Pete: Tucker’s Heir?

Bringing gravitas back! Strangely, Fox & Friends Weekend “co-host” Pete Hegseth is still listed as a contributor for Fox News Channel (FNC) in his FNC bio and on his Twitter page.  But, he appears to be the unannounced co-anchor of Fox & Friends Weekend a la his apparent predecessor Tucker Carlson and his seeming co-host Abby Huntsman. Perhaps, the F&FW suits have learned from the time they awkwardly replaced Fox & Friends co-anchors Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly with Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris without notice to F&FW fans.

Abby and Ainsley’s loose lips? Friday, Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley sat between guest co-hosts Pete and Clayton on the curvy couch and Abby Huntsman was the newsreader. Before Abby read the headlines at the top of the seven o’clock hour (ET), she pointed to Pete, Clayton, and Ainsley, declaring, “My weekend crew, Ainsley! You’re sitting right…[inaudible]….I love it!” Even though she was the queen of the F&F curvy couch, Ainsley sweetly cooed, “I know! I love being a part of you all! Thank you for letting me do this!”

On Fox & Friends Weekend (Saturday) and today, Pete’s ascendancy to F&FW co-anchor seemed crystal clear. Yesterday, at the top of each hour, the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were displayed as chyrons at the bottom of the screen underneath them: For the doubting Thomases at the top of the second hour, Clayton seemed to adduce evidence to Pete’s apparent new position, saying, “Pete, Abby, and Clayton in the house for you.” On F&FW today, the chyrons of the names and Twitter addresses of Pete, Abby, and Clayton were back at the top of each hour.

Perhaps, it is a mite premature, Pete: But, welcome aboard the F&FW ship! Your first mate Abby is a young smart beauty who is heir to her father’s political acumen and Clayton is the entertaining class clown who loves UFO’s, comic book cines, and the latest in tech products: And, you bring Tucker’s gravitas to the mix with your Princeton and Harvard education; much more importantly, your service to the nation; and your dedication to the nation’s vets.

For Pete’s sake, Pete, do yourself and your F&FW fans proud! Break a leg!

 

 

 

Kelly Wright: Kelly Wrong?

Fox & Friends First Foul? Oops! F&FF guest co-host Lea Gabrielle and FNC correspondent Kelly Wright appeared to try to pull a fast one on their viewers this morning.

In a segment on Monica Lewinsky’s speech to Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Summit” in Philly (Monday), Lea segued to the FNC reporter, saying, “For the first time ever, former White House intern Monica Lewinsky speaks publicly about her affair with President Bill Clinton.* Kelly Wright here now. Kelly, she’s waited a long time to speak: what is Lewinsky saying today?” [Italics added for emphasis.]

In response, Kelly replied, “She has waited a long time indeed: Monica Lewinsky delivering a speech this morning, Lea, to a thousand young entrepreneurs and…achievers at the Forbes’ “30 Summit.”

The only problem for Lea is that Lewinsky said it in Philly yesterday: As for Kelly, she seemingly said it yesterday morning. Apparently, F&FF producers wanted Kelly’s “hit” to appear live when it was not (if he accurately reported the story).

Lea and Kelly, your F&FF audience may be sleepy but they are awake.

*F&FF – 10/21/14 (@ 5:22 a.m. ET).

 

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.”

Aly in White: “I Married for Looks”

Timothy Lewis: Aly’s Ivory League Hubby. Today, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Alisyn Camerota let her acolytes know that she is still “tethered” to her Ivory League hottie even if she somehow forgot her wedding ring Wednesday on America’s Newsroom. Without identifying hubby Timothy Lewis by name, she took the opportunity to elaborate on her connubial state this morning during an F&FW story on college and marriage.

In a second-hour segment on an opining Princeton mom who encouraged female students to snag their eligible schoolmates (like her son because they would never have a better pool from which to pick), Aly smirked at this out-dated dating tip on the preeminence of getting one’s M.R.S. degree in college. Comically, co-anchor Clayton Morris asked Aly whether she as an “intelligent beautiful woman” who had “dated…some morons” and “ended up with marrying a very intelligent man” had not married the “morons” because she “felt intellectually superior” to them: In response, Aly jested, “Look, I don’t call them ‘morons,’ I call them ‘convicts’….As you know–you both [Clayton and guest co-host Kelly Wright] have met my husband–I married for looks!” [Pic of Aly, her handsome hubby Tim, and their three children.]

