Fox News commentator Tucker Carlson and his entourage rolled into the Barnes & Noble at Lake Sumter Landing on Saturday afternoon for a fast-paced book-signing event.
The popular host of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” made the stop in The Villages after signing copies of his latest book, “Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class Is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution,” earlier in the day in Lakeland and Kissimmee. After spending some time with an excited crowd of Villagers shortly after 2:30 p.m., Carlson headed to Jacksonville for another book signing and is then heading to Tennessee for similar events.
An eager crowd awaited Carlson’s arrival Saturday afternoon, many having arrived in the wee hours of the morning to get an armband that assured them the chance to see the commentator who first joined Fox News in 2009.
“I was actually surprised when I pulled up in the parking lot and nobody else was here,” said Ryan Devlin, of Ocala, who arrived at 6:45 a.m. with friend Shelly Smith after having spent the previous evening at Barnes & Noble for a cookbook-singing event with “Fox & Friends” co-host Steve Doocy and his wife, Kathy. “I couldn’t grab my chair fast enough.”
Smith said they had a plan to get to the front of the line and it worked out quite well.
“We certainly didn’t want to be all the way in the back,” she said. “So we got up bright and early this morning to try to beat the crowd. We left Ocala about 5 a.m.”
That plan earned the two women the right to be the first to have their books signed by Carlson – an experience both said they wouldn’t soon forget.
“It was well worth it,” a smiling Devlin said, adding that she likes Carlson because he “tells it like it is. We need more of that.”
Smith, the shy one of the two, initially was afraid she might freeze up when meeting the commentator she admires for his “blank stare and his scowl.” But once Carlson reached his hand out to greet her, Smith said she relaxed and totally enjoyed the moment.”
“I actually said, ‘How are you?’” she said. “It was great. He seems like a down-to-earth guy.”
Susan Kelly, of the Village of Buttonwood, enjoyed a similar experience.
“I told him I love his show,” said the very active member of Villagers for Trump, who was at Lake Sumter Landing bright and early Friday morning to see Doocy’s live “Fox & Friends” segments outside RJ Gator’s. “I told (Carlson) I love his show. I watch it every night. I said, ‘You go Tucker!’”
Karen and David Barnes, of the Village of Hadley, said they were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the commentator they watch every week night.
“I like the way he gets opposing views,” David said. “When he asks a question and they try to evade it, he keeps after them to try to get to what he’s talking about. I think he’s a very good interviewer and he’s fair and impartial.”
New Villagers Thomas and Toni Ruszala, who moved to the Village of Fenney a week ago, were all smiles as they waited their turn to meet Carlson and get their book signed. Toni said she’s a big fan of the conservative commentator for a lot of reasons.
“He tells it like it is,” she said. “I like the way he goes after the Democrats. It’s very entertaining.”
Thomas agreed, adding: “He’s got the most logic of anybody on TV. And he’s just really smart.”
Carlson’s book, which hit shelves this past Tuesday, offers some of his signature political commentary on how America’s ruling class has failed everyday Americans. The introduction of the book sets the stage with vintage Carlson commentary: “You look on in horror, helpless and desperate.” “You have nowhere to go.” “You’re trapped on a ship of fools.”
Carlson concludes that America’s leaders are “unaware that they are captains of a sinking ship.” And in his trademark style, the popular TV commentator who appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2006 answers the most important of all questions: How do we put the country back on course?
As with many Fox News personalities, Carlson is no stranger to Florida’s Friendliest Hometown, having been here in April 2010 to appear on fellow Fox commentator Sean Hannity’s show that originated from Lake Sumter Landing. Two rising GOP stars in Florida – Marco Rubio, who was running for U.S. Senate at the time; and Pam Bondi, a then-candidate for attorney general, also made appearances on that show, as did Lynyrd Skynyrd singer/guitarist Rickey Medlocke.
Like it was this weekend, the Lake Sumter Landing Barnes & Noble has been particularly popular among Fox personalities. Besides the Doocys’ appearance Friday night to sign copies of their cookbooks, “The Five” co-host Greg Gutfeld was there in August to sign copies of “The Gutfeld Monologues: Classic Rants From The Five.” He brought in a huge crowd of fans and was particularly touched to learn that an 11-year-old girl lined up seven hours in advance to be the first to greet him.
In May, Bret Baier, host of “Special Report with Bret Baier” and chief political anchor for Fox signed copies of his new book titled: “Three Days in Moscow: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of the Soviet Empire.” Baier’s aunt, Kathy Scarito, lives in the Village of Sunset Pointe and was among the many residents at Barnes & Noble on Saturday to get a signed copy of Carlson’s new book.
Doocy’s “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade was in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown in December 2017 to sign copies of “Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: The Battle That Shaped America’s Destiny.” Kilmeade also has visited The Villages for three other book signings in November 2016, December 2015 and December 2013.
And while he’s not a Fox News personality, President Trump’s former White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, signed copies in August of his new book, “The Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President.” Spicer told the crowd of Villagers at the event that he wrote the book to “set the record straight” about Trump’s campaign and presidential victory.
