (Mike, Juliet Huddy, and Julian Phillips); Alisyn Camerota the second (Aly, Kiran Chetry, and Julian Phillips); and Clayton Morris the penultimate one (Clayton, Ainsley Earhardt, and Dave Briggs). Of course, F&FW has had various other manifestations that were too fleeting to mention.

Today Mike, Aly, and Clayton informed and entertained the viewer seamlessly. It was as it should be–especially, on the weekend. No self-absorption, cause celebres, or excessive emotiveness. They simply allowed their audience to sit back and enjoy their coffee, mimosa, or other fave bev.

Bravo, Aly and the boys!

F&FW Four Scores

What a difference a year makes. Only one year ago when Dave Briggs joined Fox & Friends Weekend, four whole hours of Fox & Friends Weekend would have been virtually intolerable: yesterday, they were a pleasure. The difference: Alisyn Camerota and her more mature Doublemen Twins.

Last year, FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine had just defenestrated F&FW’s trusted trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without warning to the F&FW fan. To make matters worse, he had replaced it with the very callow crew  of Ainsley Earhardt, Clayton Morris, and Dave Briggs. The show was floundering with no leader: Clayton was its clowning camera hog; Dave was its stereotypical sports guy; and Ainsley was its much too sweet, compliant girl in the middle.

Happily, since then, Shine brought back F&FW veteran  Alisyn Camerota to rudder the off-course crew in a more certain direction. Aly has done it admirably: she has helped Clayton to be less silly and more focused and given Dave discipline and confidence. She has taught her wards well, and they seem to be earning her respect and that of the viewers.

Happily, the castrato choir appears to be singing its own dirge.

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/aly-to-ffws-rescue/

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/one-more-week/

F&FW Back on Course?

No gratuitous groping, no scandalous shots, and nothing overtly outrageous. Yet, it still clicked! Nothing remarkable about Fox & Friends Weekend today but that may be the very reason it was.

F&FW has come a long way indeed since FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine first threw Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly overboard without warning F&F fans and replaced them with the very callow crew of Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris. The ensuing very rough ride on the ill-fated excursion precipitated the necessary mid-voyage conscription of captain and co-anchor Alisyn Camerota. Under her nurturing leadership, her co-hosts Dave Briggs and Clayton Morris have begun to evolve into more mature mateys.

For example, today when Dave was called Steve [Doocy] at the end of an interview by a guest, he did not bristle as a young buck normally might. Rather, he took it in good humor and then segued to an upcoming Clayton Morris interview with Stevie Nicks by referring to Clayton as Brian [Kilmeade]. Not surprisingly, Aly seamlessly joined in by addressing Dave as “Steve” and exclusively calling Clayton “Brian” throughout the tease. I.e., no worries: it’s all good!

F&FW appears back on course.

Clayton: “I’m the Flake”

As Fox & Friends opened today, guest co-host Clayton Morris upstaged the weekday regulars with his self-deprecatory humor. Introducing the show with the viewer slogan du jour, Clayton read, “If morning shows were breakfast cereal, Fox & Friends are like flakes I’d eat in the morning.” Co-anchor Steve Doocy exclaimed, “Ouch! Can we have a do-over on that one? Hey, welcome to the flakecast!”

Taking herself a tad seriously, too, co-anchor Gretchen Carlson declared, “I’m not so sure I’m ready to call myself a flake just yet: I get enough blonde jokes as it is.” Steve concurred, “Just by putting that into the open, it seems as if we’re going along with it: I’m with Gretchen on this!” Good-naturedly self-effacing, Clayton responded, “Why don’t you just say flake? I’ll take the hit for that….I’m the flake this morning, yeah!”

Clayton seems to be growing into his role as F&F guest co-host (and F&FW co-anchor). After FNC made Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly walk the proverbial plank, newly conscripted Clayton and his co-hosts, Ainsley Earhardt and Dave Briggs, were like sailors on a rudderless ship. However, now that a recommissioned Camerota is captaining the ship, Clayton seems to have found his sea legs.

F&F: Alpha Bitches Needed

The demure and attractive Ainsley Earhardt returned to Fox & Friends’ curvy couch today as guest host and reminded the author of the sine qua non of a successful F&F, an alpha bitch. The sweet Southern belle does not quite fit the bill. E.g., when co-anchor Dave Briggs questioned who was still stirring and who had just awakened, Ainsley replied that she had been working all night and was still awake: no response from Dave. Also, when Ainsley queried who Clayton Morris and Dave had kissed at midnight, they answered but did not inquire the same of her. Nothing big but Alisyn Camerota would not have been so lightly regarded.

An essential element of F&F has been a strong woman who can stand up to the boys and put them in their place. On F&FW, a jaunty Juliet Huddy kept her salty pal Mike Jerrick corralled and third wheel Julian Phillips cowed; luscious lovelies Kiran Chetry and Alisyn Camerota ran the show as Julian watched from the sidelines; and siren Page Hopkins kept her uncertain colleagues Greg Kelly and Kelly Wright on a slow burn. On F&F, cowgirl E.D. Hill held Four-H’r Steve Doocy and city slicker Brian Kilmeade firmly in her riata.

