Abby’s Adieu (F&FW): Short & Sweet

“Abby, please don’t go, too!” But, sadly, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Abby Huntsman did just that in spite of the plea of this Carpe Diem author. With less than two years under her belt as Fox & Friends Weekend co-host, she bade her co-hosts Pete Hegseth and Ed Henry, her crew, and, most importantly, her viewers a fond farewell to reportedly join her good friend Meghan McCain at the table on The View to wage friendly fire with libs Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Yesterday, in the opening segment, Abby exclaimed, “Big news that we will talk about tomorrow! But this is our last weekend together! So, we are going to make the most of this [inaudible].” True to her word, she did just that today. And, it came as no surprise to those who follow cable news (HuffPo link): But, to the viewers who do not, it probably did since Abby sat on the F&FW curvy couch as queen for such a short reign. In the final segment today, F&FW producers gave Abby a fitting farewell tribute (vid via J$P) as they brought in her hubs Jeff and their daughter Isabel Grace to mark this new chapter in her life. The daughter of the current ambassador to Russia and the past ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman, Jr., certainly was politically savvy and smart. And, the Utah lovely also had her sexy side–albeit family friendly–a la weekday Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt. She gave her fans a reason to rise in the early morn on the weekend with her cheerful disposition, beauty, and brains.

Gone much too soon, Abby! You will be missed!

 

 

Aly Goes Ballistic!

That was weird: Approximately 47 minutes before Carpe Diem posted, “Aly Goes Silent,” New Day co-host Alisyn Camerota had gone ballistic! In a CNN article entitled, “Alisyn Camerota: Why I’m Breaking Up with Twitter,” Aly goes on a rather rabid rant, declaring, “Dear Twitter (attn: trolls), It’s over. I’m breaking up with you. I know it’s sad. We’ve been together a long time.”

Elaborating, Aly writes, “You’re a shadow of your former self, the one I was first attracted to. It’s no fun to be with you anymore. You’ve become mean and verbally abusive. In fact, you gross me out. You’re a cesspool of spleen-venting from people who think it’s acceptable to insult other people in public and anonymously.”

Realizing, perchance, how her harshness may need to be abated re her fans, she remarks, ” I don’t mean to be harsh. Occasionally, you do let a nice, thoughtful person sneak through with a positive comment or constructive criticism. And I want you to know how much those messages have meant to me…. For years, these comments made all the negativity worth it — especially coming from those users who stood up for me and fought the trolls on my behalf. God bless them.”

But, then, perchance to her devoted Fox & Friends Weekend fans, she remarks or, more charitably, her harsher critics, Aly continues, “Of course, some of this is my fault. I’ve been leading you on. I’ve made you think I like you more than I really do. The truth is, I haven’t cared about you for a long time — in fact, I’ve been avoiding you.” Cutting to the quick, she adds, “I go weeks at a time without reading you, leaving you to prattle on thinking you have my attention….So, I’m done. I’m moving on. I’m looking for something else, something real and lasting.”

Offering a sop to her besotted loving acolytes, she promises, “And to the tens of thousands of folks who took time to follow me, I trust we’ll find a kinder place to reconnect.”

Hope you really will, Aly.

H/t to J$P.

Abby Huntsman: F&FW Cohost–Finally!

Fox & Friends Weekend finally has an official queen of the curvy couch (after Anna Kooiman‘s abdication of her crown to reign Down Under). Today, The Hill‘s Joe Concha reported, “Suzanne Scott, Fox News’s executive vice president of programming, says the 30-year-old Huntsman will make her official debut this Saturday.” Of course, FNC signaled Abby’s coronation-to-be when it celebrated twenty years of FNC with Abby, Tucker Carlson, and Clayton Morris as the face of F&FW on October 7 (vid via J$P).[Carpe Diem got the hint: Cf. “F&F: ‘Abby Huntsman: Co-host Fox & Friends.'”] Chiming in that day, Abby Tweeted,  “Grew up watching @foxandfriends…was so humbled to join the crew this morning to celebrate 20 years for @FoxNews!”

