The tension and banter on the Fox News morning show always seemed to be weirdly authentic—until now.
Dissension in the ranks has always been a secret recipe of Fox News, a key to the network’s watchability: Beneath the “Fair and Balanced” sheen and the conservative point of view, the network has been surprisingly tolerant of infighting on the air. You don’t generally hear the anchors on MSNBC calling each other out. Yet on Fox, this happens with some regularity.
.. These episodes are not mistakes or accidents; Ailes has always understood, perhaps better than most, that conflict is entertainment.
.. Ailes called her a “man hater” who needed to learn “to get along with the boys.”
.. It was 2012, and Kilmeade had made a low-grade sexist crack about the introduction of women into a military band: “Women are everywhere. We’re letting them play golf and tennis now, it’s out of control.”
Carlson, ever smiling, rose from the couch and walked off the set. “You know what?” she said. “You know what? You read the headlines, since men are so great.” The camera followed her for a few feet, capturing Kilmeade smiling, the crew laughing, and Carlson continuing to wear a painted grin.