Will America spend Sunday nights with Megyn Kelly? Will Vladimir Putin find a Trumpian way of dissing the new NBC host?
Amid news that the Russian leader is fessing up to “patriotic” countrymen trying to hack democratic elections, former Fox News star Kelly kicks off her new show Sunday.
The one-time debate bane of candidate Donald Trump has a lot riding on her opening Q&A with Putin.
“Ms. Kelly’s debut is important for NBC, which has made a big investment in her,” said The New York Times. “Executives hope she can bring life to its troubled 9 a.m. hour on weekdays when she starts a new talk show in September, and that her Sunday magazine show can do the unthinkable: create a genuine competitor to ’60 Minutes,’ the CBS show that is celebrating its 50th year.”
CNN talked to Kelly, the former lawyer.
“This is the fourth show I’ve launched,” she said. “I launched ‘America’s Newsroom,’ I launched ‘America Live,’ I launched ‘The Kelly File.’ Now I guess this is four and five. So I have a history of being able to hold. Those shows were fine on day one, but they were nothing on day one like they were once I was done with them after a couple of years.
“So people have to be patient with a new television product, because in general people don’t like change. I’m one of them. But as long as they’re open-minded and give you a chance, then it’s up to me to earn their respect and show them a product that they find enjoyable, and I have no doubt I will.”
CNN noted that “Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly” will run through the summer, then go on hiatus to make way for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.”
“In September, Kelly will launch her 9 a.m. weekday show. Next February, she’ll start hosting both at the same time.”
Said Kelly: “Hopefully by then, I’ll know what the hell I’m doing.”