Shepard Smith to renew Fox contract, interview Sarah Palin on election night

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Are the ladies at ‘The View’ making nice with Fox News? After Bill O’Reilly famously triggered a walkout, the show’s hosts were extra polite to Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, who made an appearance there Tuesday morning and announced that he’s just signed a new three-year contract with the network. (The news was first reported Tuesday morning on Deadline.)

‘I’m really proud of the journalism that comes out of our place,’ said Smith, whose current contract expires at the end of the year. ‘We’ve never had a big mistake.’

Smith also joked about The Rent is Too Damn High Party, and defended Juan Williams. (‘We’ve been friends for a long time,’ he said). But his take on election night remained cautious. He revealed that he will interview Sarah Palin for his first time when he anchors Fox’s election coverage next Tuesday night, but when asked about what he thinks of Christine O’Donnell, he’d only say, ‘She’s good TV.’

Asked about racist campaign ads, he insisted, ‘I don’t get to do opinions.’ At which point, Barbara Walters poked fun at him. ‘So you’re the one who doesn’t give opinions!’ she said. ‘Oh!’

Do we sense a rapport building here?

-- Melissa Maerz