Keith Olbermann And Rachel Maddow Opening Now Head To Head; Olbermann Defends Move On Twitter

[onehandle]

Source: Huffington Post

Keith Olbermann announced Monday night that his new edition of "Countdown" would actually air for 63 minutes. Since his show airs at 8 PM, this means that Olbermann is now going head-to-head with Rachel Maddow, his old protege, for the first few minutes of her show.

As soon as he broke the news, some of Olbermann's followers on Twitter began complaining that he was trying to hurt Maddow's show and letting down the progressive side. "Glad you're back, but think it's wrong for you to take it out on @maddow," one follower wrote. "It's not just about ratings."

Maddow, of course, was Olbermann's guest host, and he was the driving force behind her getting her own show. When he left MSNBC, she paid extended tribute to him. Olbermann has admitted that he has not spoken to Maddow since leaving MSNBC.

Olbermann responded that he was going after MSNBC, not Maddow personally, and noted that people could easily change their DVR settings to accommodate both shows.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/21/keith-olbermann-and-rachel-maddow_n_881368.html

[eilen]

1. The day is coming that I dreamed of

When liberals had choices of which lef wing show to watch on any given night. Not everyone has Current TV channel so it is nice that there are two different channels. I think he needs to work on programming before and after his show though because I really didn't want to watch the oxycontin show. Luckily I had dvr'd the most recent Apocalyptic action/drama (life as we know it forever changed by invaders from outer space) that was aired on Sunday but fell asleep anyway.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. The show following Countdown is the best thing on TV.

That was an installment of Vanguard, Current's documentary journalism series, which is without peer and very much what most DUers would like to see more of. I've been watching for years. When Ling and Lee were arrested by North Korea, they were working on a piece for Current Vanguard. Some good examples can be seen at:
http://current.com/shows/vanguard/

[eilen]

27. Maybe it is just the subject matter

I didn't care for.

In these days of Celebrity Rehab etc. and all these quasi reality/docudramas about personal struggles/stories about drugs, prison etc. I am tired of it. Now if there were some connection to the creation of these drugs and testing results that were not reported to the FDA-- that would be of more interest. However, that people get addicted to drugs and that many are turning to them during hard times does not equal news to me. I see enough sad stories at work.

[Bluenorthwest]

41. Did you take a look at the link? This is not 'quasi' anything

This is exactly what DUers spend hours wishing for on TV. Had you gone to the link, you'd not be rambling on about the subject matter of a single installment. Last night's was about the raving hate against gay people in Uganda, as fueled by the American right. Tonight's will be about the Neo Nazi movement in Russia. So the 'subject matter' is not the same, night to night. Obviously.

[eilen]

45. I watched the Uganda episode.

It was pretty good. I liked the segment about Doctors without borders. I just am tired of hearing about drugs and addicts. Like I said, I hear enough sad stories every day at work. I wonder if there is ever an installment that is not depressing. BTW, I don't spend hours wishing for this type of programming, I don't find it inspirational. I don't know if I wish to watch and hear about neo-nazis in Russia. This series is like a 60 minutes or Frontline. MSNBC has similar programming-- one in which they explored sex slavery in the US and interviewed a young woman who's parents pimped out at the age of 12 or something. These shows are pretty sensational. It kind of reminds me of how movies of the week were either disasters, afflictions or horrific crimes back in the 70s-80s. Then they changed the format a bit to the Talk show-- Phil Donahue, Sally Jesse, Oprah... which degenerated into the Jerry Springer and his ilk. Now these things are presented as documentaries/dramas some more higher brow -- like this one I guess and others less so --kind of what we see on the History and other cable channels.

[dixiegrrrrl]

43. ty for that link and the rec of Vanguard.

:hi:

[okieinpain]

26. actually it's inner space...... n/t.

[nonperson]

2. Let's hope the conflict is resolved

When Rachel's contract is up with MSNBC and she moves to Current TV where she belongs. And Ed and Cenk and Lawrence and even Tweetie.

[SoapBox]

12. Maybe just one change...

Personally...Tweetie can stay behind.

[JDPriestly]

31. Tweetie is behind the times.

[nonperson]

40. That's why I said maybe even Tweetie

Maybe the political schizophrenic could control his personalities in the right environment.

Then again maybe not.

[maryallen]

14. The only conflict Keith has is with management of MSNBC, not

with Rachel or any other hosts. His desire to draw more viewers is just a drive to be better, not a "vendetta," so lose the word, would you?

[cliffordu]

3. A three minute overlap is hardly head to head.....

[Dappleganger]

4. Watching Keith streaming live on the laptop while taping Rachel...

We have DirecTV but Current is in a more expensive program package and I'm not going to pay more $$ for one farking channel when we can get it online.

[kestrel91316]

22. I dunno, it would be nice to actually be able to watch entire shows

on Current online instead of just tiny snippets.

[Lucinda]

36. I think it runs fully here:

http://ready-tv.com/?p=109

I watched Countdown online and the Vanguard show started right after...

[gkhouston]

5. Ah, the agony of choice. It's a shame that their live broadcasts

are never recorded to be re-broadcast later the same day, or put up on the web. :eyes:

[ejpoeta]

24. they should have podcasts. even if they had commercials they would

probably get lots of people who would watch them.

[cayanne]

6. not so

My dvr stopped at the end of the hour as I didn't know to set it to stoop 3 minutes later.

