Timestamps
11 a.m.
Take a run with my dog, Gilley
12 p.m.
Practice my swing on the courts
7 p.m.
Hair and makeup at the L.A. bureau
7:45 p.m.
Get mic’d up for the show
8 p.m.
Go live on the West Coast!
As the anchor of Fox News @ Night for the past three years, what’s one thing you do each night before going live?
Fifteen minutes before show time I go back into the show rundown, I reread “Common Sense” to see if it makes sense. I make sure we have the latest information. Then I scan the headlines of five major newspapers (which shall remain nameless), and I scan the wires and social media to make sure we’re not missing anything significant.
What are your favorite stories to report on?
As Shakespeare would attest, tragedies get most of the attention and headlines. So it sure is nice to report on victories once in a while, like peace deals, patriotism, military success; stories about people who go above and beyond to make the country a better place. From mom and pops to presidents, we end up jeering a lot more people than we cheer.
For those who don’t know, tell us about your signature “Common Sense” segment.
The “Common Sense” department is a one-minute-and-15-seconds editorial of one key story of the day; it should be so simple to understand but somehow gets mired in a wacky political narrative. So the segment will use a fair dose of snark and sarcasm to get the point across. We want it to be clever but also clear and correct.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day starts early for someone who works late. By 7 a.m. PT, my team is sending guest ideas and editorial suggestions. Booking and segment building take up most of the day. Between prep, there’s a dog to walk, tennis to play, weights to lift, and lunch to enjoy—usually with my wife, Tracy. When she’s busy, it’s just me and my white Lab, Gilly—“Goose.” I’m also writing a book, A Trace of Common Sense, so I carve out an hour or so a day to write, and if I’m lucky, I squeeze in some guitar. We’re empty nesters now, but when my daughters are home, I rearrange everything to spend more time with them. I leave for work around 2:30 p.m., arrive at the studio by 3, and dive into prep: writing Common Sense, reviewing questions, and talking with my executive producer, senior producer, and segment producers. One cup of decaf tea an hour before the show, makeup 30 minutes out, and at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT, it’s time for America’s Late News.
What are some of your favorite things to do when not working?
When I’m not working I enjoy listening to jazz, drinking good Italian wine, cooking or going out to eat, surfing, skiing, playing tennis and golf. I also enjoy reading and walking mile after mile. I don’t love to travel because for the past 30 years I have traveled extensively for my job. But I do enjoy getting in the car and driving to the desert or the lake or the mountains to go skiing.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I think people are surprised to learn that I was a professional water-skier for five years. That I was once voted one of San Diego’s best bartenders and that before I got into television I used to announce fashion shows, because the more time you spend talking, the better you get at talking.
What’s the biggest misconception of being an on-air host/personality?
I think a lot of people believe that TV news anchors are Ron Burgundy types, who just wanted to be talking heads. The truth is that all the best anchors are TV journalists who wanted to travel the world and have a front row seat to watch history unfold. The best anchors are always the best writers.
What are your favorite holiday traditions?
Our favorite holiday tradition is Christmas Eve with my family. First comes Mass, then dinner at a nice restaurant, back home to open Christmas stockings filled with fun gifts before playing games and getting ready for Santa to arrive. When my girls were young, Christmas also involved hiding Bibble, our Elf on the Shelf. These days Bibble spends his time sitting in a closet waiting for grandchildren to join the festivities.
Any New Year resolutions?
My resolution is always to get better at tennis and better at playing the guitar. Maybe I should move on to things without strings because they always leave me baffled.
