New hire seen softening Fox [Re: Geraldo Rivera and Greta Van Susteren hires]

Washington Times ^ | Friday, January 4 2002 | By Jennifer Harper

[JohnHuang2]

The Fox News Channel has press and public in an uproar over Geraldo Rivera and Greta Van Susteren, both recent celebrated hires from rival networks CNBC and CNN.

Their pasts have accompanied them. Mr. Rivera has been called a "Clinton apologist" while Miss Van Susteren was labeled a "Starr basher" for her takes on former independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr and President Clinton's impeachment hearings.

[JohnHuang2]

Quote of the Day by Excuse_My_Bellicosity

[brat]

Let us hope and pray Fox isn't softening, or it will enjoy the same fate as CNNCBSABCNBC etc. Diane Diamond is also on Fox...she was Geraldo's sidekick who supported everything Clinton and bashed everything Bush.

[goldstategop]

Roger Ailes hired liberals not so much for news balance as to give conservative devotees of Fox News much needed comic relief. There's only so much conservative serious news all the time one can take. And when Geraldo Rivera and Greta Van Sustern come on it gives conservatives the chance to get belly laughs and throw their popcorn at the TV.

[Major Matt Mason]

The pair boast considerable, sometimes abrasive on-camera prowess. But viewers and pundits alike think their arrival at Fox signals that the network is muting, if not abandoning, its nervy, conservative identity in a media marketplace long dominated by the liberal mind-set.

So, between the hours of 8-11, we'll be treated to the rapidly disappointing Bill O'Reilly, 3 libs (Rivera, Van Sustern, Colmes), and one conservative (Hannity). Sounds like Fox will be a lot like the other networks, which means more liberal than conservative. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.

[DoughtyOne]

Softening Fox? What a riot! I'm sure they're just as concerned with softening the liftist tripe spewed by CNN.

[DoughtyOne]

Thought the Washington Times was above this type of bilge.

[KneelBeforeZod]

you never know... I watched Barbara Simpson on KTVU for years and years....I NEVER would have guessed she is is as hard core conservative as she is.

Maybe GVS will do something similar...come out of her shell.

[johnny7]

Dear Greta is a whore for the dems. Plain and simple.

Van Cistern is just another lib/lackey brought to FOX to negate its relevance.

Next up?... maybe Lanny Davis. He's sure to be fair and un-biased.

Makes me want to puke! FOX is owned by a pimp and now he's filling the stables.

Van Cistern has obviously had a stroke. Either that or she once dated Mike Tyson.

[Eva]

Greta Von Sustern is a scientologist. As such, I find it difficult to value any of her opinions. She will, however, make an adequate replacement for Paula Zahn and her psychics. They are equally vacuous.

[goldstategop]

Liberal Laffs R Us for conservative Fox afficianados. Film at 11.

[Chapita]

************"There's only so much conservative serious news all the time one can take."***********************************************

You can only stomach so much truth at one sitting, huh?

[JZoback]

Roger Alies has one concern and only one:

Ratings (duh)

If he can swing a couple of rating points with both of these losers, then he will.

It's not about politics, it's about money

[Caipirabob]

I can turn off FOX just as easily as I can block CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and NBC. I have the internet, why do I even need TV? If FOX falls, not too much of an impact in my life.

The REAL issue is that this is an election year. Just how are these new liberal spew-masters going to behave on FOX? It's not like the RATS need another platform to promote their conservative bashing propaganda.

I hope the rest of FOX's viewers will express their disgust to FOX's sponsers if Geraldo and Grimy start their liberal BS up again.

[reformed_democrat]

"There's only so much conservative serious news all the time one can take

You can only stomach so much truth at one sitting, huh?

Actually, Roger Ailes is simply trying to snare more viewers. He realizes he already has the entire conservative population of the US sewed up, and is trying to make headway in other population sectors, like the stupid liberal market.

The stupid liberal market is populated by people who will watch anything that has a vaguely familiar ring to it, regardless of whether the actual shows are related -- All In The Family spawned Family Ties, Momma's Family, etc. Roger Ailes plans to move Alan Colmes elsewhere, and will replace him with Van Susteren. The show will then be titled Hannity and Greta, thereby guaranteeing a ratings boost as the stupid liberal market tunes in to see the new fairy-tale show.

[spycatcher]

Greta the Scientologist is bad TV, at least Geraldo is entertaining

[jfa1]

Maybe GVS will do something similar...come out of her shell.

I doubt we'll see any huge changes in Greta. She's a liberal, married to one of Clinton's former lawyers.

Personally, I find her to be more "fair and balanced" than Paula Zahn.