**UPDATED**
(Originally posted at 10 pm EST 1.21)
For the last several weeks, Mr. Olbermann and the network have been in negotiations to end his successful run on MSNBC, according to executives involved in the talks who requested anonymity because the talks were confidential. The deal was completed on Friday, and Mr. Olbermann made the announcement on his final “Countdown” hours later. – Bill Carter (1.22 update)
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“I think the same fantasy popped into the head of everybody in my business who has ever been told what I have been told — ‘that this is going to be the last edition of your show.’” Cue “Network”… That’s how he began last night’s sign off.
If those words didn’t have the ring of being fired this would remind me of what Mr. Olbermann did at the height of the Clinton – Lewinski imbroglio when he walked away from “The Big Show” on MSNBC, because it became the Sex Scandal Hour. He simply got sick of having to cover it day in and day out and walked out, so he went to Fox Sports to do what he loves. Baseball has a lot more grace and a lot less preening or at least it did until the steroid scandal.
No one knows right now why Olbermann called it quits or whether he was pushed, which seems likely given the wording of his statement.
Considering his sins during the primary season of 2008, including his blatant sexism and over the top critiques of Hillary Clinton, with no actions except to be banned from some broadcasts and replaced by David Gregory, I can’t imagine what grievous sin he committed that caused it to happen now. Maybe it was cumulative if it ends to be a firing.
“MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC’s success and we wish him well in his future endeavors,” the network said. – AP
Lawrence O’Donnell gets Keith’s 8:00 pm time slot starting Monday. Cenk Uygur is “filling in” at 6:00 pm, as Ed moves up. They’ll leave Rachel Maddow at her current spot, because no point in fiddling with succes. From the Huffington Post:
Starting Monday, January 24, “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” will move to 8 p.m. ET/PT and “The Ed Show,” hosted by Ed Schultz, will move to 10 p.m. ET/PT on MSNBC. The announcement was made today by Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC. “The Rachel Maddow Show” will continue to air live at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Also starting Monday, Cenk Uygur, MSNBC contributor and host of the popular web show “The Young Turks,” will be filling in as host of the 6 p.m ET hour.
We’ll have to wait until more reporting comes out, but there can be little doubt that Olbermann waged a war to do his show as he wanted it, admitting his show “gradually established its position as anti-establishment.” Recently he added a qualifier to his intro so it read “news and commentary” at the opening, because Keith didn’t do simply news. Someone from on high made him add the word “commentary.”
It always comes down to The Suits. …even if it was simply Phil Griffin getting fed up.
The really unfortunate thing is that Bill O’Reilly will be absolutely insufferable, no matter why Olbermann has left MSNBC.
Some of us will miss Keith. I’m one.
Stayed tuned…
UPDATE: From Howard Kurtz over at the Daily Beast:
A knowledgeable official said the move had nothing to do with Comcast taking control of NBC next week, although the cable giant was informed when it received final federal approval for the purchase that Olbermann would be leaving the cable channel. This official described the dramatic divorce—Olbermann was about halfway through a four-year, $30 million contract—as mutual.
I was watching the show and I was stunned. Keith was having none of Jonathan Alter’s nonsense on Social Security cuts and then poof! I didn’t appreciate his comments on Hillary during the primaries but I think he is one of the few voices speaking up for Main Street. I am disappointed in his leaving. I wonder what really happenned.
The wording sounds like a stealth firing.
Alter is insufferable…
Keith Olbermann’s voice was very important to the middle class, so sins simply had to be forgiven.
Here’s a petition people can sign to show support, though I have to tell you I don’t think it will do any good. He also no doubt has a non-compete clause as well, so he can’t even move to CNN, the only network left for him.
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6006/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3151
I didn’t think about a non compete clause. Maybe he will write? I think I could tolerate his voice easier in prose.
Lake Lady wrote:
*wink* I hear ya, LL!
Not a Keith O fan (though I did find myself having to partially defend him on his Tucson commentary recently).
Did, however, like him when there wasn’t enough pushback on Bush back in the day and he was the one of the few voices breaking through, but there were always parts of his on-air shtick that were overkill. He became increasingly over the top every year, too much in a pissing match with Bill O, and his inner sexist came out to play in incremental steps too.
Put his prose somewhere in print and give us a chance to hear him in more manageable doses. I might actually remember why I liked him once.
I signed the petition – hope it will do some good.
Thanks lynnette!