Elaborating, Aly exclaimed, “I could never have followed her advice:  Thank goodness, I didn’t married anybody right out of college!” Countering, Kelly interjected, “And, then was your husband from an Ivory League school?” Laughing, Aly acknowledged, “Yes….Yes, he is!” When Kelly persisted that she was giving the Princeton mother some validity because she had married an Ivy Leaguer, Aly aptly riposted, “But, but, it took me a LONG time to get there!”

[Author’s aside: Unfortunately, for F&FW fans who would like to see more of Aly and her guy, their edgy “You Sexy Thing” wedding dance video has been deleted from F&F‘s “In the Greenroom” blog. P.S. Re “Aly in White” in the title, it refers to Aly’s demure bridal-like white dress today.]

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 03/30/13 (@ 7:33 a.m. ET)

Sexy Aly: “My New Website”

“What do you think?” Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Alisyn Camerota may always be “Puerto Rico Perfect”: But, her site could use some work. Two days before Valentine’s Day, the sexy siren heralded the debut of her personal new web site alisyncamerota.com. As Aly gave an appreciative nod to its apparent creator, her talented assistant Jenn Marie Rivera, for her “mastery,”  she asked her fans for their reviews.

As for the author, he gives Aly’s site three stars (out of five) in its present state. The “Home,” “In the News,” and “Facebook” sections pass muster but the “About” and “Gallery” are not quite up to par. For new F&FW viewers, the “About” section gives them the mistaken notion that Aly has continually co-hosted the show since 2000: In reality, Aly co-anchored it during the early-to-mid 2000’s with Kiran Chetry and Julian Phillips (and, later, with Kelly Wright) and returned to captain the crew of Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs in 2008. As to the “Gallery,” it is mainly a prosaic pictorial chronology of Aly on the program (other than her fun, frisky “Action Heroes” shots): perhaps, it should be spiced up with more personal and/or saucy shots of the Italian dish, a la the infamously deleted bikini pic.

Aly’s site: still a work in progress. But, hats off to Jenn for a good start!

Kiran’s Christmas Wish: More F&FW Magic?

“I told [Santa] I just want a job. Lol!!” Shine Kiran’s future Santa? Within the span of only six days as Christmas drew imminently near, former FNC/CNN anchor Kiran Chetry clearly indicated that she is more than eager to return to the air. On December 16, she Tweeted a pic of herself, her kids, and St. Nick, saying, “Santa came to LYC! I told him I just want a job. Loll!!” A mere five days later, she Tweeted a fun food-face photo, declaring, “Making lunch for the kids. Moma need a job:).”

Apparently, Kiran does indeed need a job now (after her namaskaar to American Morning almost one year and half ago): And, her former employer FNC’s Programming SVP Bill Shine could certainly use her. Since Shine will lose his popular Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Dave Briggs in seven short days (at the end of this year), he needs someone who can seamlessly replace Dave on the curvy couch with co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris. And, Kiran, certainly could: After all, she teamed with Aly (during her first F&FW stint) as the smart, sassy, and sexy duo that made men literally weak in the knees and made F&FW must-see TV during the early-to-mid 2000’s in the process. (Remember Kiran spanking Kelly Wright?)

Hopefully, 2013 will be a time for new beginnings–for FNC and Kiran. A time for Roger Ailes to forgive Kiran after her sojourn in the desert. And, a time for Bill Shine to give Kiran that “very special opportunity“ to team up with Aly again (and Clayton) to make more F&FW magic.

Missing Morris: “Pneumonia!”

Another weekend off? Today, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris continued to be M.I.A. from his post–for the second week in a row. Unfortunately, his co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Dave Briggs provided scant commentary for Clayton’s extended absence other than his being sick. Given F&FW‘s past anchor defenestrations (e.g., Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly), unexplained departures (Kiran Chetry), and questionable leaves of absence (Alisyn Camerota), Clayton’s fans surely deserved much more transparency. Happily, apparently, Clayton provided those answers last week–via Twitter.

