Keith Olbermann

[fadedrose]

They're talking about him on Reliable Souces (CNN) being a free agent and going back to MSNBC...

I emailed msnbc/Comcast about him several times in the last month or so...

We can only hope..

They're also talking on CNN about them doing MSNBC over, more breaking news and less talk shows during the day....

[Buzz Clik]

1. Olbermann gets fired wherever he goes.

He's the left's answer to Limbaugh; but, apparently Olbermann's bosses show the kind of discretion absent in the handling of Limbaugh. One can only assume it's because Limbaugh has a much bigger audience.

[TheBlackAdder]

3. Olbermann is no Limbaugh! Olbermann just won't play the corporate game.

.

To even assert he has qualities of Limbaugh shows a disconnect with their persons.

.

[Buzz Clik]

4. Nice flame attempt. FAIL.

I didn't say he was a carbon copy of Limbaugh, I said he's the left's answer to Limbaugh, meaning, of course, that Olbermann embraces the left's political ideals while being abrasive and obnoxious.

[TheBlackAdder]

12. I am able to comprehend your words. This is nowhere near a diametrical pairing regardless the spin.

.

Even with your redefined explanation, you posts are the ones that FAIL!

.

[krawhitham]

30. True he is abrasive and obnoxious

[Laurian]

5. Really?

I love KO and would be thrilled to see him back. To compare the intelligent and eloquent Keith Olbermann to Rush Limbaugh is absurd.

[Buzz Clik]

7. We all have our opinions.

I basically like Olbermann and despise Limbaugh. But, Olbermann's inability to hold a job speaks for itself.

[Bluenorthwest]

38. So you are of the opinion that our mass 'news media' is of such high quality that any rejection by

it indicates mediocrity? Are you serious? Among those who work in corporate media, being 'difficult' is very often a sign of high standards. If MSNBC or Current had listened to Keith, who was correct about it all, instead of trying to pinch pennies Current might exist and MSNBC might not be still trying to find footing it has never really had, although it was gaining footing with Keith. No one on that network has ever met his ratings.

Oh, Gore and his creepy partner couldn't deal with Keith. Where is their network? They don't have one, because it was not Keith, but their lousy decisions that were sinking them. They sold the thing, they could not figure out who to work the machine and they fired the person they had hired to work it for them, because they were stupid. Where is their big liberal network? Where is it?

[Laurian]

49. + 1000

The media personalities who dance for their corporate overlords just to keep their jobs are the ones I dislike. Give me more like Keith!

[11 Bravo]

44. Do you think the conservative corporate nature of media ownership ...

might possibly indicate that it's the message at least as much as his personality which has cost him a few jobs? Or do you also believe that it was his obnoxious and abrasive personality that caused MSNBC to can Phil Donahue?

[LiberalElite]

50. IMO he's kind of a loose cannon and prima donna and I wish

he would get over himself - other than that I want him back on MSNBC.

P.S. Edit: He is in no way shape or form the left's answer to Limbaugh.

[tblue]

8. He's hard to manage but he's NO LIMBAUGH!

What in the world makes you say that???? Do tell.

[GoCubsGo]

33. Except for this time.

He was on a two-year contract. It ran out, and wasn't renewed because ESPN apparently wants to go with cheaper labor. Not exactly getting fired. Two other high-priced sportscasters were either fired or didn't have their contracts renewed, as well. That tells me that Keith wasn't the issue here.

[Samantha]

60. Keith Olbermann was not fired by MSNBC when he left

He quit after being courted by Current for about a year. Olbermann thought when the NBC/Comcast merger took effect, there would be a concerted effort by Comcast to muzzle him. And that is why he wanted out.

Rachel Maddow confirmed that he quit live on a night-time television show during the time a number of people were upset over Keith's leaving MSNBC. Most people were blaming the network when in fact it was Olbermann's decision to leave.

Sam

[mikehiggins]

2. From your keyboard to God's CPU

Olbermann would be great, especially as 2016 approaches, and changing MSNBC into an actual news station would be great as well. I miss NYC for that. Even NY1 was worth paying attention to at times, though they also repeated their stories too much.

