The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Here's the announcement. And be forewarned: it's six minutes of Olbermann:
And here's a corroborating story from the NYDaily News. (And why do we need a corroborating story? Because, well, with Olbermann, you never really know....)
Liberal TV talkmeister Keith Olbermann was bounced from his job at MSNBC Friday night, a few weeks after he was suspended by the cable network for making political donations.
MSNBC confirmed Olbermann was leaving in a terse statement issued minutes after he announced his departure on the air during his "Countdown" show.
So, it's over. I guess. The terms of the exit apparently involve Olbermann's agreeing to stay off the air for a number of months. Which means that he's free to appear on CNN immediately.
The truth is, I'm actually sad about it. Not because I liked the guy, or agreed with him on anything. But to give the devil his due -- as it were -- Keith Olbermann is a classic and natural broadcaster. He really knew how to hold the screen, how to electrify the pixels. From a professional perspective, I have to give him major credit. The guy is a television star, and that's not nothing. Television without Olbermann is suddenly a lot less interesting.
And also: part of me always wanted to be named the "Worst Person in the World" by the furious and foaming Napoleon of MSNBC. And now I've missed my chance.
Keith Olbermann, you will be missed. At least until you get another show, on another network. (Roger Ailes, how diabolical are you?)
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Comments :
May '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Jason Hart: Gentlemen, gentlemen, enough wild speculation!
It's obvious that Olbermann heard the Obama '12 campaign was (officially) tooling up, and he's leaving MSNBC to form the Olbermann / Grayson '12 exploratory committee.
I don't know if you're completely joking or not, but I wouldn't discard the possibility that Obama will appoint Olbermann to his staff somewhere.
Aug '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
What does it say about Olbermann, or his audience, that he viewed it as appropriate to read a story to them as if they were children. Yes, it was a Thurber story, but it wasn't exactly the "Walter Mitty." He did funny voices and made sure to show the pictures to us.
Anyone who has such an infantile view of their audience is a buffoon.
Jul '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
I hope Fox offers him a job, for this simple reason: he's so invested in this Fox-as-font-of-evil schtick that he would look like a jerk no matter whether he accepted or rejected their offer. >:)
Nov '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
As the spectrum of politic commentary moves into the lunatic fringe, what comes after MSNBC? Perhaps public access cable? Really, where DO you go next and who will take a chance on catastrophe for such a relatively small payback in viewership – I think I remember Bill Maher’s ratings when his show was cancelled were above 2 million, or twice KO’s. Risk/reward seems upside down.
If it weren’t for conservatives bloggers and commentators, would anyone beyond the really hard left audience ever have known that he wasn’t a sportscaster anymore?
Sep '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
I have never been able to stomach him. When we was on NBC's football night in America I watched grudgingly and emailed them that I would not allow this Chris Berman-imitating-light-weight-imbecile to take out my trash without an escort and mercifully they bounced him from that show quickly. I'd rather watch paint dry.
May '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Aaron Miller
Jason Hart: Gentlemen, gentlemen, enough wild speculation!
It's obvious that Olbermann heard the Obama '12 campaign was (officially) tooling up, and he's leaving MSNBC to form the Olbermann / Grayson '12 exploratory committee.
I don't know if you're completely joking or not, but I wouldn't discard the possibility that Obama will appoint Olbermann to his staff somewhere. · Jan 21 at 11:20pm
I am completely joking, though I'm certain that portions of Olby's audience would scream themselves silly at the chance to vote for a "real" Progressive.
I cannot imagine Olbermann being appointed to a White House position: President Obama loves radicals, but not if the general public knows they're radicals.
Jul '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
My concern now is for Steven Kruiser who has made Obermann, the Obernometer, so much a part of his schtick. I suppose he still has Chris Matthews who, though completely irrational and inarticulate, is amusing to watch with Kruiser's commentary on the side.
Sep '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
What irks me is that none of the reports I've seen give a reason for the abrupt exist (you know, the "why" of reporting, one would hope especially so on a cable news network). Maybe I missed it, but simply to say he's out is not enough in a supposed newsstory. Maybe that's the point: the news has becoming little more than PR.
Edited on Jan 22, 2011 at 8:43amMay '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
So, does this mean Maddow's not far behind? This is yet another reason why I'm grateful the creators of Ricochet developed a more sustainable business model. I'm sure the audience at MSNBC dropped considerably once Obama took office. Olbermann talked his way out of a job. Bush was the only reason he had an audience, and I doubt his viewership really bothers with federal gov't concerns beyond the sensational. Take note, members! The fight's not over if we get a conservative Republican back in the White House. It's not over if we take back Congress. There's big twisted ball of yarn to unravel.
Jul '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
It appears Oby collects $7 million a year for the next two and has a non-competitive clause in the contract that will keep the house dark for who knows how long. However long, it won't be long enough. I figured he'd get the hook when Comcast bough the network. Those boys are all about the bottom line, not cozying up to the White House. I see the former head of GE just got a job with Obama. Funny about the timing of these things.
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Great! Now how do we end John Stewart's era?
Note: By "end" I don't mean rub-out, shoot, kill or harm in any way. I mean bring to a close.
Note: By bring to a close I don't mean murder, batter or assault in any way. I mean "terminate."
Oh wait a minute - that's worse than bring to a close.
This left wing war on words is tough.
