The rise of Courtney Friel…
TVNewser writes about the rise of Courtney Friel’s airtime on FNC…
December 7, 2007
69 Comments »
TrackBack: http://insidecable.blogsome.com/2007/12/07/the-rise-of-courtney-friel/trackback/
RSS feed for comments on this post.
As Courtney’s air time on FNC increases, my viewership of FNC decreases…it’s a direct correlation….
Comment by CurrentlyAvailable — December 7, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
My viewing habits also follow that pattern, CA. How on earth do they keep giving her so much airtime when she hasn’t improved since she’s been there and competent, experienced (& beautiful) women are getting pushed aside?
Her one-year anniversary should be coming up soon which makes me wonder if they’ll keep her. According to the quote on TVN, Shine certainly lavishes her with rather faint praise.
Comment by Amused — December 7, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
Didn’t he just out the women complaining to him? The ones working with her lol. Seems like the Shine guy likes Corn Dogs willingness to help out on any shift.
Corn Dog probably loves working at FNC and the exposure it gives her instead of bouncing around doing all sorts of odd gigs so she’s doing everything she can to get renewed the next time around.
Comment by Lurker — December 7, 2007 @ 4:37 pm
dumb dumb da dumb… dumb, da dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb…
Comment by notmyrealname — December 7, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
More Courtney less Fox for me, also Heather Nauret is really
getting on my last nerve. Heather can’t string more than
three words together without messing up two. Yikes Fox get
a clue.
Comment by Liz — December 7, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
Oh, Liz, I thought it was just me…I don’t get to see much Big Story, but whenever I do turn it on, Heather messes up! I thought I just had bad timing LOL
Comment by CurrentlyAvailable — December 7, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
I don’t mind Heather so much because she seems to have a brain in her head, and she’s not metastasizing all over the network.
I also don’t watch Big Story very often.
Comment by Amused — December 7, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Heather trips over her words even when not reading the prompter lol. Gibson’s been neutered with the arrival of Heather.
Comment by Lurker — December 7, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
Every time I tune into FNC/FBN and Nauert or Glick are hosting, they always manage to flub before I change the channel. So, I guess they must spend the majority of time correcting themselves. Now, if that doesn’t lower moral in the makeup room, I don’t know what does!
Comment by Terance — December 7, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
First they ruin The Big Story. Gibson doesn’t need any help, especially what Heather brings to the table. As for Courtney, I don’t know what she has on somebody but as for me, no how, no way, no weekends for Fox. No matter what you thought of Gallagher, he was at least able to speak coherently with brains behind it. Now it’s just short skirts and cleavage and less viewers.
Comment by Dee — December 7, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
Man I thought I was alone in thinking that Heather really
took over and she is horrible as far as I can see. She really emasculated poor John Gibson. Again what is wrong with Fox?
Comment by Liz — December 7, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
It gotta be the shoes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbVgvBFj8YE
Comment by Jim — December 7, 2007 @ 5:44 pm
Bring back Rudi. Anyone know where she is now?
Comment by Ely — December 7, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
I’m a guy, and I can’t understand why other guy’s like Friel. She’s spacy, boring and not a great newscaster.
Comment by Charles — December 7, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
I agree with the comments above; the week that Heather was out and they had others substituting, it made you realize how bad she is and a poor fit with John Gibson.
As for Courtney Friel - what a joke. I’m sure it’s her “positive attitude” that gets her airtime. The crazy thing is that most women on TV are beautiful, so why do you have to go with someone so wooden and untalented?
Comment by Enquiring Minds Want to Know — December 7, 2007 @ 5:51 pm
Is Laurie Dhue 6′3″ or 5′11″?
Comment by RJ — December 7, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Bad move are the part of Fox.
Courtney Friel is in a bit over her head, she was on Red Eye a few times and she was just plain uncomfortable to watch.
I think Freil and Nauret need less airtime and Uma (smarter and more professional) more.
