Maria Molina: FNC Loses Another Fox? [Updated]

Seriously?! According to FTVLive, FNC meteorologist Maria Molina is leaving Fox News and she will be announcing her exit early tomorrow morning. Reportedly, she is going to Central Michigan University to get her PHD, and she will be working at WJBK part-time in Detroit.

Maria’s departure falls on the heels of the vamooses of hottie Outnumbered co-host Andrea Tantaros, leggy lovely frequent Outnumbered co-anchor Jedidiah Bila, 2013 Miss USA Red Eye co-host Joanne Nosuchinsky, and Fox & Friends Weekend  co-anchor Anna Kooiman. Not to mention Gretchen Carlson: And, who knows about her purported supporter Kelly File anchor Megyn Kelly. At least, former Victoria’s Secret model The Five‘s comely Kimberly Guilfoyle, Fox & Friends First co-hosts lovely Heather Childers and beauty Abby Huntsman; and Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhart are still at Fox News–at least, for now.

Bill Shine, if you keep losing the “Foxes” post Roger, you will be left with only “Friends.” And, for FNC fans, this is not a good thing. Get it together!

H/t J$, for your “heads up”!

Update: Maria announced her exit indeed on Fox & Friends this morning at 6:32 a.m. ET. (08/25/16).  Fox & Friends Tweet (including vid): https://twitter.com/foxandfriends/status/768761326210473985.

Megyn Kelly: Trump Target?

Janice Dean: “This obsession with @megynkelly is disturbing and not presidential. Please stop. @realDonaldTrump.” Thus, came FNC meteorologist Janice Dean to the defense of her colleague and friend Megyn Kelly, host of FNC’s prime-time The Kelly File. Janice was not amused in the least with The Donald’s Tweet, saying, “Highly overrated & crazy @megynkelly is always complaining about Trump and yet she devotes her shows to me. Focus on others Megyn!”

As long-time Carpe Diem readers know, Janice and Megyn are FNC faves of the author: That said, Trump is a strange cat. Republican front runner Donald J. Trump has an eerie, incisive sense of what the populace apparently wants to be said and/or to to be done. And, Trump is the Energizer Bunny of the GOP base. And, he does not give a tinker’s damn what JAG/Senator Lindsey Graham, failed GOP standard bearer Mitt Romney, or even what W. thinks. And, he sure as heck does not care a whit what an FNC anchor opines. He is just that way: If in doubt, ask his bud Bill O’Reilly.

The Donald is a force to be reckoned with. He is a street fighter: In other words, when you hit him, he is going to hit you back HARD–repeatedly. He does not care what race, gender, etc. that you are. He is going to take you out if he perceives that you are a threat–or even if you just took the first shot.

Hopefully, Trump will dial it back a bit: But, Megyn will have to do the same. Hopefully, a little rapprochement is in the offing. If not, it will make for good TV–and good ratings.

FNC Host: Trump Spewing Lies

Will The Donald take it lying down? On this Thanksgiving afternoon, FNC honcho Roger Ailes must be having indigestion: His latest Fox News anchor to tangle with GOP Presidential front runner Donald Trump, Happening Now co-host Gregg Jarrett, deemed Trump a liar.

First, there was the Megyn “affair”: Now, there is the Jarrett jeer.

In the first GOP debate (in August), FNC anchor Megyn Kelly, co-moderated the first Republican Presidential debate and took what was perceived by The Donald as a cheap shot re the purported “war on women.” Ever The Donald, he robustly defended himself, declaring that he was often not politically correct: Subsequently, he acerbically asserted, “And, frankly, what I say, and oftentimes it’s fun, it’s kidding, we have a good time: What I say, is what I say. And, honestly, Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you although I could probably, maybe not be, based on the way you’ve treated me but I wouldn’t do that.” [Vid clip of the exchange.]

