A revolving door of cable news show hosts continued spinning Thursday as Tucker Carlson got a new gig at Fox News, while former colleague Greta Van Sustern got a new home at MSNBC.
Two days after Megyn Kelly announced she was leaving a popular Fox perch for NBC News, Fox moved quickly and promoted Carlson to her prime-time spot. That leaves its primary evening line-up resembling an all-white male media country club, at least during its most-watched time periods.
Van Susteren left Fox last year amid what was said to be partial chagrin over allegations of then-Fox boss Roger Ailes’ treatment of women. The attorney-turned-cable pundit-turned show host had originally come from CNN. Now she will have spun a cable trifecta.
She was replaced at 7 p.m. eastern by Carlson. Now she’ll get an hour at 6 p.m. Eastern, to be called, “For the Record” and based in Washington, where she lives.
In a message to staff, MSNBC chief Phil Griffin said, “As you all know, Greta is a true pro with a proven record of tough journalism. Her broad range of experience and sharp news judgment will be of great value to MSNBC as we build on our momentum going into a new year and a new administration.”
Carlson will get Kelly’s 9 p.m. Eastern period, where Kelly oversaw a sharp rise in audience in recent years. He will be succeeded in the 7 p.m. slot by Martha MacCallum.
That would appear to leave CNN’s Don Lemon as the lone non-white cable TV news host in prime time.
Chief Media Writer
New York City native, graduate of Collegiate School, Amherst College and Roosevelt University. Married to Cornelia Grumman, dad of Blair and Eliot. National columnist, U.S. News & World Report. Former managing editor and Washington Bureau Chief, Chicago Tribune. Former Washington Bureau Chief, New York Daily News. Current or former contributor to The Atlantic, Huffington Post, Vanity Fair, Daily Beast, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.
