What Do Megyn Kelly, Deborah Turness and Empire’s Cookie Lyon Have in Common?

By Brian Flood 

What do Fox News host Megyn Kelly and NBC News president Deborah Turness have in common with Caitlyn Jenner, Tina Fey, Angelina Jolie Pitt and Empire’s Cookie Lyon?

They have all made The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment Power 100 list. The THR list is in no particular order and each member offers “a snapshot of the direction of the industry now.”

Kelly had had quite a year, highlighted by co-moderating a record-setting GOP debate that was viewed by 24 million people. THR on Kelly:

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Kelly unquestionably is among the top news anchors on TV. Sure, she has become (along with Bill O’Reilly) the face of Roger Ailes’ $15 billion Fox News empire. But the married mother of three also has become — simply in the course of doing her job — the refutation of the toxic misogyny that can pervade social media. When Donald Trump’s personal attacks on her — after she questioned his sexist statements about women at the first GOP primary debate in August — unleashed an ugly Twitter barrage, Kelly kept quiet even as the candidate embarked on an on-again, off-again feud with the network. “Donald Trump rarely apologizes,” said Ailes, “although in this case, he should.”

THR on Turness:

The British former ITV exec has brought new urgency to her domain; shows under her watch (and that of NBC News chairman Andy Lack, to whom she reports), including Todayand Nightly News With Lester Holt, are besting the competition. Fending off an early challenge from ABC’s World News Tonight With David Muir, Holt now regularly wins the evening-news race. And so far this season, Today is topping ABC’s Good Morning America in the 25-to-54 demographic.

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Deborah Turness

Turness has some company at 30 Rock among powerful women. NBCUniversal chairman Bonnie Hammer, NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke, NBC evp Kimberley Harris, NBCUniversal execs Frances Manfredi and Beth Roberts give her plenty of colleagues to share the honor with.

Turness isn’t the only news media boss to make the exclusive list. BBC America president and GM Sarah Barnett, ESPN exec Marie Donoghue, Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless (who oversees The Daily Show), Oprah Winfrey and CBS News exec Deborah Barak also crack the list.

The list also features Meryl Streep, Ellen DeGeneres, Reese Witherspoon and a bunch of Kardashians.

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