And, then the war was on–until Trump and FNC chief Roger Ailes appeared to call a truce with a few  seeming “violations.” However, it did not last long when The Donald took a subsequent shot at Kelly in a Tweet, calling her “a lightweight” and “overrated”: Apparently, Ailes was not amused, and The Donald’s appearance on the “O’Reilly Factor was cancelled. No shrinking violet, Trump hit back with a boycott of Fox News. Ailes apparently relented to the ratings magnet when The Donald returned to the O’Reilly Factor, and Trump has been regularly booked ever since on Fox News shows.

Today, Ailes’ erstwhile errant anchor,  Happening Now co-host Gregg Jarrett, ignited a probable feud again by deeming Trump a liar. In a segment subtitled “Trump’s Chances of Winning WH” with Democratic strategist and pollster Jessica Tarlov (Senior Strategist of Schoen Consulting) and Kevin McCullough (a radio host nationally syndicated),  Jarrett, with a twinkle in his eye, remarked, “Donald Trump has been spewing canards.”* When Tarlov guffawed, “That’s such a polite way of saying it,” Jarrett chuckled, “That, that essentially means lies. But, I was trying to be nice.” He added, “Um, and, just in the past week, I mean, one after another, after another.”

Looking at his notes with his reading glasses in his hand, Jarrett continued, “He said, I saw thousands and thousands of people in New Jersey cheering the 9/11 attacks when the Towers fell.” Chuckling, he declared, “Officials in the state say that’s not true [and that] there’s no proof of that: Politifact gave it a ‘pants-on-fire’ rating.” Subsequently, Jarrett challenged Trump’s assertions as to the percentage of whites killed by blacks, citing the F.B.I., and the number of Syrian refugees that the President intends to brings into the U.S.

In conclusion, Jarrett jeered, “And, the Washington Post, in summarizing all of these things he’s saying, said quote, ‘Trump has lied so many times about so many things during the past week, it’s difficult to keep track of all of them.'” As Tarlov began to answer, Jarrett asked, “But, is he ever going to be held accountable for this stuff?”

Trump a liar? Doubtlessly, The Donald will respond. And, Gregg may not be as lucky as Megyn.

*Happening Now – 10/26/15 (@ 1:26 p.m. ET).

Kilmeade’s “Naked” Misogyny?

Sarcastic Brian: “What a shame!” For the “painted [topless] ladies” who feel less safe in Times Square (re a recent attack on the street performers), Fox & Friends co-anchor Brian Kilmeade seems to think that they are asking for it. It was not Kilmeade’s finest hour this morning: And, he should apologize to the topless-body-paint gals who are trying to make a living lawfully–and to all the other women who value their equal rights.

Sounding like a troglodyte, usually au courant Brian opined in a jarringly offensive fashion re women who believe in exercising their legally recognized equal rights by “baring their breasts as men are routinely permitted to do” (according to a 1992 New York Court of Appeals Court decision, People v. Ramona Santorelli and Mary Lou Schloss). Introducing an upcoming story, his co-host Steve Doocy declared, “The painted ladies of Times Square are seeing red, why they say [that] they feel less safe when they are naked in Times Square.” Unsympathetically and chauvinistically, at best, Brian sarcastically responded, “What a shame!”

“What a shame indeed!,” Brian! The apparently practical endorsement of the reported attack on Amanda Roman, a “desnuda” of Times Square, was unseemly and unwarranted. In the author’s opinion, you should apologize to her and to all of the “painted ladies” who are simply exercising their equal rights to earn a living a la the “Naked Cowboy” in Times Square. After all, it is 2015!

[Author’s aside: Perhaps, Kelly File host Megyn Kelly will grill her colleague F&F co-host Brian Kilmeade in his next regular segment with him as she did “The Donald”–or, maybe, not.]

Fox & Friends – 09/14/15 (@ 6:12 a.m. ET).

FNC: Fairly Unbalanced?

Megyn vs. The Donald: There’s no such thing as bad publicity. If one truly believes that gals and guys are equal, they have to embrace the warrior women a la the Army Ranger School graduates: Ergo, when Kelly Files anchor Megyn Kelly takes on Donald Trump she should be prepared for war.

