The Five Cast Opens Up To Mediaite On The Show’s One Year Anniversary

Anyone fortunate enough to observe the hosts’ off-air interaction knows there is a high likelihood that conversation will make its way into the program once the breaks are over. That is a boon to The Five‘s audience; the off-air banter is as entertaining and unvarnished as it is on screen.

“There is not a lot of difference between on-camera and the breaks,” said Bolling.

Some of that dynamic emerges from the time that the hosts spend together off set. Perino said that she spends a fair amount of time off-camera with Beckel because they both moved to New York from Washington D.C. for the show – although Beckel still travels back and forth to see his family which still resides in the District.

“I’ve had the benefit of being able to see people on the weekends, though I’ve never been invited to Eric’s house in New Jersey and I’m really desperately seeking an invitation,” said Perino. Her suggestion reminded Bolling that he promised to host a party for his fellow cast mates.

“I don’t socialize much with these guys,” said Williams who also resides in Washington D.C. “I’m kind of like the Southern cousin, so I come up to visit the family. You know, they say they bring Bob up from the basement – they kind of import me.”

Guilfoyle says that the group is very close and regularly talk about each other’s kids and families, as well as enjoy some extracurricular activities. However, for those who think that the arguments that The Five cast members engage in is somehow staged, Guilfoyle assures that every exchange that occurs on camera – whether contentious or friendly – is very real.

While some might think that the amount of rope that the hosts are given to say precisely what is on their minds might make a cable news executive nervous, Williams says that the network knew what they were getting when they cast the show. “I don’t think any of us was an unknown,” said Williams.

Perino agreed with Williams but noted that that the show did evolve and the hosts had to overcome an early propensity to engage in a significant amount of crosstalk. With that, the entire cast descended into a din of crosstalk to show how far they have come.

“Bob used to make fun of me because I would come with a lot of notes,” said Perino. Bolling requested that the record show that Perino made this statement as she sat in front of a folder full of show prep at least one inch thick.

“She is the Lisa Simpson of Fox News,” said Gutfeld.

“No one has said ‘tone it down’ or ‘don’t do that,’” said Guilfoyle. “You’re not going to be able to say that to Greg or Juan or Eric or Dana or Bob or Me or Andrea. We’re ourselves.”

But the cast’s definition of themselves may be changing as they spend more and more time with each other. Perino says that her positions on the issues are evolving given her exposure to her fellow cast members with wildly differing views than her own. She mentioned specifically the legalization of drugs. Perino said that hearing the arguments both for and against it has moved her towards a position that is more “in the middle” from where she once was.

“I’m stretched in ways that I hadn’t been before,” said Perino.

“Can you tell that we have so much fun on this show,” Guilfoyle asked. “It’s weird to say that this is a job or its work because it’s just the best thing. Bob would tell you, if he was here, that this is the best job he’s ever had.”

“Except for that time he lost 49 states in the Mondale campaign,” Perino said, digging at the absent Beckel.

Beckel’s cast mates say that he is not bothered that, as a committed liberal, his fan base now consists disproportionately of conservatives.

“He eats it up,” said Bolling. “He sits and has a cigar before and after every show. He puts a chair outside and…”

“Holds court,” interjected Perino.

“There’s not a person on The Five that I don’t think I could call at two in the morning who would help me immediately and drop everything for me,” said Perino. “That’s a pretty amazing thing to have in your life – if you, even through your life you have one or two friends like that – to have all of this within one year is a huge blessing. And that includes our crew and producers as well.”

“I played professional baseball, I spent 20 years on a trading floor – this is by far the most demanding and rewarding job I’ve ever had,” said Bolling.

With the confidence that Fox News Channel has in the cast of The Five, the show’s second year should offer as many memorable moments as its first.

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This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.