Approximately, a month later, (November 8), FNC honcho Bill Shine seemed to send a clear signal: F&FW fans were introduced to not only to her handsome hubby Jeff (pic of the two lovers) but also to her only her lovable golden retriever, Golden George. (Cf. Carpe Diem article entitled “F&FW’s Abby Huntsman Marks Her Territory.”) Within two weeks thereafter (November 20), two of Abby’s gorgeous sisters joined her for a cooking segment. [Pic of the three sibs and a nephew.] And, only ten days ago (December 3), the F&FW audience was introduced to Abby’s parents, Jon and Mary Kaye Huntsman, in a chyroned “Meet Abby’s Parent’s segment [pic]. Yesterday, the author penned an article in which Abby was deemed the “[F&F] apparent co-anchor: Perchance, Shine finally realized that the F&FW fans were tired of the wait until Abby became their “bride”–or, rather, the new F&FW Queen of the Curvy Couch.

Congratulations, Abby! Much success!

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Abby Huntsman!”

So introduced Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Tucker Carlson his lovely co-host Abby Huntsman. “Abby Huntsman,” echoed F&FW co-host Clayton Morris. For the first time since Fox & Friends weekday introduced her on October 7 with a chyron as “Abby Huntsman: Co-host ‘Fox & Friends Weekend,” F&FW did similarly today when it introduced the three co-anchors with their names and their respective Twitter addresses at the start of each of the first three hours.

Now, Abby seems all the more certain to have secured her place on the F&FW curvy couch. On October 7, F&F identified Abby as co-host of F&FW, supra: Later, that very day, Abby Tweeted, “Grew up watching @foxandfriends…was so humbled to join the crew this morning to celebrate 20 years for @FoxNews!” The next day, Fox News Tweeted, “TUNE IN: @HuntsmanAbby @TuckerCarlson and @ClaytonMorris host a jam-packed edition of @ffweekend now on Fox News Channel.”

After F&FW today, Abby Tweeted, “It’s official. I my job! #kennyloggins #footloose @ffweekend foxandfriends @ 1211 Avenue of… https://www.instagram.com/p/BLle0FMlyv. In response, a fan Tweeted,@HuntsmanAbby you are a great addition to #foxandfriends excellent work [thumbs-up emoji]: As if to remove any doubt as to her new status, Abby replied, “Thanks Lou!”

Abby, a “great addition” to F&FW? FNC has not made a clarion proclamation: But, it seems quite pellucid that Bill Shine has made his choice: I.e., Abby is the new “it” gal on the curvy couch. Seemingly, not overly cowed by her apparent predecessor beauty Anna Kooiman‘s fab “booty-shaking” prowess [vid links included], Abby is not afraid to dance to bumper music on the curvy couch–or even to do the polka on the patio [vid via J$P]!

To paraphrase Axl Rose [vid], welcome to the Gotham jungle (on the F&FW curvy couch), Abby! Beauty and the beast–er, beasts!

F&F: “Abby Huntsman: Co-host ‘Fox & Friends Weekend'”

Wow! Apparently, FNC proclaimed Abby Huntsman the new queen of the Fox & Friends Weekend on the curvy couch on the sly. In a segment celebrating twenty years of Fox News, Fox & Friends co-hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade were juxtaposed in mirror image on that very curvy couch with Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris, oft-of-late guest co-host Abby Huntsman,  and F&FW co-host Tucker Carlson. N.B. Steve and Clayton are the senior co-hosts on their respective shows; Brian and Tucker the juniors on theirs; and Ainsley and, apparently, now Abby are the new hires.

Eagle-eyed Johnny Dollar of famed Johnny Dollar’s Place apparently noticed Abby’s seeming elevation from fill-in F&FW co-host to regular F&FW co-host as well. In his “Friday Links and Open Thread” section, he penned, “F&F co-hosts” with a clip of the aforementioned segment. One of his posters, Sparty, noted, “Abby Huntsman was just on F&F with Tucker and Clayton and crawl said she was F&FW co-host….” And, indeed it did: The chyron read, “Abby Huntsman[:] Cohost ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.'”