Comment by 186 — December 7, 2007 @ 6:15 pm
More Uma and more Trace Gallagher.
Comment by Carol — December 7, 2007 @ 6:22 pm
Give her a break…!
Comment by NewChallenger — December 7, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Readers of ICN have been saying for weeks and weeks that Courntey is a joke.
By continuing to put this empty head on, FNC is experiencing the incredible shrinking weekend.
And there is no chance she will ever grow a brain.
Comment by Cella — December 7, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
I empathize with these people on this matter. I think the Fox News collective has a right to expect news readers with an average intelligence higher than their own.
Comment by elmonica — December 7, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
I too don’t understand why Fox is pushing Courtney and Heather so much…also the girl that does entertainment. They need to bring back the guy that was doing et. Fox will definitely loose viewers by keeping them on as they should. Uma, Harris and Patty Ann are so much better.
Comment by Gloria — December 7, 2007 @ 7:34 pm
Heather degraded the BIG STORY….. And Friel needs to be on the Nickolodean….. Whats next…. Friel co-hosting with HUMe?
Comment by avi — December 7, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
I agree with Charles’ post above. As a guy I just don’t understand what’s so great about Friel. She’s moderately attractive, at best, and her “airheadedness” even negates that. I’m stumped as to why she gets the airtime she does.
Comment by spiffo — December 7, 2007 @ 9:06 pm
Yeah, has Ailes been on vacation? Who’s keeping that Friel girl? She keeps reappearing on RedEye, and has failed to tell a single joke that was funny, and I laugh at practically everything. ROGER, you of all people, with all your sense of humor, do something about that girl. She’s a disaster. She can read a prompter well. Relegate her to that, and stop abusing us with her other appearances.
Comment by Haile Welde — December 7, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
It’s so pleasing to see so many of you have finally left the “Dark Side” and have come to realize what I’ve said for quite some time …..”Gibby owns the room when he flies solo. Heather Nauert is nothing but ice on his wings and will cause the Big Story to go “Pam Am 103″ all over the place. Dee (#10) is right Heather stinks. She had better get off of Gibby’s coat tails and decide to take another semester at the Jr. College where she studied Media Journalism just so she can quit speaking like Mel Tillis. “Tha,thu thu,tha….thu, thu that’s all folks!”.
Comment by Roger C. — December 7, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
I would love for John Gibson to read these posts about Heather. Anyone know his email address?
Comment by sophia — December 7, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
So Patti Ann Browne, Uma Pemmaraju and Laurie Dhue dont have a “positive attitude and willingness to help out on any shift”?
Patti Ann Browne only does fill-in shifts, Uma was doing overnight news updates some days the last few weeks.
Laurie Dhue only does The FOX Report Weekend.
All three should be used over Friel.
Comment by Richard W. — December 7, 2007 @ 11:57 pm
I stop watching FNC win Courtney Friel is on.Courtney is on FNC 7 day a week.
Yes give more air to Patti Ann.
Comment by Dan — December 8, 2007 @ 12:47 am
Add me to the more Friel/less FNC group. I went from leaving my TV on 24/7 to watching Red Eye and occasionally Studio B…maybe if there’s a big breaking story.
Comment by Sarah — December 8, 2007 @ 1:36 am
Richard W - I saw Patti Ann Browne hosting the other day and she was complaining to some guy about working the night shift.. it was about that story dealing with the “graveyard shift” causing cancer or something like that.
Comment by Terance — December 8, 2007 @ 8:25 am
Does Fox have any intentions to promote nay of the minority women to present the news?
Harris Faulkner could be one of them.
She seems very good
Comment by Sandy — December 8, 2007 @ 9:56 am
Richard W., I don’t think Shine was saying (or implying) that PAB, Uma and Laurie don’t have good attitudes and aren’t willing to work all shifts. I think he was asked to comment on a rather negative story and was just trying to say something positive about what has obviously turned out to be a rather costly mistake - the hiring of Friel. It’s not like he could come out and respond to the story by saying “Yeah, she’s a big dud. Beautiful, but a total dud and boy am I getting such crap from Murdoch and Ailes for this boneheaded move!”
