Megyn Kelly Insists She's a 'Moderate and Reasonable' TV Host
Fox News Channel host Megyn Kelly wants viewers to know that when it comes to reporting the news, she is "moderate and reasonable." Kelly has amassed a large fan following and is dedicated to her profession.
"If you watch O'Reilly, you hear a lot about what Bill O'Reilly thinks," she told the Associated Press. "Sean Hannity, same thing. But you're not going to hear what I think."
Kelly took on her new series "The Kelly File," earlier this week and plans to do her best to boost ratings but remain honest with the public.
"I've never wanted to be an opinion host, and Roger Ailes hasn't wanted me to be an opinion host," she assured fans. "I don't think I'd be very successful anyway. I'm not an ideologue, and I think you have to be successful in a prime-time opinion-based show. I think I'm too moderate and reasonable."
Kelly is up against big names in the 9 p.m. time slot: CNN's "Piers Morgan Show" and MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show." All three are competing for viewers, but it's only a matter of time to see what ratings Kelly can bring to Fox News. According to the New York Times, Kelly finished second to Maddow with the age group of 25 and 54 on her debut.
"What Megyn has done for us is create a new style of doing a show," Bill Shine, Fox's executive vice president for programming explained. "I think she's fair, she's nice, but I think if you're going to try to BS her … if she smells it and she catches it, she's going to call you on it."
That included taking a swipe at Republican Senator Ted Cruz, whom she interviewed during her debut show. She asked what it was like to be the most hated man in America, according to Democrats.
"I don't intend to defend myself," Cruz replied. "I don't intend to reciprocate. Why? What matters is responding to the American people."
