comment #1

scooterzz says ...

every time i've appeared on live tv i've spent at least a day after kicking myself.....
you acquitted yourself nicely......don't dwell.....

comment #2

frankbooth says ...

Oh, Christ. Just what we need: another twenty or thirty of those guys clogging up the comments with the same exact talking points.

This will make D.Z. very happy. He'll be so busy pasting links, he'll never have to leave home again.

So when do we get to see the video?

comment #3

Kristopher Tapley says ...

Haven't seen it...but I'm recording the repeat.

comment #4

BurmaShave says ...

frankbooth he doesn't leave home now.

comment #5

ZayTonday says ...

No vid link?

comment #6

frankbooth says ...

Yes, Burma,

BUT...

...uh

...forget I said anything.

comment #7

cloulan313 says ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arivh4sf7-Q

Well spoken Jeff.

comment #8

Arran says ...

I'm surprised you managed to get more than three words in with that blowhard ranting over the top of you and attempting to trample on every point you tried to make. Every time you tried to say "I was just saying what I felt at that moment", O'Reilly came back with "WHY ISN'T JOHN VOIGHT ALLOWED TO SPEAK HIS MIND?!?!?" When, of course, you never actually said he couldn't. As you at least ATTEMPTED to say, it was just a mild revenge fantasty.

You did well as well as you could have under the circumstances. Good work, chief.

comment #9

frankbooth says ...

Oh, man.

Whenever I read Wells going off on a topic, I don't imagine him slumping over and shifting his eyes around and half-stammering apologetically. I always picture a kind of Harlan Eillson take-no-shit liberal firebrand.

"You don't have to listen to me, Bill. I'm just a guy with a big mouth."

On the plus side, I think O'Reilly took it relatively easy because Wells looked so uncomfortable he felt sorry for him. Sometimes playing dead works.

comment #10

C-PhreekII says ...

Fools rush in...

comment #11

Mjs says ...

I honestly can't believe Bill O'Reilly. He and the others like him, mainly Coulter, have had a ball the last eight years slamming actors and musicians for speaking out against the war and against Bush. While the conservatives have no leverage to start a blacklist, they have called these Americans treasonous, despicable, dangerous, among other names.

But a blogger makes a heat of the moment comment on his personal blog, by the way this blogger to my knowledge has literally zero say in who gets work in Hollywood, and suddenly O'Reilly is all for free speech from Hollywood actors.

Never, I repeat never, underestimate a conservatives ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth.

Wells, I thought you did a fine job with what you were given. I've seen O'Reilly much worse than this, but you still didn't get much time to explain yourself. Even against somebody like O'Reilly that I have zero respect for, I'd be nervous.

comment #12

LYT says ...

I would imagine it would throw anyone off who isn't used to it, being in a room alone, talking to a camera with a fake cityscape behind you.

comment #13

EOTW says ...

Wells, I got the link but haven't watched the vid yet. Insomnia is wrecking me tonight but I think I can sleep now. It's nice to see you posted some conservative notes you got. See, they're not all inbred hicks! Seriously, don't be your self up for losing your gusto halfway through. these things are probably tougher than they look and you just weren't made for that kinda thing. you're an old school print man! No shame at all. As a very-happy-to-admit-it middle of the roader, poilitically speaking, thank you. Now, off to dream abotu something more interesting than dogs on leashes (don't ask).

comment #14

BurmaShave says ...

Best thing about that YouTube clip is at the very end he goes into a base criminality bit and it cuts off just as he's beginning to say "Geraldo".

comment #15

Ogami Itto says ...

O'Reilly didn't seem overly aggressive or bullying for a change, and as a result I think Wells came across pretty well. Surprisingly, O'Reilly didn't really rip into Wells the way he does some guests.

comment #16

beetlegeuse88 says ...

Is it me or did Wells look like DeForest Kelley in that video?

comment #17

Thrudvangar says ...

Great job, Jeff. You looked pretty comfortable to me. Maybe you'll become a regular guest.

comment #18

NotImpressedYet says ...

Good job Wells, went about as well as I think you could have expected, and self effacement was the right approach. The big mouth comment was perfect and summed up the ridiculousness of rightwing nutjobs who are blowing your blog musings out of proportion.

comment #19

JHRussell says ...

The whole thing was "much ado about nothing" and did not deserve to be elevated to such a debate. Nonetheless, whether intentional or not, I think you took the best possible route by not being overly defensive about what you wrote - but in doing so, you are also more or less admitting that you are a blowhard and that what you write in this blog should not be taken seriously...so at best I think this was a "wash" for you - not a loss, not a victory - but a ho-hum, sort of a wimpy cop-out wash...

Question is: Is that what you wanted from this? Is that really how you wanted it to go down?

comment #20

supertaster says ...

Reposting here, more appropriate.

Wells, I was wrong suggesting you should back out; you did a good job up there. O'Reilly seemed uncharacteristically tame--more mystified by your position than angry--and while you agreed with 90% of what he said (your head was shaking yes the entire time), I think you came out on top ... your admissions about your intentions and that you're just a guy with a big mouth rang sincere.

What made you sound like a bitter fool was you statement about disliking conservatives. I understand disliking people who want different things for this country, but sometimes conservatives and liberals want the same thing, they just disagree on how to go about it.

And MJS? What is wrong with you? I would genuinely like to know. You're exactly the type of this/that us/them guy your boy Obama railed against in Audacity of Hope.

O'Reilly gave Wells a fair shake ... actually appeared to be seeking some clarity over all the hubbub and even more surpisingly seemed to accept Wells' argument that this has been blown out of proportion. He didn't attack, he seemed to actually want to understand why Wells has private fantasies of impaling conservatives across the board.

And frankenbooth, why fear the presence of a few more well-spoken conservatives? Afraid they might make you actually think about an issue? Rather than standing around high-fiving and chest-bumping guys like MJS over the ugliness of O'Reilly, the virtue of Olbermann, and the evils of the free market, you might have to articulate your stances. How exhausting.

comment #21

Jerome says ...

Jeff,
I still think you should have called O'Reilly a ***. After all, it's a well known fact that liberal bloggerss swear 12 times more on avaerage than their conservative counterparts. http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/07/profanity-greater-on-liberal-blogs/

comment #22

K. Bowen says ...

Did you at least plug Man on Wire?

comment #23

snackyx says ...

It was a bit tough to tell from the YouTube video, but the thread count did look appropiately high. However, while I realize the camera does put on 10 pounds, I hope it was more like 12 or 13 here or you are going to have to lay off all those fat comments.

comment #24

MDOC says ...

Wells on O'Reilly, I've now officially seen it all.

comment #25

ochesnut says ...

Well played Jeffrey, although you did look a bit shifty. Perhaps that was just the nerves showing through.

comment #26

Ghost072 says ...

My favorite part is when O'Reilly said "Why? Why? Why do you have negative feelings toward conservatives? They're Americans like you, they just see the world differently, you know?"

ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME WITH THAT SHIT, O'REILLY? Unbelievable. As if O'Reilly and his ilk don't pound on and engender violent impulses toward liberals every day from their pulpits. The right can be so ridiculously transparent sometimes.

comment #27

Mr. Blood Vessel says ...

beetlegeuse88 [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Is it me or did Wells look like DeForest Kelley in that video?

or some kind of south american dictator..

comment #28

ketut says ...

Jeffrey, you did okay.

I watched with my friend/boss who has a different political allegiance then me. We both like coming to your site to read and learn and have to say we enjoy the intelligent discussions. Yes, sometimes there is the namecalling and the I'm right/You're wrong threads, but for the most part there is a good group of people here.

Keep it up and the discourse will stay lively.

comment #29

Edward says ...

Just wanted to add my kudos. Keep up the good work. You do an amazing job writing every day, always putting up something new for us to feed on. Thanks.

comment #30

Josh says ...

its good that wells went on the highest rated show. if he want on countdown 6 people would have seen it

comment #31

broadstreetbully says ...

Jeff, I'm not sure if you've said that this was your first talking-head appearance, but you've gotta be kidding if you're kicking yourself at all after that. If it WAS your first time with such an appearance, you went on the toughest show with the most ridiculous/intimidating host of all and were asked to defend/discuss a topic that didn't reaaaaaally even mean that much to you. All things considered, you did very well.

comment #32

Bocephus says ...

Supertaster:
"You're exactly the type of this/that us/them guy your boy Obama railed against in Audacity of Hope."

wow...just wow. Tip for the future: black people don't like being called "boy."

comment #33

Jackers says ...

Thought you handled yourself very well given that BOR is a serious douche.

But dude. Time to update the profile picture on your website!!! I often look for you in LA movies and realize now you could have been sitting right next to me and I would have never known it's you!

comment #34

Mr. Blood Vessel says ...

Great Job Jeff.

It looks like he had you on there just to crucify you, but you were so nice he ended up backing down.

the funny part was when during the crescendo (for lack of a better term) of it, the description "creator of hollywood-elsewhere.com" came up, it was like "creator of death to america.com" from the way he was making you out to be.

comment #35

BillRamsey says ...

anyone who said you did okay is insane. i had to shut it off. wow, jeff, man -- i kinda of feel bad for you. wow. holy shit. i guess i should take what you say with a grain of salt now. wow. seriously. holllly god. dude, i am a big obama supporter and guys like you DO NOT do him any justice. Wow. Um, good luck with this blog thing.

comment #36

T. S. Idiot says ...

The best way to deal with BO'R is not to let him entangle you in an argument. By remaining clam, our leader made himself (and his side of this issue) look good in contrast with the host's bullying, though it was much less energetic than usual.

Yet all of those above are ignoring the most important issue: did some fascist Fox scum sabotage Wells' hair? Bangs? Wells could have pointed out his conservative credentials for using the same age-reducing solvent as the dearly departed Dutch Reagan.

comment #37

buckzollo says ...

Great job JW. BO is a bully and he didn't disappoint.
I tuned him out once his own scandal proved him to be the hypocrite that he is. You could have pushed back a bit more, but mos def no shame. Write more "bait" for him while you sharpen your claws and refine your message for next time.

comment #38

martindale says ...

Pretty tame affair overall. Not a good performance by Wells.

comment #39

nemo says ...

"But halfway through the interview the clarity I had in my head started to feel mushy and imprecise. I was half making sense and half saying to myself, "What's happening? Why isn't this working out better?""

It's because you're a writer, not a performer.

People who appear on television regularly are like performing seals. They don't have to think. They run on automatic pilot. Bark, slap their flippers together, get a fish.

comment #40

JHRussell says ...

Jeff, I just figured out your "separated at birth" twin:

Jimmy Page.

comment #41

SpinDozer says ...

^Funny

comment #42

SpinDozer says ...

'"What's happening? Why isn't this working out better?"

Gruver, You DO understand the purpose of Bill O's show? It isn't to carefully consider/analyze the facts of the matter, his program is not a platform for pursuing intellectual development or truth. He is a right wing demagogue reinforcing prejudices, tickling all the emotional triggers of the target group of reactionaries. The End

comment #43

frankbooth says ...

"As if O'Reilly and his ilk don't pound on and engender violent impulses toward liberals every day from their pulpits. "

Bingo. It's east to play Monday morning quarterback -- I wasn't the one sitting there with the lights and camera in my face -- but I really wish Wells had hit back with something like "Isn't that exactly what you do EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, Bill? Haven't you made an entire career out of it? You engage in inflammatory rhetoric just because it feels good, and you have a much larger audience than I do, so what's the problem here?"

Maybe next time, if there is one.

Supertaster: "Boy." Beautiful. Is that your Rod Steiger as Bill Gillespie impression?

Who the hell is "high-fiving" and "chest-bumping"? Is that your paranoid interpretation of the guys on the other side of the aisle? They're all yucking up while you're on the outside with your nose against the glass? If you read my post, it wasn't exactly celebratory. I said that Wells came across as cowed and shifty and the perfect stereotype of the mealy-mouthed liberal who backs down as soon as his opponent raises his voice. (And if anyone thinks I'm being harsh, wait until the other side weighs in.)

We already have four or five utterly predictable Limbots who show up on the political threads without fail, spouting the exact same talking points straight off Freerepublic, or wherever they get them. And then we have Mgmax, who is bright, often funny and always worth going a few rounds with. Maybe we'll wind up with more like him, but the odds are against it. Excuse me for not looking forward to more identical dittohead posts to wade through.

In the recent words of The Man himself: "Why do you guys come to this site? Why don't you go somewhere where your own kind congregates?" Ironically, this was aimed at me, but that's another issue.

comment #44

nola says ...

Holy crap. You were on the O'Reilly report? I have to watch the clip. Bill is a trip.

comment #45

Mjs says ...

"And MJS? What is wrong with you? I would genuinely like to know. You're exactly the type of this/that us/them guy your boy Obama railed against in Audacity of Hope."

I'm okay. Little bit of a cold, thanks for asking.

Just by implying that something is wrong with me, but not saying anything specific, it tells me you know I'm right.

As I said a few days ago, I'm not a huge Obama fan. I'm not a Democrat, I just happen to dislike the conservative mindset.

Also, a bit racist for you to refer to a black guy as "boy". If you don't think it is, would you say it to Obama's face? "Hey boy, come over here and bring me a glass of water." You wouldn't, would you. Racist.

Attack what I said specifically, oh ballless one. I said that conservatives attacked actors and musicians for speaking out against the war. Was I wrong? No, I wasn't. I said it was then hypocritical for them to freak out that a blogger slammed a conservative for speaking out and to act like freedom of speech was suddenly so important.

What part of the math is giving you the most trouble? These are facts, kiddo. Pure facts.

"O'Reilly gave Wells a fair shake ... actually appeared to be seeking some clarity over all the hubbub and even more surpisingly seemed to accept Wells' argument that this has been blown out of proportion. He didn't attack, he seemed to actually want to understand why Wells has private fantasies of impaling conservatives across the board. "

And I quote myself:

"I've seen O'Reilly much worse than this, but you still didn't get much time to explain yourself. "

O'Reilly was about as laid back as I've ever seen him. He was still a little too pushy for my tastes, but he treated Wells fairly.

comment #46

Aladdin Sane says ...

You came off good Wells. Good for you standing up for what you wrote.

comment #47

MattyC says ...

Late to this thread, and can't believe I signed in just to defend Supertaster, of all people, but, racist? Really? For saying "...your boy, Obama"?

You guys don't watch much PTI, do ya?

Referring to *anyone*, regardless of skin color, that is supported by/affiliated with/talked about by the person you're speaking to as "your boy" is completely acceptable.

To wit: "Tony, I just got off the phone with your boy, Lou Piniella..."

To compare this to saying to Obama's face "Boy, bring me some water," is asinine.

Actually, it's pretty much the kind of PC behavior right-wingers are always accusing us liberals of. Fucking sad.

comment #48

Clark Perry says ...

O'Reilly didn't kill your momentum, Jeff.

By not rising to his usual "Why do you hate America?" bait, you actually took some hot air out of his sails and forced him to have a mostly civil and respectful discussion. I'd like to think that O'Reilly learned something from the encounter, but I doubt it.

comment #49

Mjs says ...

MattC

I know, I watch PTI every damn day. Supertaster's post was so absurd, and accusatory without backing it up, that I was giving it back to him. By the way, he has a history of not backing up his own shit.

The rest of my post, however, is on the money.

comment #50

supertaster says ...

Thank you, Matty, from sparing me having to explain the whole "your boy" lexicon.

To franken...I was pointing out that your behavior-- along with others who would even use a word like "limbots" to describe the generally articulate conservatives here--flies in the face of everything Obama says he stands for.

As someone who identifies with neither conservatives (my social views are too liberal) not liberals (my conservative economic views don't jive the entitlement ethos), I can tell you that outside of your ideology, your attitude and behavior is just as predictable and is no different than the conservatives you so disdain. It's EXACTLY what Obama finds so futile and frustrating about today's political climate. He recognizes that both sides have good ideas, both sides have good people, and that most folks have the same hopes and dreams, they just disagree on how to go about realizing them. He denounces the acrimonious hard-liners such as yourself who aren't interested in compromise or even keeping the debate civil.

I agree with MJS that Wells shouldn't have gone to the Iraq well and should have confronted O'Reilly more about his own hypocrisy, but O'Reilly DID give Wells a platform to explain himself and after this I think it should mostly die down.

MJS, sorry I should have quoted specifically what I took issue with....:"Never, I repeat never, underestimate a conservatives ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth. "

See response to frankbooth a paragraphs up.

comment #51

supertaster says ...

Perfect ... i talk about being articulate and then go on to demonstrate some pretty rotten grammar.

MJS, I don't recall getting into many heated debates here, other than suggesting that people look at an issue from both sides...that alone is usually enough to provoke an attack from the enlightened and tolerant, getting down into facts and data with the crown here, save for a few engaging libs, would just be an act in futility.

comment #52

supertaster says ...

crowd, ugh ...

that's enough for today.

comment #53

Mjs says ...

Fair enough. Understand, that's been my experience as someone that grew up in, and lives in, one of the most conservative states.

comment #54

qwiggles says ...

I think you did great, actually. O'Reilly wanted to make you out to be a hardline blacklister, and your laid-back, sometimes self-mocking approach effectively deflated his position. Well played!

comment #55

MDOC says ...

