Pete: F&FW “Co-host”

Hegseth in the Middle! Fox & Friends Weekend “host” Pete Hegseth has apparently arrived as the successor to Tucker Carlson. Sunday, Pete was the centerpiece of “‘Sweet’ Surprise: Custom Chocolate with F&F [sic] Hosts’ Faces.”

In their usual promo segment with “Money Honey” Maria Bartiromo who follows them with her own show, co-hosts Abby Huntsman and Clayton Morris displayed a box of chocolates with the faces respectively of Abby on the left on a chocolate, of Pete seemingly strategically placed in the middle on another, and of Clayton on a right one. As the camera featured the Forest Gump-like delights, Abby remarked, “They are so wonderful, and they brought up our personalized chocolate [inaudible]: You can see there Clayton, Pete, and myself.” Aptly, Pete replied, “You should be in the middle though!”

The die seems to have been cast: When one goes to Fox News Insider re Fox & Friends Weekend (“About”), it reads “Join Abby Huntsman, Clayton Morris and Pete Hegseth.” On F&FW‘s Twitter site, the latest Tweet (by Abby on May 5th) reads, “It’s this crew all weekend. Come spend your morning with us!! @fox&friends 6-10am ET @PeteHegseth @ClaytonMorris.”

Oddly, or simply in a dilatory fashion, Fox & Friends’ website names both Abby and Clayton as co-hosts but not Pete. Even though Pete himself stills lists himself simply as a “@FoxNew contributor,” F&FW producers indicated that he was now a co-anchor as it presented the three “co-hosts” Twitter addresses on the hour both Saturday and Sunday and presented them as the trio that reigned from the curvy couch without a hint that Pete was a fill-in.

A la Tucker Carlson, it seems that F&FW simply wants to slip in the latest anchor with little notice to its fans. A mite over a month ago, this Carpe Diem author remarked, “Perhaps, it is a mite premature, Pete: But, welcome aboard the F&FW ship!” Now, he says welcome aboard, Pete: You deserve your seat on the curvy couch.

O’Reilly Out: Carlson In

Five replaces Carlson; Bolling replaces Five; and Watters replaces Bolling. Yesterday, FNC honcho Rupert Murdoch “caved”: Joined his boys James and Lachlan in dethroning the King of Cable Bill O’Reilly (statement)–while O’Reilly was on vacation. And, O’Reilly did not get the last word on his once eponymous show last night newly named simply The Factor.

Rather, The Factor fill-in host Dana Perino solemnly declared, “Finally, tonight, it is the end of an era here at the Fox News Channel….Bill O’Reilly is leaving this chair and this network after more than twenty years. Bill has been the undisputed king of cable news, and for good reason: He is an incredibly talented broadcaster who raised the bar for interviewers everywhere; he has also held his staff to exacting standards in his quest to put the best possible program on the air and they are great; and you his audience responded in record numbers making The Factor the number one cable news show for more than sixteen years.” Trying to soften the blow to O’Reilly’s fans further, Dana declared, “In a memo to the staff today, Rupert, James, and Lachlan Murdoch who run Fox News described Bill this way, [saying], “By ratings standards, Bill O’Reilly is one of the most accomplished TV personalities in the history of cable news. In fact, his success by any measure is indisputable. We wish him the very best.”

Even though the Murdochs recently re-signed their FNC flagship anchor and top revenue generator to an 18-million-per-year contract, they decided to  jettison O’Reilly amid the continuing allegations of sexual harassment. According to the New York Times, Fox luminaries Rebecca Gomez (2011), Laurie Dhue (2016), and Juliet Huddy (2016) have received settlements: Furthermore, reportedly, erstwhile Outnumbered regular Andrea Tantaros‘s psychologist Michele Berdy said under oath that Andrea “complained to me about recurring unwanted advances from Bill O’Reilly.” To boot, the New York Daily News reported, “On the day before he [O’Reilly] was booted, a black colleague said a leering O’Reilly shamelessly ogled her cleavage and nicknamed her ‘Hot Chocolate.'”

Not amused, O’Reilly responded to his firing, saying, “It is tremendously disheartening that we [Fox News and O’Reilly] part ways due to completely unfounded claims. But that is the unfortunate reality many of us in the public eye must live with today. I will always look back on my time at Fox with great pride in the unprecedented success we achieved and with my deepest gratitude to all my dedicated viewers.” [For full statement, link here.]

