Carlson Took Over Megyn Kelly’s Slot When She Quit
Fox News is facing one of its greatest challenges of the past decade. First, the cable news network lost its chairman and CEO, the man who made it what it is today, Roger Ailes, over allegations of sexual harassment. Then, the agonizing and ugly stories came to light of what a cess pool its corporate culture has been.
Shortly thereafter, one of its top hosts, Megyn Kelly, left the network, headed for NBC.
And now, after nearly three weeks of more ugly allegations of sexual harassment, the host of the number one rated cable news program, a two-decade veteran and the face of Fox News, Bill O’Reilly, is out. Advertisers left the network little choice.
21st Century Fox made the news official minutes ago.
As the network looks to retool, NPR’s media correspondent and the author of Murdoch’s World, David Folkenflik, reports that Tucker Carlson will take over O’Reilly’s coveted 8 PM slot.
MSNBC confirmed the move moments ago.
Carlson, best known as the CNN co-host of the old “Crossfire,” the man who Jon Stewart mocked on camera in an interview so devastating CNN canceled the show a few weeks later, has been at Fox New for a few years, as a weekend “Fox & Friends” co-host, then as Megyn Kelly’s replacement.
Here’s that segment that led to CNN canceling “Crossfire.”
His strong ratings should help protect the network in the short run, but Fox News is suffering an unimaginable crack in its very foundation, one of its own making, thanks in large part to Rupert Murdoch’s desire to ignore what must have clearly been obvious to so many.
UPDATE I: 3:24 PM EDT –
More on the Fox News new lineup.
“The Five,” a terrible distortion, will get the 9 PM slot, “Hannity” stays at 10, and Eric Bolling will be on at 5.
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