On Christmas Eve I watched Tucker Carlson interview actor Kevin Spacey, inexplicably in character as the sleazy politician he portrayed on House of Cards.

Spacey had no reason to reprise the role, and Carlson—a semi-serious political commentator who may or may not become vice president—seemed to have no reason to offer him a platform. The segment wasn’t even played for obvious laughs, as one would expect if it were a holiday goof. The two appear to have nothing in common apart from the fact that they’ve each faced some, ah, professional hiccups in recent years after being accused of misconduct.

It made no sense. Even so, as I watched I thought, “Yeah, that scans.”