Here‘s Why You’ll Be Seeing a Lot of Megyn Kelly on Fox This Week
- Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:19am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Megyn Kelly attends at the benefit concert for Army SPC Bryan Dilberain at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts on April 27, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Credit: Getty Images
NEW YORK (AP) — Four years ago, Megyn Kelly roved the Democratic and Republican convention floors as a reporter for Fox News Channel. Starting Monday in Tampa, Fla., she‘ll be in Fox’s booth as co-anchor with Bret Baier for the 2012 meetings.
The elevation shows how Kelly, host of the daytime “America Live” program, is rising at Fox. Her ratings are increasing even in a rough year for cable news. Recently she single-handedly minimized the damage after a Fox flub covering the Supreme Court health care decision and even had a surprise talk with an old nemesis, Jon Stewart.
Her convention assignment is likely to be her most visible yet. Fox outrated all of its television rivals, including ABC, CBS and NBC, during the GOP convention in 2008 and 2004. She’s hoping her outside-the-Beltway status provides a good contrast to Baier, who hosts a newscast from Washington each weeknight. She also appreciates the confidence placed in her by Fox News boss Roger Ailes.
“For many executives in television, there’s still a quiet understanding that the person with the most authority is the male anchor, and I don’t think my boss suffers from that delusion,” she said.
Kelly was once a Washington insider herself. She handled bankruptcy, anti-trust and contract cases as a lawyer there for nine years. Being a lawyer proved ultimately unsatisfying, however. “I realized I had blown all of my 20s at the office and I didn’t want to blow all of my 30s at the office,” she said.
She moved quickly upon turning to TV, getting a job at ABC’s Washington affiliate. Noticed by Fox, she joined the cable news outlet in 2004 as a Washington correspondent. After moving to New York, Kelly co-hosted two hours in the morning with Bill Hemmer and was given her own show in 2010 after returning from the first of two maternity leaves.
“She just has those key ingredients that work for television,” said Michael Clemente, Fox’s senior vice president for news. “She knows exactly how to ask the right question. She can get to the point as fast as anyone and she’s pleasant in the process and comfortable on the air.”
Jane Hall, an American University professor and former Fox contributor who was occasionally paired with Kelly for segments on Bill O‘Reilly’s show, could tell immediately that Kelly was good on TV, smart and interesting to watch. The 41-year-old blonde is also attractive, no small consideration for people on TV and particularly for women at Fox, Hall said (Kelly did a photo shoot for GQ in 2010 wearing a black bra, slip, and pair of red heels).
Kelly’s legal training has translated to television. She once synthesized complex information into something jurors could quickly understand, and now does it for viewers. She learned not to be intimidated by the rich and powerful, which didn’t come naturally to Kelly, who grew up outside Albany, N.Y. Her combativeness is also evident on the air, leading her astray at times. One conversation with contributor Kirsten Powers over a voters’ rights case turned into a verbal altercation that led Kelly to later apologize privately.
Kelly has shown more of her personality in recent months. Sometimes she drops the anchorwoman persona to speak directly to viewers, like when she wrapped up a contentious segment with Democratic and Republican political aides talking past each other about Medicare.

In a March 6, 2012 photo provided by Fox News, Fox News anchors Megyn Kelly and Bret Baier are seated at the anchor desk at the Fox New York Studios. Four years ago, Megyn Kelly roved the Democratic and Republican convention floors as a reporter for Fox News Channel. Starting Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, in Tampa, Fla., she'll be in Fox's booth as co-anchor with Bret Baier for the 2012 meetings. Credit: AP
“Was that enlightening?” she said. “Was that helpful? I don’t think so.”
She said she feels more relaxed on the air.
“I finally reached homeostasis, where my on-air persona and delivery is the same as my off-air persona,” Kelly said. “I want to be able to show who I am to viewers and I’m not afraid to do that anymore.”
