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Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

Greta Van Susteren Joins MSNBC

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Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Greta Van Susteren, former Fox News host, is joining MSNBC to host “For the Record with Greta” at 6 PM, the network announced.

“Greta is a true pro with a proven record of tough journalism,” said MSNBC President Phil Griffin.  “Her broad range of experience and sharp news judgment will be of great value to MSNBC as we build on our momentum going into a new year and a new administration.”

Back in September, Van Susteren left Fox News shortly after boss Roger Ailes departed, invoking a clause in her contract allowing her to do so if Ailes left.  She had said at that time that Fox “has not felt like home for some time.”

“I’m thrilled to start my next chapter at MSNBC,” Van Susteren said in the MSNBC statement. “The network is the right destination for the smart news and analysis I hope to deliver every day, and I look forward to joining the talented journalists and analysts I respect there.”

According to the network, Van Susteren’s new show will “provide news coverage and analysis of the day’s top headlines spanning politics and beyond.”

Carlson to Take Over Key Time Slot at Fox News

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Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Tucker Carlson has only been on the job for two months, hosting a nightly news show at Fox News since November.  Even so, he will be moving to the 9 PM time slot being vacated by Megyn Kelly.

Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of Fox News parent company 21st Century Fox, said in a statement:

“In less than two months, Tucker has taken cable news by storm with his spirited interviews and consistently strong performance.  Viewers have overwhelmingly responded to the show and we look forward to him being a part of Fox News’ powerful primetime line-up.”

Carlson joined Fox News in 2009 as contributor after stints hosting shows at both CNN and MSNBC.  In 2013, he became one of the co-hosts of the weekend “Fox & Friends” show.  When Greta van Susteren vacated her 7 PM show in November, he moved into her time slot.

Carlson has succeeded as a host in generating strong ratings and creating viral stories and moments, highly sought after metrics on cable news.  His current show has averaged 2.8 million viewers and trailed only Bill O’Reilley in the 25-54 viewer demographic.

Kelly Leaving Fox News for NBC

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2016 Vanity Fair / Bloomberg White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Party. Photo courtesy of Haddad Media.

Fox News superstar Megyn Kelly has decided to leave the network, taking a new role at NBC News, according to individuals briefed on the negotiations.

At NBC, Kelly will host her own daytime news discussion program, take part in the network’s special political programming and event coverage, and anchor a Sunday night news show.

Kelly’s contract at Fox lasts through this summer, and it isn’t yet clear if Fox News will release her from any contractual obligations allowing a move to a competing network.

Sources declined to reveal Kelly’s new salary at NBC. As per the Wall Street Journal, her final year at Fox News would lead her to collect $15 million.

Fox, CNN Rake in Ratings for New Year’s Eve Coverage

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CNBC newsroom. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Both cable news giants CNN and Fox News got something to boast about with their New Years Eve coverage.

As the seconds ticked toward 2017, over 3 million viewers watched CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper & Kathy Griffin,” edging out Fox News’ “All-American New Year” hosted by Eric Bolling, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Jesse Watters and Kennedy.

Their 3.04 million viewers between 11 PM EST and 12:30 AM EST made it the most-watched cable news show for the evening.  Fox News received 2.75 million viewers during the same time span.

Expanding coverage analytics throughout the evening, Fox News triumphed.  Looking at numbers from 8 PM EST through 12:30 AM EST, Fox News averaged about 100,000 more viewers than CNN.

However, even in this expanded measure, CNN won the 25-54 year old bracket.

MSNBC did not have a New Year’s Eve broadcast, instead carrying live coverage from the NBC Network.

Is Megyn Kelly Staying at Fox News?

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2016 Vanity Fair / Bloomberg White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Party. Photo courtesy of Haddad Media.

Rumors are swirling over Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly and her future.

Kelly’s contract with Fox expires in the summer of 2017, although the network has already offered her an extension at $20 million per year.

Even so, per Sarah Ellison at Vanity Fair, “Within the last month, according to a person familiar with the discussions, ABC has renewed, and perhaps sweetened, its effort to woo Kelly.”

Kelly spokesperson Leslee Dart replied saying no solid offers have been made by ABC.

“When I asked about the possibility of an offer, a Disney-ABC Television spokesman told me, ‘As much as we appreciate and admire Megyn Kelly’s talents, this is simply not true. There has never been an offer of any job, and therefore there is nothing that could be sweetened. End of story.’”

CNN chief Jeff Zucker also is attempting to bring Kelly to his news network, according to a recent headline on the Drudge Report.  Kelly herself responded to this story on twitter that people shouldn’t believe rumors about her until they hear it from her directly.

