The rise and fall of Fox News founder Roger Ailes, focusing primarily on the past decade in which Ailes arguably became the Republican Party’s de facto leader, while flashing back to defining events in his life.
The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.
Once Gretchen Carlson’s lawsuit becomes public, Roger moves into crisis mode, doing anything and everything he can to save his career and his legacy. Ultimately, it’s not enough. Roger is fired from Fox. But even as he’s lost everything, his greatest achievement eclipses him—Donald Trump wins the presidency. Limited Series Finale.
Fox News Channel is now the dominant news outlet and Roger is working the levers of his power. But he doesn't see the danger posed by Gretchen Carlson. After years of harassment by Roger, she's finally had enough.
Gretchen Carlson has been secretly taping Roger’s harassment for over a year and is working with Nancy Erika Smith, a lawyer specializing in sexual harassment. Roger goes all in on candidate Donald Trump which causes conflict with Murdoch. But Roger makes a mistake—he fires Gretchen, unwittingly setting into motion not her demise, but his own.
Roger finds his legacy in Joe Lindsley, a 25-year-old acolyte he hires as editor of a newspaper he bought in upstate New York. Turning this paper into a conservative news source, Roger achieves his revenge against the Obama White House.
Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.
High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.
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