Kelly was anchoring with Hemmer on the morning the Supreme Court‘s decision upholding President Obama’s health care plan was released. Fox, like rival CNN, initially reported that the law had been struck down. Kelly sensed the error and called the report from Washington into question within two minutes, ordering producers to remove a misleading graphic. Painfully to viewers, CNN took a much longer time to correct the high-profile mistake.

An undated studio photo provided by Fox News, shows Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly. Starting Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, in Tampa, Fla., she'll be in Fox's booth as co-anchor with Bret Baier for the 2012 meetings .Credit: AP
Afterward, the New Yorker magazine dubbed Kelly “the brains of the Fox News operation.”
Kelly said she considers “America Live” a news show, not an opinion one, and there‘s a clear contrast between her show and ones on Fox or MSNBC’s prime time. The lineup of stories, however, usually won’t upset a Fox audience dominated by Republicans.
Last Monday, for example, the show led with a story about an e-book that alleged dysfunction in President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, and returned to it a handful of times later. The story about Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin‘s statement that women’s bodies can break down pregnancies in cases of “legitimate rape,” which broke the previous weekend, wasn’t reported until the last five minutes of the two-hour show (except for when Obama was asked about it during an impromptu news conference Fox covered). Another new story, about a Republican congressman skinny-dipping in Sea of Galilee, wasn’t covered.
“I don’t think that we consider the political makeup of our audience,” she said. “At the same time, I understand that my mission here is not to pick up the New York Times and put their headlines on TV. That’s not what we do at Fox News. That‘s never been our formula and it wouldn’t be a winning formula for us.”
Her show offers two sides to a story “and I think people are not used to hearing the Republican side on some issues without mocking or diminishing, especially on issues like abortion, home schooling, guns or even small government. People are used to hearing these issues discussed where you‘re made to feel like you’re in the minority if you don’t agree with the slant of the news presenter.”
Kelly has occasionally run afoul of Stewart on “The Daily Show.” One time Stewart showed a segment where Kelly confronted a conservative commentator who had mocked her maternity leave, and the comic contrasted it with clips where Kelly had questioned people about entitlement programs. Kelly, he suggested, is “suffering from post-partum compassion.”
He called Kelly recently after hearing her call him mean on his Comedy Central show.
It was cordial. Kelly said Stewart explained he was a satirist and his comedy didn’t come from a mean place. She didn’t back down, telling him that “I feel like you‘re the school bully and I’m one of your victims and you‘re looking for absolution and I’m not giving it.”
She thinks Stewart is funny, “except for when he makes fun of me.”





















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Comments (140)
curmudgeon60
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:23amWOLF — Martha Maccallum is the smart, articulate stunner that co-hosts with Bill Hemmer.
Report Post »Megyn is so smart, quick witted–I love it when she goes up against that proud lesbian Sally Kohn (Now there’s a looker). All the women of FOX are beautiful because their beauty comes from within (and TERRIFIC) make-up artists.
gr29az
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:28amkohn is a woman?
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 10:10amGR29AZ, LOL, I’ve often wondered the same thing. Have you noticed when she is on how she looks so high and rather vaporous? Especially when she gives one of her pre programmed answers. You know….those answers that just don’t quite fit the question. Not really spin, she just seems to not be able to think on her feet, even though she is sitting on her butt. Rather humorous to watch.
Report Post »karencole
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:12amWhat?! Martha “ahhh ahhh umm ahh” McCallum? She is so annoying to listen to! Between her stumbling and her fake stupid laugh…give me a professional like megyn ANYDAY! Honestly come to think of it, I don‘t know who’s more annoying Martha or bill!
Report Post »CarRamRod
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:19amSally Kohn wrote Ace Ventura as an autobiography.
Report Post »Grandpa Dave
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:25amI believe a “Boy-Named-Sally” would be appropriate. She‘s the butch part of the equation and she always has a smirked smile like she’s above everyone else who disagrees with her, or is it him? — Ugly
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:51amok, she’s HOT.
