Fox News Channel host Bill O’Reilly caused a minor stir yesterday, making a surprise visit to the Hollywood set of the TNT series “Rizzoli & Isles,” someone who was there tells TVNewser.
“People were pretty polite, to his face,” our tipster says.
O’Reilly has long been a vocal critic of Hollywood, taking on programs like “Glee,” as well as actors and activists like Sean Penn with some regularity.
Also worth noting: TNT is a sister network to CNN, with both falling under the Time Warner umbrella. “Rizzoli & Isles” is produced by Warner Horizon Television, which is also a part of Time Warner.
And as a bonus: “Glee” is shot on the same lot, just a few soundstages away from “Rizzoli & Isles.” One can imagine a confrontation on the “Old New York” set between O’Reilly and “Glee’s” evil cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester.
So why would the Fox News host, who has positioned himself as a “culture warrior,” drop in on a Hollywood TV show that airs on a network owned by the competition?
O’Reilly is said to be friendly with Angie Harmon, one of the stars of “Rizzoli & Isles'” and also one of Hollywood’s outspoken conservatives.