However, Fox & Friends Weekend‘s Facebook page and Fox & Friends insider: Fox & Friends Weekend only list Clayton Morris and Tucker Carlson as co-hosts. Furthermore, both Abby’s Twitter page and her Facebook page make no mention of her possible new status. To boot, Abby’s FNC bio does not reflect it.

Was Abby crowned without the ceremony? The author tends to think she was. But, he awaits the official proclamation of Abby’s reign.

“Morris Moonlighting”

Clayton Morris: ET phone home? Today J$P linked to Morris Invest with the rubric “Morris Moonlighting” with a photo of the suave smiling Fox & Friends Weekend co-host with his elbow akimbo (a la the the ubiquitous sorority sister stance). If you trust the Fox News co-anchor qua his status on FNC, you may want to embrace this chance to “contact” this paranormal aficionado. Unfortunately, Clayton does not apparently trust his prospective Earthbound clients enough to give her/him his phone number, physical address, or other contact info. His site simply reads, “Book a call with us now.”

Clayton, don’t be shy: If you expect Fox & Friends viewers and other potential clients to trust you with their “high quality rental properties,” you may want to trust them with your contact information.

Otherwise, your “moonlighting” venture “Morris Invest” may be short-lived.

 

F&F Fox Ainz: Feels the Love

Elisabeth: “Congratulations…can’t wait to see u shine!” Coronated today as Fox & Friends latest queen, Ainsley Earhardt was feeling the love from her female friends and colleagues. Predecessors Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Gretchen Carlson and frequent fill-in Anna Kooiman congratulated her heartily and/or offered their friendly advice. Furthermore, The Five co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle and On the Record anchor Greta van Susteren weighed in for good measure.

Early this afternoon, Elisabeth Tweeted, “Congratulations to my #SisterInChrist & #SweetFriend @ainsleyearhardt on the @foxandfriends news!! This #CBO can’t wait to see you shine!” Offering her encouragement and a helpful hint, Gretchen added, “Congrats to my friend @ainsleyearhardt on being new @foxandfriends host-u will be great! Always set 3 alarms!” Frequent fill-in F&F co-host (and F&FW permanent co-host) Anna Kooiman who seemed to have a real shot at the F&F weekday spot graciously chimed, “Congratulations @ainsleyearhardt on the @foxandfriends hosting gig! It’s a good one!!”

On The Five, co-host Kimberly Guilfoyle announced Ainz’s new position on the F&F weekday curvy couch and added, “We’re super excited for her: There’s isn’t a person in the building that isn’t happy for her….This was always your dream….Congratulations.” On On the Record, anchor Greta Van Susteren exclaimed, “I am thrilled for Ainsley. And, I am also thrilled for her co-hosts, Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade….[C]ongratulations to Ainsley on the new gig!”

Break a leg, Ainsley!

H/t J$P re The Five vid.

FOX-y Kiran Returns: CNN Glam?

Chetry: “Are we perfect?”* Kiran Chetry looked luscious this morning as the former American Morning co-host returned to CNN as a guest on Reliable Sources. Paired with older beauty Judy Woodruff, co-host of PBS News Hour, Kiran seemed to make a deliberate decision to glam down, i.e., less makeup, flatter hair, and a more demure dress (sleeveless but with a higher collar and a lower hem). Perhaps, she or CNN’s makeup mavens decided to pander to a more politically correct meme and/or audience.

In his segment [vid via J$P], a  “must-see discussion about women, television news and attractiveness”** (based on a HuffPo article about a British news anchor “who should hike up her skirts”), RS anchor Brian Stelter remarked, “Kiran, you’ve brought some notes with you all of the different things you have been told about how you to dress over the years.” Kiran answered, “When you…called and said…do you want to come join us to talk about this, I laughed.” Elucidating, she explained, “I think that attention to women’s appearance, I think that it’s not just news: I think that’s just sort of society, and we can take it with a grain of salt or we can get very insecure about it.

