Kiran Chetry on CNN…
Last night ICN got tipped off that Kiran Chetry’s desk had been cleaned out. I sat on that because I wanted confirmation of some sort. That came this morning when I turned on CNN’s American Morning and saw Chetry filling in for Soledad O’Brien. So now we know what happened with the contract negotiations with FNC. As I suspected yesterday, another network, CNN, came in with another better offer and Chetry went to FNC to match and FNC balked. If you read that PDF between the lines with what we now know, the anger that was visible in that letter becomes more clear. It sounds like there was the framework of a deal between FNC and Chetry and then CNN came in and threw everything off balance.
This throws what had appeared to be a settling down anchor lineup on Fox and Friends Weekend back into question. Who will take over the center chair vacated by Chetry? Will it be Alisyn Camerota, who was supposed to be the M-Fr weekday news update replacment for Lauren Green when she comes back from maternity leave? Or will it be someone else such as Patti Ann Browne or Page Hopkins? Or will FNC do something unexpected like grab Jodi Applegate from Fox5 NY? We shall see…
UPDATE: FTVLive has more info on the goings on behind the scenes between Chetry and FNC. FTVLive says Chetry’s appearance on CNN is a tryout.
UPDATE 2: TVNewser says CNN will announce Chetry’s hiring today.
IMO, Camerota was “demoted” by moving her from two F&F weekend shifts (6 hours per week) to a M-F update anchor…how much time is that anyway, 10 minutes a day? CNN has to feel good about this move. And the tired team of Obrien&Obrien can use some resuscitation. Seeing that Robin & Co. beat them twice this week in the demo. However, will CNN be smart enough to dump Soledad (or at least reassign her to something she is better at?) I highly doubt it.
Comment by Terance — February 16, 2007 @ 10:48 am
Personally, I like Allisyn(sp) Camerota. Bottom line, the two or three people that are on any set have to have a good chemistry. They have to have the ability to laugh a little and be very serious too. To me, that’s what Fox is all about! People glean whatever they personally find important from whatever network they watch! Patti Ann Browne is obviously very intelligent and Page Hopkins too, but I like Allisyn’s(sp) personality that she portrays. IMHO.
Comment by Olivia — February 16, 2007 @ 10:50 am
I’d like to see a fresh face other than just moving in Hopkins or Browne. Perhaps that’s too much of a risk to take though? In my opinion, some new faces at FNC would be a nice change of pace other than just the usual musical chairs that typically happens.
If Camerota moves back in I guess that’s fine in that she already has some good working chemistry with the others. Never been terribly impressed by her interview skills with guests though. At least Greg Kelly’s addition to the weekend F&F line up helps in the interview department.
Comment by STP — February 16, 2007 @ 11:07 am
Those two arm waving hysterics, Kiran and Alisyn, were impossible together. Finally someone had sense enough to separate them.
Greg Kelly has changed the dynamics of the weekend show dramatically. The two men - one woman format works best, IMO.
Putting Alisyn on Fox and Friends is disappointing to me. I hope she doesn’t bring her antics to Fox and Friends, playing “I’m so cute. Look at me.” I miss the sober, calming effect of Lauren Green.
Comment by cella — February 16, 2007 @ 11:26 am
This weekend, Kiran’s replacement will be Maxim model and former host of the World Poker Tour, Courtney Friel.
Comment by earl fenton — February 16, 2007 @ 11:28 am
I think Roger Ailes, or whoever made the decision to plop in a Maxim magazine model in the center chair, has shot himself in the foot. Maybe someone like a Lauren Green or Uma Pemmaraju would have been much better.
Comment by Bob — February 16, 2007 @ 11:32 am
I think this move is best for all parties. Kiran seemed to have issues with (I heard) Juan Williams and now is seems to be with Kelly Wright. I don’t know, It could just be me but she seems to turn her body away from Kelly Wright most of the time.
I would like a whole new vamp on the weekend Fox and Friends. Since Mike and Juliet left it has never has been the same. I know it is hard to find the right “chemistry” between people but when it happens it is wonderful.
Best of Luck to Kiren in her new venture and Best of Luck to Fox and Friends weekend!
Comment by Noelle — February 16, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Fox didn’t look as far as you might think: Courtney Friel is a frequent contributor to The Line-Up with Kimberly Guilfoyle. Doesn’t necessarily make her a good choice but it does indicate that the likelihood of Roger Ailes recruiting from Maxim is fairly low. :-)
Comment by David — February 16, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Just get Linda Vester back in the mix and FNF Weekend will be better then ever.
