O’Reilly Goes After Sesame Street: ‘We May Have To Ambush Oscar’
O’Reilly Goes After Sesame Street: ‘We May Have To Ambush Oscar’
During an episode of Sesame Street that was originally broadcast two years ago, a character tells Oscar the Grouch, who happens to be reporting for “GNN” (Grouchy News Network), that she is switching her news viewing loyalties to “Pox News,” adding, “Now there is a trashy news show.”
Right winger Andrew Breitbart’s “Big Hollywood” blog took on the Sesame Street menace this week proclaiming: “Add one more soldier to the Left’s war on Fox News: Oscar the Grouch”:
If Mom and Dad watch cable news, it’s better than 50/50 they watch “POX News.” So what gives? PBS — a network partially funded with my tax dollars — has the right to tell my kids that their parents watch “trashy” news? The message is clear, I can’t even sit my kids in front of “Sesame Street” without having to worry about the Left attempting to undermine my authority.
Thursday night on Fox News, host Bill O’Reilly picked up on Big Hollywood’s rant and couldn’t resist defending his network against the smear merchants at Sesame Street. “Say it ain’t so. Sesame Street trashing Fox News!” O’Reilly complained. After airing the segment in question, O’Reilly said wryly, “We may have to ambush Oscar.” Watch it:
As Big Hollywood itself acknowledged, Fox News wasn’t the only news organization or media personality Sesame Street spoofed. “Walter Cranky,” “Dan Rather-Not,” “Meredith Beware-a” and “Diane Spoiler,” all made appearances on the show. And of course, Oscar’s employer, the “Grouchy News Network.”
Media Matters’ Simon Maloy notes, “It looks like Andrew Breitbart’s BigHollywood.com is looking to dethrone NewsBusters as the premiere source for asinine right-wing media criticism” by documenting “the absurd liberal bias in an episode of Sesame Street that aired two years ago. Just let that sink in for a moment…”
We wouldn’t put it past O’Reilly hit-man Jesse Watters to be staking out Oscar’s garbage can right now.
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Fake outrage and another fake issue. Teabaggers should just stick to hating America.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:08 amBill-O being a cartoon is more unreal than puppets.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:10 ambreitbart says: If Mom and Dad watch cable news,
it’s better than 50/50 they watch “POX News.”
really? you admit that it’s a POX?!?
good for you! admitting the problem is the first step…
…
unrelated “humor”, found at C&L:
10 jokes about Joe Lieberman…
http://trueslant.com/davidrees/2009/11/02/10-jokes-about-joe-lieberman-his-threat-to-filibuster-any-health-care-bill-which-includes-a-public-option/
crude and rude, but deserves more exposure…
November 7th, 2009 at 9:13 amEh, the wingnuts have been trying to get rid of PBS for years now. Because there’s no way to make money off it, and they haven’t been able to use it as a propaganda machine, it’s of no use to them. And they only want their tax dollars to go to blowing things up.
But this shows how close to the bottom of the barrel (or Oscar’s trash can) they’re scraping.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:14 amCroxNews will allow no criticism of its radical agenda – to transform our once-prosperous nation into a money-maker for Murdoch and his buddies.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:16 amEven though this show aired 2 years ago, it must be Obama’s fault. Or maybe Clinton’s.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:18 amGo Ahead! Take on Sesame Street! I DARE YOU! If you don’t completely supress it, if you give up, if you cut and run, you are COWARDS! Come on, FOX; make the case that you are better for our children than Sesame Street. We’re waiting.
What thin-skinned sh!theads.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:22 amFurther proof that O’Reilly is seriously deranged. ANYONE who grew up in this country from 1965-present grew up on Sesame Street. That one show has done more for the children of this country than O’Reilly and his feigned outrage over “the welfare of our children” ever could.
Personally, I’d like to see Keith or Rachel on Sesame Street in Muppet form (or Michael Steele, for that matter…but I think they’ve done that before. )
November 7th, 2009 at 9:25 amIt would be fabulous if FOX forced us to choose between them and Sesame Street. They wouldn’t stand a chance. Sesame Street has 40 years of accumulated good-will. Fox would break against them like a wave against the shore.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:25 amPOX news is not a bad epithet, really. It kinda fits them.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:27 amSesame Street has been successfully educating our nation’s children for over 40 years; “Pox News” has been de-educating conservatives for over 10 years.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:41 amThe allegation that Pox News is supposed to be a poorly disguised reference to Fox News is preposterous….it is just a Coincidence that Pox and Fox sound similar. Who would confuse the two???