Sharing her own experience, Kiran explicated, “But, I laughed over the years: People said that I should buy a wig–which I’m actually thinking that I probably should have because my hair is too thin for TV, they didn’t like that–and then I was told not to bare arms but Michelle Obama changed that for all of us.” Of the proffered advice, she added, “Dye your hair blond, wear your skirts shorter…don’t wear pantsuits.”

Subsequently, as Judy bemoaned the inevitable emphasis on the looks of female journalists, Kiran responded, “There is a huge amount of emphasis put on looks: I don’t necessarily think [that] it’s a horrible thing [but] it’s definitely, it’s trying.” When Brian asked for specifics, Kiran related that when she was a twenty-two old anchor in an NBC affiliate (WICU-TV) in Erie, Pennsylvania, she posited the adiaphorous example of being encouraged to wear shoulder pads and “pouffed out hair” to look older.

Hoping for a more apt example, perchance, Brian asked, “When you were at Fox News, was there a more of a focus on your looks than there were at other places?”

Smiling and tilting her head alluringly, Kiran replied, “Yeah, one of my favorite quotes ever: Never mind, I can’t say it. I can’t, I just realized that I can’t say it. I’ll tell you later!”

Don’t hold out, Kiran! As to whether you look perfect, to paraphrase Alabama for your steadfast fans, “you’re close enough to perfect for me.” And, when you really return to TV, the author has a feeling you just might be.

* Reliable Sources – 07/13/14 (11:17 a.m. ET). [Re the subtitle, supra, Kiran asked at the beginning of the segment, “Are we perfect because we’re both wearing sleeveless?”]

Jenna’s “Happening Now”: Her Frogman Curse?

My husband and I are expecting our first child…in early fall. Friday, Happening Now co-host Jenna Lee confirmed what many of her viewers were expecting: the auburn-tressed beauty’s growing girth was not necessarily diet-induced.

Before announcing her gravid state [vid via J$P], she read a Tweet from a fan who asked, “Is it me or is Jenna Lee putting on a little weight in the tummy?” Turning to her co-anchor Jon Scott, she teased, “Jon, do you want to answer this one?” After he wisely refused to do so, Anna read a few more audience questions as to whether she was pregnant. In answer, Jenna joyfully remarked, “I can confirm that my husband [Leif Babin] and I are expecting our first child: It’s very much “happening now”: But, it will be happening in early fall.

Interjecting, Jon joked, “He’s [Jenna’s hubby Leif (pic)] former Navy SEAL….Did they teach him how to deal with a pregnant woman?” Chuckling, Jenna replied, “I can’t reveal all their…top secret training, Jon, but I do know that the SEAL’s have something that they call the frogman curse–which I think I can talk about–which is that a lot of them end up having little girls.” When Jon queried, “Should our viewers take that as a hint, Anna answered, “[N]o….We don’t know the gender: we’re not going to know, and it’ll, it’ll just be breaking news when it happens.”

Congratulations, Jenna and Leif! A little girl: Frogman curse? Nah, frogman blessing!

H/t, J$.

 

Comely Camerota: CNN’s Catch?

Bathing beauty Aly: “For anyone wondering what I’ve been up to….” Today, Alisyn Camerota, the quondam queen of Fox & Friends Weekend‘s curvy couch got her fans attention with that Twitter tease that featured her in a sexy bathing beauty pose. She may have been more demure than her daring ’80’s bikini shot but the Bristol Bay Babe was just as alluring with her sexy come-hither pose. The catch? The former F&FW fox has jumped ship to CNN according to FTVLive.

For Fox & Friends viewers, Aly’s move should come as no surprise. FNC’s Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine has seemingly given his erstwhile best anchor the shaft: When he ditched Gretchen Carlson on F&F weekday, it appeared that the long-suffering three-time co-anchor of F&FW and frequent guest-host of F&F would finally get her due. Instead, the same genius that chose Gretch to be E. D. Hill‘s replacement on F&F over the eminently superior Kiran Chetry decided to go outside of the FNC family and choose Barbara Walter’s View outcast, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, rather than F&F fan favorite Aly.

Hopefully, CNN Prez Jeff Zucker will put Aly on against Lis in the mornings to jump start his moribund morning show New Day. Of course, Aly will be at a distinct disadvantage having to contend against Shine’s FNC juggernaut trio that also includes F&F Everyman Steve Doocy and Puckish wit Brian Kilmeade. Hopefully, Aly will join a cast including current Early Start co-host, wag John Berman, and another engaging gal or guy during the New Day time period: I.e., if the proverbial CNN stars are aligned propitiously, ND co-anchor Kate Bouldan, Michaela Pereira, and Chris Cuomo will find new places on Ted Turner’s network and Aly can usher in a new dawn to CNN.

Congratulations, Aly! And, good luck!

H/t, J$P!

Aly Tears Up: “My Last Day”

“Censored” Camerota’s “Orwellian Twist”: A very special day.”Not! In her America’s News HQ tease today on Happening Now, Alisyn Camerota promised, “Today is a very special day for us: we hope that you’ll tune in at the top of the hour!”* For those who did tune in as Aly asked, it was anything but–special.

Of course, Aly’s fans knew the end was near. On Monday, TVNewser reported that her tenure at Fox News would conclude sometime this month. On Tuesday, Judge Napolitano clued Aly’s acolytes into the fact that her departure would possibly be this week when he rhetorically asked Aly if he would be on with her again, exclaiming, “Mother of God!” Today, the writing on Belshazzar’s wall needed no interpreting when Aly promised “a very special day.”

When America’s News Headquarters began to conclude this afternoon, Aly’s co-anchor Bill Hemmer announced, “And, today marks the end–of a wonderful run for our friend and our colleague, Alisyn Lane Cameota.”** As tears began to well up in Aly’s eyes, Bill continued, “I tried to talk her out of it: Oh, I tried! She’s leaving us after sixteen years here at the Fox News channel but she leaves us laughing because that’s what Aly does!”

On cue, a collage of innocuous Aly FNC clips ran: Unfortunately, it appeared to have been cobbled together at the last minute by an intern who had little knowledge of Aly’s tenure on the “Fair and Balanced” network. Bizarrely, there was no real footage of Aly with her Fox & Friends Weekend co-hosts during her remarkable three stints on the show: Vintage Aly video with her comeliest of co-hosts Kiran Chetry and their stalwart colleague Kelly Wright was a no-show, e.g., the hilarious spanking tape; Aly clips with her Doublemen twins, Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs, on cam were absent, e.g., “Dave’s Farewell;” and Aly snippets with her final F&FW fellows Clayton and Tucker Carlson apparently were also left on the cutting floor, e.g., Aly’s full “Down and Dirty in the Mud.” To make matters even worse, there was no vid of Aly and the F&F week day boys, Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade either (“Aly’s Back: She’s Rocking–& Ringless“).

In the strange melange today, it was almost all Aly and Bill: There was scant recognition of what Aly has meant to her fans throughout the years on Fox & Friends (weekend and week day). Aly was and is an FNC icon: Too bad, Bill Shine appears to not aptly appreciate that fact. But, Aly’s fans do.

Kudos, Aly! A job well done. You will be missed!

*Happening Now – 03/14/14 (@ 12:43 p.m. ET).

*America’s News HQ – 03/14/14 (@ 1:54 p.m. ET).

Update: J$P vid: “Alisyn Signs Off from Fox News.”

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$P) included opening segment, supra. H/t, J$.

Zoraida’s Tearful Adios: “A Very Difficult Decision”

“You put the good in ‘good morning’: It just doesn’t work as well in ‘goodbye.'” The CNN dawn darkened decidedly Friday when Early Start star Zoraida Sambolin bid adieu to her early morning show Friday.

