The scandal that brought down Roger Ailes couldn’t have echoed longer if it had happened in the Grand Canyon. The rumble continues to reverberate across the media landscape. This week: Alisyn Camerota’s Must-See Interview About Being Sexually Harassed And Bullied By Roger Ailes To Be More Conservative.
When draining the swamp, there is muck — and leeches — left behind. Pundits are pointing at Bill Shine, who covered up for Ailes & Bill O’Reilly, as Hannity comes to his rescue. Meanwhile, New York Magazine asks the musical question Is a Management Shake-up Looming at Fox News?
But privately, Shine is expressing concern about his future at the network. According to three sources briefed on the conversations, Shine has told friends he recently asked Rupert’s sons James and Lachlan — the CEO and co-chairman, respectively, of network parent company 21st Century Fox — to release a statement in support of him, but they refused to do so. The sources said Shine made the request because of withering press coverage of Fox News in recent weeks. A source added that Shine has privately complained that Rupert “isn’t fighting for him” in the press, which is why he wanted explicit support from the sons.
Aside from Shine, reporters have started asking uncomfortable questions about The forgotten sexual harassment scandal at Fox News, reminding readers Foxy Friend Steve Doocy was also part of Gretchen Carlson’s complaint that brought down Ailes. Think Progress’ Editor-in-Chief Judd Legum provides a sexist Fox & Friends supercut from Bloomberg…
…and, finishes his article with:
But how can real change be possible if serious allegations against one of its most prominent personalities go unaddressed?
According to Glenn Beck, quoted in the Hollywood Reporter:
Fox & Friends hosts Steve Doocy and Gretchen Carlson “hated each other,” Beck said Monday, but Doocy was an “FOR,” a term known to Fox News insiders that meant he was a Friend of Roger [Ailes].
With Ailes gone, who is protecting Doocy now? Maybe no one. Even the Daily Caller, Tucker Carlson’s former rag, is ready to put Dooce on the Loose, as his absurd Man in the Street segments are called. From Saving Fox News, pegged as an opinion piece:
There is some dead wood. Steve Doocy fails to meet even the minimum standards for objectivity. ‘Fox and Friends’ seems to exist in a universe utterly without editorial oversight. Granted, this is morning programming, but he consistently reflects poorly on the program, the producers and the network.
In other words: Echoes of Ailes™ will continue with headlines like: There Are Good Men at Fox News. It’s Time To Hear From Them. • S.E. Cupp calls for men at Fox News to speak out • EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Fox News big Roger Ailes, network set up harassment campaign against Andrea Tantaros, suit charges • Beyond Sexual Harassment, Lesser Known Scandals Could Cost The Murdochs A $14B Deal
But, there’s worse news for Fox:
Federal Probe Into Fox News
Channel May Be Widening (Reports)
Former Fox News staffers interviewed
in federal investigation of network
The hits just keep on coming.
THE ROLLER COASTER AT WATTERS’ WORLD: Loofah Lad’s protege, Jesse Watters, looks like Fox News’s next big headache, after he made a sexual innuendo at the expense of First — but not last — Daughter Ivanka Trump. First eviscerated for that crass moment, he was then roasted for this lame excuse that took 12 hours to make up:
On air I was referring to Ivanka's voice and how it resonates like a smooth jazz radio DJ. This was in no way a joke about anything else.
— Jesse Watters (@jessebwatters) April 26, 2017
Then — without warning — Fox News Host Jesse Watters Takes Abrupt Vacation After Ivanka Trump Comment, just like Loofah Lad did before his firing.
“I’m going to be taking a vacation with my family, so I’m not going to be here tomorrow,” he said, according to Business Insider. “I’ll be back on Monday, so don’t miss me too much.”
If Watters meets with the Pope this weekend, that’s as good as white smoke up the chimney that he’s a goner.
LOOFAH LAD LEFTOVERS: He may be gone, but he’s hardly forgotten. Like Ailes, The Falafel King’s scandals will continue to echo, especially since he continued his daily podcast with a metaphor, or his next book title: “Killing My Career”?
Bill O’Reilly: ‘People Are
Trying To Kill Me Right Now’
O’Reilly said he wouldn’t be here if his father had been killed in the war.
“And a lot of people are trying to kill me right now, as you know,” O’Reilly said. “But we’re going to tough that one out.”
He then recommended his book as “a great Father’s Day/Mother’s Day gift.”
Ever the shill.
However, there’s more bad news: Several media organizations are looking into whether to sue Loofah Lad for copyright infringement for playing fast and loose, as he steals articles and pastes them verbatim behind his paywall. Fair Use or foul?
