Fox News Channel plans to start off 2016 by tapping into Donald’s Trump’s power to lift cable news ratings.
The Republican presidential front-runner is to be a featured attraction on Fox News’ “All-American New Year” coverage hosted by Eric Bolling and Kimberly Guilfoyle, regulars on the network’s daily talk show “The Five.”
A Fox News spokesperson confirmed that Trump is set to appear via satellite “closer to midnight to ring in the new year.”
Though Fox News Channel is the overall leader in cable news ratings, CNN has built a viewer habit on New Year’s Eve, thanks to the pairing of comedian Kathy Griffin and anchor Anderson Cooper for its live coverage from Times Square in New York.
Last year, CNN drew 1.6 million viewers with its “New Year’s Eve Live,” topping 1.2 million for Fox News Channel, and it has been the perennial winner in the 25-to-54 age group that advertisers seek to reach with news. (Fox News’ coverage was off Dish Network last year due to a contract dispute with the satellite video provider).
1/5
“Hello, Donald.”
OK, so it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as “Hello, Newman,” the greeting the fictional Jerry Seinfeld gave to his arch-nemesis, played by Wayne Knight, on the comedian’s popular sitcom. But Seinfeld’s verbal bout with Trump was unscripted -- and seemingly largely one-sided -- so imperfect phrasing can be forgiven.
Yet should one cross Trump, don’t expect a shrug and a handshake. Instead, Seinfeld received a rant after the comedian backed out of a charity benefit hosted by one of Trump’s sons, supposedly because of the birther issue. Seinfeld’s camp has been relatively quiet, but Trump was quoted as taking a swing at Seinfeld’s TV credits.
No, not the beloved “Seinfeld,” but instead the unscripted show “The Marriage Ref.” Said Trump, “What I do feel badly about is that I agreed to do, and did, your failed show, ‘The Marriage Ref,’ even though I thought it was absolutely terrible.” (Getty Images / Los Angeles Times)
2/5
Trump started it at the Conservative Political Action Conference, boasting that he was “well acquainted with winning” and saying that Ron Paul has “zero chance of getting elected” president. Paul shot back that Trump’s “birther” battle showed the Donald was “desperate.” (Getty Images / Associated Press)
3/5
The Donald doesn’t take failure well, and when, in 2006, “The Apprentice” showed signs of ratings weakness, he went after Martha Stewart. Her show, “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart,” was not highly rated, and Trump believed the spinoff dragged down his own show. He blamed her; she was upset and blamed him; then he wrote a scathing letter telling Stewart to take full responsibility for the failed show, talking about her ImClone fiasco, her daughter’s “one-word statements” and more. Later, in 2008, though the event seemed to have simmered down, Stewart said Trump’s actions were “unforgivable.” (Getty Images / Los Angeles Times)
4/5
In 2007, Trump put his reputation -- and his hair -- on the line to start a fued with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. In a dramatized dust-up reported on by major media outlets, their storied hair versus hair match during Wrestlemania 23 had both men pick a pro-wrestling representative to fight for them in the ring. The loser had to shave his head. Obviously, we know who came out on top in that challenge. In addition to keeping his golden quaff, Trump made an appearance in the WWE match titled “Battle of the Billionaires” that garnered solid gold ratings. (Getty Images / Associated Press)
5/5
In the Donald’s defense, Cher fired first. The openly Democratic “Turn Back Time” singer took to Twitter in November 2012 (on the heels of Trump hounding President Obama during his 2012 campaign) to bash clothing retailer Macy’s for carrying Trump’s line in its stores and take jabs at his famous ‘do.
“I’ll NEVER GO TO MACY’S AGAIN!” Cher tweeted. “I didn’t know they sold Donald Trump’s Line! If they don’t care that they sell products from a LOUDMOUTH.”
But Trump didn’t take the tirade sitting down, firing back about the singer’s surgical procedures.
“Cher-- I don’t wear a ‘rug’--it’s mine. And I promise not to talk about your massive plastic surgeries that didn’t work.” (Getty Images / Los Angeles Times)
Other contenders for the Republican nomination are also set to appear on “All-American New Year,” which is scheduled to air live from the Knickerbocker Hotel in Times Square from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. EST.
Twitter: @SteveBattaglio
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