In the final third of ES, Zoraida’s co-anchor John Berman declared, “I am wearing black today because it is Zoraida Sambolin’s last day on Early Start.* [Vid via J$P.] Placing a bracelet made by his sons on her wrist, John jested, “When I heard that you chose your fiance, your family, your hometown, and sleep over me, I, I was a little offended: And, I’ve been trying to understand it but it’s hard. I put together a little piece.”

Subsequently, as producers ran a montage of Zoraida’s clips, John intoned, “The thing about Zoraida Sambolin, when she says ‘Good morning,’ she means it….She doesn’t just want your morning to be good, she makes it happen.” Felicitously, he continued, “It’s that smile, that laugh, that sparkle….More than anything, it’s the sincerity.” Aptly, he added, “Know this, we will miss you tons. Yes, you put the good in good morning: It just doesn’t work as well in goodbye.”

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Zoraida responded, “That is so sweet….This was a very difficult decision for me: I did it primarily for my kids.” To John, she sweetly declared, “You are the best human being I have ever sat next to in my entire life….Seriously, I just cannot think of a more thoughtful, caring, cynical, loving–just a genuinely good human being: And, I thank you for just being you.”

And, Zoraida, thank you for being you!

Early Start – 12/13/13 (@ 5:43 a.m. ET)

[Author’s aside: Zoraida was the best person to grace CNN’s early morning since Kiran Chetry (erstwhile American Morning co-host). Both dared to expose their real selves to their viewers–to defy the sterile corporate culture with a genuine sine qua non that was their own. They are both missed!]

Camerota: “It’s Going Too Quickly”

Aly: “Ha! Leave ’em wanting more.” Yesterday, Fox & Friends Weekend queen of the curvy couch Alisyn Camerota made her move yesterday to a new throne on America’s News HQ next to the “thieving” Bill Hemmer. Apparently, producers realized that Aly’s Fox & Friends Weekend fans were not necessarily overly amused with the loss of their beloved beauty: Thus, they opened the new ANHQ with a humorous show-starting skit a la Saturday Night Live (of lovely Aly with a huge curler in her hair being served a bagel by an obsequious Bill before they both frantically realized that they were running late for their premiere program).

Continuing the meme mid-show, Bill asked, “How you doing? You alright?” Smiling knowingly, Aly answered, “Doing well. It’s going too quickly!” Grinning  back almost impishly, Bill replied, “Is it?” Beaming beautifully, Aly responded, “Yes, stretch it out a little more, Bill. Slow it down! Too fast for me!”

Too fast for Aly’s F&FW fans, too–by three hours! When the author suggested as much to Aly, she aptly Tweeted, “Ha! Leave ’em wanting more.”

And, indeed she does!

Update: Aly and Bill’s ANHQ opening vid via J$P.

Bikini Babe Anna? “Ha Dream On! No Way!”

Visions of Anna come true: Yes way! Sexy Fox News correspondent Anna Kooiman got clingy wet Friday as she previewed the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Boston. For fans who wanted to see their favorite bathing beauty in action, Anna Tweeted twice Thursday and thrice Friday that she herself would be “in the drink” in her cliff diving segment. And, she delivered–in a hot purple tank top and skin-tight black shorts. [“>Vid via J$P.] At least, she thought that she did.

But, one fan was less than impressed with Anna’s 30-foot plunge into the Boston harbor (or her preceding interview of an elite American about the contest in which competitors strut their stuff from a higher platform of 90-feet). Disappointed, he testily Tweeted, “C’mon Anna we all tuned in to see you in a bikini! What the heck?” In riposte, she jibed, “Ha Dream on! No way!”

Happily, for such Anna acolytes, their beloved beauty has not always had such qualms. In her pre-FNC days, she proudly posed in her itty bitty bikini with an apparent beau. Furthermore, in seemingly the same time period, the saucy siren unabashedly rocked another skimpy bikini for the appreciative eyes of, perhaps, that same lucky sailor. [Pic 1, pic 2].

