16. Bill O’Reilly

Love him or hate him, the most recognizable pundit on the top-rated cable news channel had a decade-long streak of ranking No. 1 in drawing the coveted demographic of viewers between the ages of 25 and 54. That means The O’Reilly Factor host, who grew up in Levittown and lives in Manhasset, holds considerable sway in the booming business of TV opinion talk shows. And despite his latest round of bad press about his home life and questioning the accuracy of his reporting, viewers increasingly tune in to get his views on the “No Spin Zone.” Will he ever follow the lead of his frenemy on the left, Jon Stewart, the former Daily Show host, and retire? Don’t hold your breath.