Clayton’s Weird Departure

Abby, please don’t go, too! As word spreads that Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Abby Huntsman may leave the FNC fold to join her friend Meghan McCain at The View, F&FW fans are welcome to muse about the strange disintegration of a trio of co-hosts that preceded her, i.e., Clayton Morris, Alisyn Camerota, and Dave Briggs. (Yes, the author knows that the lovely now honorary Aussie Anna Kooiman was the lovely F&FW co-anchor that was the bridge between Aly and Abby.)

Of particular interest was Clayton’s bizarre adieu [vid]. Dave left in an emotional farewell in 2012 as the Bean Town sports boy transitioned to NBC Sports (before going to CNN to co-host Early Start with Christine Romans). Alleging legendary FNC honcho Roger Ailes harassed her, lovely Aly left for CNN New Day eventually where she has “woke” according to her book, Amanda Wakes Up. Re Clayton, his departure seemed strange at best: Out of the blue seemingly, he emotionally announced, “I have decided after 18 years in broadcast television – I didn’t think I was going to do this. That today will be my last day in television.” Additionally, he remarked, “”I don’t think you’ll ever see me on television again.”

In an ambiguous assertion, Clayton said that “he would be pursuing a new calling in ’empowering people’ and helping others build wealth through passive income.” Now, Clayton posits, “How to pay off your house within 5 years using these awesome ninja tricks.” Hopefully, it works: But, it sounds as strange as his fascination with UFO’s.

Clayton’s farewell was a bizarre goodbye. Hopefully, Abby will not follow suit. (She’s a keeper–or should be!)

Aly Honored by NOIAW

Camerota: “You Sexy Thing”! Today, FOX-y CNN New Day co-anchor Alisyn Camerota was honored by the National Organization of Italian American Women at their 35th Anniversary Luncheon today: The NOIAW has not released the reasons for the honor on their FB site yet. But, Aly’s achievements speak for themselves: As her faithful fans know, the Italian lovely was thrice Fox & Friends Weekend co-host (FNC) and is now New Day co-host–not to mention her stints with NBC and ABC.

Today, Alisyn’s lovely and loyal personal assistant Jennifer Rivera seemed rightly pleased, twice Tweeting, “Couldn’t be prouder of @alisyncamerota. [Hand clap emoji]….#2016NOIAWHonoree.” For good measure, she included a seemingly celebratory photo of the two together in her post.

Congratulations, Aly!

[Author’s aside: Re “You Sexy Thing,” in the subtitle, that sensual song was the first one that Aly and her hubby Tim Lewis danced to at their wedding: Unfortunately, she seemingly deleted a vid of that special moment from her Fox & Friends Weekend “In the Green Room” blog.]

Sen. Scott Brown: “Mr. Vice President…Get Your Hands Off My Wife!”

Guest Fox & Friends Weekend co-host: “He just had his hand on her back and it just kept going lower and lower.” Last Saturday, guest F&FW co-anchor and former U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) regaled viewers with a personal anecdote about the roving hand of the amiable Vice President of the United States–on his wife.

At the bottom of the second hour, F&FW returned after a commercial break with a joke by Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon about the President and the Vice President. Segueing from that jest, F&FW co-host Tucker Carlson remarked, “But, speaking of our unusually effervescent Vice President, Scott Brown, you know him: You kind of had an amazing experience with the Vice President.”

As Tucker and F&FW co-host Anna Kooiman gleefully turned to him for his story, Scott nodded, saying, “Yeah, I actually like the Vice President: He does have a good sense of humor.” Sighing, he continued, “But, yeah, we, you know, we have had many encounters with the [Vice] President and referenced one yesterday on O’Reilly where…the [Vice] President, when I was getting sworn in, had his hands where I didn’t think was inappropriate.” Subsequently, producers aired a clip of a portion of his swearing in ceremony: Elaborating, Scott revealed, “I said, ‘Mr. Vice President–I said it to his Secret Service–I don’t care if you’re the Vice President or not, get your hands off my wife!”

Chiming in sympathetically, Ann said, “So, you’re being sworn in…and the Vice President is not touching your wife the way that you wanted him to.”

In response, Scott stammered, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Listen, we, we all have a sense of humor. And, at the end, my wife’s like, ‘Is this how things are supposed to be in Washington?'”

