Howard Kurtz to FNC…
Yes, I’m late to this but it was crazy at work today and I had zero time to check the internet. Mediaite’s Andrew Kirell scoops that Howard Kurtz is FNC bound…
Beginning July 1st, the network said in a press statement, Kurtz will anchor a version of what is now called Fox News Watch, which airs Saturdays on the network. He will also serve as an on-air analyst for the network throughout the week, in addition to writing a regular column for FoxNews.com.
Jon Scott, the current anchor of Fox News Watch, will move to the specials unit, serving as an anchor for that programming.
Part of me wants to say, “Is FNC going to give Kurtz the room to critique his own network?”. Some are no doubt going to say that Kurtz played softball with CNN at times so this should be no different. We shall see…
Update:Mediaite’s Noah Rothman interviews Kurtz, post-announcement…
Kurtz said that he expects to be an independent voice on Fox and his criticism of media personalities and institutions will be as sharp as it was on CNN.
“I think all three of the cable news networks have their strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “I’m not going to shy away from talking about that just as I have not shied away from occasionally having to critique some of my past employers.”
“Fox wouldn’t have hired me if it wasn’t interested in my independent brand of media criticism,” Kurtz noted. “So, I’m very comfortable that I’ll have the freedom to criticize anyone I need to in my new role.”
As I said above, we shall see…
Inside Cable News 
June 20, 2013 at 5:39 pm
The “fair and balanced, why’s everybody always pickin’ on us” cup is already full. Drink up, Howie!
June 20, 2013 at 5:44 pm
Or they want him to say “FOX is fair and everyone else is biased and picking on us because of the vast left wing conspiracy” so Hannity can go on Monday night and say that a liberal thinks FOX is fair. Same shtick Kirsten Powers does.
June 20, 2013 at 5:48 pm
Roger Ailes already has Howie’s script all written out. He’ll be the male version of Kirsten. He’ll say something progressive from time to time and he’ll criticize CBS or ABC once in a while for saying something too conservative. But for the most part, he’s there to criticize MSNBC for being too liberal.
June 20, 2013 at 5:50 pm
ICN is now the Psychic Friends Network.
June 20, 2013 at 6:31 pm
“Fox wouldn’t have hired me if it wasn’t interested in my independent brand of media criticism,” Kurtz noted. “So, I’m very comfortable that I’ll have the freedom to criticize anyone I need to in my new role.”
Sure, Howard. Fox wouldn’t have hired you if you hadn’t already been bending over backwards to support their theory that conservative is ‘neutral’, and everything else is ‘liberal bias’. Hack.
June 20, 2013 at 6:35 pm
Forget Sarah Palin. Kurtz is the one who’ll drive them batshot. Who knew?
June 20, 2013 at 7:23 pm
The ICN Left – Fairly Unbalanced.
June 20, 2013 at 7:26 pm
I’ll give the show a chance, but unless Roger Ailes really is committed to not spearheading contrived “Obama scandals” across his network like he has so many times in the past, I don’t see how Kurtz could possibly do a fair media bias show on FNC.
What’s he going to do the next time a doctored ACORN-type video is legitimized? Or two crazy black guys at a polling station in a black neighborhood becomes VOTER INTIMIDATION? I don’t see this going anywhere but Fox Bunkerville.
June 20, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Two crazy black guys (with bats) at a polling station is NOT voter intimidation?
June 20, 2013 at 8:17 pm
Two crazy black guys (with bats) at a polling station is NOT voter intimidation?
Not in the world of Joe and Eric Holder.
June 21, 2013 at 6:09 am
Open minded Joe will give the show a chance.
Fat chance?
No chance?
Fair trial for Zimmerman followed by a hanging chance?
June 21, 2013 at 6:11 am
As porno-kat would say:
🙂
June 21, 2013 at 6:42 am
Two crazy black guys (with bats) at a polling station is NOT voter intimidation?
It only counts as intimidation if they wear an iPad around their necks that plays a video clip of Obama himself saying “I sent these men here specifically to intimidate you” on a constant loop.
And even then, joe would say “It didn’t include ‘I approve this message’ so it’s not official.”
June 21, 2013 at 6:45 am
VIA FISHBOWL-DC
Quotes of the Day
Kurtz has stuff to figure out
“Thanks for messages and tweets about new Fox show. Still have lots of details to figure out, but what a challenge.” — CNN but soon-to-be Fox News’ Howard Kurtz.