The real Danger of Sesame Street for Republicans is it’s Insidious Messaging.
for Example:
Treat others fairly, regardless of how they look.
Value learning.
Learn to Share.
Protect the Environment.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:43 amO’Reilly said wryly, “We may have to ambush Oscar.”
another admission… has he ever done that?
November 7th, 2009 at 9:46 amThe message is clear, I can’t even sit my kids in front of “Sesame Street” without having to worry about the Left attempting to undermine my authority
Hey, Dipshit, here’s a news flash – don’t “sit your kids in front of” anything on TV. Try interacting with them rather than using the video babysitter and you wouldn’t have to worry about them being “indoctrinated” because you’re just too damn lazy to parent!
TPers, sorry to have been absent for soooo long. Missed you all!
PEACE
November 7th, 2009 at 9:48 amOscar the Grouch today, who will it be tomorrow, Ms. Piggy with lipstick. I suspect this is the Rights primary example of “Obama’s child indoctrination program”.
I am noting a serious “detachment from reality” with our conservative friends these days.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:50 amI’ve missed you too, Spencer’s Mom.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:50 amthis is too funny. look at what the morons have been reduced to…ambushing a puppettand not of the boo-hoo glenda becky variety
November 7th, 2009 at 9:51 amGranted, I’m sure this is all tongue-in-cheek, but this is just in poor taste. The show’s celebrating its 40th anniversary, and this is how the right wing decides to celebrate?
Sesame Street has been an honorable institution at trying to educate kids. Yes, there have been some parodies of popular culture (the recent “Law & Order” parodies come to mind), but in the end it is all to make kids enjoy life and appreciate education and the English language.
If you can’t laugh at yourself, you’re not teaching kids the right things yourself.
That being said…
…Andrew WHO?
November 7th, 2009 at 9:54 amGlad to have you back, S-mom!
November 7th, 2009 at 9:56 amDrudge’s buttboy.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:57 amIf your authority over your own children is so weak as to be threatened by puppets on TV, you have some serious lack of parenting skills.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:00 ampurple state@18,
no, this is the exact way i’d expect repukeliscums to react to a PBS show turning 40.
a) they hate anything run by the government like PBS, which cannot be manipulated to their ideology
b) they hate anything that levels the playing field, in this case education, for minorities.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:00 am” I can’t even sit my kids in front of “Sesame Street” without having to worry about the Left attempting to undermine my authority.”
yeah, because the sesame street set are really concerned with the news station you watch.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:01 am‘After airing the segment in question, O’Reilly said wryly, “We may have to ambush Oscar.”’
I think ‘wryly’ is the wrong word. I think it give him too much credit. I think ’snidely’ is all he achieves.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:03 amPOX: Oscar! Oscar! Two years ago, a caller to your show called POX NEWS a trashy news show. Do you have a comment on that?
OSCAR: Beat it! I’m on vacation!
POX: But you didn’t argue with her. Do you believe POX NEWS is a trashy news show?
OSCAR: Can’t you see I’m taking out the garbage?
POX:
November 7th, 2009 at 10:05 amIt was total rhetorical, Doc.
Mr. Breitbart belongs in that C-list of right-wing muckrakers (e.g. John Ziegler, Tammy Bruce) who are trying to become famous by clinging to controversy and throwing anything at the wall to see if it sticks. They deserve to be ignored and disregarded as knowers of nothing.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:06 amhey o’reilly, you turd,
November 7th, 2009 at 10:11 ami thought you only ambushed people after they refused to appear on your show?
(continued – hit the wrong key)
POX: The public wants to know, do you think POX NEWS is a trashy news show?
OSCAR: From where I live, everythings trashy. Why should POX be any different?
POX: So you admit, you’re indoctrinating children to hate POX NEWS?
OSCAR: Hey, look, man. I’m on vacation. I did that show two years ago, and you’re just now getting around to asking about it? You think I’m so important that kids hate POX NEWS because of one episode? Get a life man. (hands reporter a trash bag)
POX: What’s this?
OSCAR: It’s my gift to you. My tribute to POX NEWS.
