The O'Reilly Factor

File:Bill O'Reilly interviews former President George W. Bush, November 2010 (cropped).JPG for The O’Reilly Factor at the Air Force Museum, November 11, 2010]]

The O'Reilly Factor was generally pre-recorded, though on occasion it aired live if breaking news or special events were being covered (e.g., presidential addresses that occurred during prime-time and debate coverage). It was usually taped between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time and aired weekdays at 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. The show was recorded "live to tape,” meaning that the recording broke for commercials as if the show was actually on the air while being recorded. Some guests were interviewed before the "live to tape" period and were slotted in the program as appropriate.{{cite web |url = http://www.billoreilly.com/memberletters |website= Bill O'Reilly |title =Behind the Scenes Q & A |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150623183619/http://www.billoreilly.com:80/memberletters |archive-date= Jun 23, 2015 }} He began every show with the catch phrase from September 2004 to April 11, 2017, "Caution! You are about to enter the No Spin Zone. The Factor begins right now!" followed by the theme song, and then saying "Hi, I'm Bill O'Reilly, thanks for watching us tonight," introducing the topic of the first segment, followed by "and that is the subject of this evening's Talking Points Memo,” a monologue which was often followed with an interview on the same topic.{{citation|first=Adam|last=Buckman|work=MediaPost|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/299478/and-thats-that-the-oreilly-factor-is-no-more.html|date=April 20, 2017|title=And That's That: 'The O'Reilly Factor' Is No More |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520063335/https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/299478/and-thats-that-the-oreilly-factor-is-no-more.html |archive-date= May 20, 2022 }}

O'Reilly and his producers discussed potential topics twice a week.{{cite web | url=http://www.bu.edu/alumni/bostonia/2001/fall/oreilly/index.html | website=Bostonia |title=Defining the Line at the O'Reilly Factory |first1=Jean Hennelly |last1=Keith | date=Fall 2001 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014174608/http://www.bu.edu/alumni/bostonia/2001/fall/oreilly/index.html | archive-date=October 14, 2007 | df=mdy-all }} Guest hosts included: Eric Bolling,{{cite news|title=Carson Stands by Comments That Planned Parenthood Targets Black Communities|url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/08/13/dr-ben-carson-stands-comments-planned-parenthood-targets-black-communities|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=August 13, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422032946/http://insider.foxnews.com/2015/08/13/dr-ben-carson-stands-comments-planned-parenthood-targets-black-communities |archive-date= Apr 22, 2017 }} Monica Crowley,{{cite news|title=Has Race Become a Factor in Michael Jackson Coverage?|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/has-race-become-a-factor-in-michael-jackson-coverage/|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=June 30, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170421194630/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/06/30/has-race-become-factor-in-michael-jackson-coverage.html|archive-date=April 21, 2017 }} Greg Gutfeld,{{cite news|title=Dr. Carson: 'The Community Has to Recognize That a Thug Is a Thug'|url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2014/12/22/dr-ben-carson-community-has-recognize-thug-thug|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=December 22, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422032828/http://insider.foxnews.com/2014/12/22/dr-ben-carson-community-has-recognize-thug-thug |archive-date= Apr 22, 2017 }} E. D. Hill,{{cite news|title=N-Word Debate Back in Spotlight After Jesse Jackson's Remarks|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/n-word-debate-back-in-spotlight-after-jesse-jacksons-remarks/|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=July 21, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422032949/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/07/21/n-word-debate-back-in-spotlight-after-jesse-jackson-remarks.html |archive-date= Apr 22, 2017 }} Laura Ingraham,{{cite news|title=Bill O'Reilly: Obama's Op-Ed 'Is a Little Disingenuous'|url=http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2011/07/23/bill-oreilly-obamas-op-ed-little-disingenuous.html|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=July 22, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422033133/http://www.foxnews.com/transcript/2011/07/23/bill-oreilly-obamas-op-ed-little-disingenuous.html |archive-date= Apr 22, 2017 }} John Kasich,{{cite news|title=Racism Charges Over Vogue Magazine Cover Featuring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/racism-charges-over-vogue-magazine-cover-featuring-lebron-james-and-gisele-bundchen/|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=March 28, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422032952/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2008/03/28/racism-charges-over-vogue-magazine-cover-featuring-lebron-james-and-gisele.html |archive-date= Apr 22, 2017 }} Michelle Malkin,{{cite news|title='Factor' Flashback: 'Godfather of Soul' talks with Bill|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2006/12/27/factor-flashback-godfather-soul-talks-with-bill.html|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=December 27, 2006}} Tony Snow,{{cite news|title=Couey's Confession Is Released|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/coueys-confession-is-released/|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=July 1, 2005}} and Juan Williams.{{cite news|title=UCLA Professor Investigates Liberal Media Bias in New Book|url=https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/ucla-professor-investigates-liberal-media-bias-in-new-book/|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=August 5, 2011}}

