J$P Extra! Is one of Fox News Channel's stars about to depart the firmament? Here are ten we hope aren't going anywhere. Updated!

Is there a big name at Fox News who is about to leave the top-rated news channel? That is rumor reported by TVNewser. Over at Free Republic, the discussion has turned apoplectic with speculation about who would be missed, and who wouldn’t.

We have no idea what “big name” might be on the way out, but it did cause us to ponder the stunning success of FNC’s operation, and who deserves credit for their incredible rise to the top. So here is our top ten list of Fox’s Most Valuable Players. To keep things simple, we are restricting ourselves to on-air talent (so you won’t find Roger Ailes on the list, even though he has contributed as much as anyone to the potency of FNC). And we’ll concentrate on the prime and early-prime time hours, where ratings (and revenues) are the highest.

10. Sean Hannity
How can he not be listed, when Hannity and Colmes has risen to the top tier of the ratings heap, besting Larry “What’s the question?” King on most nights? Sean’s not the most thoughtful or imaginative choice to represent the right on a debate show, but he gets the eyeballs. We’re always surprised when one of his victims falls for one of those trick question routines that he seems to use at least three times a week.

9. John Gibson
He has paid his dues: reporting for NBC News, replacing Chris Matthews on the old America’s Talking channel, then transitioning to MSNBC. He was everywhere during MS’s early years, but his offbeat humor and relaxed style were formed on the late-afternoon NewsChat program. With the acumen that has distinguished MSNBC management, they let him go, and he headed straight for the house that Ailes built. MS ratings, down. FNC ratings, up.

8. Bill O’Reilly
The 800-pound gorilla of cable news. We couldn’t leave him off the list; that would be ridiculous. Mr Bill is a certified phenomenon, but would we be impertinent to suggest that he just might have a bit of an ego? It doesn’t really matter; as long as he gets the numbers he will still be the King.

7. Fox & Friends
This isn’t exactly prime time programming, but the F&F gang regularly draw more viewers than big prime time shows on other news channels. Steve, E.D., and Brian have a loony camaraderie that manages to avoid trivialization of the often serious subjects the news flow delivers to their doorstep. And if you think that’s easy, just compare them to the weekend crew. Fox & Friends delivers the A.M. audience that gives FNC an important head start every morning.

6. Greta van Susteren
Her considerable expertise on the pack journalism court case of the month is obvious, but just as valuable are her independence and ideological perspective. Her nightly hour makes for balance in the evening opinion/analysis schedule, a reciprocal counterpoint to Bill O’Reilly’s feisty traditionalism. Greta brings people like Hillary Clinton to the FNC studios, without sacrificing the principles of tough but fair interviewing.

5. Alan Colmes
Yes, he is more important than Sean Hannity. Who on cable news is a more effective spokesman for intellectual liberalism? Colmes doesn’t bully like Matthews, or teeter on the cusp of insanity like Carville. He makes arguments based on reason, concedes points that cannot be defended (attn: Hannity!), and regularly scores against his more flamboyant co-host. Liberals who value style over substance seem to think Colmes is outmatched. They don’t get it.

4. Carl Cameron
Possibly the best political reporter on the planet. Carl Cameron knows his beat inside out, and is respected by players on both sides of the aisle. The innuendoes and outright lies that have spread about him since the release of the Outfoxed video have not affected his work one whit, which is as it should be. But his recent carelessness has not helped his career, and if the TVN rumor is true, Carl Cameron might be the person to exit.

3. Judge Andrew Napolitano
He’s not an anchorman (though he has filled in on occasion). He doesn’t have his own show (but he could, and should). What Judge Napolitano brings to FNC is an insightful, informed analysis of all things legal, from a perspective that reflects a form of independent libertarianism. Whether it’s the excesses of the Patriot Act, or governmental abuse of power in general, there is no more staunch defender of personal freedom, or foe of unbridled judicial overreaching, than the Judge from New Jersey.

2. Shepard Smith
You wouldn’t know from his cameo in the film Volcano that Shep Smith would rise to anchoring the most-watched cable news hour. FNC had a revolving door of anchors for The Fox Report, but Smith changed all that. His breezy, conversational approach may be what led Brit Hume to call Smith the best natural broadcaster he had ever seen. The more informal Studio-B really lets Mr Smith flex his muscles; no one can ad-lib his way through a breaking news story with more aplomb. Just don’t take his parking spot.

1. Brit Hume
The rock. The foundation of Fox News Channel. Brit Hume richly earned the journalistic awards he acquired working at ABC News, but at FNC his career has reached a new zenith. Despite conservative leanings, he is a scrupulously fair host of Special Report, the best hour of political news on television. And there is no finer interviewer on any network or channel. Mr Hume is also responsible for constructing the Washington Bureau of Fox News, a team of reporters and contributors that is second to none. Brit Hume brought instant credibility to FNC from Day One, and remains the channel’s number one MVP.

Honorable mention should be made of the many contributors and analysts who add their expertise and viewpoints to Fox News. These include Bob Beckel, Pat Caddell, Mansoor Ijaz, Charles Krauthammer, Jim Pinkerton, and Dennis Ross. (Sorry, Susan Estrich. You came off the list when you admitted that you call your Democrat friends for the day's talking points before going on the air.) Special kudos to Michael Barone, whose political savvy on virtually every county in the US was so helpful during this highly contested election season, particularly on election night. And we haven't forgotten Neil Cavuto, but we're anticipating a new, expanded role for this common sense commentator when Fox's business news channel begins its trek toward an inevitable triumph over CNBC.

Update: TVNewser has revealed who's leaving. Sorry to see her go, but we hope her career gets more of a boost over there than Jeff Cohen's got.