Bill O’Reilly On Glenn Beck: “It Takes The Heat Off Me”
Is Bill O’Reilly softening as others on Fox News go more partisan or attack stronger?
It’s a case made today by the Los Angeles Times‘ Matea Gold, who talked to the longtime cable news ratings leader about his role at the network – and Glenn Beck.
The subhead asks, “In a time of political turmoil, can the Fox News commentator be seen as a moderate?”
O’Reilly’s executive producer, Amy Sohnen, isn’t so convinced. “Some of the conversations are still heated, but you may not see the vein explode anymore,” she said.
O’Reilly had a lot to say about Beck (who also weighed in on the 8pmET host).
“More power to him, man,” said O’Reilly, casually propping his foot up against the edge of his desk. “It takes the heat off me. I tell him, ‘Be as crazy as you want.’ ”
“I like Beck; I understand exactly what he’s doing,” he added. “He genuinely feels the country is in bad shape. I think guys like that deserve a voice.”
And Beck had this to say: “I realized I’m just a human meat shield for the guy. He’s all of a sudden the senior statesman,” adding O’Reilly “has been so gracious.”
The kinder, gentler O’Reilly may be a bit of an exaggeration. The FNC host still has his targets – Tom Hanks, we’re looking at you – and he frequently cuts down the left-wing mainstream media. But Mediaite’s Managing Editor Colby Hall noted the softer approach to political interviews just yesterday – and it’s why he suggested Pres. Obama should enter the No-Spin Zone back in September.
Still viewers of his FNC program may not have seen the moderate voice as frequently as those who saw him popping up on ABC or The Daily Show, where he plays more to the center. The shift may be that center-leaning O’Reilly shows up more on Fox News as well.
The recent column by Howard Kurtz about potential FNC infighting over Beck came up, with O’Reilly clearly showing where he stands. “What am I supposed to do, hate Glenn Beck because he’s successful?” he asked. “That’s what they do in Hollywood. I’m a New Yorker.”
One other interesting aside by Gold indicated some at FNC did have problems with something Beck did – but something O’Reilly did as well. “Network executives weren’t thrilled, reportedly concerned that it promoted the two personalities rather than Fox News,” wrote Gold of the “Bold And Fresh Tour” the duo went on together. So while Beck provides the cover, O’Reilly can appear more moderate while retaining the best ratings on all of cable news. It’s a strategy that works for all sides.
