HOLLYWOOD - Sean Penn (I Am Sam) has long been known as one of Hollywood's bad boys. In February's Talk magazine, Penn once again proves his bona fides for that club."I think that people like the Howard Sterns, the Bill O'Reillys and to a lesser degree the bin Ladens of the world are making a horrible contribution [to society]. I'd like to trade O'Reilly for bin Laden. [O'Reilly] is a grumpy, self-loathing joke," Penn told the magazine.
Penn also compared the Fox News Channel's conservative talk-show host to Hitler and Joe McCarthy--an eclectic group, to say the least.
"There's a long history of people who capitalize on the lowest common denominator of people's impulses. Adolf Hitler being one of them. Not everybody wants to hit the wall in a violent rage and break their knuckles, so he does it for them....
"These guys--Joe McCarthy, Bill O'Reilly--die like everyone else. And when they do their legacy is one of damaging the spirit of good things, and they become rather broken, pathetic figures. And it is going to happen to him."
(But O'Reilly may have gotten the last laugh: "Madonna called me up and told me not to worry about it," he said Wednesday, referring to Penn's ex-wife.)
Penn then went on to describe himself in less than glowing terms.
Penn admitted that, despite being a parent, every now and then he likes "to go out and tie one on every once in a while."
"I'm a drinker, so I bloat up and just get like a slug," the actor mused.