SOOOOOOOOOOOO much better to look at that Chris matthews
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 12:40pmCURMUDGEON..you articulated what I was going to say much better than I could have.
Report Post »snapper451
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:10pmIf Kohn comes to Tampa for the convention – the dog catcher is on alert.
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:13pmMegyn is a real person..sometimes in her effort to be “balanced” she ticks me off by combining both the dope in the WH and our MITT… there is no combining of those two!! But other than that…I’m a fan! I also like Martha McCallum too …. watching Chris Matthews would be just a waste of time for me! I appreciate Anderson Cooper keeping it real with that liar Wasserman/Schultz…but except for the BEST NEWS available today : GBTV’S (now THE BLAZE) ..I won’ watch the alphabet news.
Report Post »Rich - MN
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:26pmThey need to do something with her hair. Her face is tooo long for that do. Otherwise, she is stunning as usual and veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy smart!
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:35pmSNAPPER..I saw one of the best beat downs of Kohn by Laura Ingraham on O‘Reilly’s show.
Report Post »Kohn and her lefty cohort actually tried to state that the conversation on abortion is something Romney is forcing on the media while Obama wants to talk about the economy and jobs.
Ingraham let Kohn have it…”let me get this right…Mitt Romney nominated deficit hawk Paul Ryan as VP and is telling people like Akin to make controversial statements about abortion so that he can force the media to talk about that so that Obama can’t talk about adding $6trillion to the debt and chronic unemployment throught his tenure?”. Kohn literally sat there, mouth agape, unable to respond..just the dumbest look on her face…in utter silence.
watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:33pm@ lylee
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:47am
“Shepard Smith needs to move to MSNBC, he would be a lot more comfortable.”
Used to tape and watch both Shepard’s show, but, now, neither. Same with O’Reily! Had to turn to Foxbusiness. Once Glenn left, I wrote of FoxNews!
Report Post »pyeatte
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:18pmYou would need Crocodile Dundee to check the gender of Kohn.
Report Post »nowonuno
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:37pmShe is one of many at Fox. They are doing some serious genetic engineering over there. The brief morning ‘commentary’ by Diane Macedo from FBN is my reason for getting out of bed in the morning. Long live Fox and their gene splicing! Libs should love Fox because they are doing some serious Darwinian natural selection.
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:25amI love Megyn Kelly and Martha.
Martha’s laugh is so funny I could listen to it for hours.
Report Post »StepDale
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:21amA com-pleat woman. I’d like to see her replace (sigh) Diane Sawyer (sigh). Might watch ABC again. Then, again, nada. Megyn, forget I suggested that.
Report Post »TerryJ70
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:17amShe definitely should be in prime time. Fox should consider shaking up their lineup. Shepherd Smith misreads the teleprompter more than anyone I know. She could easily be put on prime time by removing Smith, and shuffling Hannity, Gretta into the earlier slot and put her in prime time. She does an awesome interview and handles O’Reilly pretty well too. Her kind of talent, intelligence and beauty is sorely needed in prime time. In my humble opinion.
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:24amI forgot about Shepherd Smith…she will be a good replacement him.
Report Post »gr29az
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:27amii’d put the shepard on right after red eye.
Report Post »CK1911
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:30amI’d rather watch grasss grow than Sheperd Smith. And watching Megyn Kelly is lot better than watching grass grow.
Report Post »lylee
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:47amShepard Smith needs to move to MSNBC, he would be a lot more comfortable.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:14pmHearing Shepherd Smith’s voice is like listening to a hundred women raking their fingernails on a chalkboard in unison to the tune of Stairway To Heaven.
Report Post »slhaynes
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:15amShe doesn‘t take crap from O’Reilly either and I really like that!
Report Post »Amarilloan
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:24amI like anyone who doesn‘t take crap from O’reilly. I agree with him much of the time, but many of his opinions are over the top and many of his arguements are vacuous.
