Fox News Calls Jesse Watters Permanent Host of ‘Fox News Primetime’

One year later Fox News kicks off “straight news” host Martha MacCallum from the 7 p.m. time slot During the weekday lineup change, the network finally announced on Monday that Jesse Watters will permanently take over as the organizer of the important hour.

Fox News Primetime, will now be named Jesse Watters Rush Hour, has been run by a bunch of rotating (and competing) servers over the past year. Besides Watters, the hour-long opinion talk show is hosted by Fox News veterans like Maria Bartiromo and Brian Kilmeade, as well as lesser-known contributors like Tammy Bruce and Ben Domenech .

Watters, who rose to fame at Fox News thanks to his ambush interviews on disgraced former host Bill O’Reilly’s nightly show, saw his star emerged on the internet in the past few years. Not only did he become one of the regular hosts of the highest rated late afternoon roundtable Five but he also hosted his own weekend show, World of Watts, in the past few years.

“I’m excited to take on this new challenge and so grateful for the opportunity,” Watters said in a statement about his new gig. Jesse Watters Rush Hour will officially launch on January 24th.

The network touted the ratings of both of those shows when it was announced on Monday that Watters will now direct his own weeknight evening show.

“Jesse’s versatility and acumen in programming has grown exponentially over the past five years and he has developed a deep connection with audiences through two hit shows. Five and World of Watters,” Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott said in a statement. “We look forward to seeing him expand his connections further through a new solo hour evening this week.”

Fox News also notes that with his new night mission, Watters will give up World of Watters and a new show at 8 p.m. Saturday will be announced soon. Watters, however, will remain co-host of Five move forward.

Watters have frequently argued during his two decades at Fox News. He caused backlash and calls for his dismissal after a 2016 sketch of a man on the street in Chinatown displayed blatantly racist Asian stereotypes, prompting him to issue a lighthearted apology. Recently, leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci Watters says ‘should be fired on the spot’ for urging Fox News fans to “ambush” him in the street with “shoot to death” questions.