Fox News’s Howard Kurtz Signs Off After 12 Years Hosting MediaBuzz — Lauds Network for ‘Extraordinary Independence’
Veteran MediaBuzz host Howard Kurtz signed off from the program for the final time on Sunday, 12 years after it first debuted on Fox News.
Kurtz spent the final few minutes of the media criticism show he created by thanking his “loyal audience,” his family, and Fox News, which he said had given him “extraordinary independence” and allowed him to be critical of both the right and the left during his time hosting the program.
“The show begins right here in the brain area each week,” Kurtz said while pointing to his temple. “I don’t have to clear it with anyone. I’ve worked at a lot of places, and that’s rare.”
Kurtz, who first hosted the show on Sept. 7, 2013, said he was proud the show would speak to anyone, from The Daily Wire’sBen Shapiro on the conservative side to director Rob Reiner on the liberal side.
“So much television today is about picking a team and denigrating anyone with opposing opinions,” Kurtz said — painting his show as an alternative to that.
Kurtz said he also enjoyed that he was called both pro-President Donald Trump and anti-Trump, “often for the same comments.”
There are numerous recent examples of Kurtz criticizing the president. Last month, he said “not much was accomplished” by President Trump’s Alaskan summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and in July, he said the president’s lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal was drawing more attention to the report he penned a “bawdy” letter to Jeffrey Epstein.
The 72-year-old host also thanked his fans for making the show number one in its time slot for the past 12 years, and he also thanked his wife and four daughters “for putting up with all those lost weekends over the years.”
Kurtz’s farewell came a few days after Fox News announced a number of changes to its weekend lineup. Those changes include giving White House correspondents Peter Doocy and Jacqui Heinrich a new hour-long show, The Sunday Briefing, which will air at 11:00 a.m. ET on Sundays — the time slot that has been occupied by Kurtz.
Former Trump White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany is also getting a new program and Tomi Lahren’s role is expanding to be the permanent co-host of The Big Weekend Show, alongside Johnny “Joey” Jones.
Kurtz noted he will remain at Fox News for at least the next few years, writing columns, hosting the MediaBuzz podcast, and offering political and media analysis. But he wanted the audience to know he appreciated his 12 year stint hosting the TV program — as he said so long.
“I’ve had a pretty long run in a pretty tough business, and well, time marches on,” Kurtz said. “I appreciate you being such a loyal audience. Our Sunday get-togethers have been a privilege. Thanks for watching.”