Ainsley’s Dream: F&F Finally

A month later: Too banal for breakfast or just right? Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt has definitely paid her FNC dues: As Glamour.com chronicles, Ainsley did overnight shifts on weekends; updates on the hour on weekday shows, e.g., Hannity; a short-lived stint as co-anchor of Fox & Friends Weekend; and, most recently, co-anchor of Fox & Friends First. And, finally, Ainsley landed her dream job, co-host of Fox & Friends.

But, now, Ainsley has to show her mettle: She has to prove that she has what it takes to successfully co-host cable news morning champ Fox & Friends. Previously, Ainz failed to do so when she co-anchored F&F Weekend with fellow tyros Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs: As faithful FNC viewers may well remember, former F&FW co-host and FNC utility player Alisyn Camerota had to return to the show to right the F&FW listing ship and to show the boys the ropes. After her subsequent stint as co-host of Fox & Friends First, hopefully, Ainsley has learned what tack to take: If she falters this time, at least,  she has seasoned veterans Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade on whom to fall back.

Even though Ainsley may not be the sharpest knife in the F&F drawer, she does seem to be one of the sweetest seasonings in the cupboard. Lately, the Southern belle has seemed to almost ape [split infinitive intended] her predecessor counterpart Northerner Elisabeth Hasselbeck. A little too saccharine for the author’s taste–not too mention a mite too modest post her brief Fox & Friends Weekend gig: But, she does seem to have the best of intentions to make Ailes proud and her viewers happy.

Sex it up, Ainsley! Don’t let the boys be the main reason that your viewers tune in in the morning. That’s never a good thing!

Wine & Pate: Tucker is Okay!

No bow tie: It’s Friday night–and it’s FNC. On this latest Friday night on Hannity as guest host, Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Tucker Carlson reminded this viewer of his old CNN Crossfire days when he represented the right–except he was not sporting his obnoxiously effete, elitist bow tie of olden times. Instead, his F&FW experience has seemed to illuminate the Daily Caller co-founder and editor-in-chief that it is well and good to utilize logic and reason in polemics but, if he is truly  to engage Everyman/Everywoman, he must eschew his natural tendency not to reveal things about himself on air but rather to embrace a more vulnerable approach–and, yes, even to eat food on air.

Tucker has come far on FNC: The F&FW fop sits more comfortably on the curvy couch; he has seamlessly seized the alpha male mantle from co-anchor Clayton Morris; and he seems to connect more easily with the alluring Anna Kooiman. Now, Tucker pontificates with confidence; Clayton opines deferentially; and co-anchor Anna Kooiman coos with confidence.

And, as long-time F&FW fans miss the erstwhile ensembles, they may begin to more fully embrace the “new faces” of FNC’s early weekend morn. Political pundit Tucker “ain’t” too bad, and tech geek Clayton may pass muster: But, sorry, boys, the vivacious vixen Anna is the real draw!

Hannity’s Coed “Debauchery”

“T & a”: randy O’Reilly style! Sean Hannity, host of his eponymous program, seems to have taken a page out of O’Reilly Factor anchor Bill O’Reilly‘s old playbook. Decry debauchery but let your audience enjoy the view without feeling too guilty. Tuesday night, Hannity introduced his show with approximately fifteen seconds of coed “t & a,” piously intoning, “After years of out-of control partying, chaos, crime, and now even rape, Panama City Beach, Florida, finally votes to clean up spring break!”

Announcing a “Fox News Alert,” a la O’Reilly, Hannity proudly proclaimed the efficacy of his show, saying, “Panama City, Florida, is taking major steps tonight in order to end the chaos and the crime that has plagued the city during spring break: The city council has now voted to ban alcohol on the beach and try to stop all of this out of control behavior. Now, following a two-year Hannity investigation into what really happens when your kids jet off to spring break, we discover, in fact, that it was not all fun in the sun. This year alone the partying scene was wrought with debauchery, wide-spread drug abuse, gang rapes, and even multiple attempted murders.” He continued, “So, in response, finally…the Panama City Beach city council voted unanimously last night to ban alcohol on the beach during the month of March next year–that’s the height of spring bring…and to end all booze sales after 2 a.m….

In the segment with a Panama City Beach city councilman, an attorney, and an activist, Hannity, queried, “So, the question is ‘will these new common sense measures curtail the very dangerous spring break situation that Panama City Beach has been experiencing?”‘ As the three showered approbation on Hannity for the good that he had wrought in his campaign against a raucous spring break in Panama City Beach, footage ran of bikini-clad beauties twerking, funneling beer, etc. for over three full straight minutes! Subsequently, Hannity introduced his sexy seemingly naive investigative reporter Ainsley Earhardt in the next segment, praising her, stating, “By the way, joining us now…[is]…the co-host of Fox & Friends First, She’s been down there two years in a row. Ainsley Earhardt is with us.”

