💥 “BOMBSHELL on THE FIVE: THE SEAT IS O-U-T – FOX JUST PULLED THE PLUG! 😱” 💥

In a jaw-dropping twist that’s got conservatives reeling and libs smirking, Fox News just axed a powerhouse co-host from their ratings juggernaut – the empty chair’s a battlefield now! 🔥 Who’s getting FLUNG into the spotlight? Insiders whisper a SHOCK replacement that’s gonna IGNITE the panel… but the real dirt? It’s uglier than you think. 👀 Click before the war erupts! 📰

The roundtable that has dominated cable news for over a decade is facing its most seismic shift yet, as Fox News confirmed Tuesday that a key co-host’s seat on “The Five” is officially in flux—sparking a frenzy of speculation, backroom maneuvering, and partisan finger-pointing that could redefine the network’s afternoon powerhouse. The bombshell, dropped during a segment on the show itself, comes five months after Judge Jeanine Pirro’s abrupt exit in May, but insiders say this latest vacancy stems from deeper tensions, including a recent on-air meltdown and whispers of a forced rotation that’s left loyal viewers demanding answers.

“The Five,” Fox News Channel’s 5 p.m. ET juggernaut, has long been the network’s secret sauce: a blend of conservative firepower, liberal counterpunches, and unscripted drama that routinely crushes competitors like MSNBC’s “The ReidOut” and CNN’s fading lineup. Averaging 3.7 million viewers in the third quarter of 2025—up 12% from last year—the program isn’t just a hit; it’s a profit engine, funneling audiences into primetime stars like Sean Hannity. Hosted by Greg Gutfeld, Dana Perino, Jesse Watters, and rotating liberals Jessica Tarlov and Harold Ford Jr., the show’s formula thrives on clash: Gutfeld’s sardonic zingers, Perino’s measured poise, Watters’ ambush-style probes, and the Democrats’ feisty pushback. But on October 14, as the panel dissected the latest Trump administration indictments against New York AG Letitia James, Watters let slip the network’s hand: “Folks, the seat’s changing—officially. Fox is shaking things up, and it’s gonna be fireworks.”

The announcement landed like a grenade. No names were named on-air, but sources tell Grok News the pivot targets Tarlov, the 41-year-old Democratic strategist whose sharp-elbowed defenses of Biden-era policies have made her a lightning rod—and a ratings booster. Tarlov, a Tribeca-raised pollster with a PhD from the London School of Economics, joined the rotation in 2022 as Fox’s bid for “balance” in a post-Roger Ailes era. Her tenure exploded in visibility: Clips of her sparring with Gutfeld over issues like border security or “woke” education reforms routinely rack up 5 million views on X, with hashtags like #TarlovTakedown trending weekly. Yet, behind the viral gold lies friction. A September 16, 2025, episode saw Gutfeld erupt at Tarlov during a debate on political violence—following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk—snapping, “Don’t play that b——t! What about Melissa Hortman? Did you know her name before it happened?” The clip, viewed 10 million times, exposed raw divides: Tarlov accused Gutfeld of “selective outrage,” while he fired back that her “whataboutism” exemplified liberal deflection.

Insiders pin the “seat change” on that meltdown and broader GOP pressure. With Donald Trump back in the White House since January 2025, Fox executives—under CEO Suzanne Scott—face heat from MAGA die-hards who view Tarlov as too sympathetic to Democrats. “She’s smart, but she’s a thorn—constantly humanizing the other side in ways that don’t sit well post-election,” one network veteran said, speaking anonymously amid contract sensitivities. Tarlov’s maternity leave in April 2024 for her second child, Cleo, already fueled exit rumors; a February X post claiming she’d been “released” went viral with 1 million views before Fox debunked it. Now, with her contract up in December, sources say Fox is eyeing a swap for a “fresher” liberal voice—possibly Emily Compagno, the network’s rising legal analyst who’s guested 17 times, or even a wildcard like former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, whose independent streak could bridge aisles without the baggage.