As to O’Reilly’s dedicated viewers, they will now have “a new evening and prime time lineup” according to Fox News. As of Monday (April 24),  Tucker Carlson Tonight will replace the recently renamed O’Reilly Factor (to The Factor); The Five will follow with the usual cast of Kimberly Guilfoyle, Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Juan Williams, and Bob Beckel with the addition of Jesse Watters to take Eric Bolling‘s middle chair (April 24); Bolling gets his own show in the old The Five slot at 5:00 p.m. ET (May 1).

Coaxing his own Tucker Carlson Tonight viewers to make the jump to the new time last night, Tucker concluded his show saying, “There is change coming to Fox News, the channel and to this program: Starting Monday, we are moving to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. You’ve made the journey with us from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: We hope you’ll come along once more and join us an hour earlier.” Graciously, he aptly added, “We’ve got big shoes to fill: We’re going to do our best.”

Indeed, Tucker does have big shoes to fill: Whether O’Reilly devotees will give Tucker that chance remains to be known. And, to whether FNC fans cotton to James and Lachlan’s kinder, gentler Fox News is another issue altogether: Their father Rupert had the Midas touch with his “Mad Men” mentality. Going PC may be FNC’s folly: Alchemy in reverse.

Pete: Tucker’s Heir?

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

Beckel’s Sobering Experience: A Husband’s .45

Bob: “God, I don’t know if you exist: But, if you do, it’s the last drink I’ll ever have. And, it was.” Tonight, The Five recently returned co-host Bob Beckel revealed his conversion experience of going from a drinker to a teetotaler. It was an angry husband’s .45 that did not fire.

In the “Friend Zone” segment tonight on his eponymous show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, Tucker interviewed Bob who penned his autobiography, “I Should Be Dead: My Life Surviving Politics, TV, and Addition.” To his colleague, Tucker queried, “One question I’ve never asked in you all these years, what were the circumstances of your getting sober?”* Looking away from the camera for a moment and then returning to its gaze with a mischievous smile, Bob answered, “Well, I’ll tell you, Tuck….I was at a bar in southern Maryland, a biker bar, which was the kind of place I used to hang out, trying to pick up this woman at the bar.” Elaborating, he said, “And, I had this feeling that there was something behind me. And, I turned around and there was a guy with a .45 pointed right at my face–and he pulled the trigger. It was her husband!”

Continuing, Bob explained, “And, he pulled the trigger and he had not chambered the bullet, thank God. So, somebody grabbed him from behind and the second [sic] bullet blew a three-foot hole in the ceiling. And, they threw me out in the parking lot. Just before I passed out, I said, “God, I don’t know if you exist: But, if you do, it’s the last drink I’ll ever have. And it was!…Seventeen years, six days.”

Bob Beckel: As always, colorful. Congratulations, Bob!

*Tucker Carlson Tonight – 01/25/17 (9:52 p.m. ET).

Pete Hegseth: Next F&FW Co-host?

“Looking forward to many weekends together, [Abby].” Fox & Friends Weekend crew being finalized? Of late, former F&FW co-anchor Anna Kooiman abdicated as queen of the F&FW curvy couch for the Land Down Under, and erstwhile F&FW co-host Tucker Carlson followed suit for his very own eponymous show, Tucker Carlson Tonight. Yesterday, Fox & Friends First co-host Abby Huntsman was named the new queen of the F&FW curvy couch.

Re one permanent F&FW co-anchor seat left outstanding, Fox News Insider declared, “Abby Huntsman, Clayton Morris and a rotating male co-host for the perfect start to your Saturday and Sunday.” However, frequent fill-in co-host Pete Hegseth may have hinted at the actual answer to whom the next F&FW co-anchor is. In a congratulatory Tweet to Abby yesterday, he wrote, “Huge congrats to @HuntsmanAbby! Talented, smart, and fun. Well earned”: Concluding, Pete remarked, “Looking forward to many weekends together. A fun ride ahead, indeed!”

Early this morning, Abby Tweeted, “Thanks Pete!! See you this weekend ;).”

Hmm: It appears that “rotating male anchor” just might be Pete. And, that’s not a bad thing.

Abby Huntsman: F&FW Cohost–Finally!