Introducing a Daily Show clip of anchor Jon Stewart ridiculing the spring break hype of Hannity, Hannity exclaimed, “We took a lot of heat, we got a lot of ridicule, let’s remind people of what we got when we started our coverage.” In the Daily Show snippet, Stewart derisively declared, “Yes, America’s oldest hall monitor, Sean Hannity, dedicated not one, not two, but five different shows on the horrors of spring break including the entire hour on Friday featuring a panel of outraged experts there to expose this annual event. You will believe what they found ’cause you know.” As he aired a clip of Hannity’s show of seemingly buzzed bathing beauties imbibing and twerking as Hannity voices over, “Drinking, drugs, risky behavior, sometimes with tragic results,” Stewart snarked, “Shortly, after filming that piece, that young [twerking] woman blew out her left butt cheek. Some of the more skeptical viewers might think that this is less of a news story and more of a reason to spend a week running wildly inappropriate “t & a” footage alongside pundits tsk’ing said footage. But, you’d only be 99.9% right.”

As Ainsley and another FNC contributor decried the Panama City Beach spring break scene, Hannity aired approximately four additional minutes of “debauchery” for those viewers who needed yet more evidence of the evils that Ainsley had witnessed. And, for those who wanted yet more proof, Hannity produced approximately another minute of footage during the following segment with Ainsley and Geraldo Rivera (about how things are purported “spinning out of control,” namely the “debauchery happening at spring break, riots in Baltimore, and, of course, the war on cops all across the country”).

Debauchery” on display: O’Reilly’s old schtick. Now, Hannity’s new hook? Surprise, surprise: Sex sells!

F&F’s Faux Pas: New “Popped Culture”

Elisabeth: “We’re going to take a look at the lighter side of celebrity news and our first story is an update on actor Harrison Ford’s condition.” Yes, Fox & Friends’ co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck so introduced FNC marketing veep Michael Tammero‘s brand new segment “Popped Culture” this morning.* Sorry, Calista!

In response to Elisabeth’s strange segue, Michael intoned, “Three weeks after crashing his plane into a California golf course, Harrison Ford is out of the hospital: The seventy-two-year-old actor reported spotted driving in Los Angeles. Ford not in the clear just yet: The crash left him with serious head wounds as well as a broken ankle and pelvis which he will likely need therapy for.”

Apparently, Ford’s wife Calista Flockhart did not see her hubby’s accident as “the lighter side of celebrity news”: Purportedly, she has forbidden him to fly his own plane again. If the reader views this graphic photo of Ford after his accident (via PerezHilton.com), s/he may agree with the former FOX femme fatale Ally McBeal.

“Popped Culture”: A recovering broken cinematic icon “the lighter side of celebrity news”? Not quite, Elisabeth!

[Author’s aside: Perhaps, F&F‘s copy editor was on spring break in Panama City with Ainsley Earhardt and the rest of Hannity‘s wayward crew (“Spring break 2015 exposed in Panama City Beach” vid): Tammero’s next story on the birth of Carrie Underwood‘s baby had a picture of her newborn subtitled, “Bundle of Joy: Carried (sic) Unerwood (sic) Shares First Pic of Baby.”]

*Fox & Friends – 03/30/15 (@ 6:37 a.m. ET).

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!

FNC’s New Future: Megyn In for Greta?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Apoplectic Bob Beckel: “Free…P*ssy”

Eric Bolling: “Let’s move on.” Let’s not: If it were free, The Five co-host Bob Beckel might make for a much less colorful “Smoking Gun” Democratic rogue. But, fear not! The bad boy of FNC can not or will not keeps his wild ways under control.

Less than four months ago, Bob went off with an “f” bomb inadvertently on Hannity. In what he deemed an off-air moment, he lambasted a conservative panelist, saying, “You don’t know what the f**k you’re talking about.” When host Sean Hannity apprised him that they were live, Bob appeared to be in a state of disbelief. Finally, coming to his senses, Bob groused that he was going to be fired after the show.

Bob was not. But, today, he pushed the envelope even further. In a segment including President Barack Obama’s purported disdain for his GOP opponent Mitt Romney (“no g**damned war hero”) as noted by Politico‘s Mike Allen, co-host Eric caustically queried, “Bob, should President Obama be taking shots at Mitt Romney’s military service when…the guy never picked up a gun, pulled the trigger of…blew anyone away? Oh, wait a minute, that’s right, he shot bin Laden, right!”*

After initially calling into question Allen’s assertion, Bob remarked, “Does he [President Obama] not like Mitt Romney?…When he started out, he said [that] he was neutral about Mitt Romney. And, frankly, so was I. I thought he was a nice guy.”

