O’Reilly Attacks Former Colleague, Bob Beckel, For Saying Megyn Kelly Has Better Ratings

Bill O’Reilly suddenly veered away from a commentary about Donald Trump in order to attack Bob Beckel, a former Fox News colleague, for saying that Megyn Kelly has beaten O’Reilly in the ratings.

It was the night after O’Reilly’s jaw-dropping interview in which he all but pleaded with Trump to participate in Fox’s debate. Not surprisingly, the interview received a lot of attention. So O’Reilly devoted his Talking Points commentary that opens most of his shows to that reaction. Except for the part about Beckel.

From the transcript (with my emphases):

O’REILLY: Well, we received about 7,000 e-mails from you guys commenting on Mr. Trump's decision not to attend the Republican debate in Iowa this evening and, of course, about his chat with me.

There was massive press coverage on that and I will run it down for you real quickly. "CBS This Morning" news, fair; ABC's "Good Morning America", fair; "Today" show used a reporter named Peter Alexander who said I all but begged Trump to do the debate; MSNBC we don't even monitor anybody.

CNN was strange they used their usual hatchet men to attack Fox News but Anderson Cooper was fair. The worst: old Bob Beckel.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB BECKEL, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: O'Reilly is scared to death of Megyn Kelly because Megyn Kelly has been beating him in ratings. The first time that's happened since it's been -- Fox News Channel has been on the air.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: Of course that is absolutely false. False, not true. And that's why Beckel doesn't work here at Fox anymore. He could not care less about facts.

In the first place, Fox said Beckel’s personal issues were the reason for his departure, probably his drinking. Secondly, Beckel was not “absolutely false” in his claim about Kelly’s ratings. In the third quarter of 2015, she broke O'Reilly's decade-long hold on the coveted demographic of 25-54 year-old viewers and “notched a few monthly wins in the past,” according to CNN. However, CNN also pointed out that Kelly’s quarterly win was thanks to the first Republican debate. Without it, O’Reilly remained on top and he continues to beat her in total viewership.

Still, O’Reilly must be acutely aware of her gaining on him. I hate to say it, Bill, but you pretty much proved Beckel’s point in this segment. If you were not feeling defensive, you would not have singled him out for attack this way.

Watch it below, from the January 28 The O'Reilly Factor.

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Showing 8 reactions

commented 2016-01-31 18:54:23 -0500 · Flag

Erich, I hate to rain on that idea…. But Kelly is both a well-documented racist, and while she’s honest for Fox, that’s still telling the truth, what? 30% of the time? I wouldn’t hire her to run the coffee cart.

That said, Kelly’s a better liar than O’Reilly, a more unrepentant bigot, and she has the gams going for her when she’s dot behind that desk. Plus her whole feuding with Trump, while still thinking like him thing has been a killer for ratings. I’m surprised she isn’t thwomping him nightly. That’s not a joke, I actually am wondering what’s taking so long. This isn’t like Maddow, where she gains enough to be a spit toss away from taking Hannity, and MSNBC screws themselves over as a network, this is genuinely “What’s the hold up?!”

commented 2016-01-31 09:22:40 -0500 · Flag

O’Reilly should worry, although he won’t have to for long. Megyn showed her capabilities as an actual news person (as least to the extent her leash allowed it) on Thursday, and when Fox ‘News" folds, won’t have a great deal of difficulty finding work on a real news channel.

commented 2016-01-31 09:16:23 -0500 · Flag

I remember well the great moments of the past when Edward R. Murrow, Dan Rather, Walter Cronkite and Huntley/Brinkley discussing their ratings wars with their own network colleagues!

commented 2016-01-30 23:43:57 -0500 · Flag

The Bloviating Pompous Asshat (BPA), also known as Bill O’Reilly appears to have had an ego deflating moment and is attempting to recover. Give it up O’Reilly. It won’t be too much longer before Kelly takes your time slot. She already took Hannity’s.

commented 2016-01-30 20:18:55 -0500 · Flag

Didn’t tRump say a Saudi prince owned stock in the network?

commented 2016-01-30 15:54:54 -0500 · Flag

It shall be noted that Billy’s best buddy in the world, Trumpster and his cronies at Breitbart are destroying the Foxies by putting out hit pieces about Ruthless Rupert, Sammon, and Nixon Trainee Ailes.

The conservative masses are on to this phony network, the suits, and the mouthpieces. The turn off Fox is now being pushed by the conservative masses.

NOTE TO BARBIE KELLY

Look who’s in Trumpster’s corner. Confront Billy on your show.

commented 2016-01-30 12:36:49 -0500 · Flag

The election of our next President is back-page news when Bildo’s massive ego is bruised.

If caring about the facts was a job requirement at Fux Noise, 1211 Avenue of the Americas would have lots of empty space.

commented 2016-01-30 09:34:00 -0500 · Flag

The unknown known in this ratings squabble is how many Conservative Entertainment Cult members are tuning in to The O’Really Fact?or just to laugh at Junior O’Reilly. Odd that Junior O’Reilly in regards to Bob Beckel’s comment didn’t “turn the other cheek” as he advised The Donald to do just 24 hours earlier. Hats off to Megyn Kelly for not groveling before Donald T. Rump the way Junior does.