Composite photo of (L-R) Harris Faulkner, Sandra Smith, and Dana Perino. Individual photos courtesy of Fox News
Fox News announced on Tuesday a new daytime schedule, adding programming from hosts Harris Faulkner and Dana Perino. Beginning October 2, Faulkner will host the 1 PM hour with Outnumbered Overtime, an extension of the Outnumbered panel program she co-hosts at noon, and Perino will host The Daily Briefing. Perino served as a White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush before joining Fox News.
Faulkner will continue to co-host Outnumbered and Perino will continue to co-host The Five at 5 PM.
The 2 PM slot has been filled by generic America’s News HQ rolling news coverage since Gretchen Carlson left the network and The Real Story was cancelled. That departure led to a series of events that culminated in head Roger Ailes leaving the network.
It was also announced that Sandra Smith will be the permanent co-host of America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer from 9-11 AM.
“Harris, Dana and Sandra are rising stars and their combined background and expertise across news, business and politics will enable us to provide a more in-depth look at the major stories breaking out of Washington, and around the country. We are living in unprecedented times and this new lineup ensures our viewers will get the best news, information and analysis on the news of the hour across the nation and around the globe,” Fox News President of News Jay Wallace said in a statement.
Faulkner added in a release, “Three years ago, we enhanced cable news with a show that combines news and opinion, predominantly from the female point of view, and immediately, Outnumbered became the number one show in its timeslot. I am proud of the work we’re continuing to do there, and blessed to have this added opportunity to create a new program that will help inform our viewers and keep them engaged in a conversation surrounding the day’s headlines.”
Perino said in a statement, “Our new show will aim to take on the major issues facing Americans and explore them from all angles. I am excited for this opportunity to draw from my political background to help our viewers get beyond the headlines and better understand what is really going on behind the scenes in Washington each day.”
Perino’s new program is not shocking as the network has been grooming her to host her own program. She has been a substitute anchor on some of Fox News’s news programs periodically. She is also the second member of former President Bush’s communications team to host a daytime cable news show as former communications director Nicolle Wallace hosts Deadline: White House on MSNBC.