On the day before F&FW Saturday (last week), Clayton Tweeted, “My wife [Natali Morris nee Del Conte] is a saint. Taking care of two kids and a husband with a 103 degree fever. I’m useless. Well, more than usual.” After the show, he remarked, “Chest X-Ray time to find out if this is pneumonia.” On the following Monday (two days later), Clayton comically revealed the results: He jested, “I’ve lost 6 pounds! My diet secret? Pneumonia!”

At least, Clayton gets it. Get well soon, Clayton!

Fox & Friends: TNA or “T&A”? [Updated]

Brian spanked by Brook beauty.  Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade got his appreciative rump repeatedly slapped this morning as he welcomed former “Hogan Knows Best” reality star and sexy chanteuse Brook Hogan to the program. Promoting TNA’s new Thursday time slot on SpikeTV, Hulk Hogan‘s daughter, the new executive at TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Wrestling executive brought her wrestling lovelies Velvet Sky and ODB for her segment with Brian and his F&F co-anchor Steve Doocy: And, the Brown-Haired-Guy-Who-Isn’t-Steve-Doocy was not disappointed as he took on the scantily clad ladies in a mock match.

When Steve began the “In the Ring with Brooke Hogan” interview (in the middle of the wrestling ring on the sidewalk outside the studio), he asked Brooke about her “new” show. Before she could answer, Brian jauntily interjected, “It’s TNA!” With a suggestive smile, Steve asked, “What does that stand for?”

Knowingly, Brooke answered, “TNA: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling: wagging her finger at Steve, she laughed, “Don’t let your mind go there–even though they’re very beautiful!” When a joshing Steve asked if she were talking about “these employees over here of yours,” Brooke chuckled and Brian interposed, “We’re talking about Velvet Sky and ODB!”

Subsequently, as a busty ODB began to play with Brian’s tie, Brooke joked, “Uh, oh! Uh, oh! I think you got a girlfriend there.” Smiling, Brian riposted, “Well, I’m seeing somebody right now but you never know if it’s gonna really last.” Getting in on the action, leggy, abs-bearing beauty Velvet Sky grabbed his right hand, querying, “Hey, there’s no ring though, right?”: then, espying it on his left hand, she looked at the camera as if at Brian’s beloved [Dawn], declaring, “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

When the interview ended, Steve and Brooke went to the ropes as Brian took off his coat to fight his pretty opponents. When the “fight” ensued, Velvet Sky began the contact with a touch to Brian’s arm and then a tap to his posterior. Then, she and ODB took Brian through a demonstration of their moves with a toss into the turn buckle, a choke hold, a shot to the solar plexus, and then a clothes-line hit. Consequently, Brian good-naturedly hit the damp mat on his duff.

Beaming, Brian returned to the fray. Giving him no quarter, Velvet Sky got Brian into a full Nelson and OBD gave him a fake knee to the groin. As Brian feigned a protest to Brooke, Velvet Sky playfully patted him on his tush thrice, saying, “Nice wet pets you got there!” Grinning, Brian agreed, “I know. I do have wet pants.” As Steve stepped in and asked if he were okay, a bemused Brian animatedly answered, “What? I’m, I’m watching Thursday night, I tell you, because I want to see, especially, if you ladies wrestle.”

However, Brian was not done with the lovely Velvet Sky. When she (and OBD) subsequently wrestled one of the Fleet Week seaman volunteers and had him “at her mercy” in an arm twist, Brian decided to intervene. Returning to the inner ring, a beaming Brian dropped to his knees and tackled the short-skirted lovely. Sky vainly struggled to regain her footing: But, Brian’s amorous embrace was sure.

F&F today: T&A. Oops! TNA.

[Author’s aside: Apparently, Velvet Sky was unimpressed with’s Brian’s ardor: after their “rassling” romp, she teased, “Really Brian Kilmeade?? With a take down like the one you gave me this morning you should have your man card revoked!”]

Related Fox & Friends fanny friskiness [update re lore]: “Kiran Chetry Spanks Kelly Wright!” (video) – 10/22/06 “Grope an Anchor Day” (Clayton Morris‘ cheeks clutched by chap) – 04/04/09; “Brian’s Love Tap” (Alisyn Camerota‘s tush slapped by Brian Kilmeade) – 11/11/10; and “Kara Gropes Kilmeade” (Brian’s bum squeezed by model Patricia Kara) – 11/08/11.

Ainsley Sexy: Red, White, and Blue?