Just as long as Rachel stays on the air, more power to them.

[Buzz Clik]

6. ... but God has virus protection, so another prayer goes unanswered.

[grasswire]

10. what does that even mean?

Are you spoiling for a fight this morning? Or what?

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Seems like it. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Default setting

[OKNancy]

9. I don't feel like looking for the link, but the big guy at MSNBC

said that they are not in talks with Olbermann

[grasswire]

11. not exactly

Phil Griffin said he hadn't spoken to Keith in some time.

That doesn't specifically rule out MSNBC being in conversation with Keith.

[liberal from boston]

20. Keith

I read that Keith is in talks with HBO to do a sports show.

[a kennedy]

63. along with Bill Simmons?? he's going to HBO.....haven't heard anything about Keith going there??

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericjackson/2015/07/24/bill-simmons-to-hbo-was-a-safe-and-easy-choice/

[fadedrose]

43. They said (Brian & guest)

that if "Olbermann's agent called msnbc, they would take the call."

Maybe they don't want to beg - they agree that Keith would save the network...

Also, Brian Williams might be doing fast breaking news on msnbc...I'd like that.

[ebbie15644]

14. I hope he goes to HBO like Bill Mahr

[Vinca]

15. Keith would be perfect for a no-holds-barred HBO show.

[Bluenorthwest]

39. This is what he should do and what people have been telling him forever.....

nt

[greytdemocrat]

16. Keith

has been pre-fired from wherever he ends up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Yes. MSNBC is adopting the

CNN business model circa 1990s and abandoning the failed Fox News model. I can't say I blame them when I see the ratings. It's a business after all

[greytdemocrat]

36. And yet

Fox is still #1, they even beat HGTV.

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. That has to do with the nature of the viewer

republicans are far more partisan and subject to a media bubble. Democrats are not innocent lambs, but they trail republicans by a lot.

I have been reading into this as a process. And to be honest, the dysfunction in Congress is part of it. And this is the scary thought, we are far from hitting bottom.

[Freelancer]

19. The MSNBC logo bar at the top of their video is burned into my TV screen. Liberal isn't the problem

The problem with MSNBC is NOT too much liberal bent -- it's that there is too much coverage of what Republicans are doing. Whenever a Democrat is interviewed, it's only to get their reaction to something that a right wing idiot said today. This week was wall-to-wall images of Trump and Cruz and Paul with a chainsaw. FREAKING EXHAUSTING! By the time Chris Matthews starts, I either have to switch channels or take antacid.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Go watch fox with a critical eye for a day or two

they do exactly the same, except with democrats.

It is the same exact business model, just opposite.

Being non partisan, and interested in how media works, it makes sense why it works for fox but not MSNBC. While both sides have hyper partisans, dems are still less so.

Programming like that of Ed Shultz was closer to opinion, and not on republicans and it still failed. Why? People refused to tune in. So...now they will try just the news ma'am. I am almost willing to bet they will fail as well, but that is because of where we are, and that actually can have a higher overhead.

[Freelancer]

22. I'm sure you're right, but what's the solution? Move to web based broadcasting? -- nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. New media is taking off

but people also refuse to support it. If people do not, new media will fail, and old media will remain.

Sorry for the highly technical explanation. But new media cannot make overheard with just a we love your work.

[davidpdx]

62. I think it is just slow to get off the ground

Obermann would be much better off in a webcast based show under his ownership so that he is his own boss and can say whatever he wants. Hell he could start each program saying "fuck off and die Rush Limbaugh" and no one could do anything about it.

I'm not sure how much of an investment it would take to get something like that up and running.

[nadinbrzezinski]

64. I do not consider Olberman part of the new media

hell, Dan rather is running on a small cable and he is part of it either.

[liberal from boston]

23. MSNBC

MSNBC promotes that it leans forward -- mostly liberal. Fox, CNN is Fox Light. A great article on MSNBC changes: http://thedailybanter.com/2015/02/okay-msnbc-liberal-network-gods-sake/

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. I am talking of the model

they saw an opening with center left viewers. Center left viewers have refused to respond with both Air America first, and now MSNBC. CNN went for the fox model as well, but only for the U.S. Market. CNN-I is a different beast.

