Why Is Steve Doocy Done Working at the ‘Fox & Friends’ Studio?

Steve Doocy will no longer have a seat on Fox & Friends’ “curvy couch” as he moves into a remote role.

Since he helped found the program in 1998, the longtime host has been engaging in early morning political discussions from Fox News’ New York City studio. He’s become a familiar face for viewers and has interviewed political candidates such as President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

During the live broadcast on May 1, the longtime host announced that he was going to work remote, rather than in the studio.

“Do you remember that ’80s Dunkin Donuts commercial where the alarm clock goes off at 3:30? Well, for the last 30 years, when my alarm clock goes off at 3:30, if it wakes up my wife Kathy, she always says, ‘It’s time to make the donuts,’ ” he said.

Doocy continued, “You know how many mornings my alarm has gone off at 3:30? Well, according to AI, 6,828 times, and that ladies and gentlemen, is a lot of donuts.”

“It is a great job, but the hours suck,” he added.

Doocy then shared that he was preparing for a new chapter in his broadcasting career, but assured viewers that they would still hear his “voice and opinion loud and clear.”

So, why is Steve Doocy leaving the Fox & Friends studio? Here’s everything to know about his sudden announcement and new role.

Is Steve Doocy leaving Fox & Friends?

On May 1, Doocy announced that it was his last day hosting Fox & Friends from the N.Y.C. couch, but he isn’t stepping away from the show completely.

“After decades of getting up at 3:30 and driving into New York City in the dark, today is the last day that I will host the show from the couch,” he said. “I am not retiring, I’m not leaving the show. I’m still a host, but it’s time for a change.”

Doocy went on to say that he and Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott have been discussing the transition for some time, trying to figure out what he “should do next.”

“Suzanne gave me a great option: to keep working on the show, just not everyday,” he said, explaining that he would be working three days a week.

Doocy will take on a new title as a host for remote assignments.

Why is Steve Doocy stepping into a new role on Fox & Friends?

During a conversation with Mediaite the same day as his announcement, Doocy opened up about his decision to step away from the studio, explaining that it was time for a change.

He elaborated that after getting up early and commuting to work for decades, he grew weary of the hours — though he added he has “zero regrets.”

“I’ve cracked the code on how to do this, I love the show, and ratings are great — I just want to make a transition to the next stage of my personal life,” Doocy explained.

The host added that the choice to depart wasn’t sudden, but rather something that he had been working toward for some time.

“Having done this for 30 years, you start thinking about how you’re going to find an off-ramp eventually,” he said. “What that looks like or what it feels like — I’ve been thinking about this for a few years and how you do it.”

Stepping away from the studio also means Doocy will be able to spend more time with his family, including his wife, their three children — Peter, Mary and Sally — and his grandchildren.

“When my kids were growing up, I never had breakfast with them. I was always here,” Doocy said during his live announcement. “But starting tomorrow, I’m going to have breakfast with my grandkids and my children whenever I can.”

How will Steve Doocy host Fox & Friends from home?

During his live announcement on Fox & Friends, Doocy explained that living in Florida — where he plans to move — is “strategic,” as it will make it easier for him to report from “other parts of America that don’t get a lot of airtime.”

“I’ll be going from the Carolinas to the Keys from middle America to Mar-a-Lago,” he said. “So, call me the coast-to-coast host.”

The longtime anchor also told Mediaite that he was looking forward to the relocation, saying, “Not having to be anchored to the NYC studios every day feels great, to be honest.”

Is anyone replacing Steve Doocy on Fox & Friends?

Although Doocy will no longer be hosting from N.Y.C., nobody is set to take his spot on the curvy couch.

While Doocy appears remotely, his co-hosts Brian Kilmeade, Ainsley Earhardt and Lawrence Jones will continue to lead the show from the N.Y.C. studio.