Glenn Beck calls Hillsdale prof 'egghead'
Casey Cheney
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: News
Ronald Pestritto, associate professor of history at Hillsdale College and regular guest on Fox News's 'Glenn Beck Program,' has received the honorary label "Egghead" from Beck. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Beck said "I had like three really big eggheads on the show, and people watched it."
One of those three eggheads - Pestritto.
Beck specifically referred to an hour session he had on Woodrow Wilson, which feauterd Pestritto and his book, "Woodrow Wilson and the Roots of Modern Liberalism."
Pestritto, in an interview with The Collegian, said, "I've been on Beck's show a number of times. We go on to talk about the origins of big government."
He frequently receives e-mails and phone calls from members of Beck's staff seeking information for the program. Thus, Pestritto considers being called an egghead by Beck "a compliment."
The comment was made, Pestritto said, as a part of the humorous aspect of his show, which is "one of the reasons people watch the show."
Mickey Craig, associate professor of political science, said the comment was Beck's way of saying, "I can have eggheads on and keep my audience."
Beck has a strategy, Professor of History Paul Rahe said, to communicate to the general public.
"There's this huge gap between the academic world and the general public," he said, adding that Beck is bridging that gap by bringing in people like Pestritto and presenting their work in an informative and entertaining manner.
Beck first used Pestritto's book without Pestritto's knowledge when his show first got started. Pestritto said he didn't understand why his book sales were going up until a student's mother informed him that his book had appeared on Beck's program. Since Pestritto and his book have appeared several times on the show since then, book sales have continued to rise, at one point reaching the Top 10 Best Sellers list on Amazon.com.
"Who knows what [people] thought of the darned things once they arrived," Pestritto said with a laugh.
Craig added, "As they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity. It sells books."
The 'Glenn Beck Program' airing this Friday will feature Pestritto and Professor of History Burt Folsom for "Egghead Hour."
One of those three eggheads - Pestritto.
Beck specifically referred to an hour session he had on Woodrow Wilson, which feauterd Pestritto and his book, "Woodrow Wilson and the Roots of Modern Liberalism."
Pestritto, in an interview with The Collegian, said, "I've been on Beck's show a number of times. We go on to talk about the origins of big government."
He frequently receives e-mails and phone calls from members of Beck's staff seeking information for the program. Thus, Pestritto considers being called an egghead by Beck "a compliment."
The comment was made, Pestritto said, as a part of the humorous aspect of his show, which is "one of the reasons people watch the show."
Mickey Craig, associate professor of political science, said the comment was Beck's way of saying, "I can have eggheads on and keep my audience."
Beck has a strategy, Professor of History Paul Rahe said, to communicate to the general public.
"There's this huge gap between the academic world and the general public," he said, adding that Beck is bridging that gap by bringing in people like Pestritto and presenting their work in an informative and entertaining manner.
Beck first used Pestritto's book without Pestritto's knowledge when his show first got started. Pestritto said he didn't understand why his book sales were going up until a student's mother informed him that his book had appeared on Beck's program. Since Pestritto and his book have appeared several times on the show since then, book sales have continued to rise, at one point reaching the Top 10 Best Sellers list on Amazon.com.
"Who knows what [people] thought of the darned things once they arrived," Pestritto said with a laugh.
Craig added, "As they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity. It sells books."
The 'Glenn Beck Program' airing this Friday will feature Pestritto and Professor of History Burt Folsom for "Egghead Hour."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Alum
posted 1/30/10 @ 4:22 PM EST
last time I checked, Pestritto was a Political Science professor, not a History professor.
jdcarmine
jdcarmine
posted 1/31/10 @ 8:38 PM EST
I have always been very suspicious of Beck. But when I saw two professors from Hillsdale light up when Beck made is generally goofy, yet pointed comments, well my attitude changed. (Continued…)
CoCo
posted 2/02/10 @ 6:23 PM EST
@ Alum, you do not see the relationship between histroy and politics?
Really?
Wow!!!
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