Seriously? Preempting FNC’s chief meteorologist Rick Reichmuth (and Fox & Friends Weekend) this Sunday morn mid-show for Shepard Smith seems like one of the stupidest programming decisions that FNC has made. Such disrespect to Rick, the F&FW co-hosts, and their fans is almost unforgivable. Rick and the F&FW crew were doing a much better job than this interloper and his crew are doing. Get a grip, Fox News!
[Update: At least, Rick reappeared on “Shep’s show” at 8:38 a.m. ET.]
Who the heck is Heather Childers‘ hubby du jour? Yes, Carpe Diem was similarly situated as most of FNC’s audience. After a Google search, the author found that guest Fox & Friends First co-host Rob (pics) like FNC star Shepard Smith (pic) and Gregg Jarrett (pic) has his own mug shot to add to his portfolio. According to SFLTV.com, Rob was arrested on “alleged battery/domestic violence charges”: However, SFLTV.com later reported, “The case against Rob Schmitt was dismissed on 3/9/2009 for lack of evidence.”
Obviously, in this fallen world, viewers should not be surprised at what journos, pols, or others are accused of doing or of what they do in spite of their celebrity. After all, there has never been a perfect mere mortal. But, the F&FF fan can be forgiven for giving a double take after her/his Google search of a Fox News newbie.
With all of the anti-Fox News feverish fervor from its competitors, FNC would be wise to place on the scales who Rob is and what he brings to the table for their audience.
Steve Doocy: “Shepard must be happy!” Almost two years to the day that Studio B anchor Shepard Smith announced that he could not show the Trampoline Bear vid anymore, Fox & Friends resurrected the odious decade-old footage of a black bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline and subsequently doing a hard head-first plunge into an unforgiving ground.* To make matters worse, they ran the seemingly sadistic footage twice.**
Perchance, it was the F&F producer who has an apparent fixation on the “wussification of America” that made the callous call. Regardless, it must embarrass FNC chief Roger Ailes who seems to have tried to embrace a more animal-friendly approach with glowing coverage of his now deceased friend‘s favored Westminister Dog Show at Madison Square Garden and his underlings’ F&F fun, informative F&F segments with famed wildlife advocate Jack Hanna–not to mention, their whilom “Good Shepard‘s” “Cool Critters” stories.
It’s time for Shine to have Ailes’ back re animal rights. And, it’s time for his rogue producers to end the Trampoline Bear airings. It’s been over ten years since it was news: Now, it should be history!
*Fox & Friends – 05/01/14 (@ 6:00 a.m. ET).
**Fox & Friends – 05/01/14 (@ 8:00 a.m. ET).
[Author’s aside: Re Steve Doocy‘s Shep quote, supra, he said that at the beginning of F&F‘s May Day show when co-host Brian Kilmeade joked that Russia had said that that “bear on the trampoline is now [America’s] ticket to space.”]
“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!
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)
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.
*Therightscoop.com (video and text) – 08/08/13.
**Ibid.
***Therightscoop.com (video) – 08/08/3 (@ 02:12/04:13).
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!
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
“[T]he one way to make viewers hate you is to say anything bad about an animal.” Studio B anchor Shepard Smith seems to have heightened his animal rights sensitivities somewhat since the bad old days of his “Trampoline Bear.”
Friday, Shepard aired a segment entitled “Lab-Grown Hamburger Patty: Animal Rights Activists Support New Meat.”* During his interview of Dr. Nina Radcliff, he turned to his second banana Jonathan Hunt for his input on this bizarre petri dish meat. Replying with his trademark British macabre wit, Hunt quipped, “All I say is ‘If we’re running out of cows to eat, then let’s just start grilling small puppies.”
Subsequently, as the segment ended, Shep bemusedly looked to Hunt again, querying, “Smeat?” When Hunt unequivocally exclaimed, “No!,” Shep mischievously remarked, “Puppies but not….” Taking the bait injudiciously, a grinning Hunt replied, “Small pups, small puppies anytime: never ‘smeat’!”
Perhaps, explaining the apt end of his infamous Trampoline Bear video airings, Shep responded, “You do know that the one way to make viewers hate you is to say anything bad about an animal.”
When Hunt riposted, “I think they’ve hated me for a very long time,” Shep jested, “This is true! Thank you, Jonathan. The stage manager says, ‘Yes!'”
In an aside to his audience, Shep added, “He doesn’t really eat puppies.”
And, thankfully, Shep doesn’t really exploit Trampoline Bear–any more.
*Studio B – 06/14/13 (@ 3:51 p.m. ET)
Gretchen: Hey, everyone! I’m…in for Shep today. Aly at Fox & Friends’ helm soon? Today, FNC anchor Alisyn Camerota was in charge of the F&F “A Team” as F&F Weekend covered the Connecticut school carnage. After a special weekend edition of F&F First, Aly welcomed her audience and the F&F “big boys,” saying, “Good morning, everyone! We appreciate you joining us on this very sad morning. It’s great to have Steve [Doocy] and Brian [Kilmeade] here with me.”
Remarkably, Aly did not note the absence of either of her regular F&FW co-hosts Clayton Morris or Dave Briggs. Furthermore, in this Fox & Friends “special edition,” Aly did not mention her purported “A Team” counterpart Gretchen Carlson, who was conspicuously missing this morning. Has the changing of the F&F “A Team” guard already begun?
Only two days ago, seldom solo host Gretchen notably filled in for Shepard Smith on Studio B, an FNC afternoon show (saying, “Hello, everyone! I’m…in for Shep today”):* Perhaps, her contract negotiations have begun to bear more fruit. According to New York Magazine, Gretchen was “said to want to host her own show on the network but Fox executives [were] resistant to the idea”: furthermore, it reported that a source had said that she had reached a “short-term accord that would keep her on the curvy couch with Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade until the election” but added that “after November, it’s unclear.”
Perhaps, tellingly, Gretchen has seemed to be particularly strident in her polemics lately–as if she might be auditioning for “her own show.” And, her co-hosts Steve and Brian appear reluctantly to be biting their tongue all the more. Perchance, they think that she is starting to spread her wings in anticipation of a flight on her own soon to a later hour on FNC.
Post-election F&F: Gretch a goner? If so, is Aly their new “It girl”? Stay tuned.
*Studio B with Shepard Smith – 12/13/12 (@ 3:00 a.m. ET)
Today Studio B anchor Shepard Smith threw a rather sharp elbow at fellow FNC anchor Mike Huckabee today. During his 3 p.m. ET show, Shep dubbed today the “National Day of Intolerance.” Not lost on his round-table Fox News co-workers nor his viewers was the fact that today is the day that the eponymous host of Huckabee called for a “Chick fil-A Appreciation Day.”
Eight days ago (July 31), Mike Huckabee declared that he was “incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick fil-A company” because of the CEO’s recent remarks that the “Biblical view of marriage should be upheld. Consequently, he exhorted his fans to counter the “vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left” by celebrating August 1 as “Chick fil-A Appreciation Day” by patronizing the restaurant or signalling support via Twitter or Facebook.
Apparently, Shep was not quite on board with the whilom Arkansas governor’s request. After a story on the eight expelled badminton Olympians (with FoxSports.com national senior writer Peter Schrager), Shep acerbically added, “It’s National Badminton Day”: forget the “National Day of Intolerance.” Meanwhile, Schrager and FNC chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt, both sitting with Shep, simply could not contain their snickers.
Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day or National Day of Intolerance? They report. You decide.
[Author’s aside – Chick-Fil-A is written “Chick Fil-A,” supra, when Huckabee is quoted for textual accuracy: An insertion of sic, supra, was forgone to facilitate the natural flow of the story.]
Studio B with Shepard Smith – 08/01/12 (@ 3:24 p.m. ET)
Update: Vid via Mediaite.
Carpe Diem: Fox News FINALLY does the right thing. Today, FNC anchor Shepard Smith announced that he could no longer run the 2003 Trampoline Bear video on Studio B. After almost two years of Carpe Diem decrying that loathsome footage of a black bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline, being propelled high into the air, falling face first into unforgiving ground, and crumpling underneath its own weight, Fox News appears to have got the message at last–perhaps, after the author’s article, “Roman’s ‘No Ring Circus”, (just four days ago) on Shep’s seemingly sadistic snippet being embraced anew by Early Point guest anchor Christine Romans.
Today, after airing one of his famous bear updates (about an Altadema, California, momma bear and her two cubs in a tree), Shep remarked, “Aw, look at ’em. You know what they need! They need those bears a trampoline.”* When someone seemed to chuckle softly off-camera, Shep added, “Get ’em right out of there and put them on a trampoline. They have a nice little ride.” As long-time viewers, doubtlessly, awaited the Trampoline Bear video to run as usual, Shep sadly intoned, “Can’t show that anymore, though! Apologies.”
No apology need, Shep–at least, for not being able to show the odious Trampoline Bear video anymore. Rather, you should apologize for airing that horrid clip–repeatedly over the years.
Kudos, Fox News, for making Shep shape up. Finally.
*Studio B with Shepard Smith – 05/03/12 (@ 3:49 a.m. ET)
Related Carpe Diem stories (Trampoline Bear chronicles): “Shep’s Trampoline Bear: PETA MIA” (06/07/10); “Banderas’ ‘Teachable Moment’?” (07/25/10); “Banderas Responds: Bars Bear Vid” (07/27/10); “Banderas Recants Apology” (07/27/10); “Shep de Sade?” (07/28/10); “Banderas: ‘Not My Fault'” (08/03/10); “Shep de Sade’s Bad Boys” (08/06/10); “Shep de Sade: Kubrick’s Clare Quilty?” (08/12/10); “Shep Defends Trampoline Bear Video” (08/13/10); “The Good Shepard?” (08/20/12); “The Good Shepard Hydes” (08/26/10); “Shep’s Trampoline Bear: Old Miss Mascot?” (10/15/10); “As a Dog Returns to its Vomit” (10/16/10); “Hope Springs Eternal” (10/29/10); “Ole Miss’ Colonel Shep” (11/07/10); “Shep the Schlep” (02/21/11); “AM Adopts F&F’s Couch (But, Shep’s Commode?)” (05/17/11); and “Romans’ ‘No Ring’ Circus” (04/29/12).
Trampoline Bear abused anew? Friday Early Start guest co-host Christine Romans reached back into her ignoble American Morning past when she once again reveled in the seeming sadism of Shepard Smith’s “Trampoline Bear” video. As she concluded ES with one final headline news story, Christine cheerfully noted, “Check out this awesome photo taken after police hit a bear in a tree with a tranquilizer dart….Campus police say he landed safely…on some mats [that] they pulled from the rec center.” After showing a pic of the bear suspended in midair above a mattress, Christine gleefully exclaimed, “Reminds us of this classic from Missoula, Montana, back in 2003: It’s the bear [that] fell out of the tree after getting another tranquilizer dart..”
Taking their cue, ES producers ran a snippet of the infamous video of the Trampoline Bear, a Missoula black bear falling onto a trampoline under a tree, being propelled high into the air, barreling headfirst into the unyielding ground, and then crumpling under its own weight. In response, Ashleigh chortled and then “sympathetically” said, “Oooh!” As producers ran the odious footage again in a loop, Christine quickly asserted, “Now come on! That looks like a hard fall! We promise he was fine, he was fine!”
Unconvinced, her ES co-anchor Ashleigh Banfield declared, “It does look like a hard fall. It does look like a hard fall!” Icily, Christine cooed, “They are so relaxed! They are so relaxed.” Ashleigh jested, “Wouldn’t you be with a tranquilizer dart? Uh, yie, yie!”
Belying her earlier assurances with a certain Schadenfreude, Christine deadpanned, “Oh, the headache later, you wouldn’t believe it!”
No worries, Early Start viewers, Trampoline Bear “was fine: He was fine!” At least, so promises CNN’s Christine Romans. Again.
[Author’s aside: The “‘no ring’ circus” reference in the title was a playful allusion to married ES co-hosts Christine and Ashleigh’s noticeably bare ring fingers Friday.]
The De-Klein and Fall of American Morning in one day? Today AM co-hosts Christine Romans and Ali Velshi and their audience celebrated the long-awaited arrival of their cozy “curvy couch” (a la FNC’s Fox & Friends). However, regrettably, along with it came a real Fox News seat–the unflushed porcelain throne of Shepard Smith–still filled with the Ole Miss devotee’s disgusting dung, i.e., the offensive seven-year old Trampoline Bear video.
As AM began today, the camera panned over the comfy couch that AM co-host Kiran Chetry had apparently teased almost three months ago to Mediaite.com reporter Tommy Christopher. For far too long, the AM audience had suffered under the inane adage of former CNN chief Jon Klein that “couches/chairs sap energy.” However, today, his successor Ken Jautz clearly took yet another shackle off of his AM co-hosts to free them to be “more upbeat,” “more compelling…engaging, [and] sometimes more fun.” I.e., to sit down and talk to their AM audience as personal friends and family rather than stand and chat with them as casual acquaintances and customers.
Unfortunately, Ali and Christine spoiled the delightful debut of AM‘s divan with a gratuitously thrice-aired video of ugly, ursine plight. After running a headline news story about a little brown bear near some Albuquerque, New Mexico, apartments (that had to be sedated and then lowered by ropes into a bag), Christine gleefully commented, “That gives us, of course, an excuse to resurrect this oldie but goodie.”
Chiming in (a la Shep de Sade), Ali exclaimed, “I, I never get tired of this one. This is Missoula, Montana, a similar situation.” As the Trampoline Bear vid ran showing the black bear falling from the tree onto the trampoline, being hurled high into the air, plunging into the hard earth, and then crumpling under its own weight, Christine chortled, “Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!, and Ali cooed, “Ooh! Oww!”
Trying to assuage her horrified viewers, Christine hastily added, “He was fine! He was fine!” Then, as AM producers aired anew the repulsive footage, Ali baldly asserted, “I’d only show this to you again because he was fine.” Offering his personal color commentary as the bear took its crushing course into an unforgiving ground, Aly continued, “He bumps on the trampoline once and then [pause] off the trampoline.” Then, incredibly, the AM producers ran the video a third time for good–or, rather evil–measure.
About thirty minutes later, Christine and Aly cheerfully exhibited their Cyclopean couch to their viewers as they returned from break.** As the camera closed in on them, a blushing Christine chuckled and Aly announced, “We have our new couch!” Christine commented, “I like it.” Concurring, Ali replied, “I like this, too.”
So does the author. In fact, he suggested the couch about two and half years ago when Klein was in control. Bouquets, Jautz, for the welcome change.
But, brickbats, Ali and Christine, for adopting Shep’s used toilet. Flush his filth and clean CNN’s studio. And, apologize to your AM fans.
*American Morning – 05/16/11 (@ 7:10 a.m. ET)
**American Morning – 05/16/11 (@ 7:42 a.m. ET)
Canned CNN American Morning co-anchor John Roberts got a rude reminder of his new status from Fox News’ Shepard Smith yesterday on Studio B. Doing his duty as FNC senior national correspondent, Roberts updated Studio B viewers on the Gulf Coast post-BP spill recovery in his buttery baritone “voice of God.” Approvingly, Shep replied, “John Roberts, it’s great to see you, man”: Regrettably, he did not stop there.*
Segueing to the next story, Shep read, “Charlie Sheen.” Suddenly stopping, Shep looked over at Roberts (off-camera) with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Grinning mischievously, Shep queried, “Don’t you miss the anchor chair with Charlie Sheen around?” Comfortably or not, Roberts chuckled but said nothing. Unfortunately.
Shep had asked the very question that many Roberts fans want to know. To wit, does the erstwhile silver-maned alpha anchor of CNN miss his old show and wish that he had a new one? Or, is he happy in his new role for now as a brown-haired FNC beta boy simply delivering the news at whatever hour that his bosses dictate?
If not, maybe the old CNN dog needs to learn a few new FNC tricks.
Studio B with Shepard Smith – 03/02/11 (@ 3:42 p.m. ET)
Shepard still wallowing in his own vomit. And, Fox News is still enabling the Ole Miss good old boy that failed to graduate–or mature. Friday, on Fox Report, Shep de Sade (er, Shep de Sad) once again exploited the black bear, ironically, the mascot of his beloved school, during yet another infamous “Bear Alert.”
After reporting on an Alaskan-black-bear-hibernation study, including video (more aptly, a “Cool Critters” segment), with potential benefits for astronauts on long missions, Shep seized the opportunity to air gratuitously yet again the cringe-inducing excerpt of the Trampoline Bear video. As he concluded his story, Shep jested that instead of aiding human astronauts, that “we could just bounce the bears into space.”* Of course, he simultaneously ran the repugnant eight-year-old footage of a tranquilized black bear’s horrific headfirst plunge into an unforgiving terra firma.
Most disconcerting was–and is–Shep’s ignoble glee in the black bear’s plight. If he treats animals so poorly on television, one may ask if he treats humans much better off of it. E.g., did Shep really stand up heroically for the Hurricane Katrina victims or did he simply Pharisaically pose for his Fox News fans.
It’s high time for FNC to tell Shep to shape up or ship out!
*Fox Report with Shepard Smith – 02/18/11 (@ 7:57 p.m. ET)
Trampoline Bear Abuse or Cool Critter Celebration? As Shepard Smith‘s beloved Ole Miss progresses forward with its mascot pick of the Rebel Black Bear to replace Colonel Reb, the Studio B and Fox Report anchor continues to be conflicted about moving forward from his signature segment “Bear Alert” to a more animal-friendly “Cool Critters.” As a case in point, last Thursday, Shep reported the very same story (about a newborn Atlanta panda cub) under the respective rubrics differently on his two daily FNC programs: To wit, on Studio B, Shep narrated the tale as the “Bear Alert,” accompanying it as usual with the cruel Trampoline Bear video (showing a tranquilized bear falling from a tree onto a trampoline, being hurled high into the air, and then crashing headfirst into the unyielding ground) whereas on the Fox Report, Shep retold it as a “Cool Critters” story without the repugnant Trampoline Bear clip.
Unfortunately, Shep’s recent setback occurred just a mere week to the day that he showed significant promise on Studio B during his “Bear Report.” On that show, he aired the Trampoline Bear clip but he elided the offensive frames of the black bear crashing into the concrete-like earth albeit jesting about “bear trampoline safety.” Optimistic that Shep may have turned a proverbial corner, the author penned, Carpe Diem‘s “Hope Springs Eternal” that he would not “return to his vomit.”
Unfortunately, Shep did just that as he returned to his folly Thursday on Studio B‘s “Bear Alert.” But, did he repent a mere three hours later on Fox Report‘s “Cool Critters”? Hope may spring eternal, but its flame is dimmed with each passing day.
Colonel Shep, walk into the light!
Update: Eight days later (last Friday), Fox Report producers took a different tack. Instead of choosing between the rubric “Bear Alert” or “Cool Critters,” they did both basically. As guest host Jon Scott previewed the FR‘s final segment entitled “Bear Buddies” (about an older female polar bear at Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie, Scotland, being introduced to a twenty-three-month-old male as a companion), Jon commented, “Now, Bear Alert and Cute [sic?] Critter Alert, Britain’s only polar bear getting a new friend but don’t expect cubbies anytime soon.” The odious Trampoline Bear video did not run after this conflated alert. More progress?
*Fox Report with Shepard Smith – 11/12/10 (@ 7:54 a.m. ET)
Trampoline Bear suspended in mid-air. Perhaps, Studio B (and Fox Report) anchor Shepard Smith was toying with the author and the black bear yesterday as Charles Shulz’ Peanuts character Lucy continuously did with Charlie Brown and the football. However, hopefully, he is simply beginning to realize that repeatedly and gleefully showing an animal (albeit anesthetized) being pummeled into the ground by its own weight is rather cruel.
As Studio B drew to a close, Shep did a “Bear Alert” about the proliferation of black bears at Yellowstone National Park. Then he aired a photo of Fox Report chief correspondent Jonathan Hunt and a field producer Lisa Kaplan posing with a black bear statue at the Black Bear Diner in Reno, Nevada. Segueing to his Trampoline Bear video, Shep stated, “Jonathan Hunt on the road compiling stories…[about]…issues that matter to ordinary Americans which includes bears obviously.”*
Then, as the vid began of the Trampoline Bear falling from the tree and being propelled high into the air, Shep continued, “Word is they were discussing.” When the producer stopped the video with the bear mid-air (and showing the last frame for approximately five full seconds), Shep chuckled, “Bear trampoline safety!” Laughing with him, tellingly, was, apparently, the producer and a floor crew member.
Bear trampoline safety: a worthy Shepard “Bear Alert.”
Studio B – 10/28/10 (@3:56 p.m. ET)
So Shep returns to his Trampoline Bear video. Alas, Fox News’ Shepard Smith’s “‘Bear Alert’ to end all ‘Bear Alerts” (Ole Miss mascot) Thursday was not to be. Unfortunately, on the Fox Report Friday, Shep aired yet another “Bear Report”–and, of course, his favorite animal cruelty cine.*
As Shep read his “Bear Report” about an errant black bear on New York’s Rochester Institute of Technology campus that had to be tranquilized and trapped, he showed a photo of the downed animal. Joking, Shep remarked, “At just one and a half years old, the bear is too young for college anyway.” Then, as he ran the Trampoline Bear vid, supra, he laughed, “It should be playing on trampolines.”
Interestingly, Shep did not air the video chronologically this time, instead he began it midway with the Trampoline Bear a/k/a Black Bear Reb barreling into the ground headfirst and crumpling under its weight (and then looped it to show the black bear falling from the tree onto the trampoline and bouncing high into the air.) Perhaps, like a spoiled and petulant child, Shep just could not wait for his “dessert.”
Apparently, the coronation of Ole Miss’ Black Bear Reb has sadly changed nothing for Shep. Like a party-hardy frat boy, Shep just cannot seem to quit throwing up. If he does not, just how long Shep’s Fox News viewers can tolerate the stench is the salient question.
Fox Report – 10/15/10 (@7:58 p.m. ET)
“The Bear Alert to end all Bear Alerts.” Hoddy Toddy! Yesterday Ole Miss alum Shepard Smith gleefully celebrated the fall of his beloved Ole Miss’ new mascot yesterday on his show Studio B. Before doing so in his final segment, Shep announced, “Now the mother of all ‘Bear Alerts.’ Get used to the bear. It’s the granddaddy of all ‘Bear Alerts.'”* He added, “The ‘Bear Alert’ to end all ‘Bear Alerts.” [Hopefully, it was.]
Proudly, Shep reported, “You see, a certain university in a certain Southern state has now chosen a new mascot [with] 62% of the vote. And, with that we present the Ole Miss Rebel Black Bear.” Subsequently, he showed depictions of the new mascot in a basketball uniform, football jersey, and frat-boy coat and tie. As he devilishly intoned, “As we all know, our bear will be most comfortable,” the Trampoline Bear video began to run. Perhaps, in poetic justice, just before the black bear plunged head-first into the ground and crumpled under its own weight, Shep began, “That’s the Rebel Bear bouncing on the trampoline: then he exclaimed, “Hotty Toddy! Beat Alabama!”
If that is indeed the Rebel Bear, Bama head coach Nick Saban may want to borrow Shep’s Trampoline Bear video. It might do wonders to fire up his players and the fans before the big game Saturday. In fact, all of Ole Miss’ future opponents make want to take note. Bear alert!
*Studio B with Shepard Smith – 10/14/10 (@3:58 p.m.)
Related stories (in chronological order) are as follow:
Shep’s Trampoline Bear: PETA MIA” (June 7, 2010);”
Banderas’ “Teachable Moment’?” (July 25, 2010); ”
Banderas Responds: Bars Bear Vid” (June 27, 2010);
“Banderas Recants Apology” (June 27, 2010);
“Shep de Sade” (July 28, 2010);
“Banderas: ‘Not My Fault’” (August 3, 2010);
“Shep de Sade’s Bad Boys” (August 7, 2010);
“Shep de Sade: Kubrick’s Clare Quilty” (August 12, 2010);
“Shep Defends Trampoline Bear Video” (August 13, 2010);
“The Good Shepard?” (August 20, 2010; and
“The Good Shepard Hydes” (August 26, 2010).
Carpe Diem 