Gretchen Carlson’s New Fox Show ‘The Real Story’ To Debut Sep. 30 After ‘Fox & Friends’ Departure
Fans of former “Fox & Friends” host Gretchen Carlson can finally rest easy; the popular news personality finally has an official start date for her new Fox venture. On Wednesday, more than two months after the network announced that she would be replaced on “Fox & Friends” by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Fox revealed that Carlson would be hosting a new show called “The Real Story,” premiering on Monday, Sept. 30.
In a prepared statement, the network said that “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson” would air at 2 p.m. ET, and would “focus on all current events from general news and crime to politics and investigative reports.”
“In this new role, Carlson will interview newsmakers and lead in-depth panel debates, lending viewers context and perspective on the headlines of the day,” the statement said. “The program will also utilize media to explore trending news stories and enlist viewer feedback.”
"Throughout her career, Gretchen has showcased her talents as a strong interviewer and skilled moderator, both of which will serve her well as she offers viewers a fresh take on the news,” Fox Executive Vice President of News Michael Clemente said.
Carlson’s hosting duties on “Fox & Friends” were officially taken over by former “The View” host Elisabeth Hasselbeck last week, and according to the TV blog Zap2It, the network has already seen a boost in ratings. According to a report, ratings were up “across the board” during Hasselbeck’s first full week on the job, with a 20 percent overall increase in viewers, and an 18 percent increase in adult viewers between 25 and 54.
If Carlson was stung by the news, she didn’t let it show, saying instead that she was excited for the new venture and happy to have more time to spend with her children. "I am thrilled that Roger Ailes has given me the opportunity to host a signature show for Fox that will focus on the real stories of the day,” she said in a statement. “From in-depth interviews to social media interaction live during the show, I look forward to joining viewers in the afternoon for smart and straight-forward talk. Plus, I now get to have breakfast with my kids and maybe even drive them to school! How great is that?"
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