Fox & Friends Weekend finally has an official queen of the curvy couch (after Anna Kooiman‘s abdication of her crown to reign Down Under). Today, The Hill‘s Joe Concha reported, “Suzanne Scott, Fox News’s executive vice president of programming, says the 30-year-old Huntsman will make her official debut this Saturday.” Of course, FNC signaled Abby’s coronation-to-be when it celebrated twenty years of FNC with Abby, Tucker Carlson, and Clayton Morris as the face of F&FW on October 7 (vid via J$P).[Carpe Diem got the hint: Cf. “F&F: ‘Abby Huntsman: Co-host Fox & Friends.'”] Chiming in that day, Abby Tweeted,  “Grew up watching @foxandfriends…was so humbled to join the crew this morning to celebrate 20 years for @FoxNews!”

Approximately, a month later, (November 8), FNC honcho Bill Shine seemed to send a clear signal: F&FW fans were introduced to not only to her handsome hubby Jeff (pic of the two lovers) but also to her only her lovable golden retriever, Golden George. (Cf. Carpe Diem article entitled “F&FW’s Abby Huntsman Marks Her Territory.”) Within two weeks thereafter (November 20), two of Abby’s gorgeous sisters joined her for a cooking segment. [Pic of the three sibs and a nephew.] And, only ten days ago (December 3), the F&FW audience was introduced to Abby’s parents, Jon and Mary Kaye Huntsman, in a chyroned “Meet Abby’s Parent’s segment [pic]. Yesterday, the author penned an article in which Abby was deemed the “[F&F] apparent co-anchor: Perchance, Shine finally realized that the F&FW fans were tired of the wait until Abby became their “bride”–or, rather, the new F&FW Queen of the Curvy Couch.

Congratulations, Abby! Much success!

 

Tucker’s Last Day

Carlson: “I’m going to miss you guys. I really am!” Today was Tucker Carlson‘s finale as Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor. As the show began, co-host Clayton Morris remarked, “Let’s address the elephant in the room because I’m a little misty today: This is Tucker’s last day sitting on the curvy couch with us on Fox & Friends [Weekend]. I’m going to miss you terribly!” Explaining Tucker’s departure, Clayton continued, “But, you’re not going very far. You’re going to be going to the seven p.m. prime time here on Fox News Channel.”

Chiming in, putative F&FW co-anchor Abby Huntsman declared, “It’s a big deal! We’re so excited for you.”

Turning to Abby, Tucker responded, “Thank you!” Then, he added, “I’m sad about it, actually. I haven’t thought about it. I’m excited: But, I’m sad this is my last day. It’s so totally bizarre.”

From the F&FW co-host who told viewers that he did not eat food on TV and who signed his name with printed initials, Tucker has come a long way–especially for his long-time viewers who watched him long ago on CNN when he seemed to be the smug, smart-alecky bow-tie wearing co-host of Crossfire. [Celebrating Tucker’s evolution on the curvy couch: F&FW vid “A Look Back.”] Initially, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Caller seemed reluctant to embrace his additional role as an FNC edutainment co-anchor: But, Bill Shine–with the invaluable coaching of former co-anchor Alisyn Camerota eased Tucker onto the curvy couch, replacing the charming, self-effacing Dave Briggs.

Tucker, it was always evident that you were on the Fox News A-Team, and you brought real gravitas to the F&FW curvy couch: When major news events occurred, you would oft stay put on the show as co-anchor or pundit when your co-hosts other than Aly oft vacated theirs. Ergo, it is no surprise that you are getting your new show at 7 p.m. ET. Congratulations!

F&FW’s Abby Huntsman Marks Her Territory

“This is my husband Jeff!” Fox & Friends Weekend‘s apparent new queen of the curvy couch, Abby Huntsman, staked her claim to her territory seemingly, by showcasing her much beloved golden retriever, George [pic], and introducing her hubby Jeff to her fans–twice. If FNC co-honcho Bill Shine will not say it overtly yet, Abby came quite close this morn.

Promoting F&FW yesterday, Abby Tweeted, “My golden retriever George would like you all to know he’ll make his @FoxNews debut tomorrow morning at 9:50am in his Halloween costume.” And, he did in F&F‘s penultimate segment. As George walked the F&FW red carpet in his lobster costume, Abby gushed, “And, there comes my pup: There’s George!” As her pup tried to shake off his unwieldy canine garb, Abby laughed, “He’s not liking his costume very much!” Petting George to cheer him up, she exclaimed, “Hey, Buddy!”

