An item on the Fox News 10th anniversary party, in the always-amusing "Channel Serfing" blog in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution got me to thinking about a key element in FNC's success over the past decade.
Here's the item, courtesy of on-the-scene AJ-C reporter Jill Venojska: "[Sean] Hannity was one of the first Fox celebs to arrive, along with Alan Colmes, who plays the liberal frick to Sean’s conservative frack on their nightly show ('Strangle each other,' one photographer called out helpfully as they posed on the red carpet)." OK, that's fine; "foetogs" sometimes earn their reputation, being rowdy and encouraging others to be rowdy, as they search out the most dramatic shot possible.
But here's the point: Hannity & Colmes didn't strangle each other, nor have they ever wanted to. They have been together on Fox, five nights a week, for ten years, subtracting for a few vacation days here and there, but adding, also, any number of weekend specials. So they've been together for roughly 2500 shows.
And yet they still have a good rapport, even friendship, I would say. That's pretty remarkable, and it shows, on the air. Hannity & Colmes prove that people on TV can disagree without being disagreeable.
And that's a huge plus on TV, a plus which lifts H & C way above the pack.