Meanwhile, Shouldn’t Bill O’Reilly’s Abusive Behavior On The Air Have Gotten Him Fired Long Ago? • Even Bill O’Reilly’s fans wanted him fired, poll shows • What does Bill O’Reilly’s fall mean for right-wing media? • Why Bill O’Reilly Became Media’s New Obsession • “Oh, Boy”: Media Matters Bill O’Reilly Ad In The Hollywood Reporter • Fans Feel Robbed of Bill O’Reilly, but Stick With Fox • Keith Olbermann Details Feud With Bill O’Reilly, Warns of ‘Billo’ Comeback
Not forgotten. But I’m trying.
SEAN’S SHINY OBJECT: Last Alpha Male standing, and Trump Pal Sean Hannity, Accused Of Sexual Harassment As Fox News Scandal Grows. When Sean Hannity issues dire warning about the ‘total end’ of Fox News a new crazy conspiracy theory, is this merely a distraction, just like a Trump Tweet?
Who’s the next one out the door? Shine, Watters, or Scammity?
RACISM IS AS RACISM DOES: It’s not just charges of sexism that Fox “News” must contend with:
Nine Black Employees Are Now
Suing Fox News For Racial Harassment
Latest Lawsuit Alleges Black Fox Employees
Forced to Arm Wrestle for Entertainment
Fox News Anchor Among Group Alleging
Racial Discrimination In Class-Action Suit
The complaint says O’Reilly refused to allow [Kelly] Wright to discuss growing racial tension in the U.S. on “The O’Reilly Factor,” instead saying the host should call up network executives and “offer to sing the national anthem at the Fox News Town Halls.”
“Despite his outstanding performance, and because he is black, Mr. Wright has been effectively sidelined and asked to perform the role of a ‘Jim Crow’ ― the racist caricature of a black entertainer,” the suit continues. “Rather than viewing Mr. Wright as the two time Emmy Award recipient that he is, O’Reilly saw Mr. Wright as an entertainer and utility player.”
As always, Fox denies. More to come…
TUCKERED OUT: Tucker Carlson’s only had the 8PM slot for a few days, but already: 1). Fox “News” is celebrating the return of advertisers who bailed; 2). Neo-Nazis are celebrating his dog whistle ascendancy; 3). Conservatives are celebrating the ratings, as if the number of cult followers equals any kind of truth. Meanwhile, Tuck’s written a book and there’s a bidding war approaching $15 million.
No matter, because Fox’s New Evening Lineup Is O’Reillyism Without O’Reilly, with Fox feces like:
Tucker Carlson Mocks Louise
Mensch, Democrats Over
Speculative Trump-Russia ‘Rumors’
“Are you familiar with a woman called Louise Mensch?”
When his guest replied negatively, Carlson contended that “she seems to be acting as a kind of oppo-researcher for the Democratic National Committee. And she’s made a series of claims about Russian collusion — for example, that Russia ran a sustained campaign against African-Americans in this last election. Does that sound plausible to you?”
Rep. Maloney countered that the Fox News personality was asking about subjects he wasn’t familiar with. Carlson retorted, “Here’s my point: the left, as a group, has embraced the Russia-explains all theory as a kind of unified field theory of everything.”
More proof he doesn’t care about dialogue, but is all about the “gotcha”, whether his guests play along, or not.
PASSAGES:
Fox & Friends anchor Heather Nauert
named State Department spokesperson
‘There Are Risks’: Fox’s Janice Dean
Returns to Air, Opens Up About
Cosmetic Procedure Gone Wrong
BONUS UGLINESS:
Nearly Every Sanctuary City Lie
Packed Into One Fox Segment
FOX BYTES: Greg Gutfeld Puts Out A Call For Anti-Choice Violence: ‘They Should Start A War’ • Fox & Friends Suggests Trump Pay For The Wall Through Corporate Sponsorships • Fox Business Host: Trump’s Tax Plan Is Being Criticized “By People Who Don’t Pay Taxes At All” • Right-Wing Media Figures Want Trump To Shut Down The Government So They Can Blame Democrats
This week Headly Westerfield took the Not Now Silly Newsroom on a road trip to Look Ed Henry of Fox “News” In The Eye. Hilarity ensues.
- Friday Fox Follies: Trump Tee Vee - Fri, Jun 23rd, 2017
- Friday Fox Follies: Fair & Balanced No More - Fri, Jun 16th, 2017
- Friday Fox Follies: Comey Comedy Cavalcade - Fri, Jun 9th, 2017