Demanding more details, Tucker queried, “So, what did he do?”

In answer, Scott replied, “Ah, listen, he just had his hand on her back and it kept going lower and lower. And, you know, it is what it is.”

Tucker exclaimed, “Well, that’s unbelievable!”

Coming to the Vice President’s defense somewhat, Scott declared, “Listen, he’s a very, very touchy-feelly guy: He’ll come up to you and he’ll give you a hug, guy or girl. So, I don’t want to make it seem like it was…completely inappropriate [but] it did, I felt, crossed the line a little bit.” Giving the Veep a bit of a break, he concluded, “It’s just Joe being Joe…so I don’t hold it again him.”

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 03/21/15 (@ 7:34 a.m. ET).

 

Fox (Aly) & Friends Weekend Reunited

Dave Briggs: “Reunited & it feels so good.” Yesterday, whilom Fox & Friends Weekend team of co-hosts Alisyn Camerota, Dave Briggs, and Clayton Morris got back together: Unfortunately, for their F&FW fans, it was only for lunch. Excitedly, Aly Tweeted, “Guess who I had lunch with? #reunited IMG_0199.JPG.” Subsequently, she posted a pic of her, Dave, and Clayton, posing happily together.

Inexplicably, Aly deleted the pic of the reunited erstwhile F&FW three amigos later. Perchance, she (or CNN) did not want her fans to get too nostalgic for the good old days of Aly reining on the F&FW curvy couch with her boys at FNC. After all, she has moved on to CNN–and has been ruling the New Day divan with Chris Cuomo and Michaela Pereira of late. And, now that ND co-host Kate Bolduan is on maternity leave, Aly may be taking over more permanently.

Happily, for partisans of the penultimate F&FW iteration, current “NBC Sports guy” Dave Briggs provided two fab photos of him and his buds, CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota and still FNC F&FW co-host Clayton Morris [pic1, pic2]. In his Tweet (including a great selfie seemingly shot by Clayton), Dave proudly declared, “Peaches & Herb sang it best, “Reunited & it Feels so Good…”

So good to see you all reunited, too, Dave–if only for a repast.

[Author’s aside: Not too surprisingly, Clayton did not RT the photos of him, Aly, and Dave back together again: After all, he assuredly wants his F&FW fans not to look back too fondly on his former “Friends” and to transition their affections more completely to his new ones, Anna Kooiman and Tucker Carlson.]

The Crossover’s Ousted Briggs: Back to F&FW?

“[N]ew set. New cast. Better vibe.” Former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Dave Briggs has been bounced from his brand new NBC Sports show The Crossover according to USA Today Sport’s “TheBigLead.com.” After being off last week, the program will reportedly return this week with Michelle Beadle as the solo host.

According to a USA Today Sports source, Dave and Michelle were doomed from the start since they simply did not get along. Last Monday, Michelle seemed to confirm that sentiment when she Tweeted, “@Crossover is off this week. But when we come back..BRAND NEW SHOW! #cantwait.” As if to remove any doubt, she snarked, “New set. New cast. Better vibe.”

According to TheBigLead.com, Dave “is apparently getting his own on NBC.”  But, if his Fox & Friends Weekend fans get their wish, he will return to join co-anchors Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris to “the best show, the best job of [his] life.”

Don’t count on it: Tucker Carlson just got Dave’s old job officially and Bill Shine, FNC Executive Programming VP, has an odd allegiance to Carlsons no matter how ill at ease they seem to be with their early morning co-hosts or their waking viewers.

Kiran Chetry: She’s Finally Back!

“Works at NBC.” Former American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry has finally seized her “very special opportunity” seemingly. After bidding her faithful fans a tearful namaskaar almost two years ago from AM‘s diva divan, Kiran updated her work status today on Facebook, demurely declaring, “Works at NBC News.”

Carpe Diem readers should not be too surprised. Over six months ago, when Kiran announced that she would be a featured keynote address speaker with NBC’s Willie Geist, the author queried, “Kiran’s ‘very special opportunity’ at hand?” More tellingly, perhaps, a month ago to the day, Kiran happily heralded her appearance on NBC news for her Rock Center segment on Tennessee school twins.

Welcome back, Kiran! It’s been far too long!