Visions of holidays past. Yesterday, on Christmas Day, former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Ainsley Earhardt returned to the F&FW curvy couch to rejoin her quilom co-anchor Dave Briggs and sit with F&FW old-timer Kelly Wright. However, today, the blond beauty came back to reign–albeit somewhat submissively–over both of her former F&FW hubbies, Dave and Clayton Morris. Blasts from the F&FW past!

Yesterday, Ainsley took the helm as she sexily steered the F&FW ship for Dave and Kelly. Adorned in a festive short, sleeveless red dress with a sensual slit in her decolletage, the somewhat subdued South Carolina beautiful belle confidently still attracted Dave’s appreciative eye. And, as for Kelly, who once sat on the curvy couch between F&FW‘s hottest female duo, Alisyn Camerota and Kiran Chetry, Ainz stole his heart with a close dance and a plug of his latest CD. As for her F&FW fans, their ringless goddess seemed to still have it.

But, today, Ainz reigned anew from her F&F throne–this time, the weekday edition–over not only Dave but also her other erstwhile F&FW co-anchor, Clayton Morris. Dressed in a white virginal version of her Christmas red dress, Ainsley appeared quite confident as she argued with her boys Dave and Clayton with alacrity. In fact, she reminded the author of Gretchen Carlson–but a mellifluous one who would not deign to lecture her audience or her co-hosts about the “big picture” or anything else of which they already knew full well.

Ainsley was back in fine form–in red and white. And, in blue? No. But, her male admirers may be if she does not return to them somewhat more oft in the future.

Megyn Kelly Disappears

With her show without a word. Apparently, even America Live anchor Megyn Kelly’s lead-in, Happening Now guest host Greg Jarrett, was caught off guard this afternoon: as Jarrett confidently segued from HN to the next Fox News program at 1:00 pm. ET, Jarrett remarked, “America Live begins right now.” Apparently, getting a quick word from his producer, Jarrett quickly glanced at his computer screen and corrected himself, saying, “America’s News Headquarters.”

Subsequently, the screen switched to ANHQ and Kelly Wright began with a “News Alert”: Then, after finishing it, he remarked, “This is America’s News Headquarters. I’m Kelly Wright.” Thereafter, his comely blonde co-host chimed, “Great to see you, Kelly….I’m Jamie Colby.”

Oddly, neither Kelly nor Jamie mentioned that, at least, for the day, they were replacing Megyn Kelly and America’s News HQ was supplanting America Live. Furthermore, to the author’s knowledge, Megyn did not mention yesterday that she or her program would be absent today (Friday). Moreover, Megyn failed to alert her Twitter followers to any AL changes either. Not to mention, when the author consulted FNC’s on-air schedule at FNC’s foxnews.com/fnctv web site (at 1:55 p.m. ET), the “Now” tab showed no program for the 1:00pm slot but rather started with the 3:00 pm one (Studio B w/ Shepard Smith).

Strange indeed. Wherefore art thou, Megyn? Fox News flub-up or Shine “shakeup”?

[Author’s aside: Even at the start of the second hour and at the end of show, both Jamie and Kelly failed to acknowledge the obvious–the absence of Megyn Kelly and her show America Live.]

Update: On Labor Day itself, Megyn answered: She and America Live reappeared. Perhaps, it had been merely a Fox News flub-up. Or, was it Shine’s inadvertent portent?

“The Shin(e)ing”: Trick or Treat!

Or, Trick and Treat? For Halloween, Fox & Friends Weekend fans will not get their favorite co-hosts Alisyn Camerota, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris. Instead, they will be “tricked” or “treated” with Fox & Friends weekday co-anchors, Gretchen Carlson, Brian Kilmeade, and Steve Doocy for the mid-term elections special. Apparently, FNC Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine is still not ready to give his full F&F “B Team” a chance to show their game on the big day.

However, Fox & Friends Weekend aficionados did get a real Halloween treat (albeit early), i.e., a four-hour F&FW for today, for the “near future,” and, possibly, “from now on.” Alerting her Twitter followers to the change yesterday, Aly Tweeted, “[F]rom now on FOX & Friends will be starting at 6am EVERY Saturday and Sunday.” Subsequently, when the author asked Dave for a clarification, Dave cautiously answered, “FOX & Friends is 6-10 ET tomorrow & every Sat/Sun in the near future.” [Underscoring added for emphasis to Aly and Dave’s respective quotes.]