Does a non-compete clause apply when you’re fired? If it does, then there’s some sort of buyout that should be comfortable.
If I were Comcast, I’d make sure the checks arrived on time…
I know this is slightly off-topic but … Alter is more than insufferable. He’s a gaseous windbag. He was an important (sadly!) voice who proclaimed, early and often, that no, Hillary couldn’t win mathematically, even when she could, so let’s just make Obama king, shall we?
Cannot stand him. He’s an officious jerk.
OK, back to regular programming…
I couldn’t agree with you more. He is part of a large group of so called professional left who are selling out their country right along with congress and Obama.They are so not in touch with the grass roots left it is just laughable. They don’t give a hot damn about the people. They are only concerned with jockeying for access so they can write a book and make money.Sell outs all of them.
If this was 2007, I’d be sad and dissapointed that Olbermann was leaving. But his ’08 Hillary bashing makes me glad he’s gone.
Where there any rumors? I have been too busy to be online lately so I wouldn’t know.
I was not a fan and I have to admit that I turn over to Parker and Spitzer in that time slot. I’m Irish and I hold grudges,can’t quite forgive his commentary on Hillary during the primaries. However, I recognize that he was an important voice on the left, with many fans.
I feel compassion for him though. What a rough couple of years he has had. He lost his Mom and Dad and now his job.He is awfully smart and I am sure he will land on his feet.
disgusting. on cnn some insider was aying its comcast doing this. comcast says it has no tolerance for such “liberal rabble.” so maybe keith got out before comcast pushes out the rest? this is why the govt should never approve this merger of ocmcast-nbc. the govt has the power to s top these insane mergers and has slowly stopped. mergers are destroying this country
Good point texan. Now help me get this straight. Did General Electric sell off it’s NBC Division to Comcast?
Well, it was Jeff Zucker’s last day.
A lot of hot air in this post, but this adds a bit more to what I wrote above about Obermann’s conflicts with management, which have been significant the last year.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/coincidence-keith-olbermann-departs-msnbc-on-the-day-comcast-takes-over/
I added a line in my post, which I think explains it best and coincides with Zucker leaving. It’s Phil Griffin. He & Olbermann had tangled for a long time.
Not convinced Comcast had anything to do with it.
I just spotted Joyce Arnold’s diary..I’ll go over there and catch up.
Two things here. First, love him or hate him, Keith spoke truth to power. The over the top banter was just icing on the cake. While not a regular watcher (due to work), other than RM, when I had time, Keith was a must watch, because, let’s be honest, there is no true liberal media and he was one of the rare progressive voices.
And two, keep your eyes and ears open. This is just the beginning of the Comcast steamroller. I have a friend in the biz, and it’s going to get ugly for those of us that like reality and truth. Honestly, I’m very, very worried.
Wasn’t it MSNBC that fired Phil Donahue, too? I remember he was very anti-Iraq War and then he was gone, even with decent ratings at the time for the network.
I loved his show. Remember he had a partner a really intelligent Russian I think?
Yes, he did, but I can’t think of the gentleman’s name. I always enjoyed Phil’s show.
This is different though. Keith is the “Big One” they wanted gone. And my friend couldn’t say if she thought other heads might role, just look to see how things are presented with the other hosts. This country is already dumbed down enough through the media, I fear it is only going to get worse. Afterall, we need both sides presented right? That is, truth and lies…er left and right.
lynnette wrote:
Yes he was, and actually IIRC, Phil was fired at a time when his show had the highest ratings out of MSNBC’s lineup.
I may be mistaken on that, but I remember thinking it was unfair that Olbermann and Tweety get their names mentioned the most often when MSNBC going anti-war is mentioned. I’m not even a big Donahue fan like my mother… but he beat Olbermann and Tweety to the anti-war punch.
Oh, and I meant to add–Phil was fired *because* he was anti-war! There was some NBC memo that leaked out.
That’s what I remember, too. I believe Phil’s show did have the highest ratings at the time in that evening line-up. Thanks, Wonk.
Something is up with the comcast takeover and whats going on, but thats just my opinion. Wow, Keith Olbermann was one of the main commentators on MSNBC. I am moderate and didn’t watch him much, but when I did, he stood up for progressives and the progressive movement lost a hugh voice on television today. Now we have to wonder whats going to happen next on MSNBC. Keith Olbermann was the only one that went head to head with O’Reilly and I know O’Reilly must be thrilled at the news because MSM has took off the man that went toe to toe with him. There must be some major changes going on.