Dave’s Final Farewell

Briggs: “I will be right across the street from Fox News….There’s a big tree over there.” NBC Sports co-host? Having returned for a three-day encore, former Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Dave Briggs seemingly disclosed his future plans to his fans in his final After the Show Show on Christmas Eve. Even though he indicated that he would reveal them more fully this Thursday, he teased, “I will be right across the street from Fox News. If anybody wants to read too much into that and figure out what’s right across the street…there’s a big tree over there.”* Spelling it out further for those unfamiliar with FNC’s neighboring NBC studios and their Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, guest co-host Juliet Huddy remarked, “Google ‘sports across the stree….'”!

Apparently, FNC authority J$P was right on the money: He opined that the “likely destination for @davebriggstv [is] NBC Sports Network.” Elucidating further, he RT’d @SPORTSbyBROOKS: SbB has learned NBC Sports Network is planning a daily show hosted by @MichelleDBeadle & @davebriggstv.”

As Dave declared, he will assuredly miss both his erstwhile F&FW co-hosts, Clayton Morris and their “work wife” Alisyn Camerota a/k/a “Bikini Aly.” But, do not feel too bad for Dave: Apparently, he will have another saucy blond beauty to keep him company at his new network, namely, Michelle Beadle, Bleacher Report‘s “Hottest Sports Chick of the Week.”

*A.S.S. – 12/31/12 (@ 2:21/5:37)

Kiran Chetry: Way Too Early?

“With (M)NBC’s Willie Geist, a good buddy of mine.” Former CNN and FNC anchor Kiran Chetry announced today that she will give the keynote address on Pace University’s Financial Education Day (Pleasantville, NY) on November 17, 2012. On her Facebook page that asks her friends to “stay tuned for Kiran Chetry’s next move,” she also reveals that she will share the duty with NBC’s Willie Geist. And, perchance, in a Freudian slip, she nonchalantly calls Geist ” a good buddy of mine” in the video to which she links.

Kiran’s “very special opportunity” at hand? As long-time Kiran acolytes know, their Nepalese goddess had a stellar, approximately seven-year run on Fox News (2001-2007) as a reporter and an a.m. anchor on both Fox & Friends Weekend and F&F First. When her contract renewal talks with FNC in 2007 soured, she was summarily selected to be the femme face of  CNN’s American Morning. After more than four years of awakening her AM fans with her inimitable “ray of light,” she bid them an emotional “namaskaar” on July 29, 2011, with the promise to see them again soon. In 2012, Kiran finally reappeared on TV–but as a special E! correspondent in January and February: subsequently, she did return to news, albeit Internet news, as a guest-anchor on GVTV (April 20).

Perhaps, as the year draws to a close, Kiran is once again ready to arouse her fans in the early morn on yet another cable news network, MSNBC. N.B. Kiran’s “very good buddy” Pace keynote speaker Willie Geist will soon leave his MSNBC’s Way Too Early with Willie Geist post for greener pastures as co-host of the Today Show (third hour).

Kiran’s “very special opportunity”: Way Too Early with Kiran Chetry?

H/t, J$P.

Kiran Chetry: A Year Later

Kiran’s “very special opportunity” realized? Yesterday marked the first anniversary of Kiran Chetry‘s departure from CNN’s American Morning and from cable news in general. In her emotional namaskaar to her AM fans on July 29, 2011, she tearfully declared, “I’m terrible at goodbyes. I’m not going to say goodbye. I’m going to say, ‘See you soon.'” Approximately six months later (January 26), Kiran finally did return to television as a special E! correspondent: In that capacity, she facilely covered the NY premier of NBC series Smash then and about two weeks later deftly interviewed country music singer Dierks Bentley in an exclusive.* To the author’s knowledge, Kiran has not been back on television since then.

However, Kiran has reemerged for brief stints in other media forms. She guest-anchored GBTV’s Internet show “Real News from the Blaze” on April 20; guest-hosted news talk radio WABC’s “John Batchelor Show” on May 12; and penned a personal piece for Recessionista.com on June 8.

Even though her media appearances have been far too scant for her fans’ taste, Kiran has maintained her presence on Twitter with personal Tweets and photos. E.g., she has shared her experiences as a judge for Miss Nepal USA 2011; a Yoga goddess; a tennis champ; a celeb hobnobber; and, most importantly, the mommy of Maya (6) and Chris (4). In so doing, she has shown that she has seized a “very special opportunity” for herself this past year.

