Fox & Friends: Gretch a Goner?

Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson‘s future at Fox News is in question according to New York Magazine. NYM reported that one of its sources said that Gretchen and FNC are “haggling over her contract terms” and revealed that Gretchen wants her own FNC show but Fox suits are not keen on the idea. However, NYM indicated that one lead said that Gretchen and FNC had “reach[ed] a short-term accord that would keep her on the curvy couch with Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade until the election [b]ut after November, it’s unclear.”

Over a month earlier, the author noted Gretchen’s uncertain future at Fox & Friends in a Carpe Diem article entitled, “Gretchen’s ‘Last Summer Vacation.'” After Gretchen decided to take her one “last summer vacation before kicking into high gear for the political conventions and the election,” he noted that F&F began not only to utilize its regular talent such as Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Alisyn Camerota and Fox & Friends First co-host Ainsley Earnhardt but also to showcase significantly possible celebrity replacements, i.e., Olympian Dara Torres and former American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi. Yet, the writing was still not necessarily on the proverbial wall.

Now, it well may be. As Inside Cable News declared, “If there is a shred of truth to this [New York Magazine story], Carlson is on dangerous ground. Roger Ailes and FNC have a history of summarily dispatching talent whose dreams are bigger than FNC reality will tolerate (see: Chetry, Kiran).”

Wouldn’t that be ironic? Deliciously so–if Ailes finally forgave Gretchen’s nemesis, Kiran Chetry, for her “seminal sin” and welcomed the waiting beauty back into the FNC fold with that “very special opportunity.” After all, Aly is indispensable to F&F Weekend.

Gretchen’s “Last Summer Vacation”

Hm. “Who is Dara Torres?…Who is Kara DioGuardi?” Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson announced Wednesday that she is off on yet another vacation only three days after she returned from an earlier one in her home state of Minnesota. She Tweeted, “[H]ave a great 12 days! off for the last summer vacation before kicking into high gear for the political conventions and the election. gc.” But, for Fox & Friends?

On the following Thursday and Friday, F&F showcased not only two regular replacements but also two celebrity ones. Thursday, F&F Weekend co-anchor Alisyn Camerota filled in for Gretchen for the first two hours and Olympian swimming great and buffed blonde beauty Dara Torres subbed in the final hour: Friday, F&F First co-host Ainsley Earnhardt and jilted American Idol judge and bikini babe Kara DioGuardi did likewise. Both days, F&F introduced the celeb co-hosts with their respective “Who Is…” segments [albeit with Dara getting her own pictorial with Olympian shots and pin-up photos (1, 2) to boot].

In fact, F&F seemed to give its “celeb” co-hosts much more introduction than has been their usual wont. Given Gretchen’s frequent absences of late, one may be forgiven for wondering if F&F may be auditioning future F&F co-hosts. especially, since Gretchen’s 2008 multi-year contract anniversary date appears to have recently occurred. With the possibility of a renewal or a novation, Gretchen’s “kicking into high gear for the political conventions and the election” may be for Fox News in general, not F&F in particular.

F&F tryouts? While the cat is away, perhaps, F&F will play. Stay tuned.