Video: Why We Left Islam
posted at 3:00 pm on May 22, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Despite having perhaps the silliest interviewer ever, Susan Crimp manages to avoid the inanities long enough in this Fox Red-Eye segment to make her new book, Why We Left Islam, sound interesting. The book contains the stories of Muslim apostates, telling about the circumstances of their decisions and the implications of being an apostate:
Perhaps Fox can find an interviewer who would take the subject seriously. I actually felt embarrassed for Crimp in this segment and wished she had a better opportunity to talk about her book instead of parrying the nonsense that surrounded her. The story behind the book cover would have been intriguing. Given all of the violence, real and threatened, surrounding depictions of Mohammed, the torn-picture graphic is obviously meant to be provocative — and Crimp is obviously unhappy about it.
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There should be a serious interview soon enough. This guy always thinks he’s funnier than he really is.
Rogue Traveler on May 22, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Hm, methinks some folks just don’t like Red Eye. That wasn’t a bad interview.
Blacklake on May 22, 2008 at 3:14 PM
“She knows Fatwas like I know Fatties”
Wow. Fratboy humor is not lost on the FNC crowd @ 3AM.
Black Adam on May 22, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Ha. I just think anyone who laughs at themselves whenever they speak a word doesn’t take the subject (or themselves) serious enough. It doesn’t really seem to me like he’s actually paying attention to what he says, even though he says “MM-hmm” about 50 times a minute.
On the side. I do have a sense of humor. This guy just gets under my skin, like Jimmy Fallon always looking at the camera when he was on SNL.
Rogue Traveler on May 22, 2008 at 3:18 PM
I agree. I didn’t think the interview was that bad, especially given what Red Eye is all about. She obviously needed promo for her book that was previously unheard of, so she started where she could get some air time. Now perhaps some other Fox shows will pick her up. Maybe they won’t. But I don’t think you can criticize Red Eye for doing what it always does. Especially when they were actually more well behaved during this segment than normal.
In fact the only disappointment was the lameness of the “…like I know fatties” part, but again, it was because Gutfeld was toning it down for the guest (instead of making an intro that involved gay sex or house boy murder).
But I do agree with Ed that this sounds like an interesting book… I just think any criticism leveled at Gutfeld here doesn’t make any sense. It’s his show, and this is mild in comparison to how it usually is. Plus, as I said, he’s giving an otherwise unknown person/book some needed airtime.
RightWinged on May 22, 2008 at 3:21 PM
This looks like a far too serious discussion for “RedEye”, but seriously folks, have you actually watched that show? It’s funny as all get out, but if you think you’re going to have a serious interview there, you are deluding yourself.
What part of Fox News alerts about Mr. Pibb, having a genius call Gut a “terrible person”, and a lie detector about STD’s indicates to you all that this is a serious news show?
I did like when Dollard was on the show. That was an interesting interview.
mjk on May 22, 2008 at 3:23 PM
And the Ayatollahs and the outraged Muslims, were searching every one
For the Apostates on the run, apostates on the run, apostates on the run, apostates on the run
Well, the night was falling as the desert world began to settle down.
In the world theyre searching for us every where, but we never will be found.
Apostates on the run, apostates on the run
And the Imams, who held a grudge
Will search for evermore
For the Apostates on the run, apostates on the run, apostates on the run, apostates on the run
MB4 on May 22, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Dammit, I just got back from the bookstore (Atlantic) and this book was NOT there (neither was Micheal Yon’s book, which I had to order). I’ll stop at Books-a-Million on the way to work tomorrow and see if they have it, looks pretty good.
Tony737 on May 22, 2008 at 3:33 PM
Why’d they leave Islam? Because it sucks big time.
Akzed on May 22, 2008 at 3:35 PM
I did like when Dollard was on the show.
Speaking of apostates! Pat used to be a libtard but has seen the light.
Tony737 on May 22, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Why’d they leave Islam? Because it sucks big time.
Oh, I dunno, having four wives, that sounds pretty cool … but then again, having four wives … ugh, shoot me, shoot me NOW!
Tony737 on May 22, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Geez, that was tough to watch. Pee Wee Herman interviews serious author on life threatening topic.
“What was the funniest reason people left Islam?”
“Can you tell me the names addresses of all these people, or would that get them killed?….heh-huh!!!”
I especially like the scholars on the side line.
Who knew leaving Islam could be so hilarious?
Hening on May 22, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Hmmm… I wonder if she was able to interview Obama for her book. I’d like to hear that story…
rbb on May 22, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Because Islam didn’t have any answers…
for anyone…
about anything.
