Posted on 10/07/2002 5:37:51 AM PDT by Tancred
NEW YORK (AP) - Shortly before CNN unveiled the new studio it had built in Manhattan for Paula Zahn's "American Morning" last month, a telephone rang at the desk of a reporter.
A publicist for Fox News Channel was calling. For anyone writing about Zahn's show, she wanted to point out how much better Fox's morning show, "Fox & Friends," was doing in the ratings.
With that in mind, CNN's new studio "is nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic," Fox spokeswoman Tracey Spector said.
As digs go, this one was relatively mild. But it follows a pattern.
Ever since Zahn jumped from Fox News Channel to CNN last fall, her former employers have badmouthed her relentlessly. The jibes are sometimes brutal, sometimes humorous, and once even profane. The underlying message seems clear: It's not wise to cross Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes.
Zahn was host of a prime-time news hour on Fox News Channel last year when CNN weighed in with an offer she couldn't refuse — her own three-hour morning show, reportedly at twice the salary.
When Ailes learned of the offer, he fired her. CNN immediately signed Zahn, and put her on the air six months earlier than it had expected.
That dismissal is an important distinction to Fox. More than a year after it happened, network representatives called The Associated Press to complain that a story about Zahn did not say she was fired.
Ailes set a tone for the post-Zahn era with a comment that quickly became legendary, in part with the help of Fox's on-air personalities. In an article about Zahn's firing, he minimized how she had improved ratings in her time slot while at Fox News Channel.
"I could have put a dead raccoon on the air this year and got a better rating than last year," Ailes told The New York Times. "That's all just the growth of our network. All our shows are up."
Subsequently, the "Fox & Friends" anchors talked about Zahn on the air with a stuffed raccoon toy on the table in front of them. Fox anchor Steve Doocy, cameras in tow, presented Zahn with a gift basket including the stuffed raccoon after the new studio opened.
Ailes sued Zahn's agents, claiming breach of contract. A New York State Supreme Court judge dismissed the complaint in March.
"From the very beginning, this was a case of sour grapes by Roger Ailes," Zahn said at the time. "I am glad the judge saw it for what it was, and dismissed the suit as meritless."
During the past year, Zahn's "Fox & Friends" rivals have been her most frequent needlers.
In January, the disc jockey Mancow, a "Fox and Friends" contributor, called Zahn a "knucklehead." Because she's the enemy, he said, "I just want to punch her in the face."
Two months later, Mancow performed an on-air skit with an actor he said was portraying Zahn. He hit the actor in the face, knocked him down and shouted, "I'll kill you, Paula. We will kill you, Paula."
"That was great," anchor Brian Kilmeade said, although co-anchor E.D. Hill urged Mancow to stop as he kept pounding away. Hill has said that Zahn is host of a "bad program, but she's a nice woman."
Mancow also made an off-color remark about Zahn that refers to the anchor's hobby as a cello player.
When the CNN studio opened, trucks carrying Fox signs circled the Manhattan block around it. People distributing Fox merchandise and wearing Fox t-shirts passed by the studio window, according to CNN.
Last month, Fox News Channel spokesman Robert Zimmerman was quoted in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Paula Zahn's supposed attempt at reinventing herself as a journalist is like putting a fresh coat of paint on an outhouse."
Zahn would not comment for this story, but her network came to her defense. CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said Ailes seemed obsessed with his lost anchor.
"At first it was somewhat amusing, but one year later it's getting old and, frankly, a little bizarre," Robinson said.
"Paula simply chose to leave Fox to join CNN," she said. "Given the success of her show and her reputation in the industry, I'm sure this was a disappointment for them. Their actions are deliberate, sad and speak for themselves."
A Fox News Channel spokeswoman, Irena Steffen, said that "we don't go out of our way to shoot at her."
CNN and Zahn have attacked Fox, she said, declining to provide examples. Both the "dead raccoon" and "outhouse" remarks appeared in stories after CNN statements defending Zahn's ratings and describing "American Morning" as a more traditional news show than its cable rivals.