Report Post »flywithvli
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 12:19pmSLHAYNES AND AMARILLOAN,
Report Post »Your comments together echo my thoughts about O‘Reilly and Megyn with a ’y’.
redbone007
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:13amI like to see her replace Bill OReily.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:20amyes, I agree he has lost my respect Mr. Rightous
Report Post »gr29az
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:29ami wouldn’t miss him
Report Post »redbone007
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:33amBill Oreily is too busy selling his books and doing his outside shows with Miller. This is way he does not do his home work any more and introduce good topics that may go against Obama.
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:34amYou could replace O’Riley with a monkey and I might watch his show.
Report Post »red1
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:46amI predicted thta Megyn will replace O’Reilly when he retires about 2 years ago :)
Report Post »FlagWavingPatriot
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 12:40pmAbsolutely! Either her or Laura Ingraham.
Bill needs an extended vacation. And a little soul searching.
Report Post »Meggars53
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 2:05pmGlad to see I‘m not the only one who sees O’Reilly as someone who has lost his way. Kelly can’t replace him though. I’d have no one to watch from 10-12!! LOL!
Report Post »neubienose
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:14pmhey but he is looking out for you! you really bought that ever? he is hack, bully
Report Post »neubienose
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:18pmnever should have respected him, read his court case, basic sociopath
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:13amBecause she’s a great reporter…………and hot!
Report Post »DrunkGOP_Hack
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:12amI profess my LOVE for Megan!
Hot sexy mama!
Woops did I say that out loud?
Report Post »Never see any sexy, hot, smart libs now do you?
gr29az
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:30amcause there ain’t none
Report Post »Hammerdown
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:18amIf you’re going to show your love, you better learn to spell her name correctly.
Report Post »Amarilloan
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:25amMaddow, has none of those redeeming qualities.
Report Post »Wango
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:25amDUNGGOP HACK
I’m wit ya brother!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vafrB4XWYcI
Report Post »BlastRadius
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:10pmI don’t know. Kirsten Powers is pretty good lookin I think!
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:19pmBLASTRADIUS, You just have to remember that Powers had a for sex only affair with Anthony Weiner shortly before he got married.
Report Post »Zipit
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 1:57pmGreat clip there WANG! Rush said it just like is!!! Rush is right….. And,Fox women are both smart and hot!!!!! Something you will never be, and the type of women you’ve probably never had a chance to experience!
Report Post »DIR
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:13pm@RJJNG…
Cristin Powers had an affair with Anthony’s Wiener? Yuck! Now that’s one dedicated liberal woman! After that I‘m surpised she hasn’t turned gay? No wonder the left is for abortion, especially if they‘re going to mess with idiots like ’the Wiener.’ I guess Cristin is very forward thinking. She should have a warning printed across her panties: ‘Nasty Weiner’s Been Here’ maybe with a flashing weinermobile pin affixed nearby.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 5:23pmDIR, LOL! Powers is now married, but I have not heard or read anything about her spouse. I chose that word carefully because I have no idea. Also, have so little interest that I never intend to look it up. I’ve already over more information by accident than I really ever wanted to know about her.
Report Post »edmundburk
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:10am@WACK-OFF- while your dope smokin’, hippy lifestle repels me, I agree with the u-tube clip, if female
Report Post »FOX commentators want to be taken seriously, they should dress more modest.
watashbuddyfriend
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:11amMegyn, I enjoy watching your 2-hour segment on Fox everday! Wish I could say same for those beginning at 5 PM, and following. Make yourself proud at the GOP convetion, starting today.
Report Post »Tex Expatriate
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:10amYou want the real story? She’s sexy. That’s it.
Report Post »EWRoss
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:03amKelly is fantastic.
Report Post »Rats56
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:41am.Unless I missed it, the article fails to mention that Kelly is a
Report Post »1995 graduate from Albany Law School and practiced law for nine years at Jones Day.
Extremely smart and a very good looking blonde, she writes her own future.