Then, as George reached the end of his “‘dog’walk,” Abby proudly said, “Anybody who follows me on social media knows George.” Then, ever so nonchalantly, F&FW co-anchor Tucker Carlson queried, “Who…is walking George?” Pointing to George’s human escort, a smiling Abby proclaimed, “This is my husband Jeff!” Hugging her hubby, Abby said, “Welcome to, to Fox & Friends!”

Subsequently, in the final segment, Abby reigned from her central seat with hubby Jeff [photo] (with George at their feeet) as Tucker and fill-in co-host Pete Hegseth flanked them. Pointing to Abby, Jeff, and George, Pete remarked, “Look who we have here, two of the most…the three Huntsmans!” Embracing her guy, Abby anew announced, “This is is my husband Jeff!” Turning to her love, Abby remarked, “This your first time here–and you did it for the dog costume segment.” Answering his gorgeous gal, Jeff declared, “Well, I feel honored to be here. Honored to be here!”

“First time to be here”: Even if Shine explicitly said it, it appears that Abby now has three husbands–her two TV ones and her real one.

Update: This afternoon/evening, Abby responded to her fans requesting a pic of George in his lobster costume by providing this one.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Abby Huntsman!”

So introduced Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Tucker Carlson his lovely co-host Abby Huntsman. “Abby Huntsman,” echoed F&FW co-host Clayton Morris. For the first time since Fox & Friends weekday introduced her on October 7 with a chyron as “Abby Huntsman: Co-host ‘Fox & Friends Weekend,” F&FW did similarly today when it introduced the three co-anchors with their names and their respective Twitter addresses at the start of each of the first three hours.

Now, Abby seems all the more certain to have secured her place on the F&FW curvy couch. On October 7, F&F identified Abby as co-host of F&FW, supra: Later, that very day, Abby Tweeted, “Grew up watching @foxandfriends…was so humbled to join the crew this morning to celebrate 20 years for @FoxNews!” The next day, Fox News Tweeted, “TUNE IN: @HuntsmanAbby @TuckerCarlson and @ClaytonMorris host a jam-packed edition of @ffweekend now on Fox News Channel.”

After F&FW today, Abby Tweeted, “It’s official. I my job! #kennyloggins #footloose @ffweekend foxandfriends @ 1211 Avenue of… https://www.instagram.com/p/BLle0FMlyv. In response, a fan Tweeted,@HuntsmanAbby you are a great addition to #foxandfriends excellent work [thumbs-up emoji]: As if to remove any doubt as to her new status, Abby replied, “Thanks Lou!”

Abby, a “great addition” to F&FW? FNC has not made a clarion proclamation: But, it seems quite pellucid that Bill Shine has made his choice: I.e., Abby is the new “it” gal on the curvy couch. Seemingly, not overly cowed by her apparent predecessor beauty Anna Kooiman‘s fab “booty-shaking” prowess [vid links included], Abby is not afraid to dance to bumper music on the curvy couch–or even to do the polka on the patio [vid via J$P]!

To paraphrase Axl Rose [vid], welcome to the Gotham jungle (on the F&FW curvy couch), Abby! Beauty and the beast–er, beasts!

F&F: “Abby Huntsman: Co-host ‘Fox & Friends Weekend'”

Wow! Apparently, FNC proclaimed Abby Huntsman the new queen of the Fox & Friends Weekend on the curvy couch on the sly. In a segment celebrating twenty years of Fox News, Fox & Friends co-hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, and Brian Kilmeade were juxtaposed in mirror image on that very curvy couch with Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Clayton Morris, oft-of-late guest co-host Abby Huntsman,  and F&FW co-host Tucker Carlson. N.B. Steve and Clayton are the senior co-hosts on their respective shows; Brian and Tucker the juniors on theirs; and Ainsley and, apparently, now Abby are the new hires.

Eagle-eyed Johnny Dollar of famed Johnny Dollar’s Place apparently noticed Abby’s seeming elevation from fill-in F&FW co-host to regular F&FW co-host as well. In his “Friday Links and Open Thread” section, he penned, “F&F co-hosts” with a clip of the aforementioned segment. One of his posters, Sparty, noted, “Abby Huntsman was just on F&F with Tucker and Clayton and crawl said she was F&FW co-host….” And, indeed it did: The chyron read, “Abby Huntsman[:] Cohost ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.'”

However, Fox & Friends Weekend‘s Facebook page and Fox & Friends insider: Fox & Friends Weekend only list Clayton Morris and Tucker Carlson as co-hosts. Furthermore, both Abby’s Twitter page and her Facebook page make no mention of her possible new status. To boot, Abby’s FNC bio does not reflect it.

Was Abby crowned without the ceremony? The author tends to think she was. But, he awaits the official proclamation of Abby’s reign.

Bizarro F&FW Moment

“Fan”: “Bill Clinton is a rapist!” Wow! After a segment whether comedy shows like Saturday Night Live should take down candidates, e.g., Donald Trump, an F&FW “fan” seemed to want to do the very same to Hillary Clinton a la SNL style.

As this morning’s co-hosts Tucker Carlson, Abby Huntsman, and Ed Henry began the subsequent block on the patio promoting the awareness of shelter pets, an apparent young Alex Keaton appeared (amongst the fans) behind them in shirt and tie atop a police barrier. Pulling up his tie and opening his shirt to reveal a tee that had the face of former President Bill Clinton with the epithet “RAPIST” on it, he began to shout, “Bill Clinton is a rapist!” When he did, security rushed him and he subsequently began to cross the barrier toward Abby, Tucker, and Ed. The young man continued to exclaim, “Bill Clinton is a rapist!” After he was taken away, he seemingly escaped security for a moment and then returned behind the day’s co-anchors , exclaiming the same remark with renewed vigor. And, security returned to facilitate his another exit.

Taking it in stride, Tucker laughed, “We have a very excitable young man behind us. Not a Bill Clinton fan! He’s a little bit upset: But, that’s okay. Everything is fine on Fox & Friends because we are surrounded by dogs. And, if there is anything that calms the human heart, it’s a canine.

Well played, Tucker! Another F&F moment that viewers will likely not forget!

“Aussie” Anna: Traitor! ;-)

What the h*ll is going on with Fox News now that Roger has left the building?! Hottie Outnumbered co-anchor Andrea Tantaros has left the FNC air, leggy frequent Outnumbered co-host Jedidiah Bila followed suit; and now the lovely Alisyn Camerota’s sexy successor Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Anna Kooiman is abdicating her reign on the curvy couch to follow hubby Tim Stuckey back to the “Land Down Under.” And, now fans are left only with brainy Tucker Carlson and nerdy Clayton Morris: What is the F&FW fan to do?

Who knows? Unless FNC boss Bill Shine brings back the thrice ruling queen of F&FW Alisyn Camerota (or her former F&FW co-host Nepali beauty Kiran Chetry), installs luscious F&F First newbie Abby Huntsman, or “steals” Greek goddess FBN:AM co-host Nicole Petallides, it may well be time to take the weekend off from watching Fox & Friends‘ weekend edition.

Bill, faithful F&FW fans do not watch four hours of the show for the “Friends.” No offense, Tucker and Clayton: But, they watch it mainly for the “Fox.” Make it happen, Bill!

As to F&FW‘s latest sweet, beautiful, vivacious “Fox” Anna, this evening she Tweeted, “Friends! I’m moving to Australia! My husband landed a new job in Sydney. So proud of him! But will miss you so much.” According to TVNewser, Anna’s last day is the 5th of September.

Thanks for the memories, Anna! You’ll truly be missed, too!

 

Hottie Huntsman’s F&FW Debut

Tucker Carlson: “I hope not the last time!” Today, Fox & Friends First co-host Abby Huntsman finally made her debut on the F&F Weekend curvy couch. As the show started, Abby turned to her co-anchors Tucker Carlson and Clayton Morris, remarking, “First time. Are you guys going to be nice to me today? Are you going to treat me well?” Clayton answered, “We’re going to be lovely to you!”

And, Clayton and Tucker were: As well as they should have been. After all it was Abby’s virgin appearance on the F&FW vaunted curvy couch as co-anchor. Abby may not have been the fun, effervescent, flirty Anna Kooiman: But, she wasn’t bad either. She may have flubbed the pronunciation of Saskatchewan once: But, she was more than competent, and she remembered to dance out the segment oft enough for the jib camera–and her fans.