"Why don't you ask why she's making a mountain out of a molehill?" Steffen said. "Why don't you ask why she's turning this around and why she's making herself into a victim?"
Steffen again pointed out the "Fox & Friends" ratings advantage. "As a former network star, it's sad Paula has sunk to this level, but we wish her well," she said.
The publicist turned down requests to talk to Ailes.
Some of the motivation here may be revenge from a former political streetfighter who hates to lose, particularly to chief rival CNN. Ailes retaliated months after Zahn's exit by plucking CNN's Greta Van Susteren to fill Zahn's old time slot.
Oddly, Ailes' best revenge may simply be the ratings; Fox News Channel passed CNN in average viewership earlier this year and hasn't given up the lead since.
It would seem to make all the trash talk redundant.
The "Real Rita was revealed" durning the 2000 election.
You could tell it broke her heart when somebody told her when the SCOUS stopped the conting in FL.
By a wide margin!! And best looking female guests, too. ;-)
She broke her contract. The judge may have ruled it legal, but it was sleazy on her part, especially when it was Roger Ailes who rescued her from total obscurity in the first place. If she'd just gone into his office and laid it on the line - "Hey, CNN just dumped this huge offer in my lap, Rog..." - he'd probably have let her out of her deal (since it was obvious from the beginning that her new show wasn't going to be a threat to Fox & Friends) and that would have been the end of it. Instead she just jumped and made a grandiose announcement. It was practically spitting in the face of everyone at FNC.
If they were engaging in true harassment - stalking her, somehow making it impossible for her show to get on the air - I'd have sympathy. Merely knocking her for screwing them over? Fair game, IMHO.
Paula: ........................
Brit: Paula?
Paula: ...........................Oh oh I know! I'm blonde!
Brit: .......ummmmm........
Paula: Yeah yeah! And do you know how I get my hair blonde? I bleach it! Yeah!
Brit: ..............Paula Zahn's analysis, everyone. Back to the studio.
TC
Man, I still remember her from the 66 WNBC-AM N-Copter back in the mid-'80s, when Howard Stern would harass her every day. I never knew how cute she was until she joined FNC.
Not necessarily. A lot of local cable companies have relatively rudimentary commercial-insert machines, and can only run the same sets of ads across all channels. Plus they do just like real TV stations do, and shove in house ads when there's a spot they haven't sold. Thus Fox ads end up on CNN, occasionally CNN ads will end up on Fox, etc. I really doubt Fox paid to intentionally have their ads inserted into CNN's local ad slots. After all, they have no need to, with their ratings. Heh heh....
As to pukey paula, paula=greta. I don't care who does the 10:00 Fox show, neither one is worth beans.
Molly Henneberg
Patti Ann Browne
Dari Alexander
E.D. (Edith) Hill
Alisyn Camerota
Laurie Dhue
Donna Fiducia
Brigette Quinn
Linda Vester
So, does Roger Ailes have a thing for blondes?
Hmmm... Brings new meaning to "FOX" News... don't it guys?
I dunno guys, politics or not. I'd eagerly pay for dinner to chat with her for an evening :)
God bless America!
I did not remember her words but I knew where her heart was!
Hannity is ok.
and to compensate for that photo of Hannity, here's a real nice patriotic shot...
Kathy Ireland :)
I have news for you: Most of the anchors at FNC are of the liberal persuasion...surprise!! surprise!! However, they also are well aware of the main demographics of their audience....(republican, male, white 18-45)It's not a coincidence that FOX has a ALOT of blonde female anchors. Let's face it, liberals are not watching this channel in droves like we are. So the staff adjusts themselves accordingly. Just look at Geraldo as a prime example. Yes, their main anchors like Tony Snow, Brit Hume, and O'Reilly may have conservative leanings, but the all the other newscasters are plucked from local ABC/NBC/CBS/Fox affiliates which are more than likely to be liberal. Remember when you stopped watching local news to watch Fox instead? Where do you think FNC gets it's newscasters from? Fox is enjoyable to watch, because their programming is inherently more interesting, faster moving, and not dry. You can thank Roger Ailes for that. He's the real brains behind the success to the Fox News Channel.
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