Nevertheless, Kiran’s acolytes are eagerly awaiting another “very special opportunity” for her professionally. Kiran certainly has the “it factor” when it comes to beauty, brains, and charisma on the news screen. Hopefully, she will get that chance very soon.

[Author’s aside: For those CD readers who have inquired about her marital status, Kiran and her hubby Chris Knowles may possibly be in transition: Their connubial bands do seem to have disappeared lately in their photos and they reportedly have moved from their Westchester residence. Regardless, best wishes to both of them!]

*E! News (Dierks exclusive) – 02/08/12 (@ 7:35 p.m. ET)

CNN Cuts “Warrior for Christ”

Shush, American SEAL hero widow! American Morning let Kimberly Vaughn’s offensive reference to Christ in a tribute to her husband get by their censors once but they had the politically correct sense to cut it a mere five minutes later. In a moment reminiscent of NBC’s “regrettable” omission of “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance during its coverage of the U.S. Open two months ago, CNN cut  “warrior for Christ” from Kimberly Vaughn’s tribute to her hero husband (one of twenty-two Navy SEALS and eight other servicemen killed two days ago in a Chinook helicopter during a mission in Afghanistan).

When introducing a two-part report entitled “Deadliest Blow of the War” this morning, anchor Carol Costello commented, “One Navy SEAL widow wants the country to know [that] her husband was a hero.”* Immediately thereafter, a video aired of a tearful Kimberly Vaughn proudly proclaiming, “I want to tell the world that he was an amazing man, that he was a wonderful husband, and a fabulous father to two wonderful children. He was a warrior for Christ, and he was a warrior for our country. And, he wouldn’t want to leave this earth any other way than how he did.”

Subsequently, Carol went to CNN correspondent Barbara Starr who gave the latest details of the story. When Starr had finished her account, Carol’s co-anchor Ali Velshi segued to CNN correspondent Brian Todd, who was in Virginia Beach, Virginia (the “adopted home of the Navy SEAL Team”), asking, “What’s the mood around there?” In response, Todd declared, “What happened on Saturday is just now beginning to sink in, and it’s very, very tough to take.”

Then, Todd began his report with a snippet of Kimberly Vaughn sorrowfully recounting her mournful reaction of falling to her knees when informed of the death of her husband, Navy SEAL Aaron Vaughn. Subsequently, as Todd intoned that Kimberly was now left to care for their two-month-old daughter soon-to-be two-year-old son, the video continued with Kimberly’s tribute aired only five minutes earlier. However, this time CNN censored the clip: Gone was Kimberly’s six-word remark, “He was a warrior for Christ.”**

Regrettable, CNN? Or, just “all the news that’s fit to air”?

*American Morning – 08/08/11 at 8:08 a.m. ET.

**Ibid at 8:13 a.m. ET.

Update: Video: CNN’s censored clip of Kimberly Vaughn’s tribute. Cf. CNN’s unedited transcript of it.

Update2: CNN’s online uncensored clip of Kimberly Vaughn’s tribute was posted today under the rubric “SEAL widow: ‘He was a warrior for Christ'” notably, without any apparent time stamp.

Pawlenty Again: Trump Like Hulk Hogan

“I like Donald Trump….He’s successful. He’s entertaining.” In a Fox & Friends interview this morning, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty took another shot at GOP presidential co-leader Donald Trump this morning. For the second day in a row, Pawlenty compared Trump (real estate mogul and NBC’s The Apprentice reality star) to Hulk Hogan, (wrestling legend and VH-1’s Hogan Knows Best reality star). No umbrage meant, though.

Today F&F co-anchor Brian Kilmeade asked Pawlenty if an April 9-10 CNN/Opinion Research GOP presidential poll showing him with only 2% support vis-a-vis 19% for front runners Donald Trump and Governor Mike Huckabee was very discouraging to him. In response, Pawlenty declared, “Well, it’s not….In the early months here, you’re gonna see just people who have higher name I.D. doing better in those polls. And, if you threw in, you know, Hulk Hogan or somebody like that, they’d be at the top of the polls, too.”*

In a follow-up question, Kilmeade coolly queried, “Do you put Donald Trump with Hulk Hogan?” Laughing, Pawlenty replied, “No. I just mean in terms of familiarity. I like Donald Trump. I think he’s successful, he entertaining, and he’s gonna bring a lot to the debate…if he runs.”

However, belying Pawlenty’s denial that he was coupling Trump and Hogan together were similar statements that he made last night to Piers Morgan on his eponymous CNN show as reported by Politico. Apparently, using the same talking points, Pawlenty positioned himself as the “serious person who has tackled…[the]…issues” in the middle of a “continuum” with “Mitt Romney…with the most name-ID and money” on one end and people like “Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, Donald Trump, or I don’t know, Hulk Hogan” on the other. Like today, he hastily added that he intended “no disrespect.”

Perhaps, just as likely, Trump will take no offense.

*Fox & Friends – 04/13/11 (@ 7:04 a.m. ET)

Update: For Pawlenty’s YouTube vid of his F&F interview, link here.

Aly’s RESOLVE: Back to NBC

To where she once belonged? Perhaps. Wednesday Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Alisyn Camerota excitedly promoted her upcoming infertility awareness interview–not on her current network, FNC, but on her old one, NBC. She Tweeted, “I’ll be on the @todayshow tomorrow at 8:08 am about my volunteer work with an infertility support group and my own story. Hope you tune in!” [N.B. Aly has since deleted this seemingly verboten Tweet made at “10:10 AM Feb 24 by web” but it is available as a true Twitter Retweet here.]

Somewhat surprised by Aly’s future appearance on another network, the author quickly and playfully Tweeted back, “What channel is that on, Aly? ;-) Will u also be talking about ur infertility support group work & ur personal story on F&F, too?”  Aly did not respond.

Nevertheless, Aly made sure that her Twitter followers, including the author, did not miss her interview on the Today Show Thursday. Soon after her appearance on the program, she excitedly Tweeted, “Here’s a clip from my @todayshow appearance this morning! http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/41755675#41755675.” Only forty minutes later, she linked to a related article that she had penned for Today’s Moms entitled, “Alisyn Camerota: Why I’m speaking out about my struggled with fertility.” However, this weekend, on her own morning news show (Fox & Friends Weekend), Alisyn strangely did not even mention her infertility awareness cause nor her NBC special appearance to tout it.

Or was it so strange? This February does mark the thirteen anniversary  of Aly at Fox News after working at NBC (WHDH-TV Boston). Perhaps, her contract is about to run out and she is considering a return to the Peacock Network. Not too mention, FNC Senior Veep of Programming Bill Shine may have been doing a Fox & Friends Weekend audition with two different gals, Dana Perino and Molly Line, substituting for Aly only last weekend.

Stay tuned. But, to what channel? Both.

[Author’s aside: Re “RESOLVE” in the rubric of this article, Aly serves as a volunteer for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. In fact, last year, Aly was a RESOLVE Peer-Led Support Group Leader and the Mistress of Ceremonies at RESOLVE’s 2010 Night of Hope Gala award show.

Trotta Skewers Couric: “Pretend Journalist”

Outspoken conservative Fox News contributor Liz Trotta trashed CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric during her weekly America’s News HQ commentary today. When AN co-host Eric Shawn asked the former Washington Times NY bureau chief how the media “report card” was for their coverage of the Egyptian protests, she replied, “It’s not very good.”* [Especially, for Katie Couric.]

Elaborating, Trotta explained that the media, especially the Big Three broadcast networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS), had long put foreign news “on the shelf” and, consequently, they were having to play “catch-up” in their Egyptian protest coverage without proper context, specificity, and facts. Concluding, Trotta blamed their purported sorry state on “major budget cuts” and the “star-ridden system.” Re the “star-ridden system,” Trotta caustically commented, “No better example of that, of course, are people like Katie Couric….This pretend journalist makes supposedly $300,000 a week and doesn’t even appear Thursday and Friday on the CBS Evening News to cover a very big story.”

In defense of Couric, Shawn answered, “Well, some, I think, would disagree with your contention that Katie Couric is a quote ‘pretend journalist.'” Incredulous, Trotta emphatically exclaimed, “Oh, certainly, you can’t have deluded yourself with thinking [that] this is a woman who is a journalist. Come on, now, Eric!” Arching her eyebrows, she scoffed, “You’ve been a reporter too long: You know that!”

Disagreeing, Shawn stolidly stated, “No. She is a journalist. She has, in my view, absolutely is, has been a solid journalist.” Unconvinced, Trotter riposted, “Well, you’re a lot kinder than I would be.”

*America’s News HQ – 01/30/11 (@ 11:56 a.m. ET)

Domenica: “Spanked” & Spurned?

Davis leaves FNC home: Appears back on NBC’s stoop.* Meteorologist Domenica Davis has left Fox News and was seen this Friday on NBC’s Early Today according to TVNewser. The Mediabistro.com blog further reported Domenica was “filling in” but not a NBC News or MSNBC staffer. (N.B. As of today, Domenica’s bio remains on FNC’s website.) Citing TVEyes, it added that Domenica was last spotted on Fox News on May 17.

Readers of Carpe Diem should not have been overly surprised by the news of Domenica’s departure. Merely a month before she disappeared from Fox News’ airways, Domenica appeared to have been disciplined by FNC Senior VP of Programming Bill Shine for a sexually suggestive Sapphic “spanking” jest that she made on Fox & Friends Weekend. In that instance, on April 17 (Saturday), while substituting for Rick Reichmuth, Domenica made the salacious joke about herself and co-anchor Alisyn Camerota and later laughed about fearing getting in trouble for further bawdy banter. However, the very next day (Sunday), her fears seemed to have been realized forthwith: she did not return to F&FW to temp for Rick and her absence was not even acknowledged by F&FW’s co-hosts. (In fact, her apparent punishment appeared all the more patent when F&FW had no meteorologist in for Rick and simply had no regular weather segments that day.)

Hopefully, Domenica’s departure is not a portent of things to come. Fox News’ dynamic, colorful, and sexy personalities need not be muzzled. Rather, they can be trusted with a freer rein to relate to their colleagues, Bill. And, to their audience.

Good luck, Domenica. You’ll be missed!

*Before being hired by FNC, Domenica worked at NBC affiliates in Baltimore (WBAL-TV) and in Louisville, KY (WAVE-TV).

Update: As of July 14, Domenica Davis was hired as a meteorologist by NBC to work at its affiliate WNBC, “4 New York,” according to TVNewser. If the reader would like to see Domenica in action at her new home, s/he may link here.

“That’s the Wrong Black Man!”

“I know that we all look alike, but damn!” Yesterday an all-white Fox & Friends crew had eggs all over their faces Sunday when they interviewed Anthony Anderson,* an African-American star of Law & Order (as its Det. Kevin Bernard). As co-anchor Dave Briggs  began to ask Anderson about the long-running NBC drama that had been canceled, producers aired an old picture of the L&O cast. Unfortunately, the photo featured Anderson’s predecessor on the program, the popular Jesse L. Martin (L&O‘s Det. Ed Green) who left the show in 2008.

When the pic appeared on the screen, Anderson exclaimed, “That’s the wrong black man!” As Dave bowed his head in obvious embarrassment and fellow co-host Alisyn Camerota and Clayton Morris recoiled in similar abashment, Anderson iterated, “That’s the wrong black man!…I  know we all look alike, but damn! Who is that?”

Reddened, Aly laughed, “Oh, my gosh! That is who you were playing.” Undeterred, Anderson continued, “Did I lose that much weight that I look like Jesse L. Martin?” Acknowledging the gaffe, Aly exclaimed, “Oh, my god!”

Trying to regain control of the interview and to save some face, Dave declared, “Anthony, let me ask you though, as we try to turn the page from that error [or “era”], now [that] Law & Order has been canceled and it’s left a void in people’s lives…are you feeling that void?” As Anderson answered, producers ran a vid including footage of Jesse L. Martin interspersed with clips of Anderson.

When Anderson had finished his reply, Clayton queried, “Now let’s just be clear. That is the correct video, right?” Shaking his head, Anderson retorted, “No that wasn’t.” Seeing Martin onscreen, Anderson shouted, “No. Who is that? Who is that? That is not. I have a beard, not a goatee! You are running the wrong B roll, Fox!”

As an interspersed clip of Anderson appeared without Martin in the scene, Aly asserted, “There you are. There you are. That’s you in a cameo not speaking. Perhaps, trying to provide his producers more cover, Dave declared, “You were in the room.” Clayton echoed, “You were in the room with him.” Rolling his eyes, Anderson facetiously retorted, “Yeah, I guess.”

Later, when the interview began to conclude, Aly jested, “Well, thanks, so much for being here, Anthony Edwards. Just kidding!” Riantly, Anderson riposted, “Anthony Edwards? You might as well now call me Ice Cube. Don’t call me Gerald Lavert, Reuben Studdard, [or] any other black man with a beard or a goatee or a mustache.” Then, as Aly howled in laughter and Anderson shook his head in an admixture of amusement and bemusement, Clayton comically concluded, “Anthony Edwards from ER, great to see you. We’ll be right back.”

Perhaps, with a person of color in the cast soon?

*Update (h/t VideoWired.com): Fox News video of Anthony Anderson interview on Fox & Friends Weekend (Sunday) – 06/20/10 (@8:40 a.m. ET)

Gretchen Pounces: Miss America vs. Miss USA

Fox & Friends beauty queen catfight? Rwwr! The 2010 Miss USA provocative promo pics really got under the skin of F&F co-anchor Gretchen Carlson this morning. Ironically, almost a year ago to the day (May 13, 2009), the former Miss America (1989) was likewise taking umbrage at Donald Trump’s edgy upstart which had the temerity to eclipse the one that made her queen. Nevertheless, not only did she rail against the racy lingerie photos at the beginning of F&F but she also pounced ferociously on the 2004 Miss USA who defended them in a later segment on the show.

When Gretchen’s producers prominently displayed four of the racy photos in the very first block today, she cattily commented, “Is that for Maxim?” Acerbically, she opined, “I think what this does is, really shows you the difference between Miss USA and Miss America. I’m a little biased as a former Miss America. There’s a talent category, there’s a scholarship aspect to it; [and] you have to do a lot of volunteer service. And, basically, be a classy person!” She added, “I’m not so sure this is the right role model situation that we want for our kids….(the) role model you want for your children, not what guys want to go home with.”

Less than an hour later, Gretchen was ready to growl again as she started her interview of 2004 Miss USA Shandi Finnessey. Starting somewhat abruptly, she queried, “Well, let me just ask you straight up. These photos, some are saying, ‘Too risque, too provocative, look a lot like the cover of Maxim magazine.’ Not really what some people would think was appropriate for a Miss USA contestant. Your thoughts?”

Somewhat meekly, Shandi answered, “I think it’s completely appropriate because the difference is Miss America and Miss USA. And Miss USA has always been a typical beauty pageant: it’s sexy, it’s fun, [and] it’s a woman of today….[Y]ou open up any magazine right now and that’s what you’re gonna to see. And, the Miss USA girls are the ones that move out to Hollywood and those are the ones who get into acting and TV hosting and modeling.” Then baring her teeth a tad, Shandi continued, “Miss America is the scholarship program….You yourself, Gretchen, you were a Miss America. But, more often, those girls…become doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, things like because it is a scholarship progam. And, so, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

Not cottoning to that “left-handed” compliment, Gretchen scornfully retorted, “Right. I really appreciate you pointing out the stark differences between the two programs. The Miss America pageant has a talent category, of course. And, also, it’s the largest scholarship program in the world for women.” Going on the offensive again, Gretchen  continued, “But, be that as it may, why would this be appropriate just because the current magazines of our day are showing photos like this? I’m sure there are a lot of parents out there right now who have small children who are saying to themselves ‘Even though magazines do this, why should everyone just follow the trend?'”

Sharply, Shandi riposted, “Well, I think that’s what keeps Miss USA very relevant. I mean, we are such a huge, we’re on NBC and co-owned between NBC and Donald Trump. Unfortunately, Miss America who hasn’t been able to stay with the times have lost their ratings, lost their advertisement. They no longer have a network they’re even on which is very unfortunate because that was the original pageant that started in 1921.”

In response, a still game Gretchen pressed Shandi about whether Miss USA (“not afraid to be sexy”) or Miss America (“hold ourselves to a higher standard”) was “a better role model for our young people today.” Defiantly, Shandi answered, “I personally think that Miss USA is because that girl is trained to live in the 2010. I mean, she is fun, she’s sexy, she’s confident, she’s relevant, she’s tangible. Miss America oftentimes is put on such a pedestal and she lives up to these expectations…. Miss USA’s…are very real, very relevant, and current with the times. And, that is why the ratings are so high. And, that is why we still have a network.”

Taking note of Shandi’s final slight, Gretched countered, “And, currently, Miss America is in Germany visiting our troops and thanking them for their service. We’ll let our audience be the judge on that.

Gretchen, as long as viewers tune in on May 16, Miss USA will probably not care if she is a role model.

AM: Fox & Fiends!

“Fair use” or abuse? Apparently, Fox News, the devil, did not deserve his  due on CNN’s American Morning today. In particular, AM producers failed to give FNC Fox News Sunday the same accreditation for its snippets that it provided for NBC’s Meet the Press. It was as if that evil name would not easily pass those saintly lips.

During a twice-aired Jim Acosta segment entitled “Oil Slick Blame Game,” AM producers ran snippets of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano’s appearances on NBC and FNC’s respective Sunday morning news programs (to defend the President’s handling of the BP oil spill). When AM producers showed the Meet the Press (NBC) clip, they clearly identified it as “NBC’s ‘Meet the Press” for seven solid seconds: However, when they ran the Fox News Sunday slice, they put up a the generic chyron “Fox News,” and, they did that merely a split second before it had ended.*

Jamie, you may not understandably like the cable news network that regularly trounces your beloved AM. But still! If you must, please try to be less patent.

* American Morning – 05/03/10 (@6:32 a.m. ET and @8:12 a.m. ET)

Doocy: CNN “Communist News Network”

Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy took a sharp shot at rival CNN today while reporting the election of former CNN correspondent Mauricio Funes as president of El Salvador. Doocy declared, “Here’s a story that you’re not going to see on CNN: An ex-CNN reporter…Mauricio Funes…he’s from a party down in El Salvador that is essentially the Communist Party.”

Guest co-anchor Peter Johnson, Jr. elaborated, “The FMLN, the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, which, allegedly, has ties to strongman Cesar [sic] Chavez.” After correcting Johnson’s verbal gaffe (i.e., mistaking the Mexican American agrarian labor leader for the Venezuelan President), Doocy sniped, “I wonder if he’s on just a leave of absence from CNN: Which given his political inklings CNN officially now could stand for the Communist News Network.”

Ouch!

N.B. In the past, Doocy has made similar stinging swings at news competitors MSNBC and NBC. He has dubbed MSDNC and NBC the National Barack Channel. Doocy, ready to rumble!

Links:

Doocy Dubs MSNBC “MSDNC”

Doocy Knocks NBC Anew

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/16/AR2009031600038.html

Doocy Knocks NBC Anew

Less than an hour after Bill O’Reilly called NBC News “the Pro Obama Network” on the O’Reilly Factor (third showing), (Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy took aim at the Peacock Network again this morning. After calling MSNBC MSDNC two days ago, Steve designated its parent NBC the National Barack Channel. During a segment on SNL (Thursday), F&F co-host Brian Kilmeade complained that SNL took no shots at Barack Obama or Joe Biden while SNL special guest Will Ferrell and Tina Fey took on the John McCain and Sarah Palin; Gretchen Carlson declared, “News Alert: Saturday Night Live is not fair”: and Steve rejoined, “Do you think it could possibly be the fact that it does originate on NBC, the National Barack Channel?”

Hit or miss? You make the call.

Doocy Dubs MSNBC “MSDNC”

Ingenue Gretch?

Gretchen Carlson, the feigned innocent of Fox & Friends, promo’d the Brian Wilson presidential preference cafe segment. She teased, “I know who is there–the intrepid, the wonderfully dependable…Brian Williams [perhaps, thinking of NBC’s evening news anchor].” Steve interjected, “Wilson!” Gretch responded, “Oh!…Brian Wilson. I’m sorry: You’re never going to forgive me. Anyway, will you still bring me back a hot dog? Brian Kilmeade risquely remarked, “Excuse me!” Gretch blushed, giggled, and dropped her head.

After the commercial break and as the Wilson story was concluding, the ingenue Gretch ribaldly requested a “hot dog.” Wilson said that he would. Mrs. Goody Two Shoes with a dirty sole?