Fox Plays Softball in Palin Interviews

Fox News had a chance to score some credibility this week with its interviews of the Palins. Instead, writes LA Times media critic James Rainey, it served up embarrassing softball interviews that had more to do with polishing the Fox brand than journalism. The result was "three nights of infotainment so frothy, slanted and off-point that they challenged even their cable network's low standards.”

In his interview with Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity "led his pliant subject to safe responses, and not so subtly sprinkled his queries with barbs aimed at Barack Obama." Greta Van Susteren, meanwhile, “seemed to morph into a cheerleader” while interviewing Todd: "They love you here! They love you here!" Van Susteren said at one point, referring to Alaskans. "So that must be fun for you!" No mention of troopergate whatsoever.