Comment by Lurker — February 16, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Kiran had problems with Julian Phillips not Juan Williams. Williams is on Brit Humes panel
Comment by Veronica — February 16, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Good for Kiran. She was always one of my favs on Fox. Personally, I’m not one of these cable news partisans that attribute some inherent evil to a certain network depending on personal political ideology, so i’m not one of those Fox is great and CNN and MSNBC are unpatriotic and should be shunned. Frankly, I watch all three depending on the show and think it’s a little bit sad if a person only watches a network that spews a point of view they know they always agree with (we report, you decide, indeed….). anyway, the addition of Kiran on CNN will have me watching that net more than i did previously. she’s smart, funny, easy on the eyes so i’m glad she has found a new home that appreciates her.
Comment by HN from Silverlake — February 16, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
Courtney Friel, a recent hire, will be filling in for Kiran this weekend.
BTW - There’s no doubt that Kiran and FNC parted ways on bad grounds… Her bio is gone from the FNC website. And the only time they remove a bio immediately after someone leaves is if they left on bad ground. If they left on good ground, then their bio usually still stays up for eternity, for some odd reason.
Comment by Charles — February 16, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Earl, David & Charles: Thanks for the info on Courtney Friel. I would have preferred Shana Hyatt, Friel’s predecessor on the World Poker Tour, but she is tied up with NBC’s Poker After Dark.
STP: In a rarity, I agree with you about Greg Kelly. And Kelly Wright is definitely a keeper. Page Hopkins would be OK as the No. 3.
Comment by Ira — February 16, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
For somebody who like to provide so much knowledge and insight into Fox, Noelle should probably learn the difference between a former Fox anchor, Julian Phillips, and a Fox contributor, Juan Williams.
Having said that, congratulations to Kiran Chetry on the new job at CNN. What a wonderful and promising journalism career she has ahead of her.
Comment by Peter — February 16, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Oh please Peter, I got the name mixed up. I never claimed to be anything or give anyone any “insight”. Veronica cleared it up. What I heard if anything is from this forum and other forums period.
Comment by Noelle — February 16, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
I am not crazy about Kiran.. dont know what all the fuss over her is about. How is this situation going to play out for her husband who still works at Fox?
Comment by Juan — February 16, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
I cant see FNC ever playing nice. They think they own someone once they’ve step foot in the building. Talk about a bunch of sourpusses. Sounds like the arrogance is alive and well in all departments at fnc.
Comment by Big Dave — February 16, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
I can see Fnc playing nice before Kiran,(if it is true) that Kiran wanted Gretchen Carlson fired, because she wanted her job.
Comment by cathy — February 16, 2007 @ 2:42 pm
Ira,
I don’t think Page Hopkins is quick enough on the uptake for an anchor slot on the weekend show.
That rowdy bunch, whom I love, on the daily Fox and Friends show are so fast and glib.
Comment by cella — February 16, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Cella, I agree about Page Hopkins and Patti Ann Browne. Very serious, very intelligent, but just don’t come across as being very spontaneous and “glib.” I like the “glib-ness” on F & F!
Comment by Olivia — February 16, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
I like Kelly Wright and Greg Kelly too.my name is greg too.I hope Kiran did not have issues with Kelly Wright.
Comment by Greg — February 16, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Cella: IMO, Page does a nice job on the Sunday morning Fox News Live through the Housecall segment with Dr. Rosenfeld.
Comment by Ira — February 16, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
I wish Kirin well at CNN, though I had to laugh when I saw the screencap today. I can’t remember her being so conservatively dressed before. btw…she looked better dressed professionally instead of provacatively. Soledad had better watch out. IMO, anyone could do a better interview than SOB.
Comment by news fan — February 16, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
I totally agree with “news fan”. I’ve never seen Kiran dressed so conservatively as she was this morning! When she was on Fox she usually dressed like some skank!
Comment by Caty — February 16, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Paige, Patti Ann, the women of Fox…all should beware. ED Hill, Linda Vester, Bridgette Quinn were displaced from jobs they had at Fox for years, now Kiran. To suggest Kiran has issues with folks of color, did any of you see the wonderful relationship she had with that foxy Tiki Barber? Fox is the loser in all of this. Too busy hiring folks that look like Barbi and Ken. CNN won big time.
Comment by WatchedFox — February 16, 2007 @ 9:47 pm
I have always liked Kiran so hopefully she can do some proper reporting and presenting on CNN.
