The fact that Fox News hosts go easy on Sarah Palin is probably not a surprise. But no one expected them to actually admit it.

Two hosts on the new Fox News show The Five said Wednesday that they had "pulled punches" when reporting on Palin.

"The only problem with talking about Sarah Palin is that she works here and it’s like a co-worker and, if I say something bad and I see her in the hallway, I feel really awkward and wrong," Greg Gutfeld explained. "So, I just kind of say, 'That was a good job.'"

"I know exactly what you mean," Bob Beckel agreed. "I know many times, I'll be honest, I pulled my punches. Not today -- but I generally pull my punches on her."

Update: Gutfield told The Washington Post that his comments were "clearly a joke."

Beckel also claimed that no one at Fox News had ever asked him to take it easy on anyone.

"I'd punch them out if they did," he said.