The interview will mark O'Reilly's first appearance on CNN, providing another reminder of just how much has changed for him. This time a year ago -- or even five months ago -- it might have been unthinkable to imagine O'Reilly on a cable news channel other than Fox.

But at the end of an appearance Smerconish made on O'Reilly's online talk show Wednesday, O'Reilly told Smerconish that he would appear on Smerconish's CNN program.
It is unclear when exactly O'Reilly would go on Smerconish's program, which CNN airs on Saturday mornings.

During his 21 years years at Fox, O'Reilly was an aggressive critic of what he derided as the "left-wing media," routinely attacking CNN, MSNBC and others for purported bias.