Consequently, if the F&FW devotees see the Halloween substitution of the “A Team” for their beloved “B Team” as “The Shin(e)ing” trick, at least, they get the treat of a new four-hour F&FW. So, they may want to reconsider “TP’ing” Shine’s house tomorrow night. On the other hand, they may still want to get him for his past tricks, e.g., the F&F selection of Gretchen over Kiran Chetry; the F&FW defenestration of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly; etc.

Regardless, Happy Halloween!

F&FW: More Courtney & Less Aly?

Reichmuth revelation? After Fox & Friends guest co-anchor Courtney Friel read a story Sunday about a breastfeeding mom who was ousted from McDonald’s and co-host Clayton Morris subsequently tossed to him, FNC meteorologist Rich Reichmuth jested, ““I’m just wondering now with [mom-to-be] Courtney there and [new father] Clayton, how many of these breastfeeding stories are there gonna be.”* In reply, Clayton deadpanned, “We’re actually building a whole block into the show now just for breastfeeding stories.” Laughing, Rick responded, “Of course.” Chiming in, co-anchor Dave Briggs joked, “We need a sponsor!” Perchance, aptly, Rick chuckled: “I know. I believe it. It’s perfect!”

Nothing would be unusual about Rick’s remark if he had uttered it at the beginning of the three-hour program (and, if his colleagues Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs had not then so readily embraced it). However, Rick made his comment with only twenty-two minutes, including commercial breaks, left in F&FW‘s last (and Courtney’s only) show of the weekend. Clearly, Rick indicated that a gravid Courtney’s presence would facilitate those future “breastfeeding stories.” And, Clayton and Dave’s respective remarks about creating a nursing “whole block” and obtaining a breastfeeding “sponsor” added credence to his implication.

Obviously, if Rick’s “revelation” rings true and Courtney returns to F&FW on a more regular basis, she would probably go back to her former role as newsreader or replace F&FW‘s current queen Alisyn Camerota. In that vein, could Aly’s apparent decision to possibly kybosh her blog, Alisyn in the Greenroom,  and to announce it Sunday before the show possibly indicate such a more tenuous relationship to Fox & Friends Weekend. Furthermore, was Dave’s comment at the beginning of F&F Sunday that Aly was taking off “a bit more than the President’s 27 hrs, a few more days than that” more pregnant with meaning that it first appeared to be?**

Conversely, Aly has played such an important role in righting the Fox & Friends Weekend ship after the defenestration debacle (of trio Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly) and its aftermath (Ainsley Earnhardt, Clayton, and Dave) that it seems highly unlikely that FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine would send Aly elsewhere or allow her to leave. However, it is conceivable if Shine thinks that her erstwhile wards, Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs, have grown sufficiently to carry the show with a less able captain. But, perish the thought!

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@9:39 a.m.)

**Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/15/10 (@6:01 a.m.)

Gretchen Fetchin’ Mr. WRight

Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson lived up to her high school moniker, Fetchin’ Gretchen, today. Swathed in her short, sleeveless, scoop-necked teal dress this morning, the former Miss America cast her carnal cantrip. And, FNC correspondent (and former F&F Weekend co-anchor) Kelly Wright fell victim willing to her sensual spell.

During an F&F segment on Senate Wall Street reform legislation, Gretchen introduced Kelly’s report, saying “Kelly Wright joins us from Washington with more on that. Three Republicans have decided to go with the Democrats. Right, Kelly?”* Not ready to fully respond to her query before paying her his tribute, he tersely answered, “Yeah, Gretchen, you’re right.” Then, as if kneeling before his Reubenesque Venus in adoration, he stammered, “And, Gretchen, really, I’ve got to take note right now. You look very nice this morning. Very nice.”

Basking in Kelly’s praise (while co-anchor Steve Doocy laughed in the background), Gretchen responded, “Well, well, thank you very much.” A somewhat flushed Kelly replied, “You’re welcome.” As an embarrassed Kelly tried to begin his story, a grinning and brazen Gretchen continued, “I appreciate that. Compliments are few and far between so thank you.” Kelly nervously laughed and simply replied, “All right.”