And he couldn’t credibly praise her intelligence or journalism skills.
Then again, maybe he really believes she’s the reincarnation of Edward R. Murrow.
Comment by Amused — December 8, 2007 @ 9:56 am
How costly could Friel be? If the reports are true and Fox was only offering Kiran $400,000+ a year. How much could Courtney really be making?
I think she’ll get dumped when her contracts up and pop up at one of those celeb magazines and be a tv spokesperson for them.
I had positive vibes about her the 1st time she appeared on FNC on Hannity. He asked her if she was a Republican or Democrat and she came back with a witty reply saying she’s Fair & Balanced.
Then it went all downhill from there.
Comment by Lurker — December 8, 2007 @ 11:07 am
#31 Terrance-
Patti Ann was doing a segment on a new study that found that working the graveyard shift probably is a contributor to getting cancer. The doctor she was talking to was one of the early researchers to target this lack of sleep on a graveyard as a health risk. Patti Ann was mentioning when early in her career she worked the overnight shift for over a year and how difficult it makes getting sleep.
Patti Ann was NOT complaining about doing the occassional overnight shift at Fox News.
There isn’t an hour of the day that Patti Ann hasn’t worked when asked too. I can’t recall any time Patti Ann has said she wouldn’t work any day or any hours. Patti Ann is an excellent and smart anchor, a beautiful lady and a team player.
Comment by malone — December 8, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Just maybe the left is behind all of this…the more bimbos the less viewers…I agree I find Courtney Friel to be totaly nauseating. Give me Uma, Harris, Patti Ann. FNC get it together!
Comment by Patrick Brent — December 8, 2007 @ 2:02 pm
I have to say I was never a big fan of Patti Ann’s before she started appearing on Red Eye and I realized she was a completely different person than I’d always assumed. Even on a show like that, I prefer her, Harris, Janice, etc over Friel and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Comment by Sarah — December 8, 2007 @ 2:05 pm
I hope someone over at FNC is reading these comments and does something about Courtney. She needs to go back to her poker tournament coverages and her layouts in Maxim/FHM. She is beautiful, but her beauty does not match her brains. She cannot cover any sort of breaking or hard news. She struggles to read the TelePromTer (or however you spell it) and just cannot do a good segue to another story or another anchor for that matter.
I am a strong supporter of FNC and watch mostly all day, but I too turn it off the minute she appears. She is unwatchable.
Comment by jerziegrl — December 8, 2007 @ 3:18 pm
You must realize that Courtney Friel is the future of FNC. Yes those other women may be jeolous of her but they must realize that they may have build Fox News Channel over the last 11 years. The future is Friel, Gretson Carlson, Megan Kelly.
Those female anchor that are complaining about Friel ie: Brigette Quinn, Jamie Colby and Julie Banderas had better realize just how lucky they are to be on the air FNC. They could have there air time eliminated or be out the door like Uma, Patti Ann Brown or Donna Fidusa.
Friel is the future of FNC and you had better learn to like it because nobody in the FNC management really gives a care what you or I think.
Comment by louis — December 8, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Malone, I can smell the fan boy cologne from here, eh. Look, PAB stumbles on breaking news and isn’t very good. So, deal with it.
Comment by Terance — December 8, 2007 @ 3:32 pm
Oooh, Terance, ooooh. You’re going to get in trouble for saying that!
Apparently this site hosts the collective of PAB fans. Which I guess is good… because I’ve never actually met one in real life… And those 6 people needed to find each other.
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 8, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
ImNotBlue, you should’ve read what I wrote before my revised edition.. There is no sense in acting like its some mystery why this woman doesn’t get more airtime. Because all you have to do is watch. Now, of course I’m not saying Friel is better at hosting/anchoring/newsbreaks than PAB.. or even better looking.