Now Fox & Friends Weekend has returned to its formula for success. F&FW took the reins from a diffident, callow Ainsley and handed them to a confident, veteran Aly. Aly took charge of the show and Clayton and Dave fell in line.

On the other hand, Fox & Friends weekday has not quite regained its moorings since E.D. left. Gretchen seems to try to ape her predecesssor in her diurnal diatribes but receives less deference from her colleagues than did E.D. Steve and Brian are the alpha males, and they know it. However, Gretch is not the alpha bitch, and she knows it. Whether she can grow into the position is yet to be seen.

Blahnik Rules: Briggs Clueless

Dave Briggs, like his predecessor Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Greg Kelly, is an oblivious chap when it comes to women’s footwear and its affect on the male libido. Today after a segment on free flip-flops from British bobbies for besotted beauties, Dave daftly asked [co-anchor Alisyn Camerota], “Why don’t you all just wear more comfortable shoes? We don’t really care that much if you wear the high heels?” To which Aly answered, “No, that’s not an option.”

Whether Dave knows it or not, high heels enhance the distaff aesthetic by creating the perception of a longer leg and a sleeker silhouette. Fashion designers and boudoir photogs have long known this secret. Strangely, the common man responds reflexively to this truth without a conscious comprehension thereof.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the sale of women’s footwear with heels of 3 inches and higher has increased from approximately 1/5 to 1/4 of women’s fashion footwear sold at retail stores in the last two years. Designers have taken notice. Hollywood fave Manolo Blahnik added a hot 6-inch heel this year to his line after two decades of adhering to a 5-inch limit. Parisian shoe auteur extraordinaire Christian Louboutin is offering an 8-inch version of his sexy red-soled stillettos next year.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122394215518830965.html

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1731871,00.html

Colmes: Ciao!

An odd farewell from and to Alan Colmes, the liberal counterpart to Sean Hannity on FNC’s popular political polemics program, Hannity & Colmes. During the show, Alan mentioned with little fanfare that he had an announcement to make and Sean seemed to treat it rather lightly: However, in the final segment, Alan announced that he would be leaving the show after twelve years to continue his radio program (“Alan Colmes Show”), contribute to FNC, and to, perhaps, do occasional specials for FNC. He and Sean affirmed their on-screen, off-screen long-time friendship and traded pleasantries. And then the usual segue to Greta and it was over.

According to TVDecoder, Alan will leave at the end of the year. Fox News may be slowly learning from its mistakes. Its past pathetic partings to Fox & Friends’ E.D. Hill and F&FW’s Kiran Chetry, Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, Greg Kelly, and Ainsley Earhardt left a sour taste in its faithful fans’ mouths. Hopefully, when he leaves at the end of the year, they will give him a respectful send-off.

Adieu, Alan. You have proved yourself a vociferous and vigorous adversary to Sean. And you do so without being mean spirited. Bravo!

http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/24/one-half-of-hannity-colmes-is-leaving/?hp

http://soupcans.blogspot.com/2008/11/hannity-colmes-to-lose-colmes-part.html

Clayton: You Might Not See Me Ever Again

Is Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris reading his reviews? On a promo for an upcoming segment entitled “Car of the Future? Test Drive the Honda Civic GX”, co-anchor Alisyn Camerota teased, “Does it disappear or something?” Clayton said, “I’m driving it and you might not see me ever again.” When Dave Briggs droned, “Okay,” and Alisyn laughed, a self-deprecating and knowing Clayton added, “Some people might love that.”

However, Clayton and his F&F twin Dave seem to have weathered the storm for now that the FNC suits caused when they replaced Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without apprising their F&FW’s fans. Now that the castrato choir is being kept more on key by the sassy and serious Alisyn Camerota (than her sweet and attractive predecessor Ainsley Earhardt could manage), their positions seem more secure. Probably no disappearing act for Clayton or his Doublemen twin unless and until Circe Camerota chooses otherwise.

Page: A New Chapter

An observant ICN reported yesterday that the bio of Page Hopkins had been removed from the FNC site. Today TVNewser revealed that sources said former Fox & Friends co-host had indeed left Fox News recently on her own terms. Were these sources the same ones that said she was on vacation when FNC exiled her to Etna with an occasional pass (to guest host at the Breaking News desk on Happening Now)?

Page will be missed by her many fans, especially, those who deeply resented FNC’s sudden replacement of her and her co-hosts, Greg Kelly and Kelly Wright, without notice or explanation. Page is a real asset that FNC is losing. Hopefully, she will find a stint at another network that will fully utilize her talents.

Much continued success, Page!

http://insidecablenews.wordpress.com/2008/09/25/hopkins-and-quinn-gone-from-fnc/
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/brigitte_quinn_page_hopkins_leave_fox_news_channel_95761.asp