Late-Night King Greg Gutfeld Signs Fresh Fox Deal, As His Ratings Blow Out Competition

Nearly a year after Fox News parted ways with its star host, Tucker Carlson, Greg Gutfeld appears to be the network's latest prized possession.

Variety was the first to report that Gutfeld has recently signed a contract extension as his ratings continue to blow out the competition:

Fox News is expected to announce that it recently closed a deal with Gutfeld to extend his contract, a move that spotlights the host’s importance to the network’s operations even if he isn’t in the mold of a Sean Hannity or Laura Ingraham.
Under the pact, Gutfeld will continue his co-hosting duties at the roundtable show “The Five” as well as his 10 p.m. program, “Gutfeld!,” a looser take on the issues of the day that marks a bid by Fox News to woo the younger TV viewers who might watch late-night programs such as “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on CBS or “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central. The third anniversary of the 10 p.m. program arrives Friday.

Fox CEO Suzanne Scott described Gutfeld as a "true original" among the network's roster of talent:

Greg is a true original whose trademark political and cultural commentary, humor and gifted writing has deeply connected and grown with our audience for more than 17 years.

Upon launching ‘Gutfeld!’ three years ago, he rapidly disrupted the status quo to become the most-watched host in the genre with more viewers tuning in to his show than any other late-night program on television. We are proud to be the home of Greg, his unparalleled analysis and late-night’s highest-rated program for many years to come.

Gutfeld, meanwhile, praised the network for giving him free rein to discuss a variety of topics that would typically be off-limits at other broadcasters, and even other Fox News departments:

“Since joining the network in 2007, Fox News has given me the freedom to be unabashedly myself and, in turn, deliver a distinct experience for our audience," he said in a statement. “There aren’t many platforms that allow this type of creative independence and I’m proud to be a part of Suzanne’s team.”

Fox News is expected to announce that it recently closed a deal with Greg Gutfeld to extend his contract. https://t.co/Ay70j25eKu
— Variety (@Variety) April 4, 2024

A seasoned comedian, Gutfeld gained recognition for hosting the weekend comedy and current affairs program "Redeye," paving the way for his subsequent eponymous weeknight show, which debuted in February 2021. The show consistently draws in an audience of over two million, outpacing liberal comedians such as Stephen Colbert.

According to Forbes, Gutfeld recently "made history as the highest-rated program among viewers 25-54, the key demographic of younger viewers most valued by advertisers—the first time the show has landed in first place in the key demo."

Gutfeld's popularity is undoubtedly a boon for the network, which has seen its popularity plummet in the wake of the 2020 presidential election and its decision to fire Tucker Carlson in April 2023. Since departing the network, Carlson has been bound by the network's notorious non-disclosure agreements, although he has successfully forged his own path with a series of long-form interviews with many of the world's most influential people.