Overheard At The “Bold & Fresh” Show

field trip

by Glynnis MacNicol | 12:52 pm, August 2nd, 2010

» 25 comments

This past weekend the Bill O’Reilly/Glenn Beck sold-out ‘Bold Fresh’ tour made a stop in Long Island. I’m not sure how many people associate Glenn Beck’s fan base with New York State, but considering cars were lined up all the way from the highway exit to the Westbury Theater I think it’s safe to say he and O’Reilly (a native of Long Island) don’t do too badly here.

Perhaps what was most surprising about the show was not what either Beck or O’Reilly had to say; certainly fans of Beck would recognize his half hour monologue as a somewhat livelier, funnier version of the how he opens his show. What was most surprising was that every single conversation I overheard, be it in the concession line, the bathroom line, or in the theater itself had to do with politics. It was a bit like being in one of Beck’s hand-picked studio audiences but writ large. And to be clear, O’Reilly may have been the native son here, and technically the headliner, but it was fairly apparent from the conversations I heard, and the general response of the audience (the best way I can think to describe it is ‘political evangelism’), most people were there for Beck.

Anyway, should you not have the chance to be fresh and/or bold for yourself here’s a little taste of what the experience sounds like (based solely on what I overheard).

Couple seated in the row below me.

— Did you see Obama on the View?
— [Scowling] Yes, God he just went on and on.
— I heard the other day he could raise money if he promised to stop talking.

Couple seated behind me.

– Do you think there are any people here that are not fans?
– No I doubt it. Not with the price of these tickets.
– They’d have to behave anyway, or security would toss them out quick.

Overheard in the lobby during intermission.

– I come home every day and feed the cats and then turn on Beck. I’m able to catch most of him.
– Is that why I don’t get my dinner til 7:30?

Also in the lobby:

– O’Reilly used to do that sort of fluff on Inside Edition.

A few other notes on the audience. Everyone was very friendly. The majority of the crowd was between 35-60 and white (I didn’t see one African American there). Every time either Beck or O’Reilly mentioned a media organization (other than Fox) the entire room booed very loudly (this was not a crowd timid with the holler-back). Also, merely as a point of interest, the crowd favorite for the 2012 GOP nomination appeared to be Newt Gingrich. Though I did spot one woman sporting a Beck 2012 t-shirt which she informed me she’d purchased online.

Bill O'Reilly, Bold & Fresh Tour, Fresh/Bold Tour, Glenn Beck, Mediaite Fieldtrip

More Liberty

Em…..is there a reason or purpose for this article? Maybe you were just stalking these two partisans.
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Great story . Thank you . Glenn is a very inspiring speaker and a fine man . Bill O’Reilly … is okay .
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

The truth draws a crowd. Code Pink can’t fill a phone booth. Obama needs SEIU and ACORN to pay people to fill the house.
The Real Royal King

Thanks for this Glynnis. I couldn’t have borne watching it myself.

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN
MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE SEA
FOX NEWS ALWAYS LIES
WHEREVER BONNIE MAY BE.
Bootleghaircut

Big Bill is the king of cable news for a reason and Beck is lucky to have him around to keep him from doing something too stupid.
ImNotBlue

More Liberty says:
August 2, 2010 at 1:00 pm

Em…..is there a reason or purpose for this article? Maybe you were just stalking these two partisans.

Because not every article can fluff Maddow. Without those, and snarky “look down their nose” articles like this, what would Mediaite have to talk about?
More Liberty

The Real Royal King said:
Thanks for this Glynnis. I couldn’t have borne watching it myself.

MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE OCEAN
MY BONNIE LIES OVER THE SEA
FOX NEWS ALWAYS LIES
WHEREVER BONNIE MAY BE.

Well…at least you weren’t spreading more lies King.
Nachi

Patriotic Murcuhn intellect. On thee march! Yup!!
Azarkhan

“(I didn’t see one African American there)”

It’s OK Glynnis. You were there to represent.
BatBoy

Glynnis, quite frankly, I find this story a little creepy on your part. Like More Liberty was correct in asserting that it was a little like you were stalking them, listening in on their conversations then telling us.