As Carpe Diem readers know, the author is a true fan of Megyn Kelly: Also, the author is an admirer of Trump since reading his book “Trump: The Art of the Deal.” The author finds it amusing that FNC’s CEO and Chairman Roger Ailes would be calling for The Donald to issue an apology for “an unprovoked attack” calling Megyn a “bimbo.”

Megyn is a “big girl” now. She does not need any white knight to save her: She is no damsel in distress. And, every FNC Twitterer that whines about how Trump is treating their nighttime queen makes Megyn look weak and feeble. Their “noble efforts” simply say she is not tough enough for the real world of politics: I.e., our queen can not go to battle or to war against the big boys.

Megyn can fight. And, so can “The Donald.” Let them fight: And, let them both get better ratings!

Kelly Zings Kilmeade

Kelly: Well that changes everything…It’s all forgiven! On the Kelly File tonight, Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade got his head handed to him on a platter by none other than FNC colleague and no-nonsense anchor Megyn Kelly. In the latest of their engaging segments (on Deflategate this evening), Brian opined about New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady’s contumacious reaction to the NFL’s suspension of him for four games, the self-acknowledged “Deflator,” and Patriot owner Bob Kraft. Even though Brian expressed skepticism about Brady who reportedly failed to turn over his text messages, he seemed to give Kraft a pass–and a sop.

As Megyn grilled Brian about Deflategate, Brian mentioned that the “Deflator” Patriot ball handler was actually indicating that he wanted to lose weight according to the Brady rebuttal. As they both scoffed at the account, Megyn sarcastically responded, “In particular, that works with men. Every man wants to be told that he can deflate.” Before chuckling at her ribald reply, Brian exclaimed, “Right!”

Cutting to the quick, Megyn queried, “So, you don’t feel confident about Brady’s defense?” Brian answered, “No.” Coming to Kraft’s defense immediately and almost instinctively, Brian responded, “But, I will say this. Bob Kraft is the owner of the team, a great guy: He watches the show: He’s a huge fan of yours. And, I feel bad because I don’t want to be Stephanopoulos.”

Derisive of Brian’s attempt to ingratiate her into obeisance, Megyn declared, “Well, that changes everything!…Why didn’t you tell me that? It’s all forgiven! Never mind, they’re being railroaded.”

Unfortunately, as usual, Brian impulsively comes anew to the defense of Kraft, the owner of the Patriots who have been implicated in both Spygate and Deflategate. But, as usual, Megyn brooks no such bias from friend or foe. Megyn Kelly: Kicking butt even if it is F&F‘s Brian Kilmeade!

Kelly’s “R-rated” File

Megyn: “It’s Friday night [and] it’s almost 10 o’clock, so we…can get away with a little more–I think.” Gallagher’s “penis pattern”! Last Friday night, Kelly File co-anchor Megyn Kelly was blushing and she liked it. Known by her longtime fans as a rather racy dame, the whilom GQ pinup [article with pics] gave her weekend audience a wicked tease.

Promoting FNC reporter Trace Gallagher‘s aviation segment toward the end of her show, Megyn provocatively chuckled, “Up next, the R-rated story of a pilot with a naughty sense of humor with a remarkable sense of direction!”* Subsequently, after the commercial break, Megyn segued to Trace, exclaiming, “It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a–what! Blushing, she said, “Something shocking was revealed in the Florida skies when someone watching a flight-track website noticed a private plane had flown a very private path!”**

Taking Megyn’s toss, Trace elaborated, “This actually happened in the sky over Disney World….But, rest assured nobody who was wandering ‘the happiest place on earth’ saw anything filling the sky because this was not a giant sky penis it was a radar penis only visible to those who happened to be on Flight Tracker 24.” As Trace explained the path pattern the pilot took, a full-screen graphic was shown with a moving line that drew the male organ with its twin accoutrements. Subsequently, Trace bawdily concluded, “By the way, this aeronautical artist was doing his indecent doodling in a single engine airplane: You know, a private pilot sketching a private part. And, of course, not that size matters but this pattern was about eighteen miles long. Megyn.”

