By most measures Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s 15 minutes of fame should have long since expired.
Hasselbeck’s first media exposure came when she starred on the CBS series Survivor’s second season, and reality show stars rarely stick around for long–a certain Kardashian clan notwithstanding.
A funny thing happened to Andy Warhol’s infamous time peg. Audiences got to know her via her plum gig on The View where she stood tall as the lone conservative battling a 9/11 Truther (Rosie O’Donnell) and a future Current TV host (Joy Behar).
Now, Hasselbeck finds herself in friendlier ideological terrain as part of the revamped Fox & Friends morning show. And, only a few days into her latest media gig, the former reality show star reminds us once more of her versatile personality.
This week, the new host smoothly transitioned to the show’s “curvy” couch, paid homage to her View peers and showed she belongs in the morning show landscape. She also boosted the show’s youthful demographic while topping morning shows seen on both CNN and MSNBC.
Hasselbeck brought a motherly touch to the show, ribbing the aggressive cutting of a massive cake to honor the Air Force’s 66th birthday as something she doesn’t want her kiddies to emulate. On her first day, the new host thanked The View for allowing her to work alongside, and glean interviewing skills, from legendary broadcaster Barbara Walters.
And she proved her physical prowess by participating in a gladiator style balancing contest as part of the show’s “bonding” rituals.
Co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade seemed elated to have Hasselbeck on their team. They know what viewers will soon find out. Hasselbeck is the right choice to fuel Fox & Friends in the weeks and months to come.
Fox & Friends airs at 6 a.m. EST weekdays on Fox News.