Confirmed: Bret Baier to replace Brit Hume as host of “Special Report”
posted at 5:44 pm on December 23, 2008 by Allahpundit
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No surprise. He’s been the guest host for ages and there’s no other obvious choice in-house to handle hard news. The only realistic alternative was Chris Wallace, but he’s already got a prestige gig interviewing big shots on Sunday morning. Why trade that for Teleprompter drudgery five nights a week? Besides, the Foxies have their hands full right now rolling out Glenn Beck at 5 p.m. and working out the kinks, of which there are sure to be many, in Hannity’s new gig at 9 p.m. Baier means a fluid, hassle-free transition.
Maybe too fluid, though? The “Special Report” panel could stand some new blood, a point I made a few weeks ago vis-a-vis KP but which would apply as well to, say, Mary Katharine Ham. It’s not a matter of moving anyone out, just rotating different (read: younger) people in. Under Brit they reserved those spots for experienced journalists, but no one’s asking for the body-language expert here; thoughtfulness and civility suited to the decorum of the panel should suffice. If Baier wants to put his stamp on the show without messing too much with the format, he should start there.
Exit reminder: Brit’s last show as anchor starts in 15 minutes on the east coast. You’ll miss him, won’t you?
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Good for him!
mindhacker on December 23, 2008 at 5:46 PM
I like Bret.
Mercy4Me on December 23, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Brit rocked. Will miss him, and Bret should be a good replacement.
Midas on December 23, 2008 at 5:49 PM
Brit and Bret? Who’s next, Brat?
MrScribbler on December 23, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Brett doesn’t get the “grapevine” segment. Bret does it with a smirk, cuz it’s all sarcasm. Brett either never got it, or doesn’t smirk well.
lorien1973 on December 23, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Brit. Hume of course :P
lorien1973 on December 23, 2008 at 5:53 PM
Bret is on my A-OK list because of his riffing on Obama during the Fox Strategy Room sessions online during the debates. Incidentally, that’s also the same reason I support Michael Steele for RNC Chair.
Not that I watch Fox News for anything other than Red Eye, but good for Bret nonetheless.
jimmy the notable on December 23, 2008 at 5:56 PM
I for 1 will miss Bitt but I think Bret will do just fine.
tee866 on December 23, 2008 at 5:56 PM
Boring and predictable, like all of FNC these days. Haven’t watched in awhile.
aero on December 23, 2008 at 5:57 PM
No offense to Baier, but he can’t fill Hume’s jock.
Hume was the best, sarcastic and to-the-point, and had no problem asking questions that needed asked.
Saltyron on December 23, 2008 at 5:57 PM
Could there be a spot for Laura Ingraham on the panel?
Steve Z on December 23, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Get rid of squishy Mort, but Charles remains for all time.
And yes, I’ll miss Hume a lot.
irishspy on December 23, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Agreed. I just hope Bret is able to take apart each of Juan Williams arguments as completely as Brit does…
Kevin71 on December 23, 2008 at 6:05 PM
I sure will. Special Report is the only show i watch on Fox these days. It’s the only show that still retained some integrity, the rest is just over the top nonsense. But the worst Fox show is still better than the shills at msnbc.
clearbluesky on December 23, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Mort provides a somewhat liberal view, and provides some balance.
Red State State of Mind on December 23, 2008 at 6:11 PM
Bret’s a good kid. It’ll work.
drjohn on December 23, 2008 at 6:11 PM
I’ll miss Brit..watching now…
Is he retiring? Or doing something else?
Love Bret, though.
bridgetown on December 23, 2008 at 6:13 PM
You could tell that Brit had right of center, or fair leanings, and that he wasn’t a liberal troll even back when he was on ABC. I’ve always liked him.
Jeff on December 23, 2008 at 6:17 PM
God bless Brit, you were always the voice of sanity and fact, you will be missed.
Done That on December 23, 2008 at 6:17 PM
KHM, Allah? Please. Just b/c she is POA doesn’t mean she “deserved” to be on the panel. If that’s the case, I’ll start going to gym and trade in my crappy govt job for Mort’s seat.
Lance Murdock on December 23, 2008 at 6:18 PM
KHMMKHLance Murdock on December 23, 2008 at 6:20 PM
I will. He was my favorite host on Fox, after Gutfeld. He along with Cavuto seem the most level headed amongst the bunch, with out the shouting and bickering of O’Reilly and H&C.