I believe this story should have been one of those that was OK to write, but should have been deleted right away!

And to this point….”I’m not sure how many people associate Glenn Beck’s fan base with New York State,”
There are most likely many more people than you think.
WideAwakeNow

*GASP* ………..not ONE African-American there???!!!???? …EGADS………. we must ALL be racists then!!!!!

do ya think maybe it could have something to do with the fact that maybe no African-Americans CHOSE to come… and maybe that reflects and says more about their choice than Beck & O’Reilly’s?? ….lol.. it’s a free country.. …at least for the time being but don’t blink… ..we’re about to lose that soon enough.
lanquihue

Okay, blue leader, over and out. Next time some wascly wepublican comes to town, we’ll need you in uniform again.
Permatiltx

More Liberty said:
Em…..is there a reason or purpose for this article? Maybe you were just stalking these two partisans.

Are you talking about the people overheard or Bill and Glenn. If it’s the people she overheard, they weren’t the same people. They were different people in different locales. And if it’s Glenn and Bill well, this is a site devoted media and media analysis, so it would make sense that they would go to one of these things to report or add commentary, wouldn’t it?
juan

FOX News Rules!

Obama, you lose and

America wins, again!
NORBIT

Another GLARING example of Media Bias.

Save this for future reference all!

http://www.breitbart.tv/media-ignored-violent-anti-war-protest-on-same-day-they-had-frenzy-over-tea-party-protest/
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Apostrophe jones says: “Glenn is a very inspiring speaker and a fine man”

In what universe is a liar and a hypocrite a “fine man?” My God this charlatan has people conned. I mean, of course, he’s a con man; so it’s expected.

Glenn Beck: living proof that you really can fool some of the people all of the time.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

juan says: “FOX News Rules!”

By that you mean Fox tells reactionaries what they want to hear. It’s called selective ignorance.
WilsonTheHeretic

I love the love/hate feelings Glynnis has for Glenn. She’s so desperately attracted and simultaneously repulsed by the man.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Wilson the Heretic, you have it wrong. Many people are keeping an eye on Beck because his so influential and so deceitful. Oh, and he’s a hypocrite many times over.
Averreauxii

Apostrophe jones said:
Great story . Thank you . Glenn is a very inspiring speaker and a fine man . Bill O’Reilly … is okay .

I would feel the same way if I was mentally deranged!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Westover/1496648721 Tony Westover

Glynnis, you’re pretty much made it official with article that you are unbelievably pathetic. Beck better up his security staff because you’re one C-hair away from drugging him and chaining him to heater in your apartment.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

Tony, have you been taking courses at Beck U? It sounds it when you attack someone for covering an event.
Sunnyr

God Bless Glenn Beck. He is a true Patriot and is much loved by millions of people across this nation. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see O’Reilly but I would love to see Glenn. He is the ROCKSTAR of Fox News. WTG, Glenn, keep bringing us the truth about this subversive government and how we can defeat these bastards!
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Glenn is a positive force for good in this country . Those who denigrate him have probably only seen clips . This is a great man .
http://none pyrope

The stellar ratings enjoyed month after month by Fox News Channel really aren’t such an enigma; the fact is that people are starved for the truth, and Fox is where you find the truth. The same can be said for Mr. Beck.

While it is obvious there are many who, from time to time, frequent this site who cannot accept the truth, the truth is what all rational people seek.

Whereas the author of this weak attempt at a hit piece on conservatives in general has stated “O’Reilly may have been the native son here, and technically the headliner, but it was fairly apparent from the conversations I heard, and the general response of the audience (the best way I can think to describe it is ‘political evangelism’), most people were there for Beck” is the best example of what I am saying is true.

It doesn’t matter that one individual who has made it his career to defame Mr. Beck and attempt to call his truth lies, it is fairly well accepted that obsessions such as his are his form of denial of that which he most desperately wants to avoid–the truth.