Subsequently, Kelly gave his report and sequed back to Gretchen and her co-hosts Steve and Brian Kilmeade. Having not completely collected himself, Kelly remarked, “And, Gretchen, I send it back to you. And, Steve and Bryant [sic], you guys look nice as well.” As Gretchen smiled knowingly, Steve chuckled, and Brian deadpanned, “Alright. Thank you very much.”

Gretchen finds Mr. WRight–wanting.

*Fox & Friends – 07/13/10 (@6:32 a.m. ET)

Aly & her Doublemen Twins

“New and improved”: Double your pleasure? Double your fun? Fox & Friends (Independence Day edition) finally gave viewers a fireworks display yesterday after two prior years of virtual duds. In 2008, F&FW’s very green crew of Southern belle Ainsley Earhardt and her daft Doublemen twins Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs  made viewers yearn for the then recently defenestrated trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly. In 2009, F&F Weekend’s new queen Alisyn Camerota and her Doublemen major-domos still did not have the F&F house quite in order with their pedestrian music, dreadful duds, and arid air. However, this year, Aly, Dave, and Clayton treated their viewers to a hipper, smarter, and more sophisticated holiday fare: festive yet respective with their  military jazz band, jauntier garb, and vibrant tempo.

Even Aly seemed to have sensed the program’s progress since she joined Clayton and Dave. When producers put a photo of them together on the screen after a segment showing “other” happy couples who looked alike, Aly conversely noted that she was just beginning to be able to tell them apart (an apparently puckish reference to their earlier Doublemen Twin days). Happily, F&FW viewers are beginning to notice the difference, too.

Good job, Aly, Dave, and Clayton!

F&FW Goes South (with Dave)

What happened today to Fox & Friends Weekend? F&FW co-host Dave Briggs decided to go south (Buenos Aires, Argentinea) and, unfortunately, so did F&FW. Filling in for Dave was the somewhat smug, unctuous Peter Johnson, Jr. Unfortunately, he threw co-hosts Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris off of their respective games this morning.

Say what one may about Dave, but he knows his place. The sports guys is the beta male: Like the youngest son who wants to be loved and pampered, he knows to go along and not to buck up to the alpha bitch or the alpha male. On the other hand, Johnson, is like the brainy nerd who returns to a school reunion with a new wardrobe, more self-confidence, and unwarranted hubris: He still does not know quite how to fit in.

Unfortunately, FNC Senior Veep of Programming Bill Shine seems slow on the F&FW uptake, too. As long-time fans remember, Shine defenestrated the trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without warning and rather abruptly replaced them with Ainsley Earhardt, Clayton, and Dave. Then he let F&FW languish long under those callow hands until he was finally forced to conscript Alisyn Camerota to captain the listing ship. Now he appears happy to use the next Hobson’s choice to temp.

Bill, how about riding a new horse? E.g., why not bring Clayton’s fellow Phillie Mike Jerrick back into your stable to substitute? Or use meteorologist Rick Reichmuth on the curvy couch with Domenica Davis replacing him at the green screen? Or even return for the moment to a girl/girl/boy format with former F&FW filly and new contract girl Juliet Huddy back in the mix?

Dave, you were missed.

F&FW 2day: Past or Future?

“I like [M]ike!” For long-time fans of Fox & Friends Weekend, the return of former F&FW co-anchor Mike Jerrick was a welcome blast from the past. The “old master” showed that he still had the goods, i.e., a wicked wit, audacious ad libbing, and a real rapport with the audience.

Today was a delightful amalgam of the various incarnations of F&FW (save the Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly one). Mike represented the first (Mike, Juliet Huddy, and Julian Phillips); Alisyn Camerota the second (Aly, Kiran Chetry, and Julian Phillips); and Clayton Morris the penultimate one (Clayton, Ainsley Earhardt, and Dave Briggs). Of course, F&FW has had various other manifestations that were too fleeting to mention.

Today Mike, Aly, and Clayton informed and entertained the viewer seamlessly. It was as it should be–especially, on the weekend. No self-absorption, cause celebres, or excessive emotiveness. They simply allowed their audience to sit back and enjoy their coffee, mimosa, or other fave bev.

Bravo, Aly and the boys!

