Is It Me?

Is it me, or am I tired of the ongoing stories on Curly Spears or the rotting corpse of Anna Nicole Smith?

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.

This Is A News Network?

Today marked the debut of one-time Maxim model Courtney Friel in the center chair on the weekend edition of Fox & Friends. I really did not bother to watch the show today. I was hoping after Kiran Chetry got the boot from Fox News that they would send a talented professional to fill the center chair at least until Alisyn Camerota returned from maternity leave. While it is true that this newcomer has a BA in political science and broadcast journalism and had worked at stations in Palm Springs and San Diego and at Court TV, I do not recall seeing swimwear pics of Jane Skinner, Laurie Dhue, or the departed Donna Fiducia on their web sites, though in the newcomer's case, her swimwear pics were taken down from her website yesterday, probably at FNC's behest. What highlights there may be on tomorrow's telecast would likely come from Uma Pemmaraju's news updates (substituting for Page Hopkins) . Now here's someone who should be seating at the center chair (the same might be said for Jane Skinner, Laurie Dhue, Lauren Green, Patti
Ann Browne, Molly Henneberg, you name it) . Uma's a true professional, who is scheduled to host Fox News Live with Eric Shawn during the 7-9AM Pacific Time period tomorrow morning.

Good News For Uma's Fans

According to the Fox News website, Uma Pemmaraju is scheduled to host Fox News Live this coming Sunday, starting at 7:00 AM Pacific Live. She'll likely host the first half-hour solo, then co-pilot the next 60 minutes with Eric Shawn.

Here's a chance to see a talented professional like Uma at work.

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.

Geraldo's Back

Beginning this coming Saturday and Sunday, Geraldo At Large will be airing at 5:00PM Pacific Time on the Fox News Channel.

Weekday Changes At FNC Beginning February 12

Here are some changes coming up as far as the weekday programming at Fox News Channel is concerned--all times Pacific:

Bill Hemmer (moving from 9AM weekdays) will be hosting the 6-8AM timeslot along with Megyn Kelly, with the two-hour block to be titled America's Newsroom.

E.D. Hill is moving from 7AM to 8AM.

Jon Scott is moving from 6AM to 9AM.

Those two hours would carry the Fox News Live label.

Programming from 10AM afterwards will remain intact.