In response, Megyn blushed anew and partially hiding her face with her right hand coyly. Grinning naughtily, Megyn cooed, “You know, it’s Friday night, it’s almost 10 o’clock, so…we can get away with a little more, I think.”

Indeed, Megyn.

*The Kelly File (rerun) – 03/14/15 (@ 4:49 a.m. ET).

**Ibid (@ 4:53 a.m. ET).

 

Kiran: Back on Fox News!

At least, for a few seconds. Yesterday, former FNC anchor Kiran Chetry reappeared on the network that made her famous–and that infamously “fired” her. Last night, on the Kelly File, the Nepalese beauty was included in a montage of  host Megyn Kelly’s snippets (concerning View co-host Jenny McCarthy‘s position on vaccinations):  In a CNN clip, Kiran is shown for about five seconds during her American Morning interview of the autism activism advocate.* Even though Kiran was not acknowledged by a chyron or Megyn herself, it was still a delight for Kiran’s loyal Fox & Friends fans to see their fave fox back on FNC–even if but for a moment or two and on vid–especially, since she has been virtually M.I.A. as of late.

Cheering her acolytes all the more, Kiran’s karma may be looking bright anew: If so, it would be a veritable “blast from the past.” When her whilom Fox & Friends Weekend co-host, Alisyn Camerota, was told earlier yesterday (before the Kelly Files aired) “you and @kiranchetry should team up again: You two were great,” Aly responded, “That would be a blast rt”! One that Fox News would well deserve since its Executive VP of Programming, Bill Shine, inanely ushered both FNC fan favorites, Kelly and Aly, unceremoniously out the FNC door.

Kiran and Aly Kat together again? Foxes and Friends!

* Kelly File – 04/15/14 (@ 9:44 p.m. ET) and Fox News Insider vid – 04/16/14 (@ 00:45/05:00).

New “Miss New Year’s Eve”: Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Out with the old: in with the new? New Fox & Friends co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck shakes things up again as she replaces long-time co-host Megyn Kelly of FNC’s All American New Year. Announcing the news today (as the final hour of F&F began), co-anchor Steve Doocy exclaimed, “Ladies and gentlemen, Miss New Year’s Eve is sitting right next to us right here!” Meanwhile, a full-screen banner blared, “All American New Year w/ Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Bill Hemmer“: Chiming in, co-host Brian Kilmeade queried, “Are you excited? You’re going to be hosting with Bill Hemmer!” Taking it all in stride, the leggy lovely demurely responded, “I’m just going to be Bill Hemmer’s sidekick bringing in the New Year with everybody. We are thrilled! 11 p.m. December 31st, New Year’s Eve.”

[Author’s aside: Poor Bill Hemmer! First, Megyn left him on America’s Newsroom to host her own show daytime show America Live. Now, the eponymous host of FNC’s new prime-time hit The Kelly File has abandoned him yet again. With FNC’s brand new blond beauty by his side to start the new year, maybe, just maybe, Bill can bounce back.]

Fox & Friends – 12/16/13 (@ 7:01 a.m. ET)

Gretchen’s New Gig: The Real Story

Flowers for Carlson: Nerd Tears and Casey Close. Last week, Gretchen Carlson finally brought her own show, The Real Story, to her FNC fans. Slotted in what was once the final hour of America Live, Gretchen seems to have salvaged and revamped Megyn Kelly‘s sloping desk; to have “stolen” her all-femme “Power Panel,” and to have adopted the AL feel–perhaps, hoping that Megyn’s magic will rub off on her.

Fox News certainly hopes so. In the premiere of her program, Gretchen ceremoniously received the blessing of FNC fave The Donald who predicted that she would “have great success.”* (Adventitiously or not, Trump also trumpeted in her Fox & Friends successor Elisabeth Hasselbeck in her Fox & Friends debut.)