Elaborating, Bob remarked, “I’ve come to believe [that] he is a terrible, uh, a terrible–I won’t say liar because I won’t, because I don’t want to diminish myself down where Republicans [are].

Unfortunately, continuing, a suddenly incoherent Bob stammered, “Or, free, pre p*ssy, for proof of pre pro puss. Excuse me! Pre puss.”

Throwing him a lifeline, Eric mercifully interjected, “Let’s move on.” Bemused, co-anchor Andrea Tantaros beamed broadly and shook her head at Bob latest blooper. Meanwhile, co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle laughed heartily as she hid her face in her hands.

Babbling Bob: a sight to behold–for better or for worse.

*The Five – 08/06/12 (@ 5:07 p.m. ET)

Update: Vid (courtesy of J$P).

Bocephus: Boycott F&F (and ESPN)

“That’s exactly what I said!” Unrepentant, rebel country music superstar Hank Williams affirmed his call for a boycott of FNC’s top-rated Fox & Friends in his latest release. In response to ESPN’s apparent axing of his long-standing Monday Night Football promo after a controversial “Fox & Friends” interview, Williams retaliated with “Keep the Change,” a free download to his fans. In his new record, Williams complains that F&F twisted his words: then, he acerbically lilts, “Yeah, you can keep Fox & Friends and ESPN out of your homes, too [because] Bocephus and all of his rowdy friends and his song are out of there. Yes, sir!”

Yesterday, Williams visited The View to make his “apology.” In the course of the virtual lovefest, Barbara Walters did him to task for his call for his call for a boycott of F&F and ESPN. After pointing out that ESPN (like ABC, the home of The View) was owned by Disney, she remarked, “But, you are now telling people that Fox & Friends and ESPN, other people should boycott them.” Rather than offer amends, a somewhat embittered Bocephus responded, “That’s exactly what I said!”

Later in the day, Williams appeared on FNC’s Hannity.* When co-host Sean Hannity mentioned his The View reception, Williams gushed, “Oh, it was fantastic!” Subsequently, when Hannity asked him about his departure from ESPN, he strangely failed to ask him about his call for a boycott of Fox & Friends. Perhaps, it was understandable. All in the FOX family?

As the interview began to conclude, Hannity commented, “You know what, I love football….I’m gonna miss your open.” With a glint in his eye, Williams responded, “Well, stand by for 2012. It’s a free country with lots of options and lots of choices.” Hannity replied, “So, in other words, we may not have heard the last of Hank Williams, Jr., on football?” Grinning, Williams answered, “We’ve been contacted today. The song is mine, Sean!”

Subsequently, smacking his ring forcefully on the desk, Williams continued, “Let’s talk about the poll. They had a poll…’who would you like to have on do the Monday Night [Football] 53% me!” Chuckling, Sean jested, “You don’t look as good as Faith Hill but she does Monday Night Football.” Williams replied, “No, no, no, no! But, that’s another network. But, there are other networks.” Hannity replied, “Yes, there are. Fox is one of them!” Shaking his head emphatically, Williams answered, “Uh, yeah!”

“Ready for some non-ESPN football,” FOX fans? The answer sounded pellucidly clear. Ready for some Fox & Friends? Bocephus ain’t!

Author’s aside: For a related Carpe Diem story, cf. “F&F’s Bizarre Bocephus: Obama Like Hitler?“

Live Desk Canned: Gallagher?

Gone: without a Trace? Not quite. As the end of the program today, co-anchor Trace Gallagher announced, “As you may have heard, this is the last day of the Live Desk….Megyn Kelly’s new show, America Live, will be starting on Monday.” Without his co-host Martha MacCallum (who was already with her new partner, Bill Hemmer, on America’s Newsroom), Trace seemed somewhat lost. Sounding more than a mite melancholy, he added, “And, of course, you can’t get rid of me. I’ll be along for big stories and breaking news. It has been a great time.”

When the author heard Trace’s farewell, he thought of another anchor who appeared to exit his show under similar circumstances, i.e., Alan Colmes. When Alan left the popular Hannity & Colmes apparently to allow Sean Hannity to have his eponymous show Hannity in the same time slot, Alan was bound for unnamed future projects: thereafter, Alan has made guest appearances on various FNC shows and has had a recurring role on the O’Reilly Factor as a debate opponent of his conservative sister-in-law Monica Crowley. If Trace is fortunate, maybe, he will find a similar position, and, possibly, even be paired regularly in some capacity with his recently frequent Live Desk guest co-host, Juliet Huddy.

Regardless, good luck, Trace!

Hannity’s Twilight Zone

Glass houses! Sean Hannity’s favorite liberal Bob Beckel looked like a philandering Pharisee casting stones at the woman caught in adultery tonight. “Embarrassing, just embarrassing”: Those very words uttered by Beckel, 1984 Democratic nominee Walter Mondale’s campaign manager, after Reagan’s landslide victory (49 of 50 states) seemed to echo eerily tonight on Hannity.

In a Great American Panel segment, entitled “ACORN Exposed,” Hannity asked Beckel to defend the community activist organization in light of the recent expose by film maker James O’Keefe and his collaborator, Hannah Giles. (O’Keefe and Giles posed respectively as a pimp and prostitute seeking housing and tax advice from the organization to set up a bordello.). After defending ACORN generally, Beckel inexplicably went THERE. He pontificated, “You know what I really found interesting about that was Senator Vitter of Louisiana who went out with a whore and he sits there and starts complaining about it. He ought to shut his mouth. And he’s lucky he’s still in the United States Senate.”

Subsequently, Hannity panelist Heather Higgins, Independent Women’s Forum Chairperson, stated, “You’re desperate to be bringing Vitter into this.” In response, Beckel said, “I could bring a lot more in: I could bring in the governor of South Carolina, I could bring in Bill Clinton…. Not surprisingly, he conveniently forgot to bring himself in as well. (According to the Smoking Gun, Beckel is not unacquainted with such dalliances.)

Then, Hannity, perhaps, aware of his audience’s incredulity at Beckel’s chutzpah, pointed at Beckel and said, “I just saw you smile…I got you!” Sheepishly, Beckel replied, “Far be it from me to throw arrows at things like this.”

Far be it, indeed. Perhaps, a parallel universe? Tonight, close enough: Hannity‘s Twilight Zone.

Hannity: ACORN’s “Hot Prostitute”

ACORN officials may have been taken in by twenty-year-old Hannah Jiles but Sean Hannity was rather taken with the beautiful journalism major who posed as a hooker in an ACORN sting (in collaboration with film-maker James O’Keefe). In fact, he seemed to be quite smitten with the young brunette beauty who appeared on his eponymous show.

In Hannity’s first segment, he interviewed Jiles and ran footage of her in vintage demimondaine dress (i.e., a low-cut blouse and hip-hugging micro mini). Introducing her in the following segment, Sean said, “I am rejoined by…Hannah Jiles, who played the hot prostitute.” [Italics added for emphasis.] Apparently, realizing his verbal gaffe and trying to divert attention from it, he quickly jested, “Did I call you a prostitute? I meant preforming artist [ACORN’s categorization]. I apologize for that. Excuse me!”

Jiles smiled, rolled her eyes, and replied, “Yeah.” Eagerly delving into the salacious details, a grinning Hannity queried, “By the way, you get to write off your hooker boots and condoms according to the ACORN official.” Jiles smiled, nodded her head, and facetious replied, “They’re so kind.”

Then returning to his more sober and somber state, Hannity opined, “When I heard that, that shocks the conscience: That shocks the conscience.”

Doth Hannity protest, perhaps, a wee bit too much?

“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.

Hostin: Hannity Honey?

Yes, legal lovely Sunny Hostin, Carpe Diem’s Hula Hoop Honey and American Morning’s Honey, seems to still be flirting anew with FNC. As CNN’s AM once again removed her from its reporters/correspondents list, FNC’s Hannity featured her Monday on its “Great American Panel.” The former fed prosecutor and CNN legal analyst took a moderate position: She was opposed, on one hand, to lib political consultant Bob Beckel’s rather lenient positon on the Michael Phelps affair, and against conservative host Sean Hannity’s somewhat stern view of Tom Daschle’s tax problems. As usual, Sunny luminated the studio: However, where will she set in the near future?

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/sunny-am-again/

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/kiran-sunny-honey/

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/06/05/hula-hoop-honey/

Hannity’s Hannity

FNC’s Sean Hannity announced to his “Hannity & Colmes” audience that the show will return as “Hannity” on January 12, 2009. The conservative commentator said that he and his liberal co-host had had a good run and that he had few disagreements off the set. He kiddingly accused his co-host Alan Colmes of “abandoning me.” Colmes response was generally muted and mentioned his unnamed FNC projects in the works.

About three weeks ago, too, when Alan Colmes announced that he would be leaving H&C after twelve successful seasons, Hannity responded that Colmes was abandoning him. Each time that he has said it, it appeared that Colmes didn’t directly respond as if Hannity did protest too much. Even though Colmes has indicated that he initiated the change with Bill Shine, FNC’s SVP of programming, one can’t help wonder if Hannity gave him a little push.

With Hannity’s new $100 million radio contract with ABC Radio Networks and Premiere Radio Networks and recent lucrative four-year renwal with FNC, one may wonder if Hannity is readying to rival Rush and O’Reilly instead of playing second banana.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/business/media/25fox.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/sean-hannity-gets-100-mil_n_114026.html