If you’ve lived in the New York tri-state area anytime in the last four decades, Rosanna Scotto isn’t just a news anchor. She’s basically your neighbor who happens to have impeccable hair and knows everyone from the Mayor to the guy running the corner deli. While many national viewers recognize the Fox News Rosanna Scotto connection through her recent appearances on The Five or her long-format specials on Fox Nation, locals know her as the soul of WNYW-Fox 5.
She's the person you wake up with. Seriously.
Since 1986, Scotto has been a fixture at Fox 5 New York. Think about that for a second. In an industry where "talent" is swapped out faster than a subway car, she’s stayed relevant through multiple co-hosts, changing administrations, and the complete upheaval of how we consume news. She didn't just survive; she became the matriarch of New York broadcasting.
The Evolution of Fox News Rosanna Scotto
There is a common misconception that Scotto is strictly a national Fox News Channel personality. While she’s definitely expanded her footprint there recently—even filling in for Judge Jeanine Pirro on The Five in 2025—her roots are deep in local news.
She started in Atlanta at WTBS, Ted Turner’s early experiment in cable. It’s kinda wild to think of her anywhere but NYC, but she paid her dues there as a reporter and associate producer. When she came back home in the early 80s, she worked with the legendary Regis Philbin on The Morning Show. That’s where the magic probably started. You can see that "Regis-style" spontaneity in her work today.
By 1986, she landed at Fox 5.
Initially, she was a weekend anchor. Then, she moved to the big leagues: the 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM news alongside Ernie Anastos. If you were a New Yorker in the 90s, that duo was iconic. They had this chemistry that felt professional but warm. But the real shift happened in 2008.
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That was the year she moved to Good Day New York.
Good Day New York and the Greg Kelly Era
The move to morning TV changed everything. She was paired with Greg Kelly, and honestly, the chemistry was lightning in a bottle. They were unpredictable. They bickered like siblings. They laughed at things they probably shouldn't have laughed at.
One moment stands out in the "Internet Hall of Fame": the "soy jism" incident. In 2010, while discussing dairy alternatives, Scotto suggested a name that... well, let's just say it wasn't what the producers had in mind. It went viral before "going viral" was a science. It showed she was human. She wasn't a teleprompter-reading robot; she was a Brooklyn girl who spoke her mind.
After Kelly left in 2017, there was a period of transition. Lori Stokes stepped in, and the show shifted to a more polished, sisterly vibe. It was good, but different. Now, with Curt Menefee—the guy you usually see on Fox NFL Sunday—the show has a new, high-energy rhythm.
More Than Just a Talking Head
What people often miss about the Fox News Rosanna Scotto story is that she’s a powerhouse businesswoman outside the studio.
Ever been to Fresco by Scotto in Midtown?
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It’s the ultimate "power lunch" spot. If you want to see a media mogul or a high-ranking politician eating rigatoni bolognese, that’s where you go. Rosanna isn't just a silent partner; she's a co-owner with her family. Her mother, Marion, and her children, Jenna and LJ Ruggiero, are all involved.
It’s a true New York family business.
During the pandemic, the restaurant became a symbol of NYC's resilience. They leaned into outdoor dining and kept the community fed. It’s this connection to the city's "real world" that makes her reporting feel authentic. She knows the struggles of small business owners because she is one.
Dealing With the "Mob" Narrative
We have to talk about her father, Anthony Scotto.
He was a legendary labor leader and, famously, an alleged Capo in the Gambino crime family. He passed away in 2021. For years, people tried to use her family history to discredit her. But Rosanna handled it with a grit that’s very... well, New York. She never ran from her family, but she never let it define her professional integrity either.
She’s won multiple Emmys. She’s interviewed Harvey Weinstein (an exclusive where he admitted to "immoral" behavior), former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and countless world leaders. You don't get those interviews because of who your father was; you get them because you’re a formidable journalist.
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The National Shift: Fox News and Fox Nation
In the last couple of years, we've seen more of Rosanna on the national stage.
Her work as a special correspondent for Fox News and her long-form specials on Fox Nation have introduced her to a wider audience. In 2025, she took on a more prominent role, covering national human interest stories and the "underground economy" of the city’s migrant crisis.
What makes her national work different from the usual pundits?
She focuses on stories, not just shouting matches. She has "carte blanche," as she’s said in interviews, to cover the hard-working people who make the city move. Whether it’s a neighborhood pizzeria or a complex legal trial, she approaches it with the same curiosity.
What You Can Learn From Her Career
Looking at Rosanna's trajectory, there are a few things that actually matter for anyone interested in media or business:
- Authenticity is a long-game strategy. In an era of fake "influencers," being the same person on camera for 40 years builds a level of trust that you can't buy.
- Adaptability is king. She transitioned from hard news to morning talk to national commentary without losing her "flavor."
- Diversification works. Having the restaurant business gives her a perspective and a financial independence that most anchors don't have.
- Local matters. Even as she goes national, she keeps her finger on the pulse of Brooklyn. That "groundedness" is what makes people like her.
Honestly, if you want to understand the New York media landscape, you have to understand Rosanna. She’s a survivor in the toughest market in the world.
If you're looking to follow her latest work, the best way is to catch her on Good Day New York on Fox 5 or look for her "Scotto’s New York" specials on Fox Nation. She’s also surprisingly active on social media, often posting behind-the-scenes clips from the restaurant that are way more entertaining than the actual news.
Stay tuned to her reporting on the city's evolving economy; she usually has the "real" story before the press releases even go out.