I get that most of you don't watch O'reilly and the thought of doing so is against your moral fiber. If you do pay attention it's not really fair to just put him in a box and label it "right wing blowhard". Someone on a board this week called the Simpsons a "crude cartoon", and from that statement it's obvious that they never watched it and they just don't get it. When I see the balnket statements thrown at O'Rielly I get the same feeling.
To be fair, I admit it is safe to put Rush and Hannity in the "right wing blowhard" box. O'Reilly's a different animal. I think essentially he got Jeff to admit that he just demonizes conservatives, Jeff defended his right to do so, but it allows him to be labeled and marginalized.

comment #56

Admiral82 says ...

I concur with the general consensus...

You did good Jeff. O'Reilly was awfully tame. I wonder if he's a vistor to this site...

It seems as though he'd interrupt you as soon as you got your thoughts collected on the point you were making.

comment #57

Arnzilla says ...

Jeff clearly didn't come prepared for the obvious question regarding the 50's blacklist. Bill seemed to go quite easy on him, giving him this same question twice (or was it three times?). Jeff said that he didn't expect to be taken seriously, then said he was angry at the time him wrote it. But when Bill asked him if he would do it all again, he answered yes. Jeff, why would you write the same thing again if you knew beforehand that you WOULD be taken seriously and if you were no longer writing out of anger? Why blame facetiousness or anger if it ultimately had no bearing on what you wrote? Also, why didn't you correct Bill when he painted a giant bullseye for you when he said that Voight was "smart?" I'm sorry, but you weren't "clear and reasonable" like you claim. You just weren't.

comment #58

D.Z. says ...

supertaster: "What made you sound like a bitter fool was you statement about disliking conservatives. I understand disliking people who want different things for this country, but sometimes conservatives and liberals want the same thing, they just disagree on how to go about it."

How many times do conservative commentators trash liberals, and get away with it?

"You're exactly the type of this/that us/them guy your boy Obama railed against in Audacity of Hope."

I think you're confusing him with Coulter.

"not liberals (my conservative economic views don't jive the entitlement ethos),"

But what about the rich and white entitlement ethos?

frank: "I said that Wells came across as cowed and shifty and the perfect stereotype of the mealy-mouthed liberal who backs down as soon as his opponent raises his voice."

I disagree. I think Wells said what he needed to say. If he needlessly dragged the conversation out, he wouldn't accomplish anything.

comment #59

bmcintire says ...

Jeff - Dennis Miller had Breitbart on his radio show today (LA airs this thing in the evenings) talking about your appearance on O'Reilly. After he called you a "weak sister" I had to tune out, knowing it would only be moments before me mentioned the Sword of Damocles or the "cut of your jib." I sometimes go back and forth with him, but lately he's become a tiresome cross between a parrot and a puppet.
Anyway, your a big, big star now.

comment #60

frankbooth says ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPQ7KMCrPLE&feature=related

comment #61

Suki Jonze says ...

here's more video and article -- did great jeff!
http://www.hollywood-newsroom.com/news/jeffery-wells-of-hollywood-elsewherecom-vs-bill-oreilly-over-blacklisting-jon-voight/

comment #62

Krillian says ...

I thought Jeff did okay on the show. There was a moment where I wished I could become a third head onthe show and say "What Jeff means is if you're hiring for a job, and you have two guys who have the same qualifications, but one of them said he loves keith Olbermann and watches him every night, wouldn't you be more inclined to hire the other guy, Bill?" It's like if TIm Robbins is directing his next project, and he could see Voight or Richard Dreyfuss as good in the role, wouldn't it tip the scales for Dreyfuss as being a guy he's rather hang out with for three months while they make the movie?

Bill's show isn't designed to make the interview comfortable for people he disagrees with, but at least he does bring on people who don't agree with him.

comment #63

Jay T. says ...

O'Reilly is SUCH a such a piece of shit... what a hypocrit. So Voight can say whatever he wants but you can't?

comment #64

MathewM says ...

I consider myself a moderate (conservative on some issues, more progressive on others) and find a lot of what Jeff says regarding politics a little loopy and frankly out of touch (has Jeff in the past twenty or so years had a friendship with an average Joe, outside of the industry?). However I think judging by his performance on O'Reilly (I wouldn't normally watch his show, nor Fox News) that he's like a lot of people on the internet; his bark is worse than his bite.

comment #65

MathewM says ...

I consider myself a moderate (conservative on some issues, more progressive on others) and find a lot of what Jeff says regarding politics a little loopy and frankly out of touch (has Jeff in the past twenty or so years had a friendship with an average Joe, outside of the industry?). However I think judging by his performance on O'Reilly (I wouldn't normally watch his show, nor Fox News) that he's like a lot of people on the internet; his bark is worse than his bite.