Sep '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Andrea Ryan
Pseudodionysius
Sisyphus
Jimmy Carter
Sisyphus
Jimmy Carter: Perhaps Sajak will give him a second chance with a new career on a Ricochet Podcast. · Jan 21 at 7:19pm
So it's true. You do hate us. You always have, haven't you. Admit it. · Jan 21 at 7:44pm
It's all Sajak's fault. Tell Sajak no new talent on Ricochet Podcasts. · Jan 21 at 7:50pm
In Pat's defense, the man changed. And the rule as written has unfortunate effects. I think Vanna would be a marvelous guest. · Jan 21 at 9:24pm
As long as she meets the new Ricochet height restrictions, I have no objections to Vanna White's appearance. · Jan 21 at 9:32pm
Speaking of...I got closed out of the High Heels conversation right after my last comment and kept getting error messages when I retried. I missed the rest of the fun, dadgummit. · Jan 21 at 10:11pm
BusySysAdmin has obviously instituted the new height sensitive login protocols and apparently they're working as planned.
Jul '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Pseudodionysius
Andrea Ryan
Pseudodionysius
Sisyphus
Jimmy Carter
Sisyphus
Jimmy Carter: Perhaps Sajak will give him a second chance with a new career on a Ricochet Podcast. · Jan 21 at 7:19pm
So it's true. You do hate us. You always have, haven't you. Admit it. · Jan 21 at 7:44pm
It's all Sajak's fault. Tell Sajak no new talent on Ricochet Podcasts. · Jan 21 at 7:50pm
In Pat's defense, the man changed. And the rule as written has unfortunate effects. I think Vanna would be a marvelous guest. · Jan 21 at 9:24pm
As long as she meets the new Ricochet height restrictions, I have no objections to Vanna White's appearance. · Jan 21 at 9:32pm
Speaking of...I got closed out of the High Heels conversation right after my last comment and kept getting error messages when I retried. I missed the rest of the fun, dadgummit. · Jan 21 at 10:11pm
BusySysAdmin has obviously instituted the new height sensitive login protocols and apparently they're working as planned. · Jan 22 at 9:38am
I am likely taller than Andrea and have had no problem. Does this mean BusySysAdmin is sexist?
Dec '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
The lyrics to my favorite Guster song say it all:
Yes I heard all that you had to say
That's when it all fell apart
Might be hated, but I can't pretend
I liked you better before
So long, so long, front foot leads the back one
Go on and it won't be too soon
I'm gone, I'm gone and on to the next one
So long, and I won't be back soon
Yes I'm blue, but from holding my breath
Like I have from the start
I'm the villain and I should confess
I liked you better before
So long, so long and on to the next one
Go on and it won't be too soon
I'm gone, I'm gone, bet you saw this one comin?
So long and I won't be back soon
It's hateful to say, see it this way
Don't even know who you are
But in my defense I'd do it again
I don't need to know who you are
So long, so long and on to the next one
Go on and it won't be too soon
May '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Sisyphus
Pseudodionysius
Andrea Ryan
Pseudodionysius
As long as she meets the new Ricochet height restrictions, I have no objections to Vanna White's appearance. · Jan 21 at 9:32pm
Speaking of...I got closed out of the High Heels conversation right after my last comment and kept getting error messages when I retried. I missed the rest of the fun, dadgummit. · Jan 21 at 10:11pm
BusySysAdmin has obviously instituted the new height sensitive login protocols and apparently they're working as planned. · Jan 22 at 9:38am
I am likely taller than Andrea and have had no problem. Does this mean BusySysAdmin is sexist? · Jan 22 at 10:01am
Since I can't imagine anyone not liking me...it must be my dog.
Oct '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Andrea Ryan
Sisyphus
Pseudodionysius
Andrea Ryan
Pseudodionysius
As long as she meets the new Ricochet height restrictions, I have no objections to Vanna White's appearance. · Jan 21 at 9:32pm
Speaking of...I got closed out of the High Heels conversation right after my last comment and kept getting error messages when I retried. I missed the rest of the fun, dadgummit. · Jan 21 at 10:11pm
BusySysAdmin has obviously instituted the new height sensitive login protocols and apparently they're working as planned. · Jan 22 at 9:38am
I am likely taller than Andrea and have had no problem. Does this mean BusySysAdmin is sexist? · Jan 22 at 10:01am
Since I can't imagine anyone not liking me...it must be my dog. · Jan 22 at 1:26pm
But Pseudo's a cat, and he seems to like you despite your dog!
Oct '10
Re: The Olbermann Era is Over. And I'm Actually Sad
Rob Long:From a professional perspective, I have to give him major credit. The guy is a television star, and that's not nothing. Television without Olbermann is suddenly a lot less interesting.
Keith Olbermann, you will be missed.
From a "professional perspective" lots of bad guys were very good at what they did. Being good at what one does shouldn't automatically be cause for compliments. It's what you do and how you do it that should matter.
Also, television without "Jersey Shore" or "Skins" or the Kardashian train wreck would be a lot less interesting. Again, that's not necessarily a compliment.
Let's be careful not to compliment a man who trafficked in some of the most deceitful lies and who used some of the most vulgar and shameful insults against others. Go back and listen to his commentary, and that of his guest, against Carrie Prejean.
You will not be missed, Keith (other than by your paltry audience...though substantial by PMSNBC standards). Good riddance (unfortunately, only "for now").
Edited on Jan 23, 2011 at 10:51am