Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly, reporting tonight from Los Angeles. Thanks for watching us.
There has been a verdict in the "hockey dad" trial in Massachusetts, and we'll have reaction to a very controversial decision in just a few moments.
I am here in California to face the enemy. That's the subject of this evening's Talking Points memo.
Tomorrow morning I will do my Russell Crowe Gladiator imitation, and I will walk into the arena and face more than 100 television critics who are out here reporting on the TV industry. This takes place every year in Pasadena, and these people want to talk to me this year. I wonder why.
Actually, it is a wonder that so many establishment media people dislike The Factor. It's obvious we're different, that we don't pander to anyone, and we rigidly enforce the no spin zone. In an age of phony TV talking heads and softball interviewers, you would think the TV critics would like The Factor's approach.
Now, some of them do, but ideology is always in play when you deal with the print press. Since I don't know any conservative TV critics, not one, I have to believe that some of the writers simply don't like the fact that we take some conservative positions on this program. That doesn't mean we are conservative, we're not, we're independent.
If you watch us often, you know how much criticism we take from the hard right, who believe that President Bush should never be criticized and neither should the U.S. military.
We scrutinize everybody. That's our mandate. And time and time again, we prove it.
Attorney General John Ashcroft won't talk with us because he doesn't like our constant questioning of his corruption investigations. Congressman Tom DeLay is still angry with us because we exposed his fund-raising pressure tactics.
I could give you 20 more examples.
But hardcore liberals in America tend to take things very personally if you don't toe a certain line. Some conservatives are like that, but the committed left really get teed off. Just a few moments, we'll talk with Bill Maher about why Hollywood dislikes The Factor so much. Very interesting phenomenon and one that has made national headlines. We hope you stick around for it.
But getting back to the TV critics, they'll outnumber me 100 to one tomorrow, and I kind of like those odds. The Factor has become a very powerful program in America because you the audience know we're honest and are looking out for the folks not the vested interests. Some of the critics don't get that. That's OK.
We are not trying to persuade anybody, we just want you to consider what we have to say here and make up your own mind.
By the way, my sword and shield and Russell Crowe helmet are being polished even as we speak. I'll let you know what happens on Monday.
And that's the memo.
The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day
Time now for "The Most Ridiculous Item of the Day,"
California is one of my favorite places in the world, but it is a very, very strange state. Ready for the latest? U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps, a Democrat from the Santa Barbara area, has convinced the federal government to give her district $50,000 for tattoo removal. So you and I are paying for some people in Ms. Capps' district to get the lion taken off their shoulder. Does it get any more ridiculous than that? No, it does not.
— You can watch Bill O'Reilly's Talking Points and "Most Ridiculous Item" weeknights at 8 & 11p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel. Send your comments to: oreilly@foxnews.com
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