The Gung-Ho Morning Gang (Wash. Post Slags Fox & Friends, FR Mentioned)

The Washington Post ^ | Friday, April 4, 2003 | Paul Farhi

[kristinn]

"Good Morning America" it isn't. Nor is it the "Today" show or CBS's "Early Show." This is not your everyday feel-good, rise-and-shine TV show by any means.

On Fox News Channel's weekday morning show, "Fox & Friends," they start out swinging. Just after coming on the air at 7 a.m. on Monday, for example, co-hosts E.D. Hill and Brian Kilmeade were off and galloping before the coffee was cold.

SNIP

The audience for "Fox & Friends" has grown so large of late that it has begun to rival the broadcast networks' venerable morning shows. Its war-spiked Nielsens are now almost identical to what those of CBS's "Early Show" -- the No. 3 wake-up program -- were in the week before the war started.

SNIP

In any case, Hill, Doocy and Kilmeade have solicited viewers to send in "patriotic" photos. They have given plugs for conservative organizations such as Free Republic.com, but none for any moderate or left-of-center outfits. Their guest list has ranged from those supportive of the war (think tankers Peter Brookes and Michael O'Hanlon) to those who are aggressively promoting it (Randy Scheunemann of the Committee for the Liberation of Iraq).

SNIP

[lawgirl]

I LOVE F&F--and not just because they are hilarious. They also pull in the big guests- they can play with any of the other shows, and you don't have to listen to liberal dribble. Yay!

Besides, Brian Kilmeade won my UNDYING loyalty on 9/11 when he accosted Bill Clinton and went OFF on him, practically shouting at him "dont' you feel responsible for this?" I LOVED IT! The look on the Toon's face was priceless! After that, I will never, ever watch another morning show.

[ArrogantBustard]

I don't find ED Hill particularly bright, or Kilmeade for that matter.

They don't have to be. They have to be bright enough, and engaging enough, to keel the viewers watching and the experts talking. And to maintain a schedule of sorts. Anything beyond that is bonus, but not really necessary.

[TADSLOS]

Let 'em bitch and whine. They have exclusive control over all the other network news organizations, CNN and MSNBC. We have Fox, which makes thing nice, neat and simple for me. It also saves wear and tear on my remote control device.

[mollynme]

they refer to American and British forces as "we," "us" and "our" so often that it almost seems as if "Fox & Friends" is itself on the front lines.

It's that old "the home team announcers aren't supposed to show favoritism" idiocy. They wouldn't be happy unless Fox rooted equally for the Republican Guard!

[YaYa123]

I'm beaming after reading your reply!

If I could find FOX & Friends snail mail address, I would send the same "hot" items to them.

http://www.littlecajunoutpost.com/product.asp?3=219

[Interesting Times]

The with-us-or-against-us approach has helped "Fox & Friends" differentiate itself. It has also drawn viewers, pushing it far ahead of its cable news competition. "F&F" was already the top-rated show on cable among adults in its 7 to 9 a.m. time slot, with an average of 1.15 million viewers per day tuning in during the first three months of 2003. But its audience has exploded with the war. During the past two weeks, it has averaged more than 3.04 million viewers a day.

Among the programs "Fox & Friends" is steamrolling is CNN's "American Morning," hosted by Paula Zahn. Zahn left Fox News to start the CNN program nearly 19 months ago.

The audience for "Fox & Friends" has grown so large of late that it has begun to rival the broadcast networks' venerable morning shows. Its war-spiked Nielsens are now almost identical to what those of CBS's "Early Show" -- the No. 3 wake-up program -- were in the week before the war started. That's almost unheard of, considering that the broadcast networks enjoy a huge promotional advantage over cable, and are available in far more households.

One might possibly conclude from the above that "Fox & Friends" is doing something right.

I'm sure the Post also ran a major hit piece on Katie Couric's relentless propagandizing for leftist causes -- thereby demonstrating the balanced approach they claim to support -- but apparently I missed it.

[ewing]

From the article-'FOX and Friends' ratings are now tying the 3rd place (broadcast network) CBS Early Show marks from before the war started'

This has the libs scared to death..

[PfromHoGro]

Sa-weet!

Today’s exchange with col. Hunt & Kilmeade when Brian asked "..and take the city without taking it?" was a classic example their great repertoire (oh damn a French word- urgh.).

[Fighter@heart]

I find it rather ironic that when conservatives complain about the content of television the libs always retort "if ya don't like it.....turn the channel" yet when people turn to Fox news by their own volition and make their choice, it now becomes "unfair" because the libs views are not at the top of the "spew to America" list!

[YaYa123]

MSNBC just had a"exclusive, breaking news" segment...."Mustard and Cyanide agents found in Euphrates River".

I'm flipping to see if other networks are mentioning this... if this is MSNBC making a media mountain out of nothing, SHAME ON THEM. If it's as scary as Dr. Sue Bailey, their medical expert, is making it out to be, then kudos for them reporting this first.

[bray]

Is mancow still on or have they stopped since the war started. I can't seem to find him at the second hour?? If so, what time??

[sweetliberty]

I haven't seen him on for a couple of weeks, but I seldom get to watch the whole program so I am probably not the best source of information.

[dark_lord]

I have wondered is the real reason for those oil trench fires has been to destroy chemical weapon agents. They aren't hot enough for complete destruction (by American EPA standards) but would seriously degrade the chemical agents. Plus the heat and smoke particles would carry the agents up high where prevailing winds would disperse the remnants far away. This scenario would fit 2 "facts":
(1) That Iraqis in full chemical suits were reported rolling out drums of "something" a few days ago.
(2) That a lot of the Iraqi dead found in the final sweep to Baghdad were in full chemical suits.

Saddam may figure out he is doomed, but that if WMD are not found, Bush will lose the next election and so Saddam can "take Bush down with him."

[cinFLA]

"They have given plugs for conservative organizations such as Free Republic.com, but none for any moderate or left-of-center outfits."

And exacttly when was the last time the Today show gave a plug to a conservative group!

[cinFLA]

"but none for any moderate or left-of-center outfits. "

(tranlations)

moderate = democratic
left-of-center = communist/radical

[Im Your Huckleberry]

This is, indeed, another example of a lib going off their nut over the success of Fox News Channel.

Gee, let's see, recently we've had leftist nutcases like Garafolo call Fox News Channel viewers "stupid", we've had tirades from various celebraties and politicians, attacks and hit pieces from all sorts of left wing columnists.

Yup, Fox must be doing something right...they're reallygetting under the left's skin.

And with this kind of success, with Fox approaching the big three in numbers...you know that the left is going mad...

[FoxGirl]

Zahn left Fox News to start the CNN program nearly 19 months ago.

A few months back, Doocy walked over to the window where Zahn was doing a live broadcast. She turned around to see what was going on, and the expression on her face was priceless (i.e. not pleased. ha!) She eventually came outside to talk to Doocy, and tried to appear pleasant. F & F--the best!

[ewing]

ManCow is on hiatus until the war is over.

[Aquinasfan]

"Good Morning America" it isn't. Nor is it the "Today" show or CBS's "Early Show." This is not your everyday feel-good, rise-and-shine TV show by any means.

That's why we like it. Duh!

[Stand Watch Listen]

FYI...

Battle For Viewers Colors TV Pictures From Iraq
Source: Wall Street Journal; Published: April 4, 2003; Author: Emily Nelson