Comment by Terance — December 8, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
^34: Lurker, someone at FNC really wanted her there because they stuck her husband on a Fox-owned MyNetwork affiliate in the NYC area, and I remember reading some blog where someone had photos of her during NYC’s Fashion Week and pointed out the Christian Louboutin shoes she was wearing. Those puppies cost many hundreds per pair. When I read that, I realized that she has to be pulling down some significant bucks.
Comment by Amused — December 8, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
^38: Louis, if this is the future of FNC, then I won’t be watching. I don’t need my intelligence insulted.
There is no comparison between Friel vs. Carlson and Kelly, because the latter two have brains, maturity and have actually earned their jobs.
Comment by Amused — December 8, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
#38 I unfortunately have to agree with you. Courtney Friel is the future of Fox. I was a big fan of Brigitte Quinn for years and she was demoted. The rating however show that the younger, less experienced and lower salaried anchor is the future not just at Fox but around the country. If you have knowledge, experience and talent you cost to much. Business in general wants the cheaper worker.
Comment by Michelle — December 8, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
The first time I saw Courtney was when they brought her in to sit in the middle chair on Fox & Friends after Kiran Chetry and Fox abruptly parted ways. The two Kellys kept talking about Fox flying her in from the west coast and how good looking she was. It was as if they were saying Kiran’s gone but look who we brought in to take her place.
Both Fox & Friends weekends and the regular Fox & Friends show during the week have gone down the tubes since Kiran, Juliet and E.D. Hill have moved on.
The only reason I can think of for Fox to keep shoving Courtney in front of the camera is they have her signed to a contract and are determined to use her in some way until it runs out.
Comment by DonDeAgo — December 8, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Watching what you are calling the future of Fox makes me
regret having burned my bra in the sixties, because these
women are not the reason. Some of them are so bad you can
feel your IQ points drop by just watching. V.scary.
Comment by Liz — December 8, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
Let’s first correct a lie from Michelle and others:
1. Because of family commitments, Brigitte Quinn asked for a lighter work load, she was not demoted.
2. The ratings for Fox and Friends both weekday and weekend versions are steady. And sorry to disappoint some, but those numbers mean more to Ailes and Co. than what anonymous people write on a blog.
3. Maybe Spud can do some investigating, but I would guess that the ratings of the new Saturday afternoon FNC lineup that includes the two hours of Courtney Friel with Julie Bandaras, Greg Jarrett and Griff Jenkins are also holding their own.
Having previously seen her on the World Poker Tour where I thought she did OK, I am also disappointed with Courtney Friel’s performance since coming to Fox. But it appears that she is really slated for covering entertainment news such as the “Lips and Ears” feature she does on the web site. Given that she is the 4th wheel on a Saturday afternoon show, I don’t think Friel has anything to do with Uma, Patty Ann Browne or anybody else getting less face time.
Guys and especially the gals above, get over her!
Comment by Ira — December 8, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
If Friel is getting more time, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to observe that others like Uma are getting less.
Why should the gals “get over her”. They paid their dues a lot more than this ditz ever did. It will be interesting to see how the ratings go over time with “Bubbles” on the set.
And the “new Saturday lineup” with everyone on the couch looks more like the check-out line at Wal-Mart. Can’t someone at Fox figure out a schedule that lasts more than one month?
Comment by Dee — December 8, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
Dee: I meant that the gals who posted above should “get over her”.
Comment by Ira — December 8, 2007 @ 11:32 pm
#46, I disagree with you concerning the state of Fox and Friends weekdays and weekends. Since Gretchen has gotten settled during the week and Paige Hopkins took over on the weekends, the shows seem to have rebounded. The ratings during the week still dominate in both total viewers and the demo and have even beaten The CBS “Early Show” a couple of times. Paige Hopkins is a great fit between Greg and Kelly on the weekends.
