Jon Stewart Visits Papa Bear at the Federation Of Xenophobes studio.

Jon Stewart was a guest on the O'Reilly Factor this week. It's been a long time since I've watched more than 30 seconds of Bill O'Reilly so it was particularly amusing to see how he's slipped so cleanly into the role of the nasty old codger everyone loves to hate. I guess his personality was always there, he just needed his body to catch up.

There were various moments of amusement.

At one point, after Stewart comments that he'd like to see the federal gov't use it's regulatory power to protect citizens, keep lead out of toys, etc, O'Reilly says:

"That's really smart analysis. You know a lot of people don't think you're smart. Did your writers come up with that?" You can tell O'Reilly had been waiting to say this. That's really smart analysis. You know, a lot of people don't think you're smart. In two sentences O'Reilly goes from naked condescension to whining like a jealous eight year old girl. You know, a lot of people don't think you're that pretty.

When O'Reilly attempts to patronize Stewart again moments later, Stewart quickly retorts: "By the way: did you notice that I used the work ilk?"

I love the little hidden smirk on Stewart when O'Reilly later says, "Come on Stewart, wise up man,". You can see he is trying to restrain himself from laughing. It's almost like a wink to his audience, can you believe this guy? This is just seconds before O'Reilly disparages the entire nation of Pakistan with an awful impression that sounds more like an Indian Mr. Magoo than any Pakistani I've ever met. Was he just trying to be funny with Stewart there in his studio? Or is this how O'Reilly's normal behavior? (Sorry, but the O'Reilly Factor conflicts with the Daily Show at 11 pm, and at 8pm...it conflicts with everything else.)

Bill O'Reilly has the race sensibility of Michael Scott:

Fitting in line with his inner young woman, it becomes apparent halfway through the interview that what O'Reilly seeks more than anything is adulation. Stewart flatters him, calls him "The most reasonable voice on Fox," and his tone completely changes. So now we know: he just wants to be adored. Isn't that cute.

Of course, Stewart is only setting him up. Being the most reasonable voice on Fox, he says, "Is like being the thinnest kid at fat camp."

Suddenly there is loathing in O'Reilly's eyes.

Here are the clips:

Part I

Part II

Part III

P.S. Kudos to Dennis Miller for giving what sounds like an honest assessment of Stewart and his talent, although in order to compensate he flatters O'Reilly to the point of nauseousness. Miller is another guy I haven't heard from in a while, ever since he came out of the conservative closet in the fall of 2001. He looks like hell. The dark side has not been kind to him.