Early in 2009, the show's ratings increased.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/06/obama-administration-boosts-oreilly-factor-tv-ratings/12326|title=Obama Administration Boosts Factor TV Ratings|date=February 6, 2009|first=Bill|last=Gorman|work=TV by the Numbers|publisher=Tribune Digital Ventures|location=United States|access-date=May 27, 2010|archive-date=November 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101114148/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/06/obama-administration-boosts-oreilly-factor-tv-ratings/12326|url-status=dead}} In July 2009, Hal Boedeker blogged that The O'Reilly Factor peaked at 3.1 million viewers which was an increase of 37% from the previous year.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/07/fox-news-dominates-july-contest-bill-oreilly-again-tops.html|title=Fox News dominates July ratings; Bill O'Reilly again tops — and Nancy Grace makes impressive gains|first=Hal|last=Boedeker|work=Orlando Sentinel|publisher=Tronc, Inc.|location=Orlando, Florida|date=July 28, 2009|access-date=May 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804235005/http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/07/fox-news-dominates-july-contest-bill-oreilly-again-tops.html|archive-date=August 4, 2009|df=mdy-all}} In September 2009, The O'Reilly Factor was the #1 cable news show for 106 consecutive weeks.{{cite web |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/q3_cable_ratings_fnc_shows_fill_top_10_3_network_on_cable_beck_grows_timeslot_136_137122.asp?c=rss |title=Q3 Cable Ratings: FNC Shows Fill Top 10; #3 Network on Cable; Beck Grows Timeslot 136% |first=Chris |last=Ariens |date=September 29, 2009 |work=WebMediaBrands Inc. |publisher=Media Bistro |access-date=May 27, 2010}} In May 2014, The O'Reilly Factor still held this top position, but average monthly viewers were down to 2.1 million, with a median age of 72 years.{{Cite web|title = May cable news ratings spare no one|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/05/may-cable-news-ratings-spare-no-one-189393.html|work=Politico|publisher=Capitol News Company|location=Arlington County, Virginia|access-date=April 5, 2015|date=May 29, 2014|last=Gold|first=Hadas|author-link=Hadas Gold}} In March 2015, The O'Reilly Factor remained at the number one spot on cable news ratings for its 60th consecutive quarter, experiencing 19% growth in viewership among individuals aged 25 to 54 years old.{{cite web|title=Q1 2015 Ratings: CNN Makes Big Demo Gains, MSNBC Hits Record Lows, Fox Continues Victories|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/q1-2015-ratings-cnn-makes-big-demo-gains-msnbc-hits-record-lows-fox-continues-victories/|website=Mediaite|date=March 31, 2015 |access-date=April 30, 2015}}

Ratings were initially high after sexual harassment allegations against O'Reilly resurfaced in April 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/scoreboard-monday-april-17/326770|title=Scoreboard: Monday, April 17|website=www.adweek.com|date=April 18, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=April 21, 2017}} In the time during Bill O'Reilly's week-long vacation preceding his firing (in which Dana Perino guest hosted), the ratings dropped 26%.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/14090729/1/o-reilly-factor-ratings-slump-without-host.html|title='O'Reilly Factor' Ratings Slump Without Host|last=Schiavo|first=Amanda|date=April 18, 2017|work=TheStreet|access-date=April 21, 2017|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/scoreboard-wednesday-april-19/327028|title=Scoreboard: Wednesday, April 19|website=www.adweek.com|date=April 20, 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=April 21, 2017}}

Michelle Malkin was a frequent guest host. A conservative commentator, she began boycotting the show in 2007 due to controversy involving remarks made against her by Geraldo Rivera over her position on illegal immigration.{{cite web|last=Malkin |first=Michelle |url=http://michellemalkin.com/2007/10/15/stiiiiill-going/ |title=Michelle Malkin » Stiiiiill going |publisher=Michellemalkin.com |access-date=November 21, 2008}}

