A little less than two years ago I wrote a bucket list of things I wanted to accomplish before turning 40 (thankfully, I still have a few more years to go). Other than writing a book, the other bucket list item I’ve managed to accomplish is being a regular guest on the only news show I watch on a regular basis, Red Eye with Tom Shillue. It was truly a delight to be on episodes with Tom as a guest when Gutfeld hosted, when Tom was a guest host, and now as he takes the helm as the permanent host. (I’ll be back on July 27 Midnight PST/July 28 3 a.m. EST)
Tom has a lengthy career in comedy, including stand-up, as a correspondent for The Daily Show, 12 comedy albums in 12 months, and as a member of the “Ragtime Gals” barbershop quartet on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Just prior to joining Fox News full-time as host, he toured with the Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan brood and cohosted a hilarious podcast with them.
I, for one, welcome our new Red Eye overlord.
The De Pasquale's Dozen asks political figures and free market-minded writers and entertainers to take a break from politics and talk about their pop culture obsessions.
1. What's your favorite movie line and whom would you like to say it to?
“Dry your eyes baby. It’s out of character.” Cary Grant to Ingrid Bergman in Notorious. The mean things that he says to her in this film - I could never get away with it. And Ingrid takes them all with her steely reserve. It’s my favorite Hitchcock film, and probably the best example of the “two people denying they are falling in love” genre. (My preferred genre.)
2. Tell me about your favorite teacher and how he or she influenced your life.
Putting aside the ones I liked- I had an English teacher in high school whose name I can’t remember. She wasn’t particularly nice- nobody would say she was their favorite teacher. But she made us read Ibsen and Shakespeare, and she didn’t really care that we were not enjoying it. She had little interest in our feelings about anything. But she loved the literature I remember thinking “Boy, she really likes this stuff!” It made me think hard about the material. I loved that class, and I still remember those plays we read.
3. If you could be paid to do anything besides your current job, what would it be?
Guide hikers up mountains. Those guides get to climb mountains all the time! How amazing is that!
4. What canceled show would you put back on the air?
The Waltons. My kids and I are watching the whole series and we are running out of episodes
5. What's your current “guilty pleasure” television show?
I have no guilty pleasures in any category. If I like something I will not feel guilt about it. Storage Wars is a great show that teaches the value of buying and selling, of controlling your emotions when making decisions, and, it probably teaches us never to rent a storage locker, because it’s almost never worth it to pay to save all that junk.
6. What’s the best present you ever received as a child?
The Big Wheel. It was a great machine. I remember riding it around the house that first day. Of course it didn’t survive long on the cement. But that was a lesson, too.
7. What’s the best present you ever gave?
Wisdom. Trouble is, I've only ever given it to myself, and even then only when I've made a huge mistake.
8. What advice do you remember your mother or father giving you?
My mom said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me." It was revelatory. Don't underestimate the power of cliché on children. They don't know it's a cliché! To them it’s mind blowing philosophy.
Did you take it? Yes. And I have never cared what anyone has said about me since that day.
9. What is your dream Red Eye panel? Who is your dream "Too Big for the Panel" guest?
Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, & Abigail Adams in the leg chair. John Adams could do the Halftime Report. And then Too Big For the Panel [guest] would be Kato Kaelin. Because how funny would that be that Kato is too big for a panel of all Founding Fathers?
10. What books are on your summer reading list?
Mrs. Frisby and The Rats of NIMH because I made my daughter read it and I like to talk about the books with her. And I want to read Infinite Jest - I never read that.
11. What would you like tomorrow's headline to say?
Obamacare Overturned; Not By Judges, But By Regular People
12. Tell me about the moment you decided to become more vocal about your political beliefs.
When Greg Gutfeld turned to me and said “Tom Shillue, what do you think?”