[backscatter712]

24. And this is why I cut the cord...

Cable news has been garbage for years.

Olbermann kept me on MSNBC, but once he left, Rachel Maddow seemed to self-censor, as did other hosts. Ed Schultz is now gone.

I get my news and commentary off the Internet. The conservatives may be stuck in the past on cable news and AM radio, but the Internet is the future for those who keep themselves really informed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Then I beg you to support that new media with money

the surge of new media will come to a halt if over heads are not met.

[backscatter712]

29. I do when I have some.

Seems to me that the really good stuff is supported by Patreon or Kickstarter donations, or through a similar model.

Regretably, my financial means are limited these days.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. I understand.

But I had a very odd conversation yesterday on FB regarding this. Reminds me of folks complaining of potholes, but refusing to pay taxes. I am still kind of reeling from it. It seems at least this gent wants journalists to just work, but not get paid...because that compromises principles.

[Cleita]

32. Except I'm noticing some censorship creeping in. I notice I can't find things as easily as I once

did on the various search engines. I tried finding a location for a refinery in the area and it seems the physical address has been blocked as well as visually on the maps. All it does is refer you to a corporate office a hundred miles away. Never mind. I'll find it. All I have to do is follow the smell, but it makes me wonder. It isn't just about local information either. It seems a lot of rumors that float around are more and more difficult to verify. Articles written a few years ago seem not to be archived any longer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. I have noticed that too.

[Freelancer]

45. Not only access denial, but deck stacking

I haven't checked in a while, but for a couple of years, if you put "wind power" into YouTube, among the first results there would always be videos of wind turbine disasters and bird kills. I find it hard to believe that very many people interested in wind power are going to YouTube to see burning turbines and dead birds. The deck was obviously being stacked by those who want those results to be part of the initial public perception of wind power -- their first web search. That's the present future -- life in front of the two-way mirror. Nobody knows who is on the other side. We're raised not to dwell on it.

[Cleita]

46. Interesting. I did hear a rumor that some right wing think tanks had basements full of

interns re-writing Wikipedia entries to give the right wing a favorable bias on political and historical entries, but I didn't think it would be this pervasive.

[Paladin]

28. MSNBC, HBO, whatever. Olbermann needs to be covering politics, again.

The sports beat is way beneath his talents and potential impact.

[Cleita]

35. I think he would devote some time to politics on his sports' show. I think this is how Countdown

started as mostly sports and then he started making more and more political commentary. I would favor a camel nose under the tent approach if it gets him on the air again. I think HBO would be great for him. He could follow Game of Thrones because that would prime the audience to watch the real Game of Thrones after.

[BlueStateLib]

40. check out

Press TV from Iran, i24 from Canada, DW from Germany, EuroNews, BBC World, CNN International, SkyNews. English streams are on the internet and a few world news apps are available, United States news is more gossip then news.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. Press TV is actually state propaganda.

The rest are solid...

[colsohlibgal]

42. Go Get Him HBO!

What a perfect fit, the home of Maher and John Oliver, no Phil Griffin as a hall monitor.

I can't see Keith now on a network that replaces Ed Schultz with head corporate shill Chuck Todd.

HBO Keith!

[DAMANgoldberg]

61. That would be good...

Bill Simmons has a HBO contract for 2016 to do a version of "Grantland", just as he did for ESPN. Even though it's been reported as HBO exclusive, I think that he could appear on corporate sibling's TNT NBA broadcasts as he has bonafides in that realm.

As for KO, he may not sign a HBO exclusive contract, but one that allows him to appear on another corporate sibling TBS's baseball coverage (a sport he relishes). I would also not be surprised to see him on CNN in the 9p hour during the campaign season, in matter of fact, I expect this to happen. CNN is a political focused network, and they have no current long-term answer to that hour since they don't want to go down the Larry King/Piers Morgan road.