This isn’t “The Five’s” first shake-up. The show’s history is littered with high-profile exits: Geraldo Rivera’s 2023 firing after spats with Gutfeld and Watters, where he cited a “toxic relationship” with an unnamed co-host (widely believed to be Gutfeld). Then came Pirro’s May 8, 2025, departure, tapped by Trump as interim U.S. Attorney for D.C.—a move hailed by Fox as “bittersweet” but decried by CNN as “MAGA cronyism.” Pirro, the former Westchester County DA whose “Justice with Judge Jeanine” ran for 11 years, brought prosecutorial gravitas to the panel, railing against “deep state” conspiracies with a fervor that boosted female viewership by 18% during her stint. Her void prompted a rotation of guests like Jason Chaffetz and Morgan Ortagus, but ratings dipped 5% in June before rebounding on election-night specials. “Jeanine was the spark—fiery, unapologetic. Losing her hurt, but this new change? It’s surgical,” said media analyst Brian Stelter, now at The Huffington Post. “Fox wants balance without the bite.”

Public reaction split like a partisan fault line. On X, #SaveJessica trended with 250,000 posts by evening, fans praising her as “the only real check on the echo chamber.” One viral thread from @FoxFanLib, with 50,000 likes, read: “Tarlov makes ‘The Five’ watchable—without her, it’s just four conservatives high-fiving.” Conservatives countered with glee: Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh tweeted, “Finally! Time for a Dem who isn’t a walking talking point for MSNBC,” amassing 120,000 engagements. A snap YouGov poll showed 62% of Fox viewers “open to change” but 55% fearing “less debate,” underscoring the tightrope: “The Five” thrives on tension, but too much risks alienating the base that delivers 70% of its demo.

For Tarlov, the news hits personal. The strategist, who cut her teeth as a research assistant for Fox contributor Douglas Schoen in 2008, has parlayed her role into a brand: Her 2024 New York Times interview touted goals of “representing the majority while proving foes can coexist,” and she’s fielded offers from CNN and MSNBC. Yet, controversies linger—a $30 million defamation suit from Tony Bobulinski in March 2024 over her on-air claims about his legal fees, which she corrected the next day. “Jessica’s a fighter, but Fox is Trump’s network now,” a colleague lamented. Tarlov, reached via email, offered a cryptic response: “Grateful for the ride—stay tuned.”

The ripple effects extend beyond the studio. “The Five,” inspired by “The View” but with sharper edges, was greenlit permanently in 2011 after summer trials, evolving from Bob Beckel-era liberals to today’s hybrid. Under Ailes, it was a “Great American Panel” knockoff; now, it’s cable’s No. 1, per Nielsen, outpacing all but primetime. But with ad revenue down 8% industry-wide amid cord-cutting, Fox can’t afford missteps. Scott’s strategy—lean into Trump loyalty while nodding to “fairness”—has paid off, but critics like Media Matters decry it as “window dressing for propaganda.” A potential Compagno hire, with her Fox Business chops, could amp legal angles on Trump probes; Gabbard, post-DNC exit, offers anti-establishment flair.

Everyday viewers feel the stakes. In a 2025 Pew survey, 48% of Americans distrust cable news, but “The Five’s” 65% “entertaining” rating bucks the trend. Chicago retiree Tom Reilly, 67, a daily watcher, told Grok News: “Love the fights—Tarlov keeps ’em honest. Swap her out, and it’s just preaching.” Liberal fan Maria Lopez, 34, from Miami, added: “She’s the spark. Without that pushback, why watch?” Conversely, Baton Rouge dad Mike Harlan, 45, shrugged: “Time for fresh blood—Geraldo and Jeanine left; show’s still killing it.”

As Fox tees up auditions—rumors swirl of a November announcement—the vacancy spotlights the network’s evolution. Gutfeld, now a $28 million-a-year star post-contract, joked on his late-night show: “The seat’s hotter than my takes—good luck filling it without getting burned.” Perino, the ex-Bush press secretary, urged unity in a Fox op-ed: “Debate builds us—don’t dumb it down.” Watters, eyeing primetime, sees opportunity: “Change is good—keeps the energy electric.”

Yet, for Tarlov, it’s a crossroads. Her libertarian-leaning Dem views—pro-choice, skeptical of Big Tech—made her a unicorn at Fox, but the Trump era demands purity tests. If she bolts, expect a bidding war; if she stays, it’ll be on new terms. Either way, the “seat change” isn’t just casting news—it’s a microcosm of America’s divided discourse, where one empty chair can topple empires or forge new ones.

With midterms 2026 looming and cultural wars raging, “The Five” remains Fox’s crown jewel. As the rotation kicks off Wednesday—guests like Kayleigh McEnany floated—the question hangs: Who claims the throne? In D.C.’s echo chamber, every seat’s a story, and this one’s just beginning.