Ebon Fox & Her Friends

Black beauty Dari Alexander, WNYW (FOX) evening new co-anchor, brought some much needed color to the set of Fox & Friends as she guest hosted for Gretchen Carlson today on the curvy couch. It was a welcome return to the past. (Ironically, former F&F Weekend co-host Kelly Wright also appeared as a correspondent.)

Since the departure of Lauren Green as F&F newsreader and Kelly as F&FW co-anchor, FNC’s popular morning show has largely been bereft of African Americans as central cast members. Of course, frequent black prominent contributors include political pundit Juan Williams, biz whiz Charles Payne, and “Bamboozled” hottie Angela McGlowan. Nevertheless, it would be positive to see an African American with a more permanent position on the program again.

In fact, no present crew member need be axed. The news reader job could seamlessly be brought back to F&F and/or F&FW. How about it, Bill?

F&FW Four Scores

What a difference a year makes. Only one year ago when Dave Briggs joined Fox & Friends Weekend, four whole hours of Fox & Friends Weekend would have been virtually intolerable: yesterday, they were a pleasure. The difference: Alisyn Camerota and her more mature Doublemen Twins.

Last year, FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine had just defenestrated F&FW’s trusted trio of Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly without warning to the F&FW fan. To make matters worse, he had replaced it with the very callow crew  of Ainsley Earhardt, Clayton Morris, and Dave Briggs. The show was floundering with no leader: Clayton was its clowning camera hog; Dave was its stereotypical sports guy; and Ainsley was its much too sweet, compliant girl in the middle.

Happily, since then, Shine brought back F&FW veteran  Alisyn Camerota to rudder the off-course crew in a more certain direction. Aly has done it admirably: she has helped Clayton to be less silly and more focused and given Dave discipline and confidence. She has taught her wards well, and they seem to be earning her respect and that of the viewers.

Happily, the castrato choir appears to be singing its own dirge.

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/aly-to-ffws-rescue/

https://jakeho.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/one-more-week/

F&FW Back on Course?

No gratuitous groping, no scandalous shots, and nothing overtly outrageous. Yet, it still clicked! Nothing remarkable about Fox & Friends Weekend today but that may be the very reason it was.

F&FW has come a long way indeed since FNC SVP of Programming Bill Shine first threw Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly overboard without warning F&F fans and replaced them with the very callow crew of Ainsley Earhardt, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris. The ensuing very rough ride on the ill-fated excursion precipitated the necessary mid-voyage conscription of captain and co-anchor Alisyn Camerota. Under her nurturing leadership, her co-hosts Dave Briggs and Clayton Morris have begun to evolve into more mature mateys.

For example, today when Dave was called Steve [Doocy] at the end of an interview by a guest, he did not bristle as a young buck normally might. Rather, he took it in good humor and then segued to an upcoming Clayton Morris interview with Stevie Nicks by referring to Clayton as Brian [Kilmeade]. Not surprisingly, Aly seamlessly joined in by addressing Dave as “Steve” and exclusively calling Clayton “Brian” throughout the tease. I.e., no worries: it’s all good!

F&FW appears back on course.

Clayton: “I’m the Flake”

As Fox & Friends opened today, guest co-host Clayton Morris upstaged the weekday regulars with his self-deprecatory humor. Introducing the show with the viewer slogan du jour, Clayton read, “If morning shows were breakfast cereal, Fox & Friends are like flakes I’d eat in the morning.” Co-anchor Steve Doocy exclaimed, “Ouch! Can we have a do-over on that one? Hey, welcome to the flakecast!”

Taking herself a tad seriously, too, co-anchor Gretchen Carlson declared, “I’m not so sure I’m ready to call myself a flake just yet: I get enough blonde jokes as it is.” Steve concurred, “Just by putting that into the open, it seems as if we’re going along with it: I’m with Gretchen on this!” Good-naturedly self-effacing, Clayton responded, “Why don’t you just say flake? I’ll take the hit for that….I’m the flake this morning, yeah!”

Clayton seems to be growing into his role as F&F guest co-host (and F&FW co-anchor). After FNC made Page Hopkins, Kelly Wright, and Greg Kelly walk the proverbial plank, newly conscripted Clayton and his co-hosts, Ainsley Earhardt and Dave Briggs, were like sailors on a rudderless ship. However, now that a recommissioned Camerota is captaining the ship, Clayton seems to have found his sea legs.