122. “This could be” The Abrams Report, MSNBC, Oct. 15, 2004.
123. On October 15 Todd Venezia, “ ‘Flipping Out’—‘Lunatic’ O’Reilly Gal Went Nuts in Bar: Chef,” New York Post, Oct. 15, 2004.
124. A few days later The details of the meeting with Paratore are derived from the author’s interview with a source familiar with the incident.
125. On October 19 Dareh Gregorian, “ ‘Boozy’ Boast: Gal Said She’d Ruin O’Reilly: Bar Owner,” New York Post, Oct. 19, 2004.
126. O’Reilly’s lawyer also Ibid.
127. On October 17 Paul H. B. Shin, “For Extortion, O’Reilly’s Suit Might Not Fit,” New York Daily News, Oct. 17, 2004.
128. On October 20 Adam Nichols, “Her Dad Mad as Hell, Out to Whup O’Reilly,” New York Daily News, Oct. 21, 2004.
129. He told the paper Pienciak, “How Covers Came Off the O’Reilly Fone Sex Scandal.”
130. Brian Lewis told people Author interview with a source familiar with the matter.
131. “Word came down” Author interview with a source involved in the negotiations.
132. The Daily News played Derek Rose, George Rush, and Nancy Dillon, “Call Him Owe-Reilly! Multi-million Dollar Deal to End Sex-Harass Case,” New York Daily News, Oct. 29, 2004.
133. “This brutal ordeal” Bill O’Reilly, “Talking Points Memo,” The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Channel, Oct. 28, 2004.
134. Lewis was disappointed Author interview with a source familiar with the matter.
135. Ratings for the Factor Sarah Rodman, “From the Hub to Hollywood: Sex Scandal Spins Up O’Reilly Ratings,” Boston Herald, Oct. 30, 2004.
136. On Monday Ibid.
137. “About a week” Kitman, The Man Who Would Not Shut Up, 258.
138. Chernin, who held Author interviews with current and former News Corp executives.
139. Chernin also fashioned himself Wolff, The Man Who Owns the News, 45.
140. Lachlan Murdoch Details of Lachlan Murdoch’s departure from News Corp come from author’s interviews with current and former News Corp executives.
141. As deputy COO Steve Fishman, “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Be King,” New York, Sept. 19, 2005.
142. In early 2005 Jim Finkle, “Can Peter Brennan Rekindle His ‘Affair’?,” Broadcasting & Cable, Jan. 9, 2005.
143. Rejecting the show Fishman, “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Be King.”
144. “Do the show” Ibid.
145. “Rupert used to say” Author interview with television executive Mitchell Stern.
146. On Tuesday, July 26 Fishman, “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Be King.”
147. “I have to do” Ibid.
148. Three days later Sallie Hofmeister, “Murdoch’s Heir Apparent Abruptly Resigns His Post,” Los Angeles Times, July 30, 2005.
149. “There was a thinking” Author interview with Mitchell Stern.
150. In the winter David Bianculli, “A Revealing Docudrama: ‘Pentagon Papers’ Shows How Cable Outclasses Nets,” New York Daily News, March 6, 2003.
151. He called Peter Liguori Author interviews with sources familiar with the conversation.
152. Around this time The details of this conversation were related to the author by a person with direct knowledge of the exchange.
ACT V
NINETEEN: SEARCHING FOR A NEW CAST
1. On the evening of April 26 “The Reliable Source” (column), Washington Post, April 28, 2006.
2. the newest addition to the Bush Jennifer Loven, “Fox Host Tony Snow Named White House Spokesman,” Associated Press, April 26, 2006.
3. “Congratulations on your promotion” George Rush and Joanna Rush Molloy, “As Rosie Joins, Star May Take a Dim ‘View,’ ” New York Daily News, April 28, 2006.
4. “Ten years ago” “The Reliable Source” (column), Washington Post, April 28, 2006.
5. More than 2,300 Desmond Butler, “Thousands Converge on Manhattan for Anti-War Demonstration,” Associated Press, April 30, 2006.
6. “Look at these people” Author interview with a Fox executive.
7. Fox lost about 15 percent John Dempsey and Michael Learmonth, “Cable Basks in Originals’ Success,” Variety, Dec. 25–Dec. 31, 2006.
8. Keith Olbermann Countdown, MSNBC (transcript), Dec. 18, 2006.
9. That year MacKenzie Carpenter, “Anger Becomes Him,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 12, 2006.
10. That summer Helen Kennedy, “Hil and Rupert Dine on Sly,” New York Daily News, July 18, 2006.
11. Ailes told a reporter Roger Ailes, “A Conversation with Roger Ailes,” transcript of live interview conducted by Ken Auletta, S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, New York, March 31, 2005.
12. Julia Angwin Julia Angwin, “After Riding High with Fox News, Murdoch Aide Has Harder Slog,” Wall Street Journal, Oct. 3, 2006.
13. Fox’s PR department Author interview with a person familiar with the situation.
14. Later that day Joshua Chaffin and Aline van Duyn, “Interview with Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes,” Financial Times, Oct. 6, 2006.
15. At one point, Steve Doocy Author interview with a person familiar with the situation.
16. Ailes approached Angwin Author interview with a person who attended the event.
17. Peter Chernin expressed concern Author interviews with News Corp executives.
18. “ ‘We don’t want to give’ ” Author interview with former Fox Television Stations Inc. CEO Mitchell Stern.
19. “He needs to know” Author interview with a former News Corp executive.
20. “I was watching CNN in 2004” Author interview with a Fox employee in the room.
21. The next day David Bauder, “ABC Wins the Election-Night Ratings Race,” Associated Press, Nov. 9, 2006.
22. “We had the concern” Author interview with a former Fox News executive.
23. “Rush was kind of laughing” Author interview with a friend of Rush Limbaugh.
24. “We’re in a challenging news cycle” Chaffin and van Duyn, “Interview with Rupert Murdoch and Roger Ailes.”
25. “Roger said, ‘Let me think’ ” Author interview with Robert Ailes Jr.
26. Moody told executives Author interview with a former Fox News executive.
27. “Roger is not a news guy” Author interview with a former Fox producer.
28. A Fox contributor recalled that Moody Author interview with a friend of John Moody.
29. “He was aghast” Author interview with a person close to John Moody.