Empire State Building lights up red, white and blue to celebrate Fox News Channel's 30th anniversary

The New York City skyline was extra patriotic on Thursday night when the Empire State Building was lit up with red, white and blue in celebration of Fox News Channel's 30th anniversary.

" FOX & Friends " co-hosts Steve Doocy, Ainsley Earhardt, Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones gathered at the world-famous Empire State Building Observation Deck to help flip the switch and take a special tour of the landmark.

"Since its launch in 1996, Fox News has grown from a new cable news network into an established presence in American television news.

Over the past three decades, the network has covered some of the most consequential stories and events of our time, with generations of journalists, anchors, correspondents, producers and teams who have contributed to its 24-hour news coverage," Empire State Building GM Dan Rogoski said before inviting the "FOX & Friends" co-hosts to say a few words.

LAUREN GREEN: I WAS FOX NEWS CHANNEL'S FIRST ON-AIR HIRE.

HERE'S HOW A DREAM BECAME A POWERHOUSE Doocy, an original employee who was with the network when it launched on Oct.

7, 1996, thanked Fox Corporation Chairman Emeritus Rupert Murdoch, Fox Corp Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch, FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and FOX News Media President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace .

"You know as one of the original people at the Fox News Channel based here in Midtown, we are delighted that the Empire State Building would honor us," Doocy said.

Earhardt discussed how fortunate the hosts are to come from "humble beginnings" and wind up flipping the switch to light up such an iconic building.

"I love ‘Sleepless in Seattle,’ and I've never been up on the… I'm reminded of my 10-year-old self," Earhardt said.

MIKE EMANUEL: I JOINED AN UNKNOWN STARTUP CALLED FOX NEWS; IT GAVE ME A FRONT-ROW SEAT TO HISTORY Kilmeade, who was battling laryngitis, joked that the building reminded him of a different movie, "Elf." He called Fox News a fantastic place that continues to evolve and allows on-air personalities to develop, be themselves, and thrive.

"They hire you to be you.

Anyone on the air that you like or dislike, you will feel the same way when you meet them, because they're told to be that way and are allowed to be ourselves.

It's one of the most fortunate things that could ever happen to me personally," Kilmeade said.