All Hail Gayle King

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Gayle King, Evan Ryan and Tony Blinken. Photo courtesy of Haddad Media.

Congratulations to CBS for locking Gayle King and congrats to Gayle for scoring $5.50 million per year.

Signing this deal means King will earn $5.5 million each year to co-host the morning news program, alongside Norah O’Donnell and Charlie Rose.

A source from CBS told Page Six, “Gayle is a huge asset to the show, and her chemistry with Charlie is great.  She’s here for the long term.”

While ABC’s viewership declined and NBC remained stagnant, CBS This Morning is the only morning news show to grow in viewership over the past year.  It currently is seen by 3.77 million people, according to Nielsen.

O’Donnell is currently in contract negotiations with CBS, while Rose’s deal extends into 2017.

VEEP NOMINATED FOR BEST COMEDY AT CRITICS’ CHOICE

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The award nominations keep pouring in for HBO’s Veep!

HBO’s political comedy was nominated as Best Television Comedy for the 22nd annual Critics’ Choice Awards, announced earlier today.  Overall, HBO led all networks with 22 nominations, including four for Veep.

  • Best Comedy Series
  • Best Actress in a Comedy Series – Julia Louis-Dreyfus
  • Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – Anna Chlumsky
  • Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Tony Hale

Tammy Haddad, Co-Founder of WHCInsider, is a consultant to Veep.

Hosted by TJ Miller, the 22nd annual Critics’ Choice Awards airs on A&E live on December 11 at 8PM ET, 5 PM PT.

Top Emmy Winner HBO Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus courts millennial voters

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Cast of VEEP Garden Brunch 2014

Julia Louis-Dreyfus released a special video message to millennial voters in character as Veep’s former President Selina Meyer.

Speaking in a 30-second Rock the Vote public service announcement, Louis-Dreyfus as Meyer, — with help from her onscreen aide Gary Walsh (Tony Hale) — urged America’s youth to hit the polls and vote.

“So, the two reasons I lost: weather, which I can’t control; and millennial apathy, which you can,” Louis-Dreyfus says in the video. “When you don’t vote, you’re giving your power to someone else. Someone probably less informed and more motivated. So please vote, this matters.”

Her assistant Gary asks her if this means she is running again, but she quickly shoots down the option. “Then why do we care?” he asks. “Because of everything I just said,” she snaps.

Millennials continue to have the lowest election participation of any age group. Only about 46 percent voted in the last presidential election; compared to 72 percent of the Silent Generation, who have always had significantly higher rates of voter turnout.

Veep is shooting its sixth season in Los Angeles.

Tucker Carlson to Replace Greta Van Susteren on FOX at 7PM

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Tucker Carlson with Matt Drudge, Howie Kurtz and friends at the White House Correspondents Garden Brunch.

Veteran news and talk show host, and founder of The Daily Caller, Tucker Carlson will join the Fox News Channel daily line up. He has been the weekend host of Fox and Friends.  His friends cheered his return to the week day, but he will step away from his news duties at The Daily Caller. Carlson hosted a show at MSNBC and CNN and is credited with discovering liberal firebrand, Rachel Maddow.

Victorious VEEP!

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VEEP Cast for WHC Insider article

It was another golden night at the 68th annual Emmy Awards for HBO’s VEEP.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus a.k.a. President Selina Meyer, kicked off the gala with one of the evening’s biggest laughs with her cameo in the opening vignette: Emmy host Jimmy Kimmel discovers she’s riding in the back of a limousine driven by former Republican presidential candidate, Governor Jeb Bush.

This year, the beloved actress took home her fifth consecutive win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. During her acceptance speech, she charmed the crowd by apologizing for her show’s unintended influence on the current political climate.

Her win was a poignant won, when Louis-Dreyfus revealed her father William Louis-Dreyfus passed away on Friday at the age of 84.

VEEP won the top prize from the Television Academy for Outstanding Comedy Series for the second year in a row. Afterwards, VEEP Emmy winners Dave Mandel, Lew Morton and Peter Huyck were seen entering Jimmy Kimmel’s after party which included every major comedy player from James Corden and Jimmy Fallon to Chris Rock and Amy Schumer.  Tom Arnold to Jeff Ross, Matt Damon to Kit Harrington and Sophie Tucker. John Mayer dancing to a rockin band, while guests dined out on gourmet liquor, BBQ, and Pizza. The no photos rule gave the 300 or so guests an intimate vibe, but the crowd cheered for Veeples Tony Hale, David Mandel, Lew Morton and Peter Huyck.