My collie says:
CyberCipher on May 22, 2008 at 3:58 PM
I love watching Red Eye, but I would rather see her on the O’Reilly Factor. I think her book would have a larger impact and she could substantively describe the circumstances of why these people left Islam.
jencab on May 22, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Watched it last night- not everyone who can write a good book can give a good interview. Red Eye might not be the best forum for an in-depth discussion, but she wasn’t exactly the best interviewee around either.
Perhaps she’ll loosen up now that she’s gotten her first TV interview (I’m assuming it was her first) out of the way.
Hollowpoint on May 22, 2008 at 4:00 PM
The only thing that Islam has remotely is their bombs.
- The Cat
MirCat on May 22, 2008 at 4:05 PM
You know, it is possible that at this time, Gutfeld’s show was the only outlet Crimp could find on Fox, or anyplace else on the regular media outlets. The fact they joked a bit about the death threats doesn’t mean everyone watching didn’t understand the possibility Crimp and her publishers could end up with a Salman Rushdie situation on their hands.
(And “Red Eye” could be interesting tonight, with Jesse Ventura on the show and his truther beliefs ripe for the picking.)
jon1979 on May 22, 2008 at 4:07 PM
I guess I would be also if the publisher made a decision that put my neck on the chopping block.
abinitioadinfinitum on May 22, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Only if Laura Ingram was hosting.
abinitioadinfinitum on May 22, 2008 at 4:11 PM
1. Red Eye is hilarious and not intended for the unwashed masses.
It takes a certain kind of sense of humor to appreciate it—which I do, immensely. Far better than the laugh track humor of the other late night shows. It also has an insane number of “inside jokes” that are funny on repeated hearing, which would be a turn off for those who aren’t familiar.
2. The author/publisher/PR person had to know what they were getting in to.
Red Eye is always like this. They rarely if ever do a straight interview. Serious topics are always discussed with some degree of offensiveness. Whoever booked this appearance on behalf of the author is the only one here to blame—not the interviewer. The same idea is in play when a conservative author talks to jon stewart—you know what you’re getting long before you get there.
3. The book looks fascinating.
I’ve known people who left Islam only to be targeted for death even in this country. That being said, her publisher screwed her with that cover. They wanted the publicity of a fatwa I guess.
mattshu on May 22, 2008 at 4:13 PM
I didn’t see anything wrong with the interview. The guests all get tapes of the show before hand, so they know exactly what they’re getting into. I wonder if Kevin Godlington had anything to do with getting her on this episode?
robblefarian on May 22, 2008 at 4:38 PM
What a moron!! He apparently is trying out for Konan O’Brien’s job (also a moron, also a rotten interviewer who mistreats his guests, also painful to watch).
Certainly FOX has access to some serious journalists. I hear there are plenty of print journalists looking for work, so FOX should have plenty of choices.
landlines on May 22, 2008 at 4:40 PM
I have to agree here. The joking was very tame, and it’s the way he does his show which is what makes it watchable for people of any political persuasion.
He was respectful to her and gave her airtime to promote a book that is worth promoting.
Esthier on May 22, 2008 at 4:44 PM
Yes, and they have shows for serious journalism. Red Eye, which comes on in the middle of the night, is not one of them.
Esthier on May 22, 2008 at 4:46 PM
but they do have a dull knife in case you dare disagree…..
right4life on May 22, 2008 at 4:47 PM
At least he didn’t say “Susan Crimp – If ______ were _____, I’d _____ on my/her ______ “
eeyore on May 22, 2008 at 5:01 PM
But then it wouldn’t be Red Eye, now would it?
malan89 on May 22, 2008 at 5:56 PM
For all we know Gutfeld did her a service by having her on when no one else would even touch it. It’s free publicity people, I saw it and was informed, so did others so it served it’s purpose.
Titus Flavius on May 22, 2008 at 6:19 PM
Greg is hilarious in my opinion, you guys just don’t realize how little he sleeps and how much he drinks. Check out his book about life in England. He has a very interesting writing style.
I love him.
DeathtotheSwiss on May 22, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Does this interviewer do comedy routines over tradgedies too? Chinese earthquakes, Burmese cyclones, mining accidents would be great yuks material for him.
KW64 on May 22, 2008 at 9:12 PM
I can’t stand Red Eye. Not my type of humor at all. I’d rather watch Stephen Colbert.
Rosmerta on May 22, 2008 at 9:25 PM
Greg for the win. Good on him for touching on issues and interviewing people that ’serious’ journalists obviously cbf’d with.
Also good is it’s getting the message out to a different generation, a younger audience who might otherwise continue to believe, for example, that we’re to blame for Islamists hating our guts.
Reaps on May 23, 2008 at 1:49 AM
My Morse Code is rusty, but I think I caught Susan Crimp blinking a booty call to fellow Brit Chris Hitch!
I’m a fan of RedEye but they need a better timeslot…
ScottMcC on May 23, 2008 at 2:27 AM
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