[mmonk]

47. One can hope.

[Stellar]

48. MSNBC Rumor Alert: Olbermann Coming Back? Several Shows Getting Slashed?

MSNBC Rumor Alert: Olbermann Coming Back? Several Shows Getting Slashed?

by Andrew Kirell | 12:51 pm, July 20th, 2015

Mediaite has learned that an MSNBC Town Hall meeting is scheduled for July 23 with returning NBC News president Andy Lack, and that many staffers are, quote, “freaking out.” Why? Well, because the struggling cable net has to figure out how to overhaul its programming following two of its worst quarterly performances in recent memory.

According to multiple sources within the network, the biggest rumor to emerge is that MSNBC has engaged in talks with soon-to-be-departed ESPN2 host Keith Olbermann about returning to the cable network’s primetime lineup. Olbermann previously hosted Countdown from 2003 until 2011, and was an immensely controversial figure for the network, both internally and externally (2003 was a return to the network for Olbermann after a previously contentious run in the ’90s as well). For myriad reasons, it would be a stunning turn of events if Olbermann came back, but one could certainly argue that right now they need each other more than ever.

But even a theoretical Olbermann return could suggest MSNBC’s desire to get back into the fiery primetime wars, and also highlights the reality that several other shows are likely on the chopping block...

more at link:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-rumor-alert-olbermann-coming-back-several-shows-getting-slashed/

That rumour has been out for awhile and I hope it's true.

[Freelancer]

51. Suggestion to MSNBC -- For Realsies

MSNBC -- you ought to do a liberal computer animated show ala 'Max Headroom' with a character based upon Keith Olbermann's visage, and being voiced by Keith Olbermann himself. It could be animated on the fly in real time by Keith wearing a suit with the little sensors on it like Andy Circus in LOTR. At any time, Keith could shape-shift to match his mood. Or, when quoting, or mimicking another person, dead or alive, he could morph into an approximation of that person. This would be ground-breaking, would attract twenty-somethings raised on SciFi (mostly created in Culver City basements), and would be a real show with political umph.

End of proposal.

Thank you for your attention.

[restorefreedom]

52. as good as he is

with the radical right shift m$nbc is taking, not sure why they would want him. he is a major voice for the left, and they are clearing out all the progressive voices (or most) to make way for their corporate shills.

[Freelancer]

53. They know their brand, though. Target can't just carry what WalMart does

You've got to find who's not viewing CNN or FAUX, and serve the hell out of them. You've got to make them sick that they forgot to DVR tonight, because they know that's what the folks at work will be talking about tomorrow.

Channel PT Barnum! At least he's really dead, not like the living dead behind the Faux Zombie Town (Thinking Murdoc and Ailes here).

[restorefreedom]

55. so do you think they want him back? nt

[Freelancer]

56. My take: They think they can put on 3 shills + one Olbermann and still claim liberal cred -- nt

[restorefreedom]

57. they can try

but chuck toaster pastries kind of kills their cred imo

but it would be nice to get ko back on

[Freelancer]

58. "Chuck Toaster Pastries"? LOL. Love that + will probably use it. THX -- nt

[restorefreedom]

59. thx and have fun with it

i just love seeing how many different names people come up with for him

[McCamy Taylor]

54. This ought to shake up the Democratic Primary, given how much he detested Clinton in 2008.

If he does any more of those comparisons to Madeline Khan in "What's Up Doc?", women all across the country will flock to Hillary Clinton's banner in outrage. Seriously, the bigger the dogpile on Clinton, the more her supporters support her. So, yeah, maybe we need Keith to get back on the air and repeatedly call her the "worst person in the world" week after week, until women just can not stand it anymore.

Oh, and can we finish off the primary season with Bill and Keith in a cage match? What better way to end the Food Fight at a Monster Truck rally than with a good cage fight? I want a verbal sparring round followed by an actual sparring round. It would be high theater!

[Doc_Technical]

65. Keith Olbermann

He possesses the ability to eliminate his returns
by intentionally neutralizing return trip river crossing structures
through rapid oxidation.

[Freelancer]

66. Burned bridges. Got it. Did he make the fires worse... or better?

Favorite Zimm scene: