Gretchen Out: Bitter?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zoraida: Adios Already?

Friday the 13th! Sadly, Early Start co-host Zoraida Sambolin is leaving her post next Friday, December 13, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The caliente senorita bids her acolytes adios less than two years after making her debut as an original co-host on the then new Early Start with Ashleigh Banfield. And, now, the lovely Latina leaves a “vacancy” in her now current co-anchor John Berman‘s “Red Room.”

All levity aside, Zoraida will leave a real void in the early dawn on CNN. Initially, the sweet, soft-spoken, and genuine ES co-host stood in stark contrast with her more acerbic, boisterous, and pretentious Cannuck counterpart, co-anchor Ashleigh. When Ashleigh left the early morning show for a later hour on CNN, Zoraida teamed with John to present their ES viewers with a fun, friendly, and, oft risque take on the news–almost a la Fox & Friends.

Now, Early Start fans will be bereft of their beloved beauty in less than a week. Apparently, Zucker has struck again. You’ll be missed, Zoraida!

Soledad’s Fall: CNN’s Spring?

Zucker’s “Morning in America”: O’Brien toast–again. Starting Point anchor Soledad O’Brien has been iced again as the face of CNN’s dawn according to the New York Times. Throwing cold water on Soledad’s vain hopes to finally prevail in the cable news morning ratings wars, CNN’s new chief Jeff Zucker finally cried, “No mas.”

As long-time CNN viewers may know, Soledad and Miles O’Brien co-hosted American Morning from 2003 to 2007 and were replaced by Kiran Chetry and John Roberts to revitalize flagging ratings. Over four years later (July 15, 2011), Soledad ominously returned to the show to substitute for Kiran for her first absence after AM announced Kiran’s own imminent departure from the still ratings-challenged show. Subsequently, when the ill-fated AM folded at the end of the year, Soledad was given a second chance to redeem herself and the CNN brass in the new year with Starting Point in the 7-9 a.m. ET hours. Unfortunately, for Soledad, she failed to seize the opportunity and sunk the show to even lower depths.

Yesterday, the New York Times reported that Zucker was pulling the plug on Soledad and that she would leave Starting Point this spring. According to the old Gray Lady, Zucker had “decided even before he started the job in January that he wanted to replace…[her program]…with a brand new one.” As to Soledad’s future, it added that she would create a new production company and “continue to supply documentaries to CNN on a nonexclusive basis.”

Putting a positive spin on her departure to the Hollywood Reporter, Soledad said, “I will not miss getting up that early, I cannot lie, not for a minute.” Defending her show itself, she declared, “We had a staff  of people–we never were fully staffed–where we were able to in spite of not getting a lot of support really make our show relevant. To do that, that was pretty tremendous.”

Soledad’s fall: CNN’s spring. It will be morning in Zucker’s America again soon.

JD: I Wasn’t Going to Go There!

But, fiancee Kyra Phillips certainly did. As American Morning ended today, co-anchor John Roberts reported Minnesota Viking quarterback Bret Favre’s record 500th career touchdown pass (to recently acquired receiver Randy Moss). Ad libbing, John remarked, “Perfect. [He] laid it right up. So, it’s going to be a good pairing [Favre and Moss] for the rest of the season I think.” When John stopped and Kiran waited for him to elaborate, John added, “Looking forward to seeing more of that.”

Grinning, Kiran answered, “I thought you were going to say something else.” With a slight smile, John succintly said, “No.” Feigning belief, Kiran nodded and quickly echoed, “It’ll be a good pairing for the season.” Continuing the staccato colloquy, John replied, “Yeah. Tersely, Kiran countered, “Okay, good.” “Definitely,” retorted John. “Alright,” answered Kiran.” Beaming at the viewer, John responded, “Looking forward to more.”

Subsequently, when John segued to his “sweetie” and CNN Newsroom host, Kyra Phillips, she was not about to let that sleeping dog lie. Alluding to Favre’s current NFL troubles (pertaining to alleged graphic sexts sent to Jennifer Sterger, a NY Jets reporter and Playboy/Maxim model), Kyra brassily boasted, “I know what Kiran was thinking: Brett Favre, all those text messages must be inspiring him to do well on the field. Right, Kiran? Just saying!”

As Kyra’s affianced nodded his head in agreement and looked on with a sheepish grin, Kiran demurely replied, “Well, I was thinking that there is possible talk that he might, you know, get in trouble, perhaps, suspended. So, we’ll see how the rest of the season goes.” Cackling wickedly, Kyra replied, “Yes, we shall. As we know, those boys get by with a lot of trouble.”

Raising his eyebrows, John remarked, “I wasn’t going to go there!” Seeming to know him all too well, Kyra simply smiled and said, “Mm, hmm.” In response, John wisely chuckled to himself and remained silent.

A still too rare moment of AM levity. Perhaps, CNN’s new Executive VP Ken Jautz’s sage advice on improving ratings during CNN primetime is beginning to be applied in the morning. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, he said, “We need to make our primetime more compelling and engaging, sometimes more fun, you could even say.” Hopefully, AM executive producer Jamie Kraft was listening.

Aly: Where’s Roger, Fox?

You’re So Vain: I thought this Carly Simon story was about you. FNC’s Jessica Rabbit, er, Alisyn Camerota, Fox & Friends Weekend’s co-anchor, must have been wondering where her Roger (Friedman) was today as she read to her audience a debunked tale of whom Simon supposedly was serenading in her signature song, “You’re So Vain.”

Unfortunately, the F&FW producers appeared not to have vetted the account in boss Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. Sun. In that report, Simon was supposedly not singing about a former flame such as Cat Stevens, Mick Jagger, or Warren Beatty but rather her erstwhile gay Elektra record producer David Geffen because she felt that he was promoting rival Joni Mitchell more than her. However, FNC’s fired columnist Roger Friedman pointed out in his Hollywood Reporter article that Geffen was not yet her producer when she recorded “You’re So Vain.”

After the story aired, the author apprised F&FW of the discrepancy. Happily, the producers did not run it again. Regrettably, they did not correct the record either.