Sean Penn may be slated to play Larry in the upcoming Three Stooges film, but Bill O’Reilly won’t be there to see it. O’Reilly, the host of Fox’s “The O’Reilly Factor,” did an interview for The Hollywood Reporter and when asked what actor’s political views disturbed him so much he won’t see their films, O’Reilly said “Just Sean Penn.”
O’Reilly did concede that Penn is a great actor (one of the greatest actors of my generation in my honest opinion), but said that he doesn’t want to give his ten bucks to someone that gives “aid and comfort” to such controversial leaders as Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chavez, and Saddam Hussein. Penn’s eagerness to spout his political views at any opportunity has, for me, almost overshadowed his greatness. I won’t go as far as O’Reilly in saying I won’t see his films, but I do sometimes wish Penn would just put a plug in it and act.
But, then again, many people are probably tired of hearing O’Reilly’s conservative views, but he has his fans. “The O’Reilly Factor” hit its 100th consecutive month as the #1 ranked cable news show.
What other celebrities fall short on the O’Reilly meter? He has targeted Bruce Springsteen on his show for stuff he has done at his concerts and George Clooney over 9/11 charities. He did say Clooney’s efforts to help those in Darfur were good however. Of course, he probably still doesn’t like Rosie O’Donnell or Al Franken.
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Okay, if O’Reilly doesn’t really care for Penn’s politics, who did he say he liked during the interview? Surprisingly enough, he thinks Jon Stewart is “very funny, very smart” despite what O’Reilly sees as a left-wing attitude. He also likes Al Pacino (“a self-made guy”) and Gene Hackman (“because I’ve never seen him give a bad performance” – got to agree there!), but his favorite celebrity is Clint Eastwood because he makes his day.
I am kidding, O’Reilly didn’t really say that.