2008 presidential contenders

Fox News producers had tried for years to get Hillary Clinton to come on the show.{{cite news|last=By|first=Posted|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=26087|title=SFGate: Politics Blog : Hillary Goes on O'Reilly Wednesday for first time!|work=San Francisco Chronicle|publisher=Hearst Corporation|location=San Francisco|date=April 29, 2008|access-date=November 21, 2008}} On April 30, 2008, Clinton agreed to come on the show as part of a pre-taped interview that would be broadcast over two days.{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/hillary-clin-15.html|title=Hillary Clinton, meet Bill O'Reilly|work=Los Angeles Times|location=Los Angeles|date=April 29, 2008|access-date=November 21, 2008}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=desperado&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3AdesperadoPost%3A357a7ca4-ddad-48cb-84c3-9375433cf075 |title=Chron.commons | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |access-date=November 21, 2008}}{{cite web|author= Carl Macgowan |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/ny-ushill305668357apr30,0,3974843.story |title=Clinton to appear on O'Reilly show - Newsday.com |publisher=Newsday.com |access-date=November 21, 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/04/30/the_hillary_factor.html |title=The Hillary Factor|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=November 21, 2008}}{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/clintons_unusua.html |title=Clinton's unusual political bedfellows - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com |publisher=Boston.com |date= April 30, 2008|access-date=November 21, 2008 | first=Foon | last=Rhee}} The host also held an exclusive, four-part interview with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama. Both interviews drew significant media attention as they were front runners for the 2008 presidential election. In the same election cycle, Ron Paul and O'Reilly got into a testy exchange over the issue of Iran. The 2008 Republican candidate for vice president, Sarah Palin, and then Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden were also invited to the show, but chose not to make an appearance.{{cite web |author=Patrick |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/television/oreilly_im_mad_as_hell_and_im_not_acting_95868.asp |title=O'Reilly: "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not acting." – mediabistro.com: FishbowlDC |publisher=Mediabistro.com |access-date=November 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204110903/http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/television/oreilly_im_mad_as_hell_and_im_not_acting_95868.asp |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}

In 2005, The Colbert Report premiered on Comedy Central. The show, hosted by Stephen Colbert, was a satirical spoof of pundit shows like The O'Reilly Factor, spoofing its format and the mannerisms and ideology of O'Reilly, whom Colbert called "Papa Bear." Colbert made no secret of his spoofing O'Reilly: upon hearing the news that O'Reilly approved of The Colbert Report, he declared on-air that "I like you too. In fact, if it wasn't for you, this show wouldn't exist."{{cite news|first=Deborah|last=Solomon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/magazine/25questions.html|title=Funny About the News|work=The New York Times|location=New York City|date=September 25, 2005|access-date=May 25, 2010}} On January 18, 2007, Colbert appeared on The O'Reilly Factor and O'Reilly appeared on The Colbert Report.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/stephen-colbert-enters-the-no-spin-zone/|title=Stephen Colbert Enters the No Spin Zone|work=Fox News|publisher=Fox Entertainment Group|location=New York City|date=January 19, 2007|access-date=April 20, 2017}}[http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/81003/january-18-2007/bill-o-reilly Bill O'Reilly Pt. 1]. ComedyCentral.com January 18, 2007. Last Retrieved. After O'Reilly left his show, the character Colbert played on The Colbert Report appeared "via satellite" on his new show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, to bid a satirical farewell to Bill.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ZbYpi_WbfkI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170420103209/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbYpi_WbfkI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Citation|title=A Farewell To Bill O'Reilly From Stephen Colbert And 'Stephen Colbert'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbYpi_WbfkI|language=en|access-date=2021-04-28}}{{cbignore}}

