On Wednesday, late night hosts found much humor in a man burning down Fox News’ towering Christmas tree outside the Fox News Channel building in Manhattan, early that morning. Thankfully no one was hurt but can you imagine them laughing at a potential arson outside an MSNBC or CNN building?
The Late Show’s Stephen Colbert showed his scorn for Fox, sarcastically calling for “thoughts and prayers.” His audience wasn’t any less callous, bursting into laughter at the news that someone set the tree on fire. Colbert joked, “Now, I know what you’re thinking, but the ghost of Hugo Chavez has an alibi.” He added, “Of course, this never would have happened if the tree had a gun. Give a squirrel a gun or something like that.”
The mockery continued on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! Kimmel seemed to delight in the fire, gleefully calling it “some malicious holiday mischief.” “The fire is believed to have started after Fox News' pants caught on fire,” he boasted, before taking some more cheap shots:
The fire is believed to have started because Judge Jeanine Pirro ate one too many rum balls and breathed on a cigarette. [Rim shot] Thank you. [Applause] Even though lighting trees on fire is very much in line with Fox's position on climate change, the hosts of their morning show were very upset today.
The liberal comedians also scoffed at the idea the fire could’ve been politically motivated, while attacking former and current Fox hosts as responsible:
COLBERT: Homeless and mentally ill? Oh my God, the fire was set by Bill O’Reilly! So[applause] so it doesn’t look like this holly jolly arsonist was politically motivated but Fox News is still going to eight maids a milk it...
KIMMEL: The police say they don't believe the fire was politically motivated. And I would also add that it's not really a tree that went on fire. I've seen trees, this is not one of them. That is a hollow structure that sort of resembles a tree. In the same way Tucker Carlson is a hollow structure that sort of resembles a human.
Daily Show host Trevor Noah also mocked the idea the fire could’ve been politically motivated, joking maybe “Santifa” started it.
What astonishingly, didn’t make the cut for late night comedy? Hillary Clinton bizarrely reading her would-be acceptance speech from the 2016 election, five years later. You can imagine how much mockery that would’ve received had a Republican done it.
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You can read the transcripts below:
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
12/8/21
JIMMY KIMMEL: There was some malicious holiday mischief outside the Fox News building in New York at midnight last night. The Fox News Christmas tree was engulfed in flames. The fire is believed to have started after Fox News' pants caught on fire. [ Laughter ] The fire is believed to have started because Judge Jeanine Pirro ate one too many rum balls and breathed on a cigarette. [ Rim shot ] Thank you. [ Applause ] Even though lighting trees on fire is very much in line with Fox's position on climate change, the hosts of their morning show were very upset today.
[Fox news clips]
AINSLEY EARHARDT: We're going to rebuild it, we're going to build it back better. [ Laughter and moans ]
KIMMEL: Build it back better? Where have I heard that before?
JOE BIDEN: Build back better! [ Applause ]
KIMMEL: Oh my goodness, this war on Christmas, I don't know who's on what side. NYPD has a suspect in custody. But let's watch that clip again. Because, I think the cops might want to take another look.
EARHARDT: We're going to rebuild it. And we're going to build it back better. [ slow pan to Brian Kilmeade][ Laughter and applause ]
KIMMEL: I mean, if you've ever had a dog or toddler, you recognize that’s a guilty face is what it is. [ Laughter ] The police say they don't believe the fire was politically motivated. And I would also add that it's not really a tree that went on fire. I've seen trees, this is not one of them. That is a hollow structure that sort of resembles a tree. In the same way Tucker Carlson is a hollow structure that sort of resembles a human. [ Cheers and applause ] A tragedy nonetheless.
Late Show with Stephen Colbert
12/9/21
STEPHEN COLBERT: The Christmas lights are burning bright, especially over at Fox News headquarters , where last night the Fox News Christmas tree was set on fire. [audience laughs] Now, I know what you’re thinking, but the ghost of Hugo Chavez has an alibi.
Thankfully no one was hurt. But we’re not talking about just a couple of burned pinecones. Take a look. Krispy kringles! [video of blaze] Of course, this never would have happened if the tree had a gun. Give a squirrel a gun or something like that. [applause] And Fox News tried to warn us this was coming. Every time a store clerk says, ‘Happy holidays,’ a Christmas tree bursts into flames.
..Homeless and mentally ill? Oh my God, the fire was set by Bill O’Reilly! So[applause] so it doesn’t look like this holly jolly arsonist was politically motivated but Fox News is still going to eight maids a milk it….
...Fox News clearly wanted to send home the point that this fire was set intentionally. As Steve Doocy said…[singing] ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like arson! Everywhere you go…Doocy stop, drop, roll.’
Gutfeld!
12/8/21
GREG GUTFELD: Almost 24 hours ago, a bum torched fox's all-American Christmas tree. It went up in smoke faster than Chris Cuomo's career. Not to worry, though, fox is already in the process of erecting a new tree. And if Chris Cuomo is erecting anything, we don't want to know. They will be reloading it on "The Five" tomorrow. In "The New York Times" that it is the fault of a homeless man, the rag's headline "Fox News Christmas tree catches fire in Manhattan." I guess they only cover hate crimes when they are funny. So our tree caught fire spontaneously just like Kenosha did or SUVs that magically drive into crowds. Maybe hold the length pulled a smollett and torched itself while getting a sandwich…