POX: It smells like bird poop.
OSCAR: I just cleaned out Big Bird’s cage.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:13 amcancervatives need to take their own advice,
November 7th, 2009 at 10:26 amif you don’t like it, change the channel.
We should loop little segments like this (which show FOX for the petty, mean-spirited, shallow, worthless idiots they are) in malls and other public spaces all over the country. People should see them for what they are.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:32 amOscar the Grouch “Undermines a parents authority” with a parity of POX News channel?
Obama questions FOX News as a legitimate News Authority.
Andrew Breitbart’s blog may be projecting. The conservative right still appears to have their panties in a knot concerning Obama’s negative FOX assessment.
I Think O’Reilly, with a bit of dry humor, may be calling his conservatives buddies on this one, “lighten up”.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:32 am“If Mom and Dad watch cable news, it’s better than 50/50 they watch “POX News.”
so he admits cancervatives watch imaginary cable news channels?
November 7th, 2009 at 10:37 amI would very much enjoy seeing O’Riley or any Gasbag-FartHard interview Oscar the Grouch. If you think Markos tore apart Tancrydo, wait’ll you see Oscar dump on our rightwing pundits. Ha. Go ahead, O’R’s “lick-spittle” ambusher, Make Our Day!
November 7th, 2009 at 10:45 amO’Racist ambushes people he doesn’t like. You know, like a “real journalist” would do.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:49 amMr. Breitbart,
If you’re so worried that your kids might learn something about tolerance rom watching one episode of Sesame Street, why don’t you just block out all the Public Television channels from your cable?
Then your kids will get their lessons on how to treat other people from the channels you want them to learn from. Or you could sit down with them and read a book.
You can read, can’t you, Mr. Breitbart?
November 7th, 2009 at 10:53 amBilly and Jesse better hurry up. Next week Sesame Street’s bringing on Andrea Holy-Mackris to teach the kids a lesson about how to tell the difference between loofahs and falafels.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:54 amSee? Sesame Street really IS educational!
November 7th, 2009 at 11:05 amWow. Billo – the 6′4″ badass Culture Warrior – is reduced to beating up a freakin’ MUPPET.
Way to go, Billo.
(Oh, man…that’s just sad. Typical, but sad.)
November 7th, 2009 at 11:09 amGot that, kids (and I mean literal children)? Republicans hate you.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:14 amBill O’Reilly: The Zap Rowsdower of Cable News.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:16 amNow this? First Molitsos and now THIS?
When I’m angry, I’m like a wild animal. A bold wild animal.
I want criticism of the palacial Fox News channel abolished.
Jesse Waters is just the man to drain the swamp.
I am livid.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:24 amLet’s see – the episode was originally broadcast two years ago and they’re getting all worked up now!?
I wonder if they’d all like a little cheese with their whine.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:25 amI expect the new Federal Governor of Virginia to keep to his word and do something about this.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:25 amLiz let’s pay a visit to Bill at his Sex-a-me Street address.
Wow, it ain’t the “O’Reilly Factor For Kids” is it?
November 7th, 2009 at 11:28 amMaybe this will inspire PoxNews (love it!) to create their own kiddie show, much like their incredibly successful comedy show. They could stock it with sweet lovable puppet versions of their own hosts, with guest spots by more sweet lovable “conservatives” like Ann Coulter. Throw in the occasional token non-white puppet, maybe a white-face (or scary Joker-face) vampire to count all the money he’s stealing from the other puppets. Bring back Alan Colmes to be Bert to Hannity’s Ernie and make him so stupid that everyone laughs at him in every episode.
I’m not sure what to call it though. “K Street” leaps to mind, but it might be irritating if “Today’s letter is the letter K!” was on every day…
November 7th, 2009 at 11:39 amFalwell would be so proud of these idiots. Guess he’s in hell burning away by now.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:54 amO’Reilly waging war on Sesame Street. Maybe Tancredo won’t be too chicken to join him in this battle.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:56 amPicking a fight with a children’s show is the height of stupidity. This is what they consider news or hot button issues. No wonder why Fox is held in contempt by most people and news people.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:06 pmOscar the Grouch
– - Back off Fox, Oscar’s my mentor.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:22 pmOT,
This dog can really salsa :)
Olé!
November 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pmBREITBART: I can’t even sit my kids in front of “Sesame Street” without having to worry about the Left attempting to undermine my authority.