Comment by Mike Beckham — February 16, 2007 @ 10:14 pm
FNC was no loser. Chetry was awful on F&F; but I just saw her on AC360, and she was great. It’s a win/win.
Comment by erljr — February 17, 2007 @ 4:42 am
I have been a HUGE fan of Fox News and frankly I can not imagine watching any other news channel, up until now that is. Yes, I will miss the energy and enthusiasm Kiran Chetry brought, but the other changes Fox has made have really pushed me away. I miss ED Hill on the Morning Show, Gretchen Carlson just isn’t getting it done. Julie Banderas’s “I am better than you” attitude is a turn off and brining in a Maxim model/poker commentator to do news is just dumb. If they want to go this route, why didn’t they just hire female porn star Jenna Jamison and some of her movie friends.
I will still watch parts of FNC but I have re-inserted the channel dial on my tv to tune in other news channels once again.
Comment by Disappointed Fox Fan — February 17, 2007 @ 11:23 am
Erljr, if Kiran was awful on F&F.. I’d love to hear what you thought of Peter Johnson Jr?
Comment by Terance — February 17, 2007 @ 1:22 pm
Awful as well Terance.
What I said about her being great on AC360 was no joke. She did the 360 format better than John Roberts or AC himself. It’s a much better fit for her, and a definite move UP. I wish I had seen her on AM.
Comment by erljr — February 17, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
Thanks, Erljr. I was a little confused if this meant she’ll be filling in on AM & AC360 until Wednesday or just AC360.
“Klein made the call to have Chetry immediately join CNN, having her sub for the vacationing Soledad O’Brien on “American Morning” on Friday. And she turned around later that day and anchored “Anderson Cooper 360�” with Cooper was on assignment. She continued to do that Monday and will do so until Wednesday.”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i00c30daf8fb3b8f1b92c68de6362e363
Comment by Terance — February 17, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
I liked Kiren, but the one that was sitting in her chair this weekend is not for the anchor position. I wish they would bring Kiren back, I think they made a mistake by her leaving and moving to CNN. Kiren was funny and I enjoyed her knowledge of all the events of the day. Bring her back!!
Comment by Mary — February 18, 2007 @ 10:49 am
I am happy for Kiran. FNC probably would have dumped her eventually because she did not have the Barbie or Stefford wife look. Now that Julien Phillips is gone and ironically replace by another African-American, all I can say to Kelly is to beware. Just to see a person of color on FNC is really a unique experience. Usually that is a weekend luxury. I always thought Laurie or Uma would be eventual heirs to anchor positions. Maybe Kelly Wright or Wendell Goler will be allowed to go to a White House Press Corps interview rather than Brett. After all, Wendell is the WH correspondent. Just for the record, FNC make Harrison Faulkner look like a hyped up Aunt Jemama.
Comment by Doug — February 20, 2007 @ 12:21 am
Kiren and the judge were fantastic as was the chemistry between Kiren and Tiki. A big loss for FOX!
Comment by steve — February 20, 2007 @ 4:31 am
My understanding is that Kiran Chetry’s agent included a condition in her new contract. The condition was that FOX fired Gretchen Carlson and replaced her with Chetry. That is the reason it all happened so fast. I don’t blame Roger Ailes for releasing Kiran from her contract early. I enjoyed Kiran, but not at the expense of Grethen. I love the chemistry between her, Brian and Steve. I also like ED Hill in her new time slot better. I think Roger Ailes knows what he is doing. My only complaint is I miss Juliet and Mike. I never thought Kiran was as good as Juliet!
Comment by Cheryl — February 20, 2007 @ 9:23 am
WE WONDERED WHERE KIREN WAS, FOUR MID 50′S FISHING BUDDIES UP FOR A WEAKEND MISSED KIREN WHO WAS OUR FAVORITE FNC ANCHOR, BY FAR. IF SHE CAN CONNECT WITH US SHE CAN CONNECT WITH ANYONE. BAD MOVE FOX, BE SEEIN YA IN THE AM CNN.
Comment by JAN — February 20, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
Can you let me know when Kiran will be on a daily show that I can plan on watching?
Comment by Margaret — February 22, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
I to miss Tiki and Kiran, but good for them…too many changes, too quickly…michele
Comment by michele fletcher — February 27, 2007 @ 9:16 am
Maybe only time shall tell if the truth will be known(or as someone use to say “Words maybe spoken but will the truth be told”) but the speed(is it a record?)that she appeared on CNN after last being on FNC(which I think was a Fox News Extra add) might indicate just how keen the powers that be at CNN were in seeing her on air their but suggest that there may have been no particular role/place for her in mind or beyond.
