In the middle of the controversy over his conspiracy-theory laden coverage of Seth Rich's murder, Sean Hannity has announced he's taking the next two nights off.
Mediaite noted the similarities between Hannity's situation and the last Fox News prime time star to take a vacation in the middle of a controversy while hemorrhaging advertisers: Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly never returned to the airwaves:
But just tonight, amid reports that Hannity is beginning to hemorrhage multiple advertisers, The Five host Kimberly Guilfoyle reported that she’s replacing Hannity on Thursday and Friday as he takes the rest of the week off.
Could this be the end for the love-him-or-hate-him hallmark of the conservative cable news channel and one-time ratings juggernaut?
Personally, I don't think Hannity will be pushed out over this.
But I do believe Fox News is starting to rein him in. According to a HuffPost interview, Hannity said "he received no pressure from Fox News brass or Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of parent company 21st Century Fox, to back off the story." But according to CNN, he was urged to drop it:
[F]our sources at Fox told CNNMoney that Hannity did face internal pressure to back off the Rich story, even if he made the decision to do so on his own. Suzanne Scott, the network's president of programming, and other executives met with Hannity on Tuesday and encouraged him to stop advancing the theory.
Common-sense editorial oversight is, in my view, the best option.
Sometimes two nights off is just two nights off. But, on the other hand, as NewsHounds' Richard noted, the timing is suspicious for a great American like Hannity:
Who takes two days off when the Destroy Trump Media is out to get Trump? #Hannity
— Richard W. (@IceManNYR) May 25, 2017
He rants, rages, complains, and whines like a spoiled baby who lost his gold rattle. The Fox “News” employees are tired of this foolish man.
The Fox “News” moles will continue to talk behind his back to media, and to all who will listen. This will continue until the Murdoch boys pay off his contract and throw him out of the building.
NOTE TO HANNITY
Joe Scarborough was right about your dumb azz. You have no shame. You are a demonic individual who hides behind your so-called ‘faith.’ Those three numbers must be hidden in the back of your head, you Omen.
And as for that supposed talking-to, Hannity brought up the Rich thing again last night, Wednesday night, with the only difference being he didn’t mention the name. I doubt his audience didn’t know who he meant.
With the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, it does seem believable that this time off was planned.
Jesse Watters took two or three days off in his first week as host of The Five, calling it a planned vacation but I think that was a silent suspension.
I also don’t think Fox will get rid of him over this unless he keeps pushing it after the suits told him to tone it down or drop it. Much of his future will depend on the reaction of the advertisers. Those that do decide to stay will watch him very carefully with a short leash.
With Hannity continuing to push the Seth Rich non-controversy even after the network backed off, this “two nights off” has the potential to turn into two weeks off . . . then two months off . . . then a “vacation” . . . which turns into a permanent vacation (a la BillO) . . .
.
I think Fox News management realizes at this point their success isn’t so much the messenger but the right wing propaganda of their message. Losing stars like O’Reilly, Van Susteren, and Kelly looked crippling but, in fact, their ratings are quite strong with 2nd tier talent replacements I but assume are much cheaper. What Fox News can’t lose is advertisers delivering the bacon.
