From Broadcasting & Cable:

Ailes Cracks Whip as Fox News Slips

Slackers at Fox News Channel, you're on notice! Your boss is not pleased. Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes is on the warpath following his network's recent ratings slump, and he won't hesitate to clean house to turn things around.

So far during the second quarter, the No. 1 cable news channel's primetime schedule has dropped 22% in its core 25-54 demo and 8% in total viewers. The first quarter was even worse ... Ailes is fuming over the complacency he senses among staffers. Production values are slipping, and bookers aren't competitive enough, relying too heavily on the same pool of faces ...

Commenting through a spokesman last week, Ailes left no doubt: "Anyone who displays launch-type intensity will continue to have a job at Fox News. Those who don't will not. And that includes talent."

Here's another theory:

The Fox News Channel has been defending the Bush administration for six years now. Fox's preferred political party also controls both houses of Congress. It's like watching Will and Grace in its last season or two -- comfortingly consistent, but no longer compelling.

What Fox News really needs is a major change in the show to stir things up -- like when Lucy and Ricky went to Hollywood, or when the "Tailies" joined the gang on Lost.

In this case, the best thing for Fox's ratings would be Democratic victories in 2006 and -- even better for them -- 2008. That would ensure that Hannity et al could stop blaming silly targets like the ACLU for the quagmire in Iraq and could start pointing fingers at people who actually have power.

Trust us, Roger: Fox's ratings would go through the roof.