Having been for sometime exclusively on FAF (- her recent appearance on O’Reilly where O’Reilly was emulated by Larry King as she & Paula Zahn joked about) her placement on American Morning might appear logical (but how often does that come into play?)
This weekend the new overnight headlines reader was in the middle chair with as per usual no explanation as to why(call it the Raspberry Ripple Gorilla effect) & I wouldn’t be surprised that a whole array of visages shall appear like ghosts from years future in the triumvirate of chairs before stasis eventuates as was the case when Mike & Juliet departed and Alisyn became the regular re-poser(of course that apple cart has been upset again) but the chances of anyone even close to Kiran turning up is I suspect negligible(to put it mildly)
Calling Anna Choy!
Comment by Rob Sutton — March 3, 2007 @ 3:14 pm
What’s with all the blondes on Fox News Now. Gretchen Carlson is terrible, as well as, the last two blondes on the Weekend Fox and Friends. Juliet Huddy was very attractive as well as funny. Those three definitely have the “Barbi look”. Is that what Fox is going for? Blonde and not funny.
Comment by Carol — March 6, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
I was shocked that kiren or Lauren Green was not offered the position for fox and freinds. I did’nt even know Gretchen untill she just showed up on the set. I am sure there had to be some bad feeling over that decision. I mean Kiren was already on from 6-7-why not let her do the whole show. The chemistry was definetly there. I just hope Lauren Green comes back. She is a class act!
Comment by sheila — March 7, 2007 @ 2:28 am
Has anyone watched Fox and Friends Weekend lately? Last week they had another blonde in the middle flirting with Greg Kelly. Previous week it was Courtney Friel, and she was definitely flirting and she did not know the news at all. What is up with all the blondes anyway? I liked Kiren and since she has left I have been watching CNN, even though they seem more to the left of Fox. I really don’t like that, but hey it is better than watching two blondes flirting with Greg Kelly. I hope Fox wakes up soon and quits making changes. Gretchen Carlson is definitely not for the anchor position on Fox and Friends, it should have been Kiren. Too bad for Fox.
Comment by Mary — March 10, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
We missed Kiran on Fox and wondered what had happened; imagine our surprise and disappointment when we heard that she had joined CNN! I sincerely doubt that we will now watch CNN just to see Kiran. BAD decision, FOX NEWS, for letting Kiran go. I predict that you will rue the day you let that happen. It was so nice to see an intelligent, sweet, humorous, zippy, NON-blonde on the news!
As for replacements, my choices are Janice Dean and/or Patti Anne Brown. Both are intelligent and well spoken (no, I won’t pull a “Joe Biden”-type comment here!) and Janice is very funny.
I guess I am disappointed because it seems, in the end, that it all comes down to money after all.
Comment by Auburn Fox — March 18, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
I will totally be glad to allisyn camerota back. Gretchen can go she difinetly does not do a good job. I really miss Kiran too, but, I don’t miss her hanging all over Tiki. Greg kelley and Kelley wright are good. But I aggree Kelley should be in the White House reporting. He just has that business way of presenting the news. Not the casual way of a good morning anchor. Bring Allisyn back!!!!!!! If you have to dump somebody, get rid of Steve, move in Greg Kelley.Allisyn Greg and the Judge to hold everything down. Since Kiran is gone.
Comment by john — March 24, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Kiran’s leaving is certainly a loss. I have never ever watched CNN until now. This is business and I’m sure all parties had their reasons BUT her leaving is a loss to FNC. Hopefully they realize this.
Comment by Norm Clark — April 7, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Big loss Fox News has really gone down..THEY lost Mike,Juliet, and now Karin..The weekend show has lost it completly..what a joke..Now I have to watch CNN.and Mike and Juleit show..only fox at night if they dont mess that up to…..
Comment by Sharon Bounds — April 17, 2007 @ 3:13 pm
kiran chetrys leaving is a big loss for FNC. she was the only one with a relaxed natural personality. cant take allysons constant posing to the camera and etc. she is her own best fan. i was a faithful viewer of fox in the morning. now have switched to CMM. i will watch fox in the evening.
Comment by june griffiths — May 15, 2007 @ 6:47 am
Courtney Friel is definately better suited for “Lips and Ears” She is very attractive, but a bit too ditzy for news. Some real sparks going on between Courtney and Greg Kelly on the morning show. I will really miss Kiren Chetry, she was one of my favorites on FNC. She has more class than all the others.
Comment by Kim Bonebrake — August 6, 2007 @ 3:40 pm