However, Gretch will have to do more than mimic Megyn and hobnob with the high and mighty to make her show a success: she will also have to prove that she learned well her Minnesota parents’ purported lessons of “core values and humility.”** She will have to eschew the solipsism that she too oft displayed on Fox & Friends, e.g., when she haughtily heralded her resume of being the high school valedictorian, the Stanford alum, and the first Miss America that was a classical violinist. Even though comedian Jon Stewart and her Connecticut blue blood friends may approve of such hubris, FNC’s much maligned “flyover” audience do not.

Gretchen’s Real Story needs to be about the Everyman/Everywoman who watches Fox News. Not Gretchen. If she remembers that simple truth, her intended audience will remember her and tune in—again and again.

[Author’s aside: Re the subtitle, Nerd Tears critic Kevin McCarthy gave Gretchen flowers on her last day on Fox & Friends and hubby Casey Close did likewise Friday on the last day (of her first week) on The Real Story.]

*The Real Story – 09/30/13 (@ 2:11 p.m. ET).

**Ibid at @ 2:01 p.m. ET.

New(s) Starts Monday

Sambolin and Berman; Camerota & Hemmer; and solo Carlson. Early Start gets even earlier as Zoraida Sambolin and John Berman‘s show starts 4:00 a.m. ET as it expands to two hours Monday (September 30).* Also, America’s News HQ gains a new hour slot at 1:00 p.m. ET with the end of Megyn Kelly‘s America Live: The abdicating queen of Fox & Friends Weekend Alisyn Camerota and her single “sidekick” Bill Hemmer host. Furthermore, the former diva of the weekday curvy couch debuts on her eponymous new show The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson at 2 p.m. ET.

[Author’s aside: FIVE hours of CNN morning news dawn; Aly AND Gretch rule Megyn’s former throne; and Bill FINALLY gets the girl.]

*Early Start – 09/27/13 (5:09 a.m. ET)

F&FW’s Alisyn Camerota: “I’m in Denial”

Anna Koiman: I have big shoes to fill at Fox & Friends Weekend. Before her curtain call on Saturday, the queen of the curvy couch, Alisyn Camerota, seemed somewhat reluctant to give up her throne and to leave her acolytes alone. Perchance, as succor, her successor, at least, “for now,” Anna Kooiman gave her apt homage, Tweeting, “Congrats on ur new show @AlisynCamerota[:] You are amazing in every way. I [have] big shoes to fill @ffweekend.”

Indeed, Anna does! Aly has regally ruled that curvy couch thrice. As faithful fans of Fox & Friends Weekend may well remember, the Bristol Bay babe first held court on the curvy couch with the incomparable Nepalese beauty Kiran Chetry in the early-and-mid 00’s. Subsequently, Aly was “promoted” to the weekday F&F crew as newsreader: But, a wise Shine summoned her back in 2008 to captain Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs on a more certain course (than a then too callow Ainsley Earhardt could fathom). About a year later, Shine gave Aly a strange five-month Sabbatical, pairing her oft with Bill Hemmer of America’s Newsroom (during then co-host Megyn Kelly‘s maternity leave and beyond): After auditioning apparent aspirants who did not quite measure up to the role, Shine brought Aly back for yet another run.

In true form, Aly was stellar yet again. And, now, as she is about to be paired more permanently with Bill Hemmer (in a new America’s News HQ slot), Aly’s able assistant aptly asserts, “The journey continues, enjoy the ride.” But, speaking, perhaps, for her fervid F&FW fans, Aly empathized, “I’m in denial.”

Aly Abandons F&FW?

“I’ve got to go with Bill. I’m sorry.” Sorry, Alisyn Camerota fans: your fave gal has taken flight after three unforgettable stints as a fab Fox & Friends Weekend co-host. F&FW co-host Alisyn Camerota will leave F&FW to host America’s News HQ on the weekdays with Bill Hemmer at 1 p.m. ET according to TV Newser. The move should come as little surprise to long-time followers of F&FW who watched Aly leave her F&FW hubbies Clayton Morris and Dave Briggs for five full months in 2011 (during Megyn Kelly‘s “maternity shuffle” and a month more) to cavort shamelessly with America’s Newroom co-anchor Bill Hemmer and other FNC co-anchor rakes.