Bikini babe Anna? Dream on! Her fans get the last laugh.

Oops! F&F’s All-American Summer “Scat” Series?

Unedited “Rough and Ready” (“a**hole”): Bob Beckel bumper music? Today, Fox & Friends seemingly turned their song selection over again to The Five‘s filter-intolerant co-host (the big bumptious one who seems to continuously soil FNC’s afternoon airwaves with scatalogical expletives). Last month (July 10), F&F producers carelessly closed a baseball segment to the tune of “Boys Round Here” as Blake Shelton sang “Backwoods legit, don’t take no sh*t.” Today, they one upped–or one downed–themselves: They teased an upcoming “Shot of the Day” segment to “Rough and Ready” as Trace Adkins raucously belted out, “Got a what are you looking at? A**hole smirk.”*

Strangely, no apologies were offered when F&F resumed after the commercial break. Oops: Another F&F Bob-ble!

[Author’s aside: According to HuffPo, J$P caught Bob‘s third “‘s’ word in recent memory” last Wednesday: If the author heard him correctly, Bob said it for a fourth time last Friday after hurting his hand at the close of his The Five segment (08/16/13 – @ 5:52 p.m. ET).]

*F&F – 08/19/13 (@ 8:27 a.m. ET)

Giddy Gretchen: “Persecuted” Indeed!

Carlson: “I can’t tell you how difficult it was.” Today, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson reveled in her new-found status as “movie star” (as her co-host Steve Doocy charitably deemed her).* Revealing her anchor role in the movie Persecuted, a “Christian based-thriller,” during a segment entitled “Gretchen’s Movie Debut,” the ever modest Gretchen declared, “Some people would be intimidated to come on our set and ad lib for three hours and do a bunch of interviews and have to talk about a lot of political stuff and keep it all in your head: But, when you have to memorize scripts, I can’t, I can’t tell you how difficult it was.”**

Subsequently, Gretchen disclosed that she would play the role of anchor Diana Lucas in Persecuted. After reading one of her cine lines thereafter (at Steve’s request), she announced that Persecuted would premiere in New York in January, hopefully, and it would also premier in Los Angeles and Albuquerque.

In the final hour of F&F, Gretchen got a second “Gretchen’s Movie Debut” puff piece.* As it concluded, Steve jested, “Fantastic! Well, another line for your resume: Movie star!” Arching her head cockily, Gretchen concurred, “Yeah!”

*Fox & Friends – 08/05/13 (@ 8:32 a.m. ET). [Vid via J$P.]

**Ibid at @ 6:31 a.m. ET.

[Author’s aside: Carpe Diem readers should not be surprised by Gretchen’s announcement today: the author deduced that she would probably “star” in Persecuted eleven days ago.

Mommy Megyn: Baby Thatcher ‘Totally Awesome’

Kelly’s blue-eyed baby boy arrives! Today, America Live anchor Megyn Kelly‘s stand-in Shannon Bream joyfully announced the birth of the third child of Megyn and her hubby Doug Brunt as the show concluded.* When the final America Live segment opened with a photo of Megyn and Doug’s sleeping, swaddled newborn, Shannon proclaimed, “Here is the picture! Say hello to Thatcher Bray Brunt….[He] was born at…eight pounds two ounces. He has brown hair [and] blue eyes. He is gorgeous!” And, if there were any doubt, Shannon added, “Mom said the best description of him–and this is the quote–‘Totally awesome!'”

As Shannon segued to Studio B host Shepard Smith, Shep exclaimed, “And, everyone in Studio B: this is the best news of the day! How is she?” In answer, Shannon declared, “[Megyn] is doing great. We’re told she is doing fabulous. Everyone is well.”

The “Iron Baby” joins his three-year-old big brother Edward Yates and their two-year-old sis Yardley Evans in the burgeoning Kelly/ Brunt brood.

Congratulations, Megyn and Doug!