In the author’s opinion, Abby gets a “B” in her first appearance on the curvy couch as F&FW co-anchor. The waifish beauty is a budding natural FNC fox: She is breathtakingly gorgeous, and she seems to be rather comfortable in front of the camera. However, the F&FW viewer could sense that she was not entirely at ease today. But, it was her first time.

Kudos, Abby! You did well today. It was your first time on the curvy couch: And, if F&FW fans have their way, it will definitely not be your last.

[Author’s aside: Re the subtitle, supra, at the beginning of the third hour, Tucker introduced Abby, saying, “Abby Huntsman joining us on the couch for the first time: I hope not the last time! It’s been great.]

 

Did Tucker Say “Fuc*” on F&FW?

Carlson: “Fuc*, it doesn’t matter.” Sunday, Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Tucker Carlson appeared to have had enough of the Trump “haters” when it came to The Donald’s right to speak. In a segment pertaining to anti-Trump protesters trying to shut down Trump’s speech in Arizona, Tucker went on a tirade:

He said, “So, if the point of this is this is a not a big deal, I, I respectfully disagree: I think it is a big deal….It’s chaotic, it’s crazy. And, one way to slow it down would be for leaders on both sides, Republicans and Democrats, to say, ‘You can’t use force: That’s off the table.” I’m sorry there’s a huge difference between peaceful legitimate protest and mob violence. And, it’s crossing the line, and Republicans have blamed Trump for this; [and] Democrats are blaming Trump for this. Fuc*! It doesn’t matter what he says: He has a right to say it. Period.”

When Tucker said, “Fuc*!,” it appeared that producers hit the bleep button to mute the “k,” at least.

“Fuc*” on F&F Weekend? Not necessarily the worst exclamation that Tucker has ever uttered. But, he might be regretting this one on Palm Sunday.

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 03/20/16 (@ 8:06 a.m. ET).

Ainsley: F&F’s New Fox

Earhardt: “I am…thrilled to join Steve and Brian on the curvy couch.”  Fox & Friends viewers were tipped off early this morning that changes were afoot by regular F&F fill-in co-host, Anna Kooiman: As the show began today with her in the center seat (with Tucker Carlson and Pete Hegseth), she  cryptically remarked, “Good morning! We’re all visiting the couch this morning!” (After Elisabeth Hasselbeck left the F&F curvy couch, Anna has usually greeted her F&F viewers with her name as if she might be the future queen of the weekday curvy couch).

According to a press release today by FNC, Ainsley Earhardt has been named the new co-anchor of Fox & Friends and she will make her debut as the official co-host on Leap Day, 2016 (February 29). FNC Chairman & CEO Roger Ailes declared, “Ainsley’s relentless work ethic, congeniality, and enthusiasm for connecting with our viewers…are extremely refreshing. She’s a superb team player and an excellent on-air host.” As for Ainsley, she declared, “I am grateful for this opportunity and am thrilled to join Steve [Doocy] and Brian [Kilmeade] on the curvy couch to deliver Americans their morning news.”

It has been a remarkable ride for Ainsley in her Fox & Friends odyssey.

Ainsley made her debut on Fox & Friends Weekend as a guest co-host in February 2008. On February 28, 2008 (almost 8 years to the date of her future debut as queen of the F&F curvy couch), Ainsley apprised the author that she was just filling in and that FNC would announce changes when they were final: Even though the lovely got into hot water initially with FNC brass for being honest and straightforward with this viewer in various missives, the chastened Southern belle did finally take the reins at F&F Weekend with fellow newbie co-hosts, Dave Briggs and Clayton Morris by her side. But Ainsley’s tenure was short-lived as her callow boys needed a surer hand to guide the F&FW ship, namely, Alisyn Camerota (who had sailed those waters before as F&FW co-anchor).

But, Ainsley has stayed the course: And, she has always been there when Ailes needed her. Ainz has been a cheerful and ready fill-in co-host for Fox & Friends weekday, and she has happily served as Fox & Friends First co-anchor with Heather Childers. She has paid her dues, and Ailes has now rewarded her.

And, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Ainsley’s predecessor hardily approves: She Tweeted, “Congratulations to my #SisterInChrist & #SweetFriend @ainsleyearhardt on the @foxandfriends news!! This #CBO can’t wait to see you shine!”