I also want to digress from the topic at hand and agree with number 45. In companies today (not only in media but elsewhere), if you start making too much money, there is a big target on your back and they start looking for reasons to demote or let you go. I’ve seen it happen and it’s not pretty. I think that’s one of the reasons people are still pessimistic about the economy despite good economic statistics.
Comment by Scott — December 9, 2007 @ 2:23 am
Might be the body Charles. She’s not bad to look at either!
Comment by Stinger53 — December 9, 2007 @ 2:38 am
Terance, am I supposed to be insulted that you call me a “fan boy”? Sorry, it didn’t work. I have never made a secret of my being a fan of PAB. I will gladly wear the title “PABfanboy”. I see nothing wrong with my being a fan of PAB, just as there is nothing wrong with your being a fan of VDLC. Although in the future, when you live in a glass house you might want to be careful about throwing stones.
Maybe you just don’t like being corrected with the facts rather than allowing your spin on PAB’s interview to stand unchallenged.
We have differing opinions of Patti Ann’s talents. I can agree to disagree, and let this drop. Can you? I am sure spud would prefer we did.
ImNotBlue, what can I say? If your clever wit was atmosphere I am sure you would be found on the moon.
Comment by malone aka "PABfanboy" — December 9, 2007 @ 4:55 am
Ira says CF is a poker player, huh? I like the poke-her game myself.
Comment by Roger C. — December 9, 2007 @ 9:53 am
Ira, anonymous people who post on a blog are also viewers who turn the channel - or turn off the TV. They’re also people who write to station executives and advertisers - they even participate in Neilsen surveys, when asked to do so.
As for the gals here “getting over” Friel, I suppose it is happening…as the gals seem to be turning off FNC in droves. And why use the term “gals?” Was “babes” or “dolls” not patronizing enough?
Stinger53, the body is a stuffed bra and Spanx. In a display of journalistic skill and personal dignity, she pulled the padded inserts out of her top on Red Eye one night.
Roger, Friel was a hostess on the World Poker Tour, not a poker player.
Comment by Amused — December 9, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Malone, it wasn’t meant as an insult. The “fanboy” term was used to snap you back into reality. In other words, someone who dreams about PAB all the time is the last person to give an honest opinion. I am right and you are lovelorn, got it? Anyway, why are you trying to play the VDLC card? HA! I watch the woman, I like the woman, but I’m not infatuated with her. Oh, and do you see me posting that she’s the best anchor ever? No you don’t. See, thats the main difference between me and you. Obviously PAB isn’t the best and most beautiful or FNC wouldn’t have her hanging tough on the radio, eh. Oh finally, do you record her radio hits??
Comment by Terance — December 9, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Friel, I suppose it is happening…as the gals seem to be turning off FNC in droves.
Amused: Some (ratings) proof, please!
Comment by Ira — December 9, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
It is as if with the downward spiral of what is considered ‘newsworthy’ (the Anna Nicole Smith story, Britney, Paris Hilton, etc.), so spirals down what Fox News, formerly so classy, looks for in a ‘newscaster’ as well. So sad. Just further evidence, in my opinion, that the end times are drying closer fast.
Comment by homeschooler — December 9, 2007 @ 5:12 pm
Sorry - edit that last comment to read “drawing closer,” not drying closer - ha.
Comment by homeschooler — December 9, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Ira, I don’t know of any ratings that specifically look at women disgusted with the bimbofication of Fox, but just a look at this thread (and any thread about Friel) shows women turning away from Fox. Many women I know personally who used to watch Fox on a regular basis have become repulsed enough by the bimbo infestation that they hardly watch the network any more, if at all.
Comment by Amused — December 9, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
I have to agree with “Amused”. As a woman, I find the bimbos humiliating. I suppose every woman would like to be beautiful, young, slim, smart, etc. But “using” it like Fox does is a real turnoff. I automatically turned on Fox every day, especially weekends, from Studio B to the Fox Report. Now that only happens during the week with Shep and Trace. If they want to go downhill, that’s their choice but I’m not going with them.
