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COUNTDOWN and OLBERMANN TERMINATED: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? Jan. 21, 2011 (893 hits)

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ABOUT? by Josh Marshall, Talking Points Memo

I was just on in the opening segment of Olbermann tonight. And I get home and get this press release from NBC saying this was the last episode of Countdown. At first I figured it had to be a spoof email because, jeez, I was on and I didn't have any sense that any other than a regular Friday evening show was on. But sure enough I pulled up the recording and now I'm watching his final sign off.

I doubt I would have had any heads up or known anything was happening if Olbermann was going to go off the air. But I was a bit more stunned than I might otherwise have been because I was just over there. And I did not have any sense that there was anything any different than normal going on. Everything seemed calm and pretty sedate. I didn't sense anything different in Keith's manner or affect (though it's not like we're tight and I would have been the person to notice.) There were a few more people than I'm used to seeing in the studio -- maybe two or three, seated, who seemed to be there to watch. (Something I don't remember seeing before.) But nothing that made me think twice that anything odd was going on.

I'm sure we'll be hearing soon enough what on earth happened here. But color me stunned. And really disappointed.

(The text of the quite terse press release reads: "MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract. The last broadcast of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" will be this evening. MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC's success and we wish him well in his future endeavors.")

--Josh Marshall

Posted By: Richard Kigel
Friday, January 21st 2011 at 11:15PM
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Keith Olbermann has performed a valuable service for the past eight years. For a time he was a voice of truth in the wilderness.

What happened?

Friday, January 21st 2011 at 11:16PM
Richard Kigel

Irma--

Right you are!!!

I agree--he was an invaluable ASSET--I think he is irreplaceable!!!

Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 10:51AM
Richard Kigel

I'm sure he will turn up in some other media outlet.

According to the terms of his contract, he won't be signing with a competing network. I don't think it is beyond the realm of possibility that he will return to MSNBC at some future point.

We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his boldness and honesty. He spoke truth to power--not many journalist did.

Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 3:53PM
Richard Kigel

I liked him as a sports guy. He has a rollicking sense of humor!!!

Saturday, January 22nd 2011 at 8:18PM
Richard Kigel

Maddow, Bill Maher React To Olbermann's MSNBC Exit

Rachel Maddow was on "Real Time With Bill Maher" when the news broke that Keith Olbermann and MSNBC had decided to part ways, and she and Maher both had a chance to react.

Maddow, who was one of Olbermann's closest allies at MSNBC--and who owed her career there in large part to his support of her--was tight-lipped, saying only that the decision had been a mutual one.

"i know very little about it," she said. "All I know is that it was between Keith and the company, it didn't involve any of the rest of us, and he was really gracious and nice when he left."

Maher said that, in his opinion, the show went "downhill" when Olbermann started retooling his "Worst Persons In The World" segment. "Stop organizing life around the people who don't get the joke," he said. "F--k them if they don't get a joke."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/r...
Monday, January 24th 2011 at 4:28PM
Jen Fad

Rich, once again Olbermann has gotten so fed up with MSNBC he has quit again...there is no way this network could have afforded to loose such a valuable asset...we may never get to know exactly what happened, but he was not fired!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure taht from his loyal viewers to those who hold his contract are as shocked as anyone else...Keith Olbermann will never not respect himself for man, love or money therefore, this is not the end of the MSNBC Count Down sega...If anyone can give any of this any news reporting creditability in teh media it will be 'you know who'...

Rachel, I will wait for her lead on this matter as I believe you will do also. (simle)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Olbermann on a blog sounds great, but I am hoping for Oprah's OWN...don't forget she has Rosie O'donnel on . NOw that would really kill the right-wingers wouldn't it??lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Maddow not only has book learning smarts, she has smarts of common sense and of surviving as a gay person in this country...WHICH HAS HER BEING A PERSON OF LOGIC AND NOT EMOTIONAL OUT BURST...SHE NEVER REPORTS GOSSIP, POLITICS. BUSINESS, ECT. WITH OUT FIRST MUCH RESEARCH AND GIVING OUT RESOURCES FOR HER VIEWERS TO GO FINE OUT THE FACTS FOR THEMSELVES...AND. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT SHE IS NOT A PERSON WHO TRYS TO SATISFY ALL PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME NOR SOME OF THE TIME...RACHEL IS NOT UP FOR AD SALES NOR RATINGS..

THIS IS HOW ONE WATCHS ANOTHER'S BACK IN THE REAL WORLD...THIS IS A DOG EAT DOG WORLD WHERE MORE HATE HER THEN THEY EVER COULD OLBERMANN UNSLESS AND UNTIL THEY START CALLING HIM GAY IN AMERICA. (SMILE)

@RACHEL, LOV AND RESPECT YOU FOR YOU BEING YOU...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

BEFORE rACHEL GOT HER OWN PROGRAM ON MSNBC, SHE was a regular guest on Hard Ball and one day on that program Pat Buchannan was speaking down about Affrimative Action...and out of Rachel's own mouth from Rachel was teh comment of how in teh hell did he believe she got a chance to be on public radio as (she at this time had a program she anchored on NPR ) and on tv as a female reporter if not for A-A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

but, you know me, I must always try to help us not leave out our actual contributions to America as BIA...lol (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA