# Bill O'Reilly On The Daily Show (10/18)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [October 19, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856 "2005-10-19T03:33:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/41 "2005-10-19T23:53:01Z")

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I on the SOUTHERN border of the US, but my gut tells me that Canadians love Americans, they just don’t like the current administration.

Whether that is fair or not, is a matter for GD threads.

But I think January 20, 2009, things could immediately be different. DEM or GOP.

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**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/42 "2005-10-20T00:24:45Z")

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> [@rjung](#):
>
> I don’t watch _The Daily Show_ myself, but from what I’m hearing, it sounds like Bill was the same as he’s always been on his TV and radio shows. Whether it’s all just an act or if he really is a mouth-foaming loonie is left for the viewer to decide.

I just watched it and I’ve seen The O’Reilly Factor a couple of times. He started off joking but the end was the same ole Reilly: no facts but loads of bluster. I don’t think he expected to get asked actual questions. Guess he believed his own line about The Daily Show just being a joke show. Jokes on him.

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**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/43 "2005-10-20T00:26:56Z")

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I just watched the repeat, and he was just schticking. He’s not crazy, and he’s not really angry. He just doesn’t care what he says as long as he’s on television. I didn’t sense any real tension in the room. I was kind of disapointed actually, after reading the buildup in this thread.

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**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/44 "2005-10-20T00:39:53Z")

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Did you see that Moment of Zen? The eye roll that other girl gave. Did the other reporter steal her boyfriend or something? But those dolphins slurping on those swollen bellies did look strange.  
Count me also as one who wanted to like him. But I’m not in his fan base, so there’s no need for him to play to me. The man does have balls.

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**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/45 "2005-10-20T00:45:23Z")

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> [@vibrotronica](#):
>
> I just watched the repeat, and he was just schticking. He’s not crazy, and he’s not really angry. He just doesn’t care what he says as long as he’s on television. I didn’t sense any real tension in the room. I was kind of disapointed actually, after reading the buildup in this thread.

I disagree. He certainly started off schticking, but he got knocked off stride at the Cindy Sheehan/Neo-con comment and seemed pretty needled at Jon pressing him on the France boycott. He tried to joke it off but was definitely not happy.

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**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/46 "2005-10-20T01:33:43Z")

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I always got pissed off when **Liberal** came to the Daily Show threads and said it, but I think this one would have been better started in the Pit.  
I don’t want to hijack the thread, so I won’t harp on it. I think I’ll report the OP though so a mod can decide if they’d rather move it.

Anyway, that was probably the most awkward interview I’ve seen on the Daily Show. I’m thinking that maybe Billo has been drinking a lot or something in his free time because he looks like the kind of guy who doesn’t or isn’t able to stop and think about things. I feel sorry for the guy. He certainly doesn’t look happy.  
I thought it was clever when he said to Jon “you almost said ‘I like the factor’”, but he’s not good at the delivery part of telling jokes. If Jon said the same line he’d probably get laughs out of all of us.

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**Author:** ![PigBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@PigBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigBoy)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/47 "2005-10-20T01:58:21Z")

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Count me as one of the few here who thought it didn’t seem like the interview was all that serious. Even if O’Reilly wasn’t joking (apart from the obvious joke attempts), it seemed pretty clear that he was being a troll, trying to piss off Stewart and/or the audience. I’m sure he believed what he was saying, but he didn’t come off sounding serious and sincere to me.

I enjoy O’Reilly on the Daily Show because he’s a guest that won’t hesitate to pick on Jon Stewart, and contrary to what others have suggested here, I don’t think Stewart feels the need to remain reasonable and listen to O’Reilly’s points the way he does with most other guests. It’s entertaining!

How many times has O’Reilly been on the Daily Show, by the way? I remember one previous time, but I don’t recall if there are others.

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/48 "2005-10-20T10:42:56Z")

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> [@scule](#):
>
> No one is denying this.

I am. Maybe in 1973, but not since the Cold War ended.

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/49 "2005-10-20T11:21:16Z")

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> [@Talon Karrde](#):
>
> I always got pissed off when **Liberal** came to the Daily Show threads and said it, but I think this one would have been better started in the Pit.

Perceptions to the contrary notwithstanding, Liberal came to _one and only one_ Daily Show thread to comment that the thread was highly politicized. Urban legends die hard, I reckon.

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**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/50 "2005-10-20T11:40:31Z")

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> [@Liberal](#):
>
> Perceptions to the contrary notwithstanding, Liberal came to _one and only one_ Daily Show thread to comment that the thread was highly politicized. Urban legends die hard, I reckon.

Dear god. He’s at it again. Liberal, must you always hijack these threads with your own personal views. 😛

: D&R :

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/51 "2005-10-20T12:30:17Z")

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\> TWEEEEEET!!! \< ::: Moderator blows whistle :::

OK, listen up, gang. This forum is for discussion about arts and entertainment. I realize that we’re dealing with a show that is political satire, so the line between entertainment and politics is a very, very fuzzy one. Discussion of entertainment goes here; discussion of politics goes in Great Debates Forum.

I also realize that the line between criticizing an entertainer and flaming a politician is a fuzzy one. Was Bill O’Reilly an performer/entertainer on that show, or a spokesperson for a political view? Criticizing him as a performer is legitimate Cafe Society; flaming him as a spokes person for a political view belongs in the Pit. (The question of whether Bill O’Reilly is a news commentator or a political spokesperson is one that I leave to Great Debates as unanswerable.)

So, I’m leaving the thread here, although I’ve been asked to move it to GD and I’ve been asked to move it to the Pit. I’m leaving it here under condition that the discussion gets back to O’Reilly as entertainment/performer, and gets off the politics.