June 21, 2013 at 8:29 am
Uh, no..two black guys acting all “revolutionary” on a street-corner in a black community does not qualify has voter intimidation. I think it’s safe to say most of you didn’t grow up in a place like that, and have no idea what you’re talking about. The idiots on FNC certainly didn’t.
June 21, 2013 at 8:46 am
For Joe, porno-kat, Ice Man and the others who lie that Fox never criticizes what they themselves air…
http://t.mediaite.com/mediaite/#!/entry/fox-panel-denounces-bill-cunninghams-tirade-not-only-crossed-the,51c4626dda27f5d9d0e56a82
June 21, 2013 at 9:00 am
Uh, no..two black guys acting all “revolutionary” on a street-corner in a black community does not qualify has voter intimidation.
But of course, they weren’t on a street corner. They were stationed at the entrance to a polling place. Which makes all the difference.
Nice try though. Axelrod would be proud…
June 21, 2013 at 9:24 am
Oh please. It doesn’t matter what spot those screeching idiots were standing on. No one was intimidated by those people in that neighborhood. We went over this 5 freakin’ years ago. It was stupid story then, and a stupid story now.
June 21, 2013 at 9:25 am
Self-criticism of the network was something FOX News Watch used to do well, but I haven’t been willing to watch the program as much after the host changed and the panels became FOX vanilla.
Media Matters went and accumulated some clips of FOX personalities being critical of Kurtz, so there’s that.
Maybe they’ll make good use of him considering Kurtz has been on the network at least once in the past. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOff8EVZrsQ
June 21, 2013 at 9:28 am
Was Joe smarter five years ago?
Dumber?
About the same?
June 21, 2013 at 10:17 am
It doesn’t matter what spot those screeching idiots were standing on.
Uh, if you’re trying to intimidate voters, “screeching” at the Circle K or at your kid’s preschool isn’t going to cut it. Yes, it matters where they were. The fact that they were AT a polling place matters a great deal.
We went over this 5 freakin’ years ago.
Ah, the “Benghazi was a long time ago. Move on” defense. The Obama strategy in a nutshell.
1. Deny, deny, deny.
2. When denials no longer cut it, claim you can’t talk about it because of the ongoing investigation.
3. Once the investigation ends, “that was a long time ago.”
June 21, 2013 at 10:32 am
from FishbowlDC
The shortest goodbye note known to mankind just in from CNN to Kurtz: “Howie Kurtz has served as host of Reliable Sources for 15 years, developing it into a leading source for commentary and critique on the media. We thank him for all his contributions to CNN, and wish him all the best in this new opportunity.
…and don’t let the door hit you in the ____
June 21, 2013 at 11:53 am
Sorry, Farris, I explained this to you in detail back then. FNC trumped this stupid nonstory up to scare whitey. It was embarrassing.
June 21, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Let me get in the WAYBACK machine.
whrrr.. 2012… 2011… 2010… 2009… 2008 screeeech!
Yep, Farris, there indeed was an explanation. Yes it was stupid.
June 21, 2013 at 1:32 pm
It was a blatant, pathetic pander to whites who fear “them colored people”. This was nicely followed up four years later by a presidential campaign – aided and abetted by FNC – which severely alienated Latinos. Now what have you got? A “whites only” party in a heavily diverse United States. Congratulations.
June 21, 2013 at 2:08 pm
racist talk. shame.
June 21, 2013 at 2:14 pm
“them colored people”
Whom is he quoting.
What’s it have to to with the menacing New Black Panthers.
Talking about “whitey” and all, Joe sounds like he might want to join that group. Very authentic imitation of a white progressive talking black.
June 21, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Oh please. I’m telling the truth about the hole your party has dug itself with non-whites, with no small help from Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. You weren’t in this position when W was elected. This electoral lost cause was avoidable, but you you went full-bore anyway, largely so your media could get lowest-common-denominator ratings with blowhard politicians all too willing to be on the radio and TV with this crap.
Demographics don’t lie, as Lindsey Graham tried to explain last Sunday. You’ll make the usual gains in a 6th year midterm with low turnout, but you’re screwed in presidential elections. It’s damn easy for me to be disagreed with when I’m right, and have the numbers to prove it. I hope you enjoyed the ACORN/NBPP/self-deportation ride, ’cause it was expensive.
June 21, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Nothing I enjoy more than Joe talking about the poor, poor Republican Party. You could hear the same thing from a parrot with a cage next to the TV of any MSNBC fan.
It’s all they want to talk about. Ever ask yourself why? Answer is that they are disingenuous “helpers”, and are of a party that offers little but theft, lies, and immorality.
June 21, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Larry, Joe acts all understanding of the plight of minorities. In reality, he is a condescending elitist who knows what’s best for them. As long as they vote the right way, that is.
When you are in a uniform, outside a polling place with a baseball bat, that is voter intimidation, whether it is two or forty two. No matter what he or Eric Freaking Holder says.
June 21, 2013 at 2:55 pm
You two have bleating, I have numbers. The dumbass rightwing media steered you down a road of electoral irrelevance while they made ratings and fame and money off of you. You’re angry at me? It wasn’t me, bro.
June 21, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Your numbers, like you are always full of crap. But, it was nice to see you try to avoid the FACT of voter intimidation. I do have to give you credit for one thing. At least you didn’t try to excuse it by claiming that “they couldn’t help themselves.” Glossing over it is much nicer.
June 21, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Joe can play with his numbers when the Republicans increase THEIR numbers in House and Senate next year and ObamaCare sucks the life out of the Democrat Party.
I’m not angry with anyone except Obama, Pelosi, and my insurance company.
June 21, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Nice obfuscation. I said you’ll do well in a low turnout midterm in a President’s 6th year. Lindsey Graham said the same thing. It’s what he said next you should worry about…
June 21, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Nice obfuscation.
Joe obfuscates, and then accuses others of the same.
June 21, 2013 at 4:15 pm
I know, it’s funny.
June 21, 2013 at 4:16 pm
Sure appreciate Joe trying to be helpful. What a pal.
June 21, 2013 at 4:19 pm
It’s like getting hunting tips from Wile E. Coyote.
June 21, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Or Dick Cheney 🙂
June 21, 2013 at 9:20 pm
Wow, I have to pinch myself. It reads like a sick joke. This is just unreal.
Why is he leaving after like 2 decades at CNN?
June 22, 2013 at 12:49 am
Howie’s been schmoozing rightwing media for years. He wants to be with the cheesy “in crowd”, and Roger Ailes wants to pretend his network is respectable by hiring him. Contract signed, everybody’s dumb and happy.
June 22, 2013 at 5:15 am
I guess it’s a good thing I left. Joe, unable to debate on the facts, all of a sudden swerves into “You guys sure do hate Hispanics!”
Matthews would be proud.
June 22, 2013 at 5:54 am
“Howie’s been schmoozing rightwing media for years. He wants to be with the cheesy “in crowd”, and Roger Ailes wants to pretend his network is respectable by hiring him.”
^^ Your assuming he left voluntarily. It wouldn’t surprise me to find out he was pushed out by Zucker and FNC hired him for whatever reason. There’s no good reason for CNN, FNC or Kurtz to make it look like he was fired. In fact it benefits all three to make it look like this happened just as they say it did. Just sayin’.
June 22, 2013 at 6:39 am
“Howie’s been schmoozing rightwing media for years. He wants to be with the cheesy “in crowd”,”
Pretty much sounds like a sheep bleating.
1) anyone who plays it straight is so different than the lefty propagandists Joe likes, is bound to upset Joe enough to poison that brain of his.
2) who is this “cheesy in crowd” of whom he speaks? How could a conservative be in any “in crowd” or is it the “cheesy” part? Kraft Foods, Mayor McCheese?
June 22, 2013 at 8:12 am
I’m right about Kurtz, and the Republican Party’s demo problems. Try not to panic. Wait..go ahead and panic. It’s time.
June 22, 2013 at 8:54 am
“I’m right” — barking at the sun. Means nothing.
“panic” — Joe overuse at best, one of his stupid pet tricks at least.
Not even trying are you, buddy?
June 22, 2013 at 10:40 am
Dripping condescension! That’s ok, I’m still right. Have a lovely day of lovely loveliness.
June 22, 2013 at 10:54 am
You have a lovely day too, dear lovely Joe.
June 22, 2013 at 11:00 am
You, you may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll all be lovely,
And the blog will live as one.