Jesse Watters fills Tucker Carlson’s time slot in Fox News primetime revamp!?
Jesse Watters will host an opinion show in the time slot formerly occupied by Tucker Carlson, Fox News Channel announced Monday.
The announcement comes roughly two months after Fox News fired Carlson, shortly after settling a defamation lawsuit with the voting machine maker Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million on the eve of trial. The case, which centered on the network’s airing of false claims following the 2020 presidential election, exposed a trove of private messages sent between Fox hosts including Hannity and Carlson in which they criticized peers at the network.
Before his ouster last month, Carlson was Fox’s top-rated host. He drew controversy for supporting theories such as the idea that immigrants are being admitted to the U.S to “replace” people born here. Critics have called that white supremacy, an accusation he has denied. But ratings tumbled for Fox’s primetime lineup after Carlson’s exit.
“Jesse Watters Primetime” will move from 7 to 8 EDT on July 17 as part of a revamped weekly nighttime lineup on Fox News. Laura Ingraham’s show will replace it at 7 (moving from 10) with “Sean Hannity” remaining at 9. Greg Gutfeld’s show will move an hour ealrier, to 10, and a news show, @Fox News @ Night” with Trace Gallagher will air at 11.
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Watters will remain a co-host on “The Five,” an evening roundtable discussion show that is among the network’s most popular programs.
“The unique perspectives of Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters, Sean Hannity, and Greg Gutfeld will ensure our viewers have access to unrivaled coverage from our best-in-class team for years to come,” Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement.
Carlson’s last hosting duty for his prime-time conservative opinion show “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was in April, Fox said. An interim show, consisting of rotating Fox News personalities filled the 8 p.m. EDT time slot temporarily.
Since his departure, Carlson has since moved his show to Twitter, although Fox is attempting to get him to stop the broadcasts.