We all clear?

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**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/52 "2005-10-20T12:38:08Z")

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I saw BOR on the Today SHow this morning. He was pretty tame. K. Couric was prepared for a scrap, and he didn’t really say anything harsh (he did call for Tim Russert in chains, but Couric said Russert was on his own).

He pretty much seemed pretty reasonable for once (I don’t like him).

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**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/53 "2005-10-20T14:05:46Z")

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In light of the mod’s warning, I’m not going to respond to your list, **scule**. I’ll just say that you seem to think that O’Reilly was inferring that Canadians (or their media) dispute any of those points. That wasn’t his argument. He was simply responding to the accusation that America is “evil”. You seemed to miss that, so I wanted to point it out to you. No great debate or flaming intended. 😃

I watched the show last night, as well as the Colbert Report. I think I’m probably the best person to comment on it because I’m actually a regular viewer of both Stewart and O’Reilly. Everybody else here seems to hate O’Reilly from the get go, just as Stewarts liberal audience did. Or, at least, not be a viewer of his.

The segment had the potential to be funny, but it fizzled. O’Reilly was the most uncomfortable I’ve seen him. He’s not used to comedy, and not used to a hostile and jeering crowd. Stewart really jumped the shark with his “Neo-con’s” comment, though. It made him look like a [moveon.org](http://moveon.org) liberal and put O’Reilly’s defenses up and really turned the interview south.

All in all, though, I give them both credit for trying. There were some funny lines. Stewarts “You add injury.” Also, the already been commented on “Don’t make me come up there” was funny. Even funnier was the exchange that went something like this:

Stewart asks if O’Reilly trusts the current administration.

O’Reilly says he doesn’t trust any politician, period. He says they are all in it for themselves.

Stewart says OK. “You’re on our side then?”

O’Reilly deadpans back: “No.”

That was the funniest bit.

I’ll watch the Factor for the rest of the week to see if Stewart comes on. That would be very interesting to see.

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**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/54 "2005-10-20T15:38:37Z")

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> [@Debaser](#):
>
> The segment had the potential to be funny, but it fizzled. O’Reilly was the most uncomfortable I’ve seen him. He’s not used to comedy, and not used to a hostile and jeering crowd. Stewart really jumped the shark with his “Neo-con’s” comment, though. It made him look like a [moveon.org](http://moveon.org) liberal and put O’Reilly’s defenses up and really turned the interview south.  
> .

Because O’Reilly can’t get the Neo-Cons on his show. He Particulary can’t get a week-long interview with Bush.

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**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/55 "2005-10-20T16:48:42Z")

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> [@O'Reilly](#):
>
> The truth is that the USA has freed more human beings in 230 years than the rest of the world combined. France has freed almost no one.

Wow, the USA has done great! I wonder who helped the USA [get free?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Yorktown_%281781%29)

[Lafayette](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marquis_de_Lafayette)

[Rochambeau](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comte_de_Rochambeau)

[de Grasse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_de_Grasse)

[France, the Netherlands and Spain entered the war against Great Britain in an attempt to dilute Britain’s emerging superpower status. Early on, all three countries quietly provided financial assistance to the American rebels. France officially entered the war in 1778 and soon sent troops, ships, and military equipment to fight against the British for the remainder of the war. Spain entered the war in 1779, officially as an ally of France but not the United States. The Netherlands entered the war late in 1780, but was soon overwhelmed by the British.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War)

Sailboat

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/56 "2005-10-20T16:53:42Z")

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Oops, didn’t see the Mod warning, sorry; was responding to a post from the first page.

To put this back into entertainment context: O’reilly seems educated. Do folks think O’Reilly doesn’t know France bankrupted itself helping America be born, or does he know it, but as a shrewd entertainer, is merely feigning ignorance to play to his intended audience’s prejudices?

Sailboat

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**Author:** ![iluvurmom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iluvurmom/32/7276_2.png) [@iluvurmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iluvurmom)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/57 "2005-10-20T17:14:52Z")

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> [@Genghis Bob](#):
>
> I did like O’Reilly’s “don’t make me come up there” line - that was his single well-delivered, funny line of the evening.

Unfortunately, I missed it…ho hum son of a &#\*&^#@…

But if that was his funniest and most well delivered line, then God bless him. My grandmother has better one-liners when she had larengitis coupled with tonsilitis. (sp?)

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**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/58 "2005-10-20T17:37:04Z")

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> [@Liberal](#):
>
> Perceptions to the contrary notwithstanding, Liberal came to _one and only one_ Daily Show thread to comment that the thread was highly politicized. Urban legends die hard, I reckon.

Right, sorry about that. It was annoying in that one instance, though you might have had a point there. I don’t remember.  
Or, what **Harborwolf** said. 🙂

Anyway, I still think the thread should be moved, just because what fun is discussing Billo Riley\* as an entertainer?

\*Yeah, I know I spelled it wrong. For some reason I’ve decided to spell his name that way.

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/59 "2005-10-20T18:06:09Z")

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> [@Harborwolf](#):
>
> Dear god. He’s at it again. Liberal, must you always hijack these threads with your own personal views. 😛
> 
> : D&R :

The problem is, when I try to post other people’s views I get all confused. 😕😛

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**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bill-oreilly-on-the-daily-show-10-18/326856/60 "2005-10-20T19:41:33Z")

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> [@Biggirl](#):
>
> Did you see that Moment of Zen? The eye roll that other girl gave. Did the other reporter steal her boyfriend or something?

More likely, she was rolling her eyes at the New Age pablum her co-anchor was reading into the camera.

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