2008 Woodie Awards
Bill O'Reilly is Bad for America
Dan Murphy
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Commentary
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Cable news has set the bar pretty low for quality broadcasts. Political debate shows often end up being not much more than glorified shouting matches. Hosts like Sean Hannity, Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson are more interested in hearing their own voices than exploring the issues facing the nation. When Americans complain about the putrid state of the news media, political debate shows must come to mind. The worst cable news show happens to be the highest rated. I'm referring to the O'Reilly Factor. I've been waiting for a while to do a column on Bill O'Reilly. Always viewing him as a no-talent egotistical moron, I figured he didn't deserve my time and attention. However I feel the need to enlighten my peers on a horrendous hour of television programming known as The Factor.
The O'Reilly Factor is probably the most idiotic hour of television in America. If you currently watch it every week, please stop - you're killing your brain cells. You'd probably grow more as an intellectual by drinking 15 Keystone Lights followed by six shots of Cuervo than watching an hour-long episode of The Factor.
For those of who haven't been privileged to view it (good for you), the show begins with what is known as "The Talking Points Memo." This serves as a vehicle for the host to articulate his views on a topic of interest. O'Reilly usually babbles on for about five to six minutes, promoting his views on the top stories of the day. In "Talking Points", he vilifies some left-leaning group and bemoans the moral bankruptcy of organizations and individuals like the ACLU, liberals, The New York Times, George Soros and the "secular left". To O'Reilly, these groups are undermining America in the War on Terror and should be eliminated immediately.
For the remainder of the show, O'Reilly welcomes various guests. Most political talk shows allow guests to articulate their opinions - but not on The O'Reilly Factor. O'Reilly's guests don't have a fighting chance. He consistently shouts them down and insults them.
The O'Reilly Factor is probably the most idiotic hour of television in America. If you currently watch it every week, please stop - you're killing your brain cells. You'd probably grow more as an intellectual by drinking 15 Keystone Lights followed by six shots of Cuervo than watching an hour-long episode of The Factor.
For those of who haven't been privileged to view it (good for you), the show begins with what is known as "The Talking Points Memo." This serves as a vehicle for the host to articulate his views on a topic of interest. O'Reilly usually babbles on for about five to six minutes, promoting his views on the top stories of the day. In "Talking Points", he vilifies some left-leaning group and bemoans the moral bankruptcy of organizations and individuals like the ACLU, liberals, The New York Times, George Soros and the "secular left". To O'Reilly, these groups are undermining America in the War on Terror and should be eliminated immediately.
For the remainder of the show, O'Reilly welcomes various guests. Most political talk shows allow guests to articulate their opinions - but not on The O'Reilly Factor. O'Reilly's guests don't have a fighting chance. He consistently shouts them down and insults them.