Jesse Watters fills Tucker Carlson’s old slot as Fox shakes up the primetime lineup

Fox News shook up its primetime lineup Monday in the first major reorganization of its most popular programming since the start of the Trump administration. The move includes permanently filling the 8 p.m. slot that’s been vacant since the network canceled Tucker Carlson’s show in April.

The changes will result in the promotion of two of the network’s rising stars: Jesse Watters, whose show moves from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Greg Gutfeld, who hosts a 11 p.m. comedy and current affairs program that regularly attracts higher ratings. then nightly rivals like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel. Mr. Gutfeld’s show is now at 10 p.m

Laura Ingraham, who has presented a 10pm program since 2017, moves to 7pm occupying the hour Mr Watters presents. Sean Hannity, a mainstay at Fox News since the early days, remains in his 9 p.m. slot.

Fox’s prime time ratings have always been the highest in cable news, but have fallen by about a third since the network’s Mr. Carlson off the air. His departure followed a string of public relations headaches and legal troubles stemming from both his offensive comments both on and off the air and a lawsuit from a former producer alleging he facilitated a toxic workplace.

In April, shortly before Mr. Carlson’s show was canceled, Fox News and its parent company settled a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million. Some of Mr. Carlson’s private text messages became public during the case, including some in which he attacked network colleagues, disparaged former President Donald J. Trump and said he did not believe the results of the 2020 election were materially affected by voter fraud.

One particularly damaging text, which sparked a crisis at the top of the Fox Corporation, expressed inflammatory views on violence and race.