I agree a younger panel of “all-stars” would be welcome. I am tired of Barnes, Kondracke, Alliason. They can keep Krauthammer. Mark Levin would be great, if he can keep the bombast down. I have seen him on TV a few times, and he is a quiet guy away from his own show. No Coulter. Let her stay with Hannity.
Mallard T. Drake on December 23, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Thanks, Brit!
Over to you, Bret.
normsrevenge on December 23, 2008 at 6:20 PM
I don’t particularly like either one of them.
Then again, I don’t tend to like watching the news on television.
Sign of the Dollar on December 23, 2008 at 6:22 PM
On that note, I’m going to miss Brit. His show was the only tolerable show on Fox and I don’t know if Bret can fill his shoes. I wish Bret the best, but his Friday appearances haven’t really impressed me that much.
Lance Murdock on December 23, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Thank goodness it wasn’t Bill Sammon, who I had feared was hired to take over for Brit. Brit cut the unctuous Sammon off at the knees several times when he was on the panel.
rgeaste on December 23, 2008 at 6:25 PM
What I didn’t like about Brit was that when I told my wife that he and I were the same age, she looked me over and smirked…I think she insulted me? Grin
Will miss Brit. I’ve said several times that my Make a Wish would be a cigar dinner with Brit, Rush, Krauthammer and Juan…yes Juan. Juan is a Lib but he is a thinking Lib and seems like a really nice guy.
Can Mort.
Dingbat63 on December 23, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Brit Hume has always been the best thing about FNC by far — a veritable Dick Cheney of cable news. He says he will return to provide commentary, when he’s not devoting his time to the three Gs: God, golf and grandchildren.
Brit made Special Report “must see” TV, but those days are gone. Bret is a more serious journalist than he seems, but his Leave It to Beaver demeanor ruins it for me.
John Gibson is a more natural Hume heir stylistically. Bill Sammon has been Deputy to Brit’s Managing Editor and he would have been a decent replacement, too.
That’s one less show to DVR. Heavy sigh.
Terrie on December 23, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Brit was the best. Yeah, I’ll miss him.
backwoods conservative on December 23, 2008 at 6:34 PM
Brit is a class act and will be sorely missed. The Hannity-O’Reilley-Beck trio is just a bit too white male-ish for me. They really need to give Megyn Kelly her own, say, four hours — with several wardrobe changes during each show.
As for replacing the panel, I am not thrilled with what Fox classifies as experts these days so I am content with the current crop. The panel could get partisan but for the most part just laid out their opinions and didn’t delve too far right or left (read: they were not going to b.s. Hume). I don’t know if Baier can manage a group of younger, hungrier types that will fight for screen time by resorting to the lowest common denominator (read: McLaughlin Group circa 1985).
grdred944 on December 23, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Last panel, Fred, Mort and Dr. K., sigh
Lance Murdock on December 23, 2008 at 6:43 PM
Mort phumphers waaaay too much.
Plus, he acts like Bret is a whippersnapper.
Stephen M on December 23, 2008 at 6:43 PM
Watching the panel now. When Fred Barnes is the only one pointing out that this “report” about Blagojevich was done by Obama and means nothing then conservatives have a problem. I’ll never understand the desire by some on the right to go out of their way to exonerate Democrats.
clearbluesky on December 23, 2008 at 6:49 PM
The tribute to Brit is very nice. Farewell Brit.
Lance Murdock on December 23, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Hey Bret Baier, Rod Blagojevich called – he wants his hairpiece back.
thirteen28 on December 23, 2008 at 6:56 PM
Brit Hume, a real man, a real journalist.A class act, and his final show reflected his character.
trainwife1962 on December 23, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Brit Hume is hawt, in a brainy conservative way. ;-)
I’ll give Special Report a shot, but I suspect I’ll switch to Cavuto most of the time.
Y-not on December 23, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Why not both?
steveegg on December 23, 2008 at 7:07 PM
gonna miss brit, the send off they gave him brought a tear.
trailortrash on December 23, 2008 at 7:08 PM
Bret will do just fine. In fact he does a good interview.
patrick neid on December 23, 2008 at 7:16 PM
A couple of months ago there was a big clue that Baier would be taking over. The clue was during the “Grapevine.” Guest hosts would always introduce the segment with “And now, some fresh pickings from the political grapevine.” One day Brett starting using the same adjectives that Brit uses to introduce the segment. When I heard that I knew that Brett was heir apparent.
O-Dub on December 23, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Kewl!
