The rise and rise of Glenn Beck: His appeal and the method to his madness

VIDEO: Glenn Beck panel: Stephanie Miller VS Steve Malzberg 

moderated by Howard Kurtz

Partial transcript of Howard Kurtz' introduction, describing Glenn Beck's persona and setting the table for the partisan discussion of the man by Radio Talkers Steve Malzberg (conservative) and Stephanie Miller (liberal)

HOWARD KURTZ:If there's one guy on TV who is "mad as hell and doesn't want to take it anymore", it's Glenn Beck. Since jumping from CNN's Headline News to Fox News last year. Beck has become a bigger hit in the ratings and a magnet for media attention not always of the favorable kind.

Some folks love him, others can't stand him and some think he's a little "looney tunes". Here's Beck this week on America's reaction to the Obama Presidency with a striking visual in the background (Nazi marches).

VOICEOVER: The New York Times gave him front page billing this week... MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' had a bit of fun with the Beck bombast and Stephen Colbert seems to view Glenn as something of a rolemodel...

Watch Stephen Colbert mockingly adoring Glenn Beck
The 10.31 Project (Colbert's parody of Beck's 9-12 project)

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The 10.31 Project
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Stephen satirises Glenn Beck's theatrics with moments of levity as well as a pointed shot at his shamelessness

STEPHEN COLBERT: Good point, the 9-12project is not directed at families directly affected by 9/11. Just people building their careers on them...
I'm sorry (tearful) I just love Glenn Beck's sanity and I fear for it

Download video of Stephen Colbert's parody of Glenn Beck