The O'Reilly Factor has also been spoofed on Saturday Night Live, first by Jeff Richards and later on by Darrell Hammond, and then with Alec Baldwin, where Baldwin played both O'Reilly and Donald Trump in the same sketch in an interview segment. On MADtv, the parody was by Michael McDonald. O'Reilly himself has appeared on MADtv.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0639195/fullcredits |title="MADtv" Episode #9.17 (2004) – Full cast and crew |publisher=Internet Movie Database |access-date=May 27, 2010}} Richards also played O'Reilly in an episode of Mind of Mencia where O'Reilly is a senator in the year 2016.{{citation|work=Mind of Mencia|title=Carlos Smoov |date=April 19, 2006|first=Carlos|last=Mencia|author-link=Carlos Mencia}} The show was also spoofed by the TV series The Boondocks, first in the episode "The Trial of R. Kelly" where O'Reilly is shown talking about R. Kelly's latest legal trouble.{{citation|work=The Boondocks|title=The Trial of R. Kelly|first=Anthony|last=Bell|date=November 6, 2005}} Later in "Return of the King,” O'Reilly is shown attacking Martin Luther King Jr. for saying that America should "love thy enemy" and "turn the other cheek,” even in respects to the 9/11 attacks.{{citation|work=The Boondocks|title=Return of the King|first=Kalvin|last=Lee|date=January 15, 2006}} The Chaser's War on Everything featured a segment in its second season where it poked fun at The O'Reilly Factor.{{citation|work=Chaser's War on Everything: Season 2, Episode 2|date=April 4, 2007|title=The News According To Fox; Fair and Balanced|author=Andrew Hansen and Chas Licciardello}}

After five sexual harassment settlements by O'Reilly and Fox News were reported by The New York Times, The O'Reilly Factor lost more than half its advertisers within a week,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/11/business/oreilly-advertisers.html,%20https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/04/11/business/oreilly-advertisers.html|title=Bill O'Reilly's Show Lost More Than Half Its Advertisers in a Week|last=Russell|first=Karl|date=2017-04-11|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-29|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} almost 60 companies withdrew their ads.{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/06/media/oreilly-factor-advertising-boycott/index.html|title=Few ads run on 'O'Reilly Factor' as boycott takes effect|last=Kludt|first=Tom|date=2017-04-06|website=CNNMoney|access-date=2019-07-29}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/07/bill-oreillys-advertiser-exodus-is-even-worse-than-it-looks/|title=Bill O'Reilly's advertiser exodus is even worse than it looks|last=Borchers|first=Callum|date=April 7, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/bill-o-reilly-fox-news-sexual-harassment-roger-ailes-579325|title=Fox News' Bill O'Reilly continues to lose advertisers over sexual harassment scandal|last=Gidda|first=Mirren|date=2017-04-05|work=Newsweek}} Despite the loss of advertisers, The O'Reilly Factors ratings increased during the controversy.{{cite news | last1=Levin | first1=Gary | title=Bill O'Reilly Ratings Up Amid Sexual-Harassment Controversy | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2017/04/06/bill-oreilly-ratings-up-amid-sexual-harassment-controversy/100114564/ | date=April 6, 2017 | newspaper=USA Today | access-date=May 19, 2017}}{{cite news | last1=Concha | first1=Joe | title=O'Reilly's Ratings Rise as Advertisers Flee | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/328180-oreillys-ratings-rise-as-advertisers-flee/ | date=April 10, 2017 | newspaper=The Hill | access-date=May 19, 2017}} On April 11, 2017, O'Reilly announced he would take a two-week vacation and would return to the program on April 24, 2017.[https://money.cnn.com/2017/04/11/media/bill-oreilly-vacation/ Bill O'Reilly taking vacation amid scandal, advertiser exodus] CNN Money, April 11, 2017. His plans to return, however, would not come to pass, as he was fired eight days later,{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/04/sources-fox-news-has-decidpubed-bill-oreilly-has-to-go.html|title=Sources: Fox News Has Decided Bill O'Reilly Has to Go|last=Sherman|first=Gabriel|date=April 19, 2017|publisher=New York Media, LLC|location=New York City|work=New York Magazine|access-date=April 19, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/bill-oreilly-fired-fox-news-sexual-harassment-allegations-1202072018/|title=Bill O'Reilly Out At Fox News Channel Ending 21-Year Run|last=de Moraes|first=Lisa|date=April 19, 2017|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 19, 2017}} and his show was cancelled soon afterwards. Online, references to O'Reilly on FoxNews.com were immediately removed, with the main show website redirecting to the FoxNews.com homepage and its content removed.{{citation|first=Samantha|last=Mendoza|work=Bustle.com|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/fox-news-cut-bill-oreillys-name-from-the-factor-logo-photo-52465|title=Fox News Cut Bill O'Reilly's Name From The 'Factor' Logo — PHOTO|date=April 20, 2017}} The program continued for three more episodes without O'Reilly, but the title was shortened to The Factor'.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/19/on-the-air-fox-news-ignores-oreillys-ouster-while-competitors-pounce/|title=Fox News scrubs O'Reilly's name from 'The Factor,' says viewers 'will have a lot of feelings'|last=Borchers|first=Callum|date=April 19, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Nash Holdings LLC|location=Washington, D.C.|access-date=April 20, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bill-oreilly-the-factor_us_58f80dc0e4b0cb086d7df0c6|title=Bill O'Reilly's Name Has Already Been Scrubbed From 'The Factor'|last=Shapiro|first=Rebecca|date=April 19, 2017|work=The Huffington Post|publisher=AOL|location=United States|access-date=April 20, 2017}} Dana Perino guest hosted the show on April 19, 2017 and April 20, 2017 and Greg Gutfeld hosted the final episode on April 21, 2017.