All levity aside, Aly has more than paid her dues on Fox & Friends Weekend (and other F&F iterations). In fact, in the author’s opinion, she assuredly merited a permanent seat on the curvy couch with Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade on the weekday Fox & Friends. But, unfortunately, she lost out to Shine’s choice Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Not bad–but she’s no Aly!

Thanks for the memories, Aly! First, you and Kiran Chetry made F&FW must-see TV in your first stint at F&FW. Second, you came to the rescue when newbies Clayton and Dave desperately needed someone to steer their ship on a more certain course. And, third, you gallantly returned to the helm when you reluctantly realized that your F&FW wannabe replacements could not quite measure up.

Good luck, Aly! But, you’ll be missed–sorely!

Shepard Smith: I’m Gonna Go Away for a Bit

“When I eventually do return, I’ll be returning from the Fox News Deck.” Fox Report host Shepard Smith signed off Thursday from his evening show for good, sounding even more optimistic about his future at Fox News than Alan Colmes did when he left Hannity and Colmes for “greener pastures” five years ago.

Apparently making way for Megyn Kelly‘s imminent move to prime time, Shep bid adieu to his audience and announced the end of his evening show Thursday. In the final segment of Fox Report, Shep remarked, “I’ve been saying good night…for years and anchoring this newscast since 1999. But, for a while really, I’ve been well aware that most of you already know the news or much of it before we even sign on each evening.” Explicating the denouement of his Fox Report further, Shep said, “The world’s changed a lot in the last fourteen years: smartphones, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and all the rest: We get the news in real time across lots of platforms, and frankly, this concept of anchor in the box telling you what happened hasn’t change that much since the 1960’s. It’s time for something new: And, we’re gonna lead the way!”

Announcing a hiatus of unknown duration, Shep added, “So, I’m gonna go away for a bit and get my bum shoulder fixed.” Assuring his FNC fans that his departure would not be permanent, Shep declared, “When I eventually do return, I’ll be returning from the Fox News Deck.” Elaborating, he said, “From there we’ll fuse multiple platforms and bring the global resources of this amazing company including social media and digital content to the screen all at once. And, on its time, not on ours!”

Optimistically, he promised, “I’ll report whenever the news happens no matter what program is scheduled.”  Shaking his head for emphasis, Shep declared, “It’s the most exciting venture of my career. My team and I are pumped. And, I hope you’ll come along for the ride.”

Concluding somewhat sentimentally, Shep remarked, “So, Fox Report‘s going away in the next few weeks. It’s been an honor and a privilege to anchor this newscast. Bigger and better is coming with Shepard Smith reporting from the Fox News Deck.”

Shep on Fox News Deck: But, will Ailes’ promise mean a real chance for Shep to go to bat and get a hit for himself and Fox News? If so, good luck, Shep: Get a hit!

Megyn: AE’s Secret, Shep’s Gaffe & Cine Cameo?

Memorable musings: Ainsley Earhardt hawks bikini babe; Shepard Smith shuns Fox News viewing; and Megyn Kelly cameos in Assange movie! Things the author should have probably said–yesterday.

On August 11, Fox & Friends Weekend guest co-host Ainsley divulged perhaps the “secret formula” for the storied success of FNC. After two too cute segments, F&FW meteorologist Rick Reichmuth remarked, “I think [that] we need to make a split screen of that baby and the panda bears: Yeah, and then just watch that all day long.” Concurring, anchor Tucker Carlson concurred, “That’s ratings gold.” Smiling racily, Ainsley added, “Put a girl in a bikini in the third slot, and there you go: Babies, pets, and girls!…This is what we learned in journalism school.”*

Five days later, as a Studio B segment concluded, host Shep unapologetically revealed, “I’m not much of a TV guy….There’s the Yankees, the Rebels, and the True Blood: That’s it! Nothing else!” Perhaps, after a word in his ear from producers, Shep hastily added, “Ah, and Megyn! I watch Megyn: She’s on vacation so I don’t have to watch her right now.”**

Yesterday, during his Fox & Friends review of the Toronto International Film Festival flicks, NerdTears.com film critic Kevin McCarthy disclosed that “Megyn Kelly makes an appearance” in The Fifth Estate, an Assange cine, which opens to the public on October 18. Elaborating, he said, “They have some news footage of her talking about the Wikileaks story….She’s in the movie a little bit from Fox News.”***

Trio’s musings import? Megyn Maxim, er, GQ goddess!