Dude, that is WEAK.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:33 pmHey TP, I like the mash-up of Mr. Waters and Oscar, but I think you should mention you’ve photoshopped it. It’s obvious to me, but perhaps not to all. It won’t be less funny, and would potentially less deceptive.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:38 pmZooey,
I wonder if he sits his kids down in front of Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, or Glenn Beck, and expects them to be well-adjusted people when they grow up.
And what if he had been sitting his kids down in front of Sesame Street during the two years since this episode first aired? If it turned out that his kids really were getting “indoctrinated”, whose fault would that be? The CTW’s or his own, for not paying attention to what his children watch on TV?
November 7th, 2009 at 12:39 pmIt is my hope that soon the sane will challenge Murdoch’s waiver again, and the support they will get to revoke that license, will astound O’Reilly. A pox on FOX.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:46 pmPox News is the perfect successor to ‘Faux.’ You libs should have fun with it.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:18 pmI’m sure this all originated from the Yiffing Platform of the Republican Party.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:36 pmO’Reilly isn’t satisfied with just going after seniors, women, and the disabled, he has to attack children, little ones, the pre-schoolers. Shows his lack of courage. He can’t go after people his own size.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:56 pmRoket says:
I’m sure this all originated from the Yiffing Platform of the Republican Party.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I really wish I didn’t understand what that meant…
November 7th, 2009 at 2:29 pmYou can’t make this stuff up.
November 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pmPBS — a network partially funded with my tax dollars — has the right to tell my kids that their parents watch “trashy” news?
Yes. But that’s only because you do.
Truth hurts, doesn’t it?
November 7th, 2009 at 3:10 pmBellow Loudly is agreeing that he works for POX?
November 7th, 2009 at 3:22 pmPBS — a network partially funded with my tax dollars — has the right to tell my kids that their parents watch “trashy” news?
Its a joke!!
Remind you of anyone?
November 7th, 2009 at 3:24 pmOh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash
I have here a sneaker that’s tattered and worn
It’s all full of holes and the laces are torn
A gift from my mother the day I was born
I love it because it’s trash
Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash
I have here some newspaper thirteen months old
I wrapped fish inside it; it’s smelly and cold
But I wouldn’t trade it for a big pot o’ gold!
I love it because it’s trash
Oh, I love trash!
Anything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love trash
I’ve a clock that won’t work
And an old telephone
A broken umbrella, a rusty trombone
And I am delighted to call them my own!
I love them because they’re trash
Oh, I love trash!
November 7th, 2009 at 3:35 pmAnything dirty or dingy or dusty
Anything ragged or rotten or rusty
Yes, I love, I love, I love trash!
-Oscar the Grouch
For some reason I think that this bit from Newshour probably pissed Bill0 off more than the Sesame Street bit.
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/pbs-newshour-tv-radio-talkers-shaping-poli
November 7th, 2009 at 3:40 pmSesame Street teaches children to read and think.
Obviously 2 very subversive traits.
November 7th, 2009 at 4:59 pmI have a (former) friend who once ranted to me that Sesame Street promotes the homosexual agenda because GASP they allowed Ellen DeGeneres to guest host.
So yeah, I’m willing to bet it’s because conservatives don’t really let their kids watch Sesame Street anyways.
November 7th, 2009 at 6:33 pmWho better to square off with O’LIEly than Oscar the grouch?
I mean really – that’s entertainment. All it is now is a Grumpy Old Pervert.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:05 pmLiz Morrison #50 -
November 7th, 2009 at 7:13 pmLoved the dog. Did you read some of the comments? I howled.
I thought all conservatives were Oscars?
November 7th, 2009 at 7:17 pmGo ahead Billo attack Sesame Street.
You’ll alienate entire generations and if you live just long enough you’ll get to see the GOP loose it’s last congressional seat.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:19 pmOK then, Let the Cookie Monster be O’LIEly’s Nemesis if O’LIEly so wishes. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to the Cookie Monster tonight.
November 7th, 2009 at 7:44 pmWait, you mean Bill-o isn’t a puppet?!
November 8th, 2009 at 1:22 am“It’s not easy being green” . . . . with envy.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:10 amO’really and Breitbart make their living being grouches.
How can they complain?
Oh, yeah. They get paid to do that, too.