Congratulations, Ainsley!!

H/t: Motownman, Chris Ariens, and Johnny Dollar (J$P).

Anna: “I’m Happy for the Opportunity”

Kilmeade: “You’re doing great!” Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Anna Kooiman does double duty and the Fox & Friends weekday boys seem to like it. Today, Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy opened the show, remarking, “Brian [Kilmeade], you know, you and I took off over the weekend, and she’s still here!”

Grinning Puckishly as ever, Brian replied, “It’s unbelievable!”

Smiling sweetly, Steve replied, “Anna has worked about twenty straight days. God bless her!”

Flattered, a chagrined Anna chuckled, “No, it hasn’t been that long! I’m happy for the opportunity! Thanks for having me on the couch!”

Aptly, Brian answered, “Yeah, you’re doing great!”

Indeed, Anna has been doing great as the “girl in the middle” on the F&F curvy couch as of late: And, she seems to be ready to take the reins without any real competition.

But, if Anna does take Elisabeth Hasselbeck‘s erstwhile spot on the F&F curvy couch, the obvious question is who will replace the vivacious blond beauty in the F&FW center seat.

Since Anna is reigning on both the F&F and F&FW curvy couches rather than having subs, e.g., Nicole Petallides, Kimberly Guilfoyle, etc., help her out, one begins to wonder if the FNC suits are waiting for F&F First co-anchor Ainsley Earhardt to return from maternity leave and to retake her old spot on the F&F Weekend curvy couch to ease the transition for Anna from the weekend to the weekday.

Between opinionated alpha male Tucker Carlson and peevish beta male Clayton Morris, Ainsley just might be that next sweet Southern belle that can continue to make F&FW work.

Huddy’s Rough Return to F&FW

Juliet: “I’d like to keep my job but trust me if they could read my mind…” Yow! Guest Fox & Friends Weekend guest co-host Juliet Huddy had a rather frosty reception Sunday morning in her return to the curvy couch. Subbing for sweet, smart, and sexy Southern F&FW co-anchor Anna Kooiman, Juliet brought her usual snarky, snide–yet sexy–take to the table. And, it was not as well received by her audience as she might like.

Before the show began, Juliet Tweeted, “You’re welcome to wake up early today and check me out on Fox News 6-10 am! (Sans the Fox5 crew…). When F&FW did begin, co-hosts Tucker Carlson and Clayton Morris welcomed her to the curvy couch: Joyfully, she responded, “Good to be back! Good to be back! Always good to be here!”

Alas, it was not to be.

During the show, Juliet oft cited her friends who had voted for the President twice and who said that they were tired of his saying what Islam is and what Islam wasn’t and of his talking about gun control and that they wanted to hear specifics about how he recognizes that the country is looking vulnerable. Some F&FW fans were not amused that “her friends” were Obama supporters and they assumed that she was as well. Of course, her support of the NSA may not have ingratiated her to them. [Re her sex life, Juliet racily chuckled, “Nobody cares what I’m doing with my boyfriend.”]*

Mid-show, Juliet seemed to have had it with her F&FW viewer critics. During an “Oval Office Address” discussion, Juliet declared, “Well, you know, I have to say as I was saying earlier, a couple of my friends who were Obama supporters, who voted for him.” Glaring at the camera, she sniped, “Yes, and I do have friends who voted for Obama!” Turning to Clayton, she snarled, “I’m getting lots of Tweets, little nasty Tweets!”

One sympathetic Tweep wrote, “Idiots woke up early today. We have your back, Juliet.”

In response, an angry Juliet exclaimed, “I’d like to keep my job but trust me if they could read my mind… (with angry devil emoji).”

As the final hour drew to a close, Juliet dug herself in deeper in the eyes of her critics when she seemed to go to bat for writer Linda Stasi of the the NY Daily News.* In discussing the latest  Daily News controversy, Tucker asked, “Why is that a certain sort of person looks at a terrorist shooting like this and immediately blames the victims, that is, normal Americans.”

Putting her hand up as in protest, Juliet remarked, “I didn’t take it, I didn’t it as she was blaming this guy.” As Tucker guffawed in derision, Juliet continued, “Hold on! Here’s what I took it as. I, I felt like she was saying, ‘This guy was so kind of  extreme in his views, and he was always kind of talking about them. He was always just spewing them out there that, maybe, this was something that raised the ire of this psychopath that ended up going and killing people.”

Chiming in aptly, Clayton replied, “But, but, wait! But, but, no, the point is she says “thirteen innocent” victims have died. So, she made a point to say that she’s not innocent.”

Finally, coming to her senses, Juliet answered, “Not innocent which is, which is I think you and I have a problem. I agree.”

*Fox & Friends Weekend – 12/06/15 (@ 7:08 a.m ET).

**Ibid at 9:47 a.m. ET.

Clayton & Anna Pulled Again

Kilmeade: “Special @foxandfriends.” Today, Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchors Clayton Morris and Anna Kooiman were pulled again from the curvy couch Sunday morning. Explaining the absence of the two F&FW co-hosts before the show began, Fox & Friends weekday co-host Brian Kilmeade Tweeted, “Looking forward @ working w/ @kimguilfoyle & @TuckerCarlson on special @foxandfriends all over the world focusing on @ISIS & FRANCE.” I.e., no worries, viewers, the big boys and the big gals remain in charge on Fox & Friends Weekend: When things settle down in the world, Clayton and Anna will be back.

Wine & Pate: Tucker is Okay!

No bow tie: It’s Friday night–and it’s FNC. On this latest Friday night on Hannity as guest host, Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Tucker Carlson reminded this viewer of his old CNN Crossfire days when he represented the right–except he was not sporting his obnoxiously effete, elitist bow tie of olden times. Instead, his F&FW experience has seemed to illuminate the Daily Caller co-founder and editor-in-chief that it is well and good to utilize logic and reason in polemics but, if he is truly  to engage Everyman/Everywoman, he must eschew his natural tendency not to reveal things about himself on air but rather to embrace a more vulnerable approach–and, yes, even to eat food on air.

Tucker has come far on FNC: The F&FW fop sits more comfortably on the curvy couch; he has seamlessly seized the alpha male mantle from co-anchor Clayton Morris; and he seems to connect more easily with the alluring Anna Kooiman. Now, Tucker pontificates with confidence; Clayton opines deferentially; and co-anchor Anna Kooiman coos with confidence.

And, as long-time F&FW fans miss the erstwhile ensembles, they may begin to more fully embrace the “new faces” of FNC’s early weekend morn. Political pundit Tucker “ain’t” too bad, and tech geek Clayton may pass muster: But, sorry, boys, the vivacious vixen Anna is the real draw!

Anna On Honeymoon: “Very Salacious” Huddy Back!

Kooiman: “I’m going out with a bang!” And, Juliet is BACK with her own bang! Tuesday, Fox & Friends guest co-anchor Anna Kooiman revealed, “I leave for my honeymoon today! I’m going out with a bang!”* When co-host Steve Doocy queried where she would go, Anna exclaimed, “Italy and Austria!” And, in her place on the curvy couch today sat former F&FW co-host Juliet Huddy.

Even though it has been approximately a year and a half since Juliet graced the curvy couch, she seemed somewhat back in her element–even though Juliet awkwardly defended her friend View co-host Michelle Collins repeatedly for her snarky remark directed at Miss America contestant, Kelly Johnson (Miss Colorado), for her talent competition as to her life-saving work as an RN. Not to mention Collins reportedly impugning nurses reportedly saying, “Yeah, that’s not a real profession. They want to be doctors.”

To boot, Juliet let the guys and gals know that she was still her own licentious self even if she were dressed this morn more like a school marm than an FNC fox. In a “7 Things Every Man Should Know,” co-host Tucker Carlson read, “You [men] are more difficult to live with than you think you are.”** In response, Juliet declared, “It’s accurate: Yes, definitely! That’s why I think people should live with each other before they get married: But, that’s just my very salacious personality.” Pointedly, co-anchor Tucker Carlson replied to the thrice-married cougar, “And, studies yet do show that people who live together before they get married have a higher divorce rate”: As co-anchors Tucker Carlson and Clayton Morris grinned, Juliet laughed, “Which makes a lot of sense!”

Youthful hottie Anna is gone for now: And, the F&FW boys get a blast from the past.

*Fox & Friends – 09/15/15 (@ 6:00 a.m. ET).

**Fox & Friends Weekend -09/19/15 (7:33 a.m. ET).