Bill McCuddy out at FNC?
TVNewser scoops that Bill McCuddy has been not renewed and his position will be filled by Star Magazine’s Jill Dobson…
June 22, 2007
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Another Blonde good looking woman on Fox News. What a shock!
Comment by Mike Beckham — June 22, 2007 @ 12:12 am
If it’s true, I’m sorry to hear that. I enjoyed watching him over the years and listening to his discussions of the entertainment industry.
Comment by Scott — June 22, 2007 @ 1:19 am
Well, sounds like FNC is really making the moves lately, doesn’t it? Nauert returning to co-host Big Story, McCuddy being retired, who knows what’s going to happen next? If anything at this point, I guess these are some more of those sweeping changes Ailes was talking about months ago.
Comment by Chris — June 22, 2007 @ 1:33 am
I can’t say I’m sorry to see him go. He was the King of cheap shots.
Comment by spiffo — June 22, 2007 @ 1:44 am
From what I’ve seen of Jill Dobson, she has more to contribure than Courtney Friel does. Friel’s appearances on Red Eye is good eye candy, but she seems like she’s got a mild case of stage fright or something.
I suppose that the precedent being set at Fox is that their female talent has to look like they would receive an offer from Hugh Hefner. Thing is, Fox doesn’t seem to care what the perception is and knows that pretty faces and shapely bodies bring ratings.
Comment by FishOil — June 22, 2007 @ 5:40 am
It’s stunts like this that force me to watch less & less of FNC … and I’ve been watching since the minute the network first signed on the air back in 96 …
I’m tired of all of the blondes … How about someone who is older and NOT blonde??? Wait, that wouldn’t fit Roger Ailes’ new desire to be the news industry’s version of Hef … Sheesh!!
Comment by Tiamat — June 22, 2007 @ 5:48 am
I am disappointed about this. I like Jill and Bill. Why did Bill have to go?
But I agree that my favorite cable news network is beginning to look like a Miss America pageant.
Comment by Cella — June 22, 2007 @ 6:42 am
Hey now, what about Lisa Bernhard? Wouldn’t she be next in line for Bill’s job? Btw, I think getting rid of him is great.
Comment by Terance — June 22, 2007 @ 6:48 am
He reminded me of a bad local entertainment guy who only gets interviews when studios sit celebs down and rotate reporters in, one every four minutes, with the same cheesy background.
Comment by TT — June 22, 2007 @ 7:48 am
“Hey now, what about Lisa Bernhard? Wouldn’t she be next in line for Bill’s job? Btw, I think getting rid of him is great.
Does Lisa Bernhard even work their anymore? I haven’t seen her for a few months.
Comment by Steve — June 22, 2007 @ 9:01 am
It is interesting to note that Dobson got her start working as an intern at FNC.
Comment by SuperNoxic — June 22, 2007 @ 9:07 am
Is Lisa Bernhard gone also?
Comment by Richard W. — June 22, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Geeze…After 11 years, McCuddy’s throat is slashed. I thought McCuddy was pretty good. He didn’t seem to work very much. I sure that he’ll sincerely miss the glamorous assignments, especially the jaunts to Hollywood award ceremonies. I was also wondering about Lisa Bernardt. I haven’t seen her in quite a while.
Comment by Objective Analyst — June 22, 2007 @ 9:25 am
Morning all! More T & A is always welcome in my book as long as they can read well. I’m just sorry they had to dump a good guy like Bill. He just fits the Hollywood reporter mold. I hate it when women are forced to comment about other women’s looks. It always sounds catty. Peace out, people!
Comment by Roger C. — June 22, 2007 @ 9:55 am
I liked McCuddy. One of the few guys anywhere that I thought was funny and had personality. I haven’t seen Lisa for a long time. Seems like Courtney replaced her. She does alot of the stuff Lisa would do in the past. As for Jill, she doesn’t seem like a bimbo and I heard someone say she used to be a intern at FNC.
Comment by Lurker — June 22, 2007 @ 10:19 am
WOW! This is really disappointing. I agree with #6 that Jill should replace Courtney Friel.
Bill is great! He has a lot of personality, which I don’t find Jill has. I think this is a poor decision.
Comment by jerziegrl — June 22, 2007 @ 10:31 am
At least in this case, they’ve replaced one class act with another, which hasn’t always been the case lately. I’m glad Jill got the gig rather than Courtney. For my taste, she’s more suited to MTV.
Comment by Nancy — June 22, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
I have to agree with the people saying Jill should replace Courtney Friel. She’s had more than enough time to “grow up” at FNC. Did anyone just see her on Studio B with Shepard? I felt like he was talking to a little girl, not a colleague. Jill Dobson knows what she’s talking about and is much more professional. She is also able to do a segment without being giggly and stupid.
Comment by Gab — June 22, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Hey Gab, I did see Courtney on Studio B this afternoon. I was chuckling at the time, thinking Shep was drooling over Courtney. She’s been on Studio B for several days in a row. I’ve always thought she was dumb, but she’s growing on me.
Comment by Objective Analyst — June 22, 2007 @ 4:09 pm
I’ve seen her on the fox report the past few days. He practically had to do the story for her!! I’m not saying she’s dumb, I just don’t think she’s mature enough for what she’s doing. I understand they are going for T&A or whatever, but there are plenty of women who are young and sexy who can actually do a story.
Comment by Gab — June 22, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Overall, Courtney just needs some time to mature with the network, I mean, the online programs work and she really doesn’t need to be on the network’s best programming when she doesn’t really appear professional in any way or form.
Comment by Chris — June 22, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
I thought Shep was trying to be patient with her, despite the fact that his show is generally a more faster paced one. If you want to see Shep drool, just watch him with Jane Skinner. He blushes and giggles like a schoolgirl. LOL.
