Bob Out Again: Juan In!

Five: About time? The Five co-host Bob Beckel, the liberal buffoon–who was “likeable enough” as former President Obama might characterize him–was fired Friday, allegedly “making an insensitive remark to an African-American” who reportedly “came to service his computer,” telling [him] that he was leaving his office because he is Black [sic]”: Ironically, unless The Five finds a fill-in, he will apparently be permanently replaced by his alternate liberal co-host, the very likable, knowledgeable African-American Juan Williams who lost his job at NPR for an allegedly “insensitive remark” about Muslims on FNC (O’Reilly Factor.) You cannot make this stuff up.

Self-admitted former substance abuser Bob was known for his cursing and crudeness on The Five but he was like the drunk on the bar stool next to you that amuses you as long as he does not spill beer on you or grab your girlfriend in a fresh fashion. But, he seemed to have a good heart as he mentored those who suffered from substance abuse.

Sometimes Bob’s tomfoolery made for good TV: But, when Juan Williams rotated in for him, the viewer wondered why Juan did not have the liberal seat full-time. In 2015, Bob was let go from The Five with former FNC honcho Bill Shine, saying, “We tried to work with Bob for months, but we couldn’t hold The Five hostage to one’s personal issues. He took tremendous advantage of our generosity, empathy and goodwill and we simply came to the end of the road with him.”  In 2017, Bob returned to the show: FNC chief Rupert Murdoch remarked, “Bob was missed by many fans of The Five and we’re happy to welcome him back to the show.

The author initially found this account re Bob highly suspect. The he remembered that Bob had referred to Chinese as “Chinamen,” a term which he understands that some consider derogatory and others may not. Regardless, it seemed to indicate an insensitivity in that regard. As to the aforementioned account re his latest termination, Bob appears to have crossed the Rubicon re racial remarks in seeming to question the ability of the IT guy because of his race.

When The Five aired later on Friday night, Bob’s name and fate were noticeably not found anywhere on the lips of his co-hosts Kimberly Guilfoyle, Jesse Watters, Dana Perino, or Greg Gutfeld. However, where Bob had last sat was predictably Juan Williams. And, presumably, he will now finally be The Five‘s resident liberal.

O’Reilly Out: Carlson In

Five replaces Carlson; Bolling replaces Five; and Watters replaces Bolling. Yesterday, FNC honcho Rupert Murdoch “caved”: Joined his boys James and Lachlan in dethroning the King of Cable Bill O’Reilly (statement)–while O’Reilly was on vacation. And, O’Reilly did not get the last word on his once eponymous show last night newly named simply The Factor.

Rather, The Factor fill-in host Dana Perino solemnly declared, “Finally, tonight, it is the end of an era here at the Fox News Channel….Bill O’Reilly is leaving this chair and this network after more than twenty years. Bill has been the undisputed king of cable news, and for good reason: He is an incredibly talented broadcaster who raised the bar for interviewers everywhere; he has also held his staff to exacting standards in his quest to put the best possible program on the air and they are great; and you his audience responded in record numbers making The Factor the number one cable news show for more than sixteen years.” Trying to soften the blow to O’Reilly’s fans further, Dana declared, “In a memo to the staff today, Rupert, James, and Lachlan Murdoch who run Fox News described Bill this way, [saying], “By ratings standards, Bill O’Reilly is one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news. In fact, his success by any measure is indisputable. We wish him the very best.”

Even though the Murdochs recently re-signed their FNC flagship anchor and top revenue generator to an 18-million-per-year contract, they decided to  jettison O’Reilly amid the continuing allegations of sexual harassment. According to the New York Times, Fox luminaries Rebecca Gomez (2011), Laurie Dhue (2016), and Juliet Huddy (2016) have received settlements: Furthermore, reportedly, erstwhile Outnumbered regular Andrea Tantaros‘s psychologist Michele Berdy said under oath that Andrea “complained to me about recurring unwanted advances from Bill O’Reilly.” To boot, the New York Daily News reported, “On the day before he [O’Reilly] was booted, a black colleague said a leering O’Reilly shamelessly ogled her cleavage and nicknamed her ‘Hot Chocolate.'”

Not amused, O’Reilly responded to his firing, saying, “It is tremendously disheartening that we [Fox News and O’Reilly] part ways due to completely unfounded claims. But that is the unfortunate reality many of us in the public eye must live with today. I will always look back on my time at Fox with great pride in the unprecedented success we achieved and with my deepest gratitude to all my dedicated viewers.” [For full statement, link here.]

