Thoughts On "Fox & Friends"

I miss the good old days of E.D. Hill.

Here are E.D., Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade from 1999.

The Center Chair On "Fox & Friends:" For Blondes Only?

Is it me, or has Fox News mandated that only blonde females sit in the center chair on the various editions of Fox & Friends? Today, Page Hopkins was in the center chair (sitting in for Gretchen Carlson, who is off all week). This past weekend, Ainsley Earhardt, a newcomer from KENS-TV in San Antonio ( who usually does overnight news updates Friday night/Saturday morning to Sunday night/Monday morning) , sat in the center chair. The previous two weekends, Courtney Friel sat in the center chair (except for Sunday of last week, when Page Hopkins did the honors). Is there a policy at Fox News that mandates thet only blondes sit in the center chair during the airing of Fox & Friends?

Nothing To Write Home About (Except For Uma)

Courtney Friel's weekend at the center chair on Fox & Friends Weekend (in between Greg Kelly and Kelly Wright) was not really anything to write home about. Then again, what else could you say about someone who posed in Maxim magazine and had hosted TV coverage of poker tournaments. Just about the only real highlights of the weekend were provided by proven and experienced professional Uma Pemmaraju (pictured here, by herself, and with the F&FW trio) on Sunday with her headline updates, before she began hosting 90 minutes of Fox News Live.

One extra note: Upon being recruited for Fox & Friends Weekend, Courtney Friel (apparently at FNC's behest) removed the swimwear pictures from her website.

No Sad Loss

Looks like we have seen the last of Kiran Chetry on the Fox News Channel. Negotiations between Fox News and the erstwhile female headliner of the weekend version of Fox & Friends (as well as being a regular on Fox & Friends 1st , according to a report on Mediabistro's TV Newser web site had broken down.

Here is a PDF file of the letter from Fox News Legal and Business Affairs vice-president Dianne Brandi.

Maybe the FNC Brian Trust should consider putting Uma Pemmaraju in the center chair. If not Uma, how 'bout bringing back Donna Fiducia?


UPDATE: Kiran Chetry has jumped to CNN. She was filling in Friday morining for Soledad O'Brien on American Morning.

UPDATE #2: She has now officially joined CNN.

REPLACEMENT: Fox News has hired Courtney Friel, who has been with Court TV, local stations in San Diego and Palm Springs, and has a BA in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism.



She's also modeled in Maxim magazine.


She's filling the center chair this weekend on Fox & Friends.


That's right, sports fans. A one-time model in a men's magazine becoming, at least for the weekend, one of the hosts of FNC's morning program.


Are they nuts?

Apparently, the Brain Trust of FNC could not find swimsuit pics in men's magazines of Lauren Green, Molly Henneberg, Brigitte Quinn, Alisyn Camerota, Uma Pemmaraju, or Laurie Dhue.

Steve and Brian's New Partner.

Here is Gretchen Carlson, E.D. Hill's successor on Fox & Friends.

Gretchen, E.D., Swap Jobs

Gretchen Carlson, who had hosted the two-hour Fox News Live block formerly warmed over by Brigitte Quinn is joining the cast of Fox & Friends this coming Monday. She is, in effect, swapping dayparts with E.D. Hill, who had been one of the hosts of F&F since the show's beginnings in 1998. E.D. will, beginning this Monday as well, be seen anchoring Fox News Live from 7-9AM Pacific Time. Remember that back in 1998 and 1999, E.D. hosted FNL's forerunner, Fox News Now.