“I’m little apprehensive,” Fox News Channel senior political analyst Brit Hume told network host Bret Baier in a walk-up to his debut as Greta Van Susteren’s replacement as host of On The Record.
“I’m a little out of practice. I haven’t been in this saddle for some years now, and I’m hoping Greta’s audience won’t desert us,” Hume said. “We’re going to be as fair as we can do all the candidates and do the best I can with my advanced age.”
Associated Press
FNC said this morning that Thursday had been Van Susteren’s last day, with Hume taking over her show through the presidential election. Van Susteren, meanwhile, took to Facebook to explain that she took advantage of that much-discussed clause in her contract allowing her to leave now owing to Roger Ailes’ exit as Fox News chief. “The clause had a time limitation, meaning I could not wait,” she said, and that “Fox has not felt like home to me for a few years” in explaining her decision.
At the end of tonight’s telecast, Hume told On The Record viewers, of Van Susteren: “She has left Fox News saying today; the place just didn’t feel like home any more. I count Greta as a friend, and I’m sorry to see her go.”
He added: “All of us here certainly wish her well. She made a big contribution, and we will miss her. In the meantime, I will try to carry on in the hope her audience will stick with us. Don’t worry — I’ll only be here through the election.”
Meanwhile, Van Susteren also noted on Facebook that Fox News had taken down her GretaWire blog, noting Fox News owned the domain name.