First, O'Reilly hyped Mr. Culp's appearance several times throughout the program without revealing who the TV icon would be, but saying what a "good one" it was. The TV Icon segment was on near the end of the program.
When it was time for the segment, by way of introduction, O'Reilly said, "This guy first had a hit in the late 1950s, and then in 1965, he and his co-star exploded in a spy show." (Cut to a clip from "Affair in T'Sien Cha" with Kelly and Scotty walking down the railroad tracks, with dialog playing).
O'Reilly: Robert Culp was one of the biggest stars in America in the turbulent late 1960s. "I Spy" was huge.
(They show about half of the "I Spy" opening segment with theme music, then go to a split screen with O'Reilly on the left and Mr. Culp on the right. He is wearing a long-sleeved blue button-down dress shirt).
O'Reilly: Bill Cosby and you get a program - "I Spy." (Short clip of Kelly/Scotty banter). It's unusual because it features a black actor (showing more clips - no sound). Back then - the program comes on in 1965 - in that time, you have turbulent civil rights, you have all kinds of stuff. (They show a few "I Spy" clips intermingled with news footage of racial protests from the '60s.) Cosby's an angry guy. You, as a white man, immediately get along with him. (More "I Spy" clips with dialog between Kelly and Scotty). The chemistry shows through to the audience. It's a hit. (Still more clips). Why did Cosby accept you as his friend? (More clips, then Mr. Culp full screen - the caption under him reads: Played Kelly Robinson on "I Spy")
Culp: For the same reasons that I knew he was a genius. He just knew. He just knew that I was his friend and would back him to the god-damn end. (More clips)
O'Reilly: However, there was a lot of hate mail coming in. He was getting a lot of jazz. (More clips). It was (inaudible) history.
Culp: He never saw it. He never saw it.
O'Reilly: Really?
Culp: The boss filtered all of that so that we never saw the hate mail. We only saw the good stuff. (Still showing clips - the caption under Mr. Culp now reads: Co-starred on "Greatest American Hero." More clips).
O'Reilly: Now, I understand in the beginning though, there were racial references in the script that you …
Culp: Only one. One. In a thing called "Danny Was a Million Laughs." It co-starred Marty Landau (showing clips from the episode). And he flipped him a quarter and said, "Shine my shoes, kid." (They show the actual scene). And Bill and I locked arms and walked up and said, "There will be no more of this." (Clip of the end of the scene). When we spoke up, everybody was relieved - I will tell you the truth. (Another clip of Kelly and Scotty, Scotty is saying, "Kelly, you did what you could.")
O'Reilly: Did you guys know what an important program this was for America? It was very good entertainment, but the breakthrough with the camaraderie with the white guy and the black guy and a huge hit. (Briefly showed the split screen, then back to clip of Scotty massaging Kelly's back in "Affair in T'Sien Cha").
Culp: Yeah. We knew.
O'Reilly: You knew?
Culp: (Still showing back massage). We did know how important it was, and that's why we were so darn careful of it and of each other (more clips). We made sort of an unspoken pact never to discuss that issue between each other.
O'Reilly: Really? (sounding shocked).
Culp: (Full screen). Let anybody else say what they wanted to say. There is an instinctive thing on the part of friends, business associates and so forth to split up two guys that are really tight. (More "I Spy" clips).
O'Reilly: Are you friends with him today?
Culp: (Laughs). I owe him a phone call.
O'Reilly: Okay, so you guys are still friends, and I'm glad to hear that (showing clips).
Culp: We're very, very tight. He's the best friend I ever had.
O'Reilly: Now, the two other vehicles I want to talk to you about: When I was a little kid, I watched you in a show called "Trackdown" (showing clips from "Trackdown"). That was fifty years ago, Mr. Culp. You were a cowboy during the cowboy mania years of the '50s (more clips).
Culp: You bet. Yeah, I was the method cowboy. (More clips).
O'Reilly: In 1969, after "I Spy" ended, you were in a very controversial movie. Sexual boundaries were challenged (playing clips from "B&C&T&A" with sound).
Culp: A comedy of sexuality and sensuality and stuff would never, ever, ever be the same.
O'Reilly: Now, do you believe that you are the cause of the sexual revolution in this country because you had four people in the sack (laughs)? (Showing more clips).
Culp: No. I think we were lagging behind the times, but the people - the audience was lagging further behind.
O'Reilly: What did you think when Natalie Wood, one of your co-stars, wound up dying, you know, in that drowning incident. What a shock, huh? (Clips of Natalie Wood from the movie).
Culp: Yes, it was a tremendous shock. She was a very lovely lady and a joy to work with - a total professional - and it was just awful.
O'Reilly: Well, you've had a great career Mr. Culp. You're a TV icon and it's been a pleasure talking with you today. (Showing Mr. Culp full screen, caption reads, "American TV Icon - Robert Culp).
Culp: Thank you, Bill, very much for having me on the show.
Showing one last clip of Kelly and Scotty walking together with the ending notes of the "I Spy" theme song. O'Reilly comments, "Great show."