Class act.
I remember how I chocked up when Bret spoke of Tony Snow.
Brit has heart & soul.
Missed Brits send off..: o (
christene on December 23, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Brit was my favorite FNC host by far. I’m sure Baier will do fine though.
Good luck, Brit. We’ll miss you.
VinnyL on December 23, 2008 at 7:40 PM
choked
christene on December 23, 2008 at 7:41 PM
bad role for Bret.
they needed someone more statesmanly and Britesque for this role.
they could have REALLY rocked the house if they chose a sensible liberal. hmmm…. Alan Colmes anyone? lolz.
Bret should have been better used elsewhere, but he’ll do okay here im sure. meh.
Drunk Report on December 23, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Doesn’t watch FOX anymore.
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
Cardiganfox on December 23, 2008 at 8:14 PM
I have always enjoyed Bret as guest host of Special Report. He’ll do a fine job.
Jockolantern on December 23, 2008 at 8:47 PM
Ahh, just let Gutfeld guest host one night. That will get the old blood (or some sort of bodily fluid) flowing like new again.
jon1979 on December 23, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Why not Glenn Beck for another hour?
Or Sarah Palin? Oh that’s right, she’s a community organizer with real responsibilities being in the coolest state as the hottest Governor.
Oh well, who cares?
HotAirJosef on December 23, 2008 at 9:14 PM
Bret does a good job.
But it will be just like taking Brett Favre’s or Roger Staubach’s place,the bar has been set pretty high.
Baxter Greene on December 23, 2008 at 9:23 PM
I had forgotten that line of Governor Palin’s from the campaign… it was brilliant! If a Dem had said it, even in a losing cause, it would now be enshrined in the pantheon of great political quips. I guess that’s what angers me most about the Demomedia – it’s bad enough that their reporting is crap, but the stultifying weight of their dead hand on the national discourse lets them control what we remember as clever and significant too!
Damn them all – I hope if any of them ever get to heaven, they find that God is righteously upset at their tarnishing of the brand.
drunyan8315 on December 23, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I won’t miss him. Don’t get me wrong: I have nothing against him and think he’s a cool guy. It’s just that I don’t like his delivery.
Baphomet on December 23, 2008 at 11:33 PM
Sarah Palin as Brit’s replacement would have been a stroke of genius *if* she wasn’t already a known partisan. But Bret Baier will do.
Still, I will so miss Brit.
itzWicks on December 23, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Brit will be missed. Brett will be fine. The panel other than Charles K should be replaced by KP, MKH, Steyn (sp?) and less inside the beltline types.
Fuquay Steve on December 24, 2008 at 8:53 AM
Special Report as always been the best show on Fox. It’s hard news with a focus. Not once did Brit cover the missing hot chick (i.e., Natalie Holloway, Lacy Peterson)stories that the rest of Fox News shows seem to cover ad nauseam. Neither do they “interrupt this broadcast to cover a live car chase in Los Angeles,” which Shephard Smith always does. Ugh! I’ll miss Brit a lot, and wish Bret Baier the best of luck–he’s got large shoes to fill.
Special K on December 24, 2008 at 8:54 AM
Mort K. is the only the one I know with more Ummms than Obama. Bye Bye Mort.
BrianA on December 24, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Brit’s was the only show I could watch on FNC. He didn’t waste my time or pander and was often a great interviewer. I’ll miss the guy my wife affectionately called the “Saint Bernard.”
And new all-stars would be good, but by all means keep Krauthammer. He pretty much closes the loop on each topic.
One last thing: was it me or did anybody else notice that Brit had about 4 neckties that he wore constantly for the past 10 years?
heypally on December 24, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Brit was the only reason I watch FNC at all – he provides real analysis, unlike that retard Hannity who just spits out less eloquently what Rush provides hours before him, and unlike O’Reilly, who’s just too full of himself. The only other person who matched Brit in terms of analytical abilities was Charles, and he would have been a joy to behold, but I doubt that the powers that be in FNC would have cared for someone who doesn’t have women fawning over him. John Gibson would have been good, as might Bill Sammon. I don’t see what either MKH or KP bring, other than their looks.
Keep Mort, but fire Juan. Juan was only tolerable when both Brit and Charles were there to contradict him. If they have to have a Liberal voice, Allan Colmes or Neal Gabler (obnoxious as the latter may be) would be an improvement.
infidelpride on December 25, 2008 at 10:08 AM
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