Personally, I don't like vendettas and as much as I loved to watch Keith every day in the past, I really didn't miss him when he was gone because all of the news were covered by Chris, Cenk, Lawrence, Rachael and Ed.. Rachael is my favorite of all of them. Both are rerun multiple times each evening so i can catch them both at a later time. Except Rachael on Fridays when Lock Up comes on afterwords.

[Roy Rolling]

7. stupid

WTF is the need for an extra 3 minutes at the end? That is just a stupid programming idea. People will just turn off Olbermann because they have already tuned in for 60 minutes. This will turn out to be one of the dumbest programming moves in the history of television and will jsut piss off sponsors who advertise on both networks---if you can call Current TV a network.

[Iliyah]

9. So effing what

this is NEWS?

[SoapBox]

11. Huh?

...I'll just keep watching Keith...and, if there was something SO valuable that I had to switch, then I would simply catch that 3 moments during a replay.

Not a big deal for those that are Dems, Progressives and/or Liberal...we'll stick with him.

And I'm not worried about sponsors on "other" channels.

[SoapBox]

8. Ridiculous...Huff Post, stop trying to create a fight that doesn't exist...

I hate Huffington Post (ya, after I got banned).

They are always hyping crap like this...along with giving the CrazyPalin family endless promotion with story after story.

Wait until RM's contract is up...then we will see what happens.

In the mean time...HuffingAndPuffing Post, STFU.

[iandhr]

13. circular firing squad typical of Dems

[Poll_Blind]

15. Great! I'm hoping they'll try to out-Left the other!

Win, win!

PB

[Johnny Harpo]

16. Give It Time...IMHO Rachel Will Be On Current Soon...n/t

[madamesilverspurs]

17. Hope you're wrong.

I get MSNBC, but not Current as that would require an expensive upgrade on my cable package.


-

[2Design]

30. watch it live on line people pass out a link last night

[madamesilverspurs]

35. That doesn't work

on dialup.


-

[Lucinda]

38. ahh just saw you were on dialup...so the streaming is the problem then?

:(

[Lucinda]

37. You can watch here:

http://ready-tv.com/?p=109

[Hissyspit]

28. That's what I'm hoping.

And probably Olbermann, too.

In the meantime, I'm gonna make sure I switch to Rachel at 9.

[JI7]

34. Rachel needs to Stay on MSNBC where there are more viewers, and i think she is more appealing

to those who aren't partisans and already on her side. Keith is more for those who agree with him and want entertainment and to make fun of wingnuts.

but Rachel has a way of explaining things that wont turn off those who are not on our side.

[LynnTTT]

18. He's on 8 times a day, get a grip. Record It!

[madamesilverspurs]

19. A bit annoying

that KO assumes that everyone has DVR. Almost as annoying as when Jon Stewart puts the best parts of his interviews up on his website; for those of us on dialup, those videos might as well be on the moon.


-

[mulsh]

20. I though keitht went into over time because he can not because

he's butting heads with Rachael Maddow. as far as my local Current TV schedule read Countdown 5pm-6-m PST, Are there other markets where the shows occupy the same hour?

Two hours of good accurate and honest journalism is a god send. that both hosts tend to be progressive and liberal is a bonus.

[JackRiddler]

21. Thus implying that people without DVRs aren't worth it as an audience?

[Corruption Winz]

23. Good for him..

In truth, Rachel is a good person who puts positive information into the stream. However, Keith has ever reason to want to attack both Fox and MSNBC.

One for political reasons, the other for personal reasons. Can't fault the guy.

[The Wizard]

25. unrecommended because the topic is

designed to divide us.

[EC]

29. He didn't say his show would be going over every night

he just pointed out that he could go over if he wanted to. Rather he was saying his shows content was more important to be finished than to break for the commercial leaving something unsaid that likely should be said.


Like when on the networks the pundit will say "well, that's all the time now, we'll have to leave it at that" it's usually after some repub has lied and there isn't time to set it straight.

[glinda]

32. O 4 pete's sake. Media trying to gin up controversy already. Big deal....

Am doubtful there is anything behind it.

[PoliticAverse]

33. "Keith Olbermann Defends Cutting Into Rachel Maddow's Show on Twitter"

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-olbermann-defends-cutting-rachel-203709

[VA_Jill]

39. So?

Ha! I just hang around and watch the 11 pm rebroadcast. But nobody makes you watch his last 3 minutes....or her first 3, if it comes to that.

[nonperson]

42. No disrespect to Rachel who I hold in very high esteem

But if it wasn't for KO she probably wouldn't have her show on MSNBC.

And if we're fortunate, Rachel won't have a show on MSNBC for much longer. She'll be where she belongs on Current TV with KO. Not on the Griffin/Scarborough network, MSNBC.

[Samantha]

47. And it is degraded whenever Michael Steele appears on her show

I have always liked her, and like most people, I was constantly hoping MSNBC would give her a spot. But she doesn't have the real control she could have if she would move to Current, and she certainly would not have to have guests who are in totally over their heads discussing important topics. I hope she moves to Current as well, but I am not sure it will happen.

[justiceischeap]

44. Not everyone has DVRs, so I leave KO @ 9pm 'cause I'm not cheating on Rachel. nt

[Nossida]

46. I vote for Keith.

Olbermann is the only credible voice
on Yank News TV.

All the others simply read what
their Corporate Bosses dictate.
Rachel included.