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 08/11/13 (@ 8:39 p.m. ET)

**Studio B with Shepard Smith – 08/16/13 (@ 3:55 p.m. ET)

***Fox & Friends – 09/06/13 (@ 8:25 a.m. ET)

Prime-Time Megyn: “Hannity & Kelly”?

Roger Ailes’ “Minor Change”? In an exclusive Thursday, the Drudge Report reported that Fox News was “set to make its first primetime schedule change in 10 years” and that “superstar newswoman Megyn Kelly [had] landed the 9 PM slot” according to its top sources. When asked about that “rumor” by Fox News’s Neil Cavuto, FNC chief Roger Ailes responded, “Well, generally, I don’t confirm or deny any rumors….However, Megyn has earned a better time period: She’ll be in our prime-time lineup. But, I must quickly say that all of our stars will be back: We have new deals with (Sean) Hannity and Greta (Van Susteren) and Shep(ard Smith).” Noticing Ailes’ obvious omission, Cavuto quizzically commented, “So, it sounds to me like (Bill) O’Reilly‘s gone: Mischievously, Ailes answered, “Yep, he’s finished, that’s it! No, I’m just kidding.”*

According to New York Times columnist Bill Carter, the prevailing speculation is that Megyn will get her own hour and Sean Hannity will move to the 7:00 p.m. slot (replacing Fox Report with Shepard Smith) and Shep will move to an afternoon hour. However, in his Cavuto interview, Ailes himself cryptically remarked, “We have a great roster of talent: I am making a few minor changes….You have to choose well in the first place and have the guts to stay with people who can do the job. And, that’s what I try to do.”** Furthermore, he reportedly explained, “One of my jobs is to get the best audience flow between shows and that’s one of the reason[s] I’m making a few changes right now.”***

And, that very audience of Ailes in both prime-time and full-day ratings “has had a median age of 65-plus (according to the aforementioned NYT author). If the anecdotal observation that older people tend to be resistant to change is true, Ailes would do well to only “[make] a few minor changes” as he seeks to facilitate the “best audience flow” of his hyper-loyal older viewers (and tries  to attract a younger demographic at the same time). Creating three new shows for Megyn, Hannity, and Shep, as the NYT suggested, seems more than a few major changes–especially, when Gretchen Carlson’s new fall show and, an imminent iteration of Fox & Friends (with new co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck) are added into the mix.

“Hannity and Kelly”? Don’t count it out.

*Therightscoop.com (video and text) – 08/08/13.

**Ibid.

***Therightscoop.com (video) – 08/08/3 (@ 02:12/04:13).

[Author’s aside: If Megyn does indeed join Hannity, Ailes real primetime schedule (8-11 p.m.), the hosts will represent true-blue gender equality surpassing rivals CNN and MSNBC.]

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.

FNC’s New Future: Megyn In for Greta?

Van Susteren: “I’ve been been bucking to get an earlier hour for years….”* Apparently, her boss Roger Ailes was listening: Only five days after FNC On the Record anchor Greta van Susteren uttered those very words to her old friend Larry King on his 06/27/13 eponymous online show, Fox News issued a release which read, “[America Live anchor] Megyn Kelly will move to Fox News Channel’s (FNC) primetime lineup upon her return, announced Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO, FOX News.” However, FNC took pains to highlight the fact that Greta had been signed to a long-term contract (as well as FNC’s other prime time hosts Bret Baier, Shepard Smith, Bill O’Reilly, and Sean Hannity).