The old decrepit left wing lesbian **** hags will soon swarm like vultures.
starman70
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:18amShe is by far too smart to be taken advantage of by the lib hag swarming. Comments by those old hags roll off her like water off a duck’s back. She’s far better looking and far more watchable than Debbie Shultz or Nancy Polosi. Those lib hacks are enough to gag a maggot.
Report Post »neubienose
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 4:17pmthouse aren’t anchors, idiot. do you really judge news by ratings and looks….that just stooooopid
Report Post »dannyo
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:39amthe infiltration and takeover by loudmouth and delusional dem pundits on foxnews makes this article obselete..i know i will be watching the speeches but not the analysis..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:58amI know what you mean. I watch everything on a delay on my DVR and just skip ahead 30 seconds as soon as Juan, Bob, Joe Trippy etc. start talking.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:31amI change the channel every time any of those faces show up on Fox! I can get their BS on every other channel, thanks!
Report Post »Stelex
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:54amYeah but you need those silly dems to show contrast. A very distinct contrast I might add.
Report Post »rgpace
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:39amShe is as smart and witty and she is beautiful. Great attitude, very trustworthy and credible. Almost as cute as my wife :)
Report Post »grimmster
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:41am@Rgpace.“Almost as cute as my wife”,was your wife watching you type that ;p
Report Post »red_white_blue2
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:39amYour wife is better looking than Megyn…wow!
Report Post »gbfreak
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:39amShe’s the BEST. Very articulate and extremely educated. She doesn’t let her guests get away with BS.
Report Post »DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:35amShe’s attractive, intelligent, has a great attitude and is very fair….everything a liberal hates.
Report Post »Spartazoo
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:34amFine by me, she is witty, sharp, intelligent, and smoking hot!
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:34amDang!!! She’s 41? Who knew!
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:32amWTG Megyn! Love ya!
Report Post »Rob
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:31amThis page has the Fox women…
http://nextround.net/2009/04/the-11-hottest-fox-news-reporters
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:30amI personally don‘t watch Fox any more as they don’t seem to be any better than the other guys any more.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:45amI’ll take Megyn Kelly ANYDAY over that Madcow or Andrea Greenspan or MEEKA.
Report Post »Souladaddy is worthless.
OMG in NOV 2012
TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 9:55amWatch C-Span. No cost, no commercials, no pundits and great coverage. Brett Baier is prettier but then again I like nice voices, not screechy shrill lawyers–no Shepard Smith or Megyn Kelly and four years ago after watching and listening to speeches for years and all of the Democratic convention Bill OReilly who I had also listened to for years dumped on the Republican speeches and McCain with the Obama one night take it or leave it interview. McCain didn’t have a good campaign and I voted for Sarah Palin after hearing her speech on C-Span. After Glenn left I have kept strictly to the net. And what about GBTV’s female reporters? Or was this a paid spot?
Report Post »Amarilloan
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 11:29amWould you rather just watch someone parrotting your own opinion?
Report Post »edmundburk
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 1:01ammegan kelley is as progressive as shep smith just in a prettier package. fox has been a disapointment
Report Post »since they released glenn. bill o’rielly is a progressive shrill as well.
Tickdog
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:30amgood for her!
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:29amGood! She’s earned that spot! Keep up the good work Megyn!!
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:29amI’m sure Kelly will do a good job of covering the convention. She is tenacious (look it up, liberals), fearless, and asks specific, pointed questions – then expects real answers.
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:28amAlways a delight with a wonderful attitude and certainly a STAR in the FOX parade.
I enjoy watching her keep combative guests at bay….
Good job, Megyn!
Report Post »goodwater
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:52amShe doesn’t take any crap from anyone – liberal, conservative or libertarian. Always call their bluff.
Report Post »oriondma05
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:20amMegyn Kelly is very attractive, but Martha Maccallum is smoking hot.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on August 27, 2012 at 8:35amMartha who?
Report Post »JustJP
Posted on August 28, 2012 at 11:31am“”"”"Martha who?”"”"”"
Are you kidding me.? She is just as smart, and just as hot as Megyn.
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