Television's most popular fake pundit sat down with one of it most well known actual political gabbers and the result was certainly more civil than their reputations may have let on.
"The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart visited conservative talker Bill O'Reilly on his FOX show as part of the promotional tour for his new book, "Earth (The Book)," and the two had an interview that was by turns spirited and light-hearted, reports the New York Daily News.
Though amicable throughout, the two did not shy away from touching on hot button topics. O'Reilly asked the funny man if he had "Obama remorse." After a jovial back and forth, Stewart addressed the question, saying that Obama "ran as a visionary, and he's led as a functionary." He added that the president has retained too much of the "same system and the same people in place."
O'Reilly said that Obama had detached himself from "regular folks", something that Stewart contested.
"What people?" "The Daily Show" host asked.
"The regular people who would never watch your show," O'Reilly retorted.
"Oh for God sake's. You went to Harvard. How long are we going to play this?" Stewart responded.
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Later in the interview, Stewart urged O'Reilly to attend his rally in Washington, D.C., October 30 that he hopes will bring together Americans who feel like their voices aren't being heard above the din in the national political discourse.
The Fox host said he would like to be there, but was afraid that he'd get a "contact high" from the crowd.
"Every dope dealer within a hundred miles is going to be at the rally, Stewart. You know that," O'Reilly said.
Stewart joked that it would be more of a family-oriented event, noting that its war-cry would be, "We're here but only til 3: We have a sitter!"
Stewart also didn't miss a chance to compare O'Reilly to Fox's biggest personality of the moment, saying that "The O'Reilly Factor" host was "Fox 1.0" and that the current "2.0" version of the network is decidedly more radical.
"I think you can't believe what you've unleashed," Stewart said, referencing Glenn Beck by implication, if not by name. "On this network [now], you're left wing."
Whatever their political differences, clearly there were no hard feelings as O'Reilly will return the favor and stop by "The Daily Show" September 27.
"All right, now I know I'm going to get laid out when I go on your show Monday," O'Reilly said.
"We actually like you," Stewart responded. "I'm telling you, you're in trouble baby," he said.
Selected Reading: NY Daily News, Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post