* Vid via J$P.

Gretchen Carlson: “Persecuted”?

Religion, politics, and scandal: fact or fiction? No, Persecuted is not a biopic of the Fox & Friends co-host oft lampooned by Saturday Night Live or facilely skewered by Jon Stewart. But, it might just be the name of the major film that she said that she would be filming within the next ten days today in the After the Show Show. [Vid via J$P.]

As A.S.S. started this morning, F&F co-hosts Steve Doocy, Gretchen Carlson, and Brian Kilmeade and FNC meteorologist Marina Molina sat together on the curvy couch. As usual, Brian Kilmeade left almost immediately to go to his Kilmeade & Friends radio show. Shortly, thereafter, Gretchen started to arise, saying, “I’m going off to shoot a movie, actually: So, I’ll see you in about ten days.”

Seemingly, on cue, Steve asked, “In a movie? What kind of movie?” Gleefully, Gretchen answered, “Yeah. A major motion picture.”

As Gretchen walked off the set, Steve queried, “What are you gonna do?” Coyly, Gretchen replied, “It’s a secret!” Following up, Steve asked, “Are you gonna be like the local newsperson or an anchorperson?” Gretchen responded, “Something like that.”

Probing, Steve demanded, “Where are they filming the movie?” Gretchen insisted, “It’s a secret!” “Albuquerque, New Mexico?” Steve persisted.

As Gretchen ignored Steve’s question, Maria queried, “What made you pick that location?” Putting his hand to his forehead suggestively, Steve said, “A voice in my head!” Apparently, to their F&F producers, Maria laughed, “Oh, you told him!”

According to a New Mexico Film Office press release, “feature Persecuted” began mid-July and will end in early August in Albuquerque. Gretchen’s probable “major motion picture” is co-produced by Oscar-winning Gray Frederickson (Apocalypse Now and Godfather) and includes actors, James Remar (Django: Unchained, X-Men: First Class, etc.); Bruce Davison (Lost, X-Men, etc.), and Fred Thompson (Die Hard 2 and Law & Order and former U.S Senator of Tennessee). (The plot revolves around an evangelist framed by a Senator for the murder of a young girl and the persecution that inevitably ensues.)

Gretchen Carlson: “Persecuted”? Or, will she, perhaps, “Transcend” it all?

H/t: J$P.

Janice Dean: NY’s 2013 Comedic Co-Queen

FNC’s “Dancing Machine” heats up the Comic Strip Live stage. Last night, Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean was crowned the co-champion of the 2013 “New York’s Funniest Reporter” at the famed Upper East Side comedy club. (She shared the honor with New York PIX 11 reporter Magee Hickey.) Janice beat out five other contestants including FNC biz contributor Charles Payne, who won third place honors. As to Janice’s winning performance, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson gushed, “It was hilarious”, “It was the Top Ten weather terminology that can sometimes be a little hot that really sealed the deal for her.”*

However, Janice’s FNC fans should not expect to see any video of her sexy routine. This morning, when Fox & Friends co-anchor Brian Kilmeade asked Gretchen if any of Janice’s Comic Strip Live clips would be forthcoming, she replied, “Let me just say this: She did the Top Ten Weather Terms to music that have a certain–um, hm, how should I say this to keep it clean?…It had a lot to do with heat!”** Elaborating, she conceded that Janice’s stand-up comedy would not be appropriate for a family television show but that it was “hilarious.”

Janice Dean: 2013 Comic Co-Queen and FNC’s naughty “Dancing Machine”!

[Author’s aside: Reader, FNC makeup maven Maureen Walsh Tweeted fab photos of Janice during her performance [1] and of her and her FNC friends, including, Maureen,  at the “VICTORY DINNER” [1,2]: Happily, she also RT’d a great pic by Jamie Colby of Janice at the mike after her victory [1].

*After the Show Show (vid via J$P) – 07/22/13 (@3:55/5:24).

**Fox & Friends – 07/22/13 (@ 6:12 a.m. ET)