In King’s interview of Greta, the former CNN anchor discussed the possible personnel changes of new CNN honcho Jeff Zucker: In so doing, she referenced FNC and her long-time chief, saying, “Look at Fox News….Roger Ailes has been there the whole time I’ve been there. We haven’t had a change in eleven and half years.” Nonchalantly or not, she continued, “I’ve been bucking to get an earlier hour for years but that ain’t happening….If anyone ever left, I would put in a pitch.”

Now that Ailes has decided to change his storied FNC schedule, it seems that Greta will get her wish of an earlier hour. But, whom will she replace or with whom will she pair? If Greta replaces anyone, it will probably be Fox Report host Shepard Smith who could continue to work in his “long-term contract” as anchor of Studio B. But, if Greta were to co-host instead, a likely pairing would be with fellow conservative Sean Hannity who sorely needs fresh blood to reinvigorate his recently ratings-challenged show.

And, if Greta does vacate her 10 p.m. ET throne, it seems that Fox’s long-suffering “rising star” has finally achieved her rightful place in the FNC ether. In December of 2008, Carpe Diem warned Greta to watch out for Megyn. Six months later, the New York Times eyed Megyn as a “potential heir to Ms. Van Susteren.”

Now, Megyn’s time has come: Prime time!

*Larry King Now – 06/27/13 (@ 11:29/28:19

Terse Gretch Explains Absence

“I’m glad to be back here today.” Fox & Friends co-anchor Gretchen Carlson seemed rather defensive this morning about her absence yesterday from F&F‘s Boston Marathon tragedy special edition. Appearing eager to explain America Live‘s Megyn Kelly‘s appearance on the curvy couch in her place, Gretchen got straight to the point as soon as the show started.

After the obligatory opening teases for the program, Gretchen solemnly said, “Welcome, everyone. Good to be back.” As her co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy looked at her with stone faces, a seemingly agitated Gretchen declared, “Unfortunately, I was on an airplane when all of this happened in Boston and could not get from the West Coast. I’m glad to be back here today.” In response, Steve stayed strangely silent and Brian simply said, “Yeah.”

Yeah. Sounds like someone may have heard the scuttlebutt. Or, read Carpe Diem yesterday.

F&F’s Special Megyn Kelly: “Now I’m Curvy”

Preggers pretty: “This is interesting for me.” America Live anchor Megyn Kelly returned regally to Fox & Friends‘ curvy couch this morning to fill-in for the seemingly increasingly absent Gretchen Carlson. Looking resplendent in a purple modest dress with a demurely plunging neckline, the gravid beauty joined co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade for a Boston Marathon tragedy special edition. Like F&F Weekend co-anchor Alisyn Camerota who oft takes the field for F&F‘s “A Team” on other momentous occasions, Megyn provided her usual grace and necessary gravitas to carry the show with the boys for four long hours of in-depth coverage of the horrific killings and the monstrous maimings on Patriot Day as the Bean City showcased the national’s oldest marathon.

After F&F coverage of the chaos for over two long hours, Megyn decided to give her audience a short interlude of levity. Mid-show, subsequent to Boston-based FNC correspondent Molly Line‘s report subtitled “Boston Terror Bombings,” she started to discuss the survivors’ loss of their limbs and security and to contrast their plight with the comfort of the co-hosts and their viewers, saying, “Here we are…on the curvy couch.” Interrupting herself mid-sentence, Megyn declared, “This is interesting for me. I did it [co-hosting] once seven years ago”: Placing both her palms on her stomach, she chuckled, “But, never pregnant!”

Pointing to Megyn’s baby bump in reply, Steve smilingly jested, “Now you’re curvy to go with the couch!” Grinning jauntily, Megyn replied, “Now, I’m curvy, right! You’ve got a curvy anchor to go on the curvy couch!”

Vintage Megyn Kelly: serious news–with her saucy take. Lawyer journo GQ “hot”!

[Author’s aside: For Megyn’s AL announcement of her third-to-be, cf. here for video.]