FNC has to decide if they’re a serious news network, or a fluffy T&A channel that should be focusing on competing with late-night Cinemax, instead of with CNN/MSNBC/ABC/CBS/NBC.
Comment by Amused — June 22, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
#23: Chris, Fox is considered to be in the “big leagues,” not a place for on-air talent to get on-the-job training. Countless people study hard and work at unglamorous jobs in order to hone their skills and be good enough to be on the air on an international news network.
They are anchoring in small towns throughout the country, going on scene to cover hurricanes and shootings, but they are _not_ hostessing on the World Poker Tour and posing in their undies for FHM.
I don’t say that because I believe she’s a bimbo, but because she is obviously banking on her looks more than anything else on which to base a career. That’s fine, but that belongs on the WPT, not what purports to be a serious news network seen all over the world.
Comment by Amused — June 22, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
#3: At least Heather Nauert has a brain in her head and is a serious journalist, with a graduate degree from Columbia Univ’s journalism school. I can’t fault her for being beautiful - she does have serious journalism chops.
Comment by Amused — June 22, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
Amused: I have basically refrained from the bashing of Courtney Friel, primarily because of her one season as hostess on the World Poker Tour, one of my favorite shows.
But the other night, Courtney was in the old Rachel Marsden seat on “Red Eye.” Unlike all the other Fox News babes that have appeared such as Janice Dean, Rebecca Gomez, Julie Banderas and even newcomer Ainsley Earhart, Friel contributed absolutely nothing to the show. No jokes, no interesting anecdotes, nothing. And Gutfeld introduced her as “the face of FoxNews.Com.”
For the most part, Fox has basically made good hires, but Courtney Friel appears to be a walking disaster.
Comment by Ira — June 22, 2007 @ 7:54 pm
To bad for Bill McCuddy.I hope he on to E Channel.
Comment by Maddie — June 22, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
To bad for Bill McCuddy.I hope he on to E Channel.
Comment by Maddie — June 22, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Just seen Bill on Saturday Fox morning show.
What is the deal?
He was ok better tham Friel she just Frrrrrrrreezzzzzzzeeeeeeeess when reporting what is wrong maybe not experiences?
Comment by Peggy — June 23, 2007 @ 9:06 am
Heather & Greg? Now that’s a match made on The River Styx. I give em a week and they’ll bore each other to death.
Comment by Roger C. — June 23, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Totally agree with #25, FNC is not where you go to learn and mature. You know, I’ve been impressed with Ainsely Earhardt, yet for some reason they’ve stuck her on the night shift and the occasional Red eye appearance.
And Shepard Smith does extremely patient with her, but I’ve noticed other anchors, not so much.
Comment by Gab — June 23, 2007 @ 10:43 am
I saw McCuddy this morning on Fox & Friends. For a guy who is supposedly being pushed out, he was really up beat. If Fox does cut him loose, hopefully he can find a comparable positon, in New York. I often hear McCuddy talking about his young daughter. It’s a drag having to leave town for a new job.
Comment by Objective Analyst — June 23, 2007 @ 5:26 pm
I still Don`t understand the real reason why they didn`t prolong his contrac
He is still better than some of the others
Comment by Peggy — June 24, 2007 @ 6:13 am
Jill is an airhead, too “valley girl” unless you live in California. I turn every time she comes on. Courtney is just stupid, I never watch her, too immature.
I liked Bill and always wished they had used him more, he was a little saucy and spontanious.
Comment by VMart — June 24, 2007 @ 3:25 pm
#32: It’s quite obvious that whenever Roger writes about Greg Kelly, he’s typing with only one hand.
#33: Ainsley is good, but she’s a bit stiff. And when working with Greg Kelly and Kelly Wright, they really need an extroverted woman who isn’t quite as buttoned-up as the two guys. She might work better as a sub with Brian and Steve during the week.
#34: McCuddy is a true pro, and if it’s really true that he’s on his way out, then it’s FNC’s loss.
Comment by Amused — June 24, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Amused you are too funny
Comment by Scrat — June 25, 2007 @ 4:30 am
I like and enjoy Bill McCuddy…he has class and is so very funny. I think he would do a better job running Red Eye than
the guy that tries to be funny running it. Imagine Bill tearing (in a funny way) into Friel. Anyway heads up Bill you deserve better…how about CNN or a Larry King stand in!!
Comment by Scrat — June 25, 2007 @ 4:38 am
Since the war began to go bad, FNC has switched from serious war coverage to making old men happpy with young babes. FNC is turning into maxim magazine on TV. (is that why they hired greg gutfeld)
Comment by JMK24 — June 25, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
LOL @ Amused! Love the GK comment! :)
Putting aside what some percieve at Fox canning the boys for the girls and all the animosity some have for FNC…..Since when is STAR magazine considered a worthy and realiable source for anything? I would be more concerned about the fact that STAR is being considered by FNC as being worthy and reliable enough to use as part of a news bit, regardless if it is celebrity centered or not.
Star is no different than The Enquireror (sp?).
Comment by jerziegrl — June 26, 2007 @ 7:47 am
What did happen to Lisa Bernhard? It seems like she just evaporated. Has anyone seen her on another network?
Comment by Tommy Jacobs — July 24, 2007 @ 6:52 pm
Maybe McCuddy can work on CW11 with Chris Knowles?
Comment by Bill — September 6, 2007 @ 4:55 am
It’s great to have this website, so we can find out where these talking heads all of a sudden (((vanish))))and know that it’s more than our loss of our minds.
Comment by Whitneymuse — November 14, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
Where is Bill McCuddy now? I miss him on Fox
Comment by Lynda Wiggins — April 13, 2009 @ 9:09 am