In the April 19, 2017 episode, Perino read a prepared statement about O'Reilly's dismissal equivalent to what the network had released earlier in the day.{{citation|last=Carter|first=Brandon|title=Fox News removes O'Reilly's name from show graphics|date=April 19, 2017|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/329639-fox-news-quickly-removes-oreillys-name-from-show-graphics/|work=The Hill}}{{citation|first=Tom|last=Namako|work=BuzzFeed News|title=Fox News Ditches Bill O'Reilly After Several Women Said He Sexually Harassed Them|date=April 20, 2017|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/tomnamako/bill-oreilly-is-out-at-fox-news}}{{citation|work=Yahoo News|url=https://www.yahoo.com/tv/fox-news-dana-perino-explains-bill-o-reilly-132037512.html|title=Fox News' Dana Perino Explains Bill O'Reilly's Absence From His Former Show (Video)|first=Brian|last=Flood|date=April 20, 2017}} The reasons for his firing and the sexual harassment allegations were not mentioned in the program itself.{{citation|last=Petit|first=Stephanie|title=WATCH: Bill O'Reilly's Name Scrubbed from His Show – Now Just The Factor – Hours After His Firing|date=April 20, 2017|url=http://people.com/politics/bill-oreilly-replacement-dana-perino-gives-tribute-undisputed-king-cable-news-the-factor/|work=People}} The termination of employment of the former host was a major feature of news coverage on both MSNBC and CNN, outside of the prepared statements, it was not mentioned on-air during the program and other regular topics were covered. The following day, images of the host were removed from the front windows of the News Corp. Building.{{citation|work=Inside Edition|url=http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/22912-fox-news-erases-bill-oreillys-name-from-the-factor|date=April 20, 2017|title=Fox News Erases Bill O'Reilly's Name From 'The Factor'}} O'Reilly was not given an opportunity to sign-off on-air, instead releasing a statement through his agency about the matter, while continuing to deny the sexual harassment allegations against him.{{citation|last=Bauder|first=David|title='The O'Reilly Factor' becomes 'The Factor' as harassment claims lead to Bill O'Reilly exit|date=April 19, 2017|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-bill-oreilly-fired-20170419-story.html|work=Chicago Tribune|agency=Associated Press}} During the final episode Gutfeld spoke about the program's legacy and the loyalty of the show's staff after a segment with Tucker Carlson, followed by a fading of the stage's lighting to a dark state, revealing the set now blank of anything identifying the show.{{cite news|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/foxs-greg-gutfeld-thanks-our-loyal-viewers-on-the-final-factor/|title=Fox's Greg Gutfeld Thanks 'Our Loyal Viewers' on the Final Factor|last=Feldman|first=Josh|date=April 21, 2017|work=Mediaite|access-date=April 22, 2017}}

The three-day interregnum allowed the network to sort out a new prime-time lineup to start on April 24, 2017, which saw Tucker Carlson Tonight move into the former The O'Reilly Factor time-slot, followed by the move of the late afternoon program The Five to 9:00 p.m. ET.{{Cite news|url=https://townhall.com/tipsheet/christinerousselle/2017/04/19/heres-the-new-fox-news-channel-primetime-lineup-n2315495|title=Here's The New Fox News Channel Primetime Lineup|last=Rousselle|first=Christine|work=Townhall|access-date=April 21, 2017|language=en}}

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