Comment by Dee — December 9, 2007 @ 9:02 pm
Well put, Dee. Earlier, we were watching Julie B. and Gregg J. cover the tragic shootings in Colorado and I realized that because of the serious nature of the story, Friel wasn’t on. It’s as if she “needs to be benched” (what one male relative who was watching with me actually said) when hard news is breaking.
Why is Fox making such a constant, high profile presence out of someone who is incapable of handling serious news? What’s the use of having someone with a “positive attitude and willingness to help out on any shift” if she can’t cover serious, breaking news?
I don’t care what anchors and reporters look like, as long as they’re not so repugnant that they cause people to vomit on sight. Just give me people who know what they’re talking about, have an appropriate demeanor (not flipping their hair and staring at themselves in the monitor when it’s not their turn to speak) and have a good personality and rapport with others. Yes, it’s nice to look at attractive people, but when they’re stupid and behave inappropriately, I don’t continue to watch.
I really like Gregg and Julie, but I tend to avoid their show unless there’s some breaking news or I know that I’ll only be tuning in for a few minutes and it’s not near the time for headline reading.
On a sort of related note, what’s the point of Suzanne Sena’s presence at Fox? She is certainly beautiful, but is very light on news experience. Most of her past work experience is in entertainment TV and lifestyle hosting. Is there a shortage of women at Fox to read news headlines on the overnights and on a fill-in basis? Considering the other Fox women who are watching their on-air time rapidly diminish, I don’t understand why someone with so little news experience (Sena) was brought in for an on-air job.
I don’t understand what the higher ups at Fox are doing, but I do know that I don’t automatically leave Fox on as my “default background noise” at home very much anymore. Maybe they want younger (and hornier) viewers, and don’t value my demographics any longer.
Comment by Amused — December 9, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
I don’t believe the line “positive attitude and willingness to fill in” for a moment. I watched Trace Gallagher fill in for Bill Hemmer in the AM right through the Fox Report for Shep Smith, 11 hours a day, for a full week. You can see his reward. Handsome men need not apply.
Comment by Dee — December 9, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
I definitely think it extends beyond women…many of my male friends and relatives have expressed their distaste for this sort of thing in relation to FNC. As a matter of fact, I was sitting with my parents yesterday when Friel came on (I can’t remember what story she was doing as I tried to tune her out, but I do remember her making a borderline tasteless joke about Mexicans, maybe?…) and my father says, “What is that, what is she wearing, and what the hell is she talking about?” Then he flipped to HLN.
Comment by Sarah — December 9, 2007 @ 11:05 pm
I think Trace Gallagher is very handsome.
Comment by Carol — December 10, 2007 @ 9:46 am
More from TVN…
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fnc/the_friel_factor_reactions__72612.asp
Comment by Amused — December 10, 2007 @ 3:26 pm
The Big Story with John Gibson is best WITHOUT Heather Nauert, I rarely watch it now - Gibson needs no help, especially from Heather. As for Courtney Friel, where did FOX find her, she only takes away from FOX.
Comment by Carol — January 2, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
Seems to me the answer to why Fox is trying Courtney Friel in different spots is obvious… they are trying to pull in a different demographic from their traditional veiwers. If a few young guys in their 20’s and 30’s who watch the Poker Tournaments start watching Fox because of her, maybe they will be exposed to something other than liberal media hype. from
Comment by IndependentVoter — January 5, 2008 @ 4:36 pm
this is a great find…the site….Can’t stand Nauert either….Find myself constantly flipping to another channel to find some intelligent patter at 5PM ET, That’s not Chris Matthews or Wolfie with the “best” political whatevers in the business…..
Shaking my head…glad I’m not the only one FOX could give an EF about…..Where is GIbson?
Comment by Whitneymuse — October 31, 2008 @ 5:01 pm