Sunday marks the 1,000th episode of Fox News Sunday and to celebrate, we caught up with anchor Chris Wallace. The veteran journalist discusses everything from Walter Cronkite to the 2016 race; and from Biggie Smalls to his favorite TV shows. Well, his favorite TV shows aside from Fox News Sunday.
TVNewser: You’ve learned from some legends of the broadcasting industry. In addition to your father, you also had the privilege of working with Walter Cronkite when you were only 16 years old. What is your best memory of running errands for Cronkite?
Wallace: I was Walter’s go-fer (go for coffee, go for pencils) at the Republican Convention in San Francisco in 1964. But my best memory was working for him during a Gemini space shot at Cape Kennedy (as it was then called) in 1965. He had a thick notebook with a timeline for every event during the orbital flight. At any moment, he knew exactly what was supposed to happen in the kind of detail only an astronaut would need. It was a good lesson in the value of preparation. My other memory was of Walter’s daughter Nancy, who was my first girlfriend.
TVNewser: You co-moderated last month’s record-setting GOP debate that was viewed by 24 million people. Why do you think American’s are so captivated by the campaign so early in the process?
Wallace: I would like to say it’s about the qualified field and the pressing issues. But let’s be honest. It has turned into the Donald Trump Show. And the question I get most often about his candidacy is—how does the story end? We’ll see.
TVNewser: What non-news programs, if any, do you watch on a regular basis?
Wallace: I watch a fair amount of TV. All sports. I like Homeland and Modern Family. I loved Mad Men and 24. I will never turn off a Seinfeld re-run. And there are some guilty pleasures I will deny till the end. I have joked to my wife I want to be buried with a television remote in my hand.
Hip hop legend The Notorious B.I.G.’s real name was also Chris Wallace.
TVNewser: Be honest, have you ever checked into a hotel as Chris Wallace and realized the staff was disappointed that you weren’t The Notorious B.I.G.?
Wallace: No. In fact, I didn’t even know I shared a name with Biggie Smalls until I read a headline in the paper one day: “Christopher Wallace gunned down.” It’s not something you want to see over breakfast.
TVNewser: So, what did you end up doing with Ellen’s underwear?
Wallace: That’s between Ellen and me.
TVNewser: What’s your favorite meal? Specific restaurant and exact order, please.
Wallace: Are you kidding? My wife has written 3 cookbooks and is the best chef I know. Chez Wallace. Homemade soup after the show on Sundays. Chicken every Saturday night.