As to O’Reilly’s dedicated viewers, they will now have “a new evening and prime time lineup” according to Fox News. As of Monday (April 24),  Tucker Carlson Tonight will replace the recently renamed O’Reilly Factor (to The Factor); The Five will follow with the usual cast of Kimberly Guilfoyle, Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Juan Williams, and Bob Beckel with the addition of Jesse Watters to take Eric Bolling‘s middle chair (April 24); Bolling gets his own show in the old The Five slot at 5:00 p.m. ET (May 1).

Coaxing his own Tucker Carlson Tonight viewers to make the jump to the new time last night, Tucker concluded his show saying, “There is change coming to Fox News, the channel and to this program: Starting Monday, we are moving to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. You’ve made the journey with us from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: We hope you’ll come along once more and join us an hour earlier.” Graciously, he aptly added, “We’ve got big shoes to fill: We’re going to do our best.”

Indeed, Tucker does have big shoes to fill: Whether O’Reilly devotees will give Tucker that chance remains to be known. And, to whether FNC fans cotton to James and Lachlan’s kinder, gentler Fox News is another issue altogether: Their father Rupert had the Midas touch with his “Mad Men” mentality. Going PC may be FNC’s folly: Alchemy in reverse.

A F&F First: Nudity Allowed

“I’m so wasted!” Ainsley Earhardt and Heather Childers naked? For their naturalist viewers, the Fox & Friends First co-hosts made au naturel all natural.

Without warning, blond beauties Ainsley and Heather introduced a NSFW Watter’s World “Political Accomplishment Edition” segment by Jesse Watters to arouse their audience in the early morn to a little porn (April 04/14).* It was Jesse’s usual schtick of embarrassing hapless and clueless hotties and/or eccentrics about current events: This time, he ended his report with an interviewee who said that he was not yet “wasted” and a scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High [NSFW clip (0.17/0.19)] of Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) who assuredly was. In the naughty vid, Spicoli proclaims, “I’m so wasted!”: On the wall in the background, there are two apparent Playboy pinup lovelies flaunting their full frontal nudity.

As the segment ended, Ainsley exclaims, “Oh, my word! Interesting!” Chuckling, Heather replied, “You never know what you’re going to get!”

Indeed, Ainsley and Heather! Playboy pinups on air? Another Fox & Friends First!

[Author’s aside: “Cleaning out my closet” [vid] as Eminem might say: Sorry, CD readers, that I did not get this F&FF story to you earlier.]

*Fox & Friends First – 04/14/15 (@ 5:19 a.m. ET).

Anna: F&F “More Blondelicious Than Usual”

Ainsley: “Clayton, sleep in! I’m glad you had so much bubbly last night.” Unexpected Fox & Friends guest co-host Ainsley Earhardt did not mind a bit stepping in this morning for the missing Clayton Morris. In fact, she relished the moment and so did the other New Year’s day edition Fox & Friends co-anchors, Jesse Watters and Anna Kooiman.

As the show opened, Anna, garbed in a teal form-fitting short dress, announced that she was subbing for Elisabeth Hasselback. When she turned to Jesse (in for Steve Doocy), he introduced himself and then laughed, “And, I think we’re missing Clayton: we have Ainsley here (in for Brian Kilmeade).” Having just finished co-hosting F&F First, festively attired in a sexy chartreuse, black-hemmed mini-skirt, Ainsley exclaimed, “Yep! I’m not complaining, though!”*

Looking into the camera as if addressing the absent co-anchor, grinning, she jauntily jested, “Clayton, sleep in! I’m glad you had so much bubbly last night.” To Anna and Jesse, she added, “They’re waiting on him to come in from New Jersey this morning.”

Gazing over at fellow flaxen-tressed beauty Ainsley, Anna announced, “The [curvy] couch [is] looking more blondelicious than usual!” Interjecting appreciatively, Jesse concurred, chuckling, “Yeah, the couch is a little better looking without Clayton.” Placing her hand on Anna’s shoulder, a smiling Ainsley smiling declared, “Jesse, you are a lucky man this morning!”

Putting his arms up in the air, Jesse aptly replied, “Hey! What can I say? It’s a great way to start the new year!”

And it was. F&F: More blondelicious than usual today. Anna and Ainsley: Still “Bringing Sexy Back!”

[Author’s aside: At the end of the segment, Ainsley, Anna, and Jesse looked outside to see Clayton Morris comically posing outside on the sidewalk (as if he were a drunken New Year’s Eve reveler trying to find his way home in the morning).*]

Fox & Friends – 01/01/14 (@ 6:02 a.m. ET).

Ibid at @ 6:13 a.m. ET.

Update: Vid via (J$P) included opening segment, supra. H/t, J$.