I read this news while eating my usual late supper–forgive my manners, but we both read computers and papers at the table. Good thing I’m already on Nexium! My son says he needs Xanax. I had watched part of Keith tonight but missed the end, so I replayed it on the computer. We are furious; he was terrible on Hillary, and so was the esteemed Russert, but that can be forgiven as he seemed to realize how wrong he was about Obama.
Comcast is probably the culprit, and I am immediately suspicious about Jeff Zucker and Obama coming together the same day. I kind of hope Keith quit on them realizing how the network is compromised now. Laurence O’Donnell is a milqeuetoast, Chris is a bore, but at least we have Rachel and Ed. So far.
KO was the guy that gave the progressives and the fight for the middle class voice during the Bush Administration and led to MSNBC’s rise and expansion thru Maddow, Schultz, O”Donnel, Ratigan(yes he is) and now Cenk.
MSNBC was saved by KO, all be it they went kicking and screaming in their leftward direction(GE is/was their owner afterall, and explaions why Scarborough still has a show despite anemic ratings), in fact he single handely saved them.
If Cenk does get the 6PM slot permanently, we could see the rise of real progressive fighter-he is great. I hope he keeps his Young Turks attitude and style at MSNBC.
If CNN, or any other network, big or small, like HD Net really wants to jump start their ratings, they should make a play for KO and the rest of the lineup-Rachel, Schultz, O’donnel, Cenk, Ratigan.
It is my understanding that MSNBC does not enjoy the type of distribution that CNN does, which is why they trail in viewers, yet still run strong vs Fox. You give the MSNBC lineup CNN’s distribution and all of a sudden FOX gets a real run for the money.
Problem is CNN , MSNBC are afraid of appearing too liberal when the country as whole is more Liberal than the MSM wants us to believe.
I wish KO all the best.
Problem is CNN , MSNBC are afraid of appearing too liberal when the country as whole is more Liberal than the MSM wants us to believe.
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Well basically, I look at it this way …
Working Class People Do NOT run commercials !
lets hope this is true- leaving to create ind. progressive media empire?
http://www.thewrap.com/television/article/keith-olbermann-leaves-msnbc-24127#
Olbermann is an insufferable gas-bag. Good riddance!
Totally agree JoeCHI and anyone who thinks otherwise might want to revisit Olbermann’s “Special Comments” on Hillary Clinton during the 2008 primary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXBXD2zizIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ba3x-name0
He was no less fair, objective or vicious than the attacks Hillary withstood from the right wing for so many years.
Unforgivable.
It’s one thing to recount what happened in order to learn from it, however, that’s not what you’re doing here.
It’s positively petty, short-sighted, cutting your nose off to spite your face vindictiveness to hold such a juvenile grudge considering all the other things Keith Olbermann has done to help the democratic cause.
Wherever he lands I sincerely hopes he continues to build on what he’s begun.
I fall somewhere between JoeCHI and Taylor re: Keith.
I won’t miss Keith, but I don’t hate him either.
Also, I don’t respect the way MSNBC has gone about this — they grew their viewership on Keith’s back and now they’re washing their hands of him like he was a separate entity from them all along. Meh.
I wish KO all the success in the future. If Oprah Winfrey is the smart businesswoman we all know she is, she will offer KO the opportunity to build a news division for her new cable network. It would become the anti-Fox News Network. I think it would be a great fit.
“It is intolerable to us that an erroneous thought should exist anywhere in the world, however secret and powerless it may be.” –O’Brien to Winston in ’1984′
Comcast is owned by the very politically conservative Roberts family of Philadelphia. When my brother and I first heard the news about the sale of NBC to Comcast, we both wondered what it would mean for MSNBC. Whether by firing or that Keith simply saw the handwriting on the wall or a combination, we got our first answer last night.
Fascism is rising in America. We may not be able to stop it, but we sure as hell can’t say we didn’t see it happening.
too bad the fcc isnt doing its job and is stacked by o for corporate personhood.
I am telling you, I was reading this on other blogs and on yahoo, and its getting alot of hits !!! Progressives are ticked off about this news. Some are going to boycott the network, this might end up hurting the network !! I didn’t watch him all that much because I am a moderate independent, even though I have liberal views, they didn’t go as far a KO, but I know from what I have been reading progressives lost a hugh voice. The lineup does not seem to add up either, why didn’t they give it to Racheal Maddow? She was there longer than Lawerence !!