Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC’s Countdown announced toward the end of this evening’s broadcast that this would be his final show. Thanking his audience of the past eight-plus years, Olbermann gave no reasons but introduced his farewell with references to the film Network and the famous scene in which the newsman-protagonist stands at an open window shouting “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore.”
The network issued this simple statement with very little
explanation about why: “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." Olbermann still had two years remaining on his contract.
Over the years, Olbermann has become the often-controversial voice of Liberal America on his nightly show. Featuring occasional “Special Comments,” Olbermann often articulated progressives’ frustration with the Right, the Tea Party, with President George W. Bush, and even with President Barack Obama. Countdown also took aim at his counterparts in the Conservative media. Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck have been frequent targets on the show's "Worst Person in the World" segments.
At this point no specific reasons have been given for the seemingly sudden and completely unexpected end to Olbermann’s show. The news has sent Twitter into a frenzy, with most expressing complete shock. Interestingly, and perhaps speaking volumes about the suddenness of this move, MSNBC continues this evening to air promos featuring Olbermann and his show.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Jerome Wetzel
What is this all about? I wanted to TiVo it, but by the time I heard, the episode had already aired, and its not schedule to repeat at this time, though my TiVo is still showing episodes all next week. My phone has been abuzz with tweets and text about Olberman. Any chance on a better explanation anytime soon?
2 - barbara barnett
No one really knows anything. And I think Daily Kos has the video of the final moments of the show. People are pretty shocked and Anderson Cooper is reporting it as "Breaking News" and discussing right now with several media folk.
3 - Paddy
We have a pretty comprehensive breakdown of the info on Keith's departure. Everyone is freaked out about it.
4 - Paddy
Ooops, click on my name.
5 - Charles
This sudden end smells of first amendment rights being violated and Keith not bowing to that pressure... News at 11
6 - Baritone
Olbermann has been fired from or left other positions over the years. He is likely a difficult person with which to deal. His ego is no small thing.
The seeds of this parting may have been planted when NBC suspended him for 3 days over those campaign contributions he made just prior to the mid-term elections.
In retrospect the only odd thing I can point to is that normally Olbermann would pass off from his show to Rachael Maddow with a bit of back and forth between he and her, but I remember noting that that didn't happen during this past week. He would end his show; there would be a break, and then Maddow would come on.
I liked Olbermann despite his bombastic nature because he is intelligent, entertaining and, IMO, more often than not, I agree with him. The Left has lost - for a time at least - another voice. It's hard to imagine where else he could land.
I've no doubt that many on the right are cackling with glee. I for one, though, will miss him; miss his perspectives, miss his energy, his humor, and miss his passion.
B
7 - El Bicho
Charles, you apparently don't know what the 1st amendment smells like. You'll fit right in around here.
8 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Olbermann: Worst Fired Person in the World
9 - Andy Marsh
I'm more of a libertarian but count me among the cacklers!!!
I guess MSNBC is getting tired of being nothing more than the antiFox network. It seemed to me that every time I tuned in to Countdown Olbermann was whining about somebody at Fox. It was really quite amusing!
MSNBC will be looking for NPR type funding soon...for some reason, there aren't enough people in the world that want to listen to the kind of SHIT they produce!
10 - Arch Conservative
I always hear liberals talking about Olbermann's intelligience. If he's so friggin intelligient how come he never had anything but a steady stream of yes men on his show. He never debated anyone. He only had leftist hacks from newsweek and NYT on to agree with him.
Seiing as this douchebag was the best thing MSNBC had going I predict the network will soon follow in the foosteps of Air America.
11 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
For anyone who wants to watch the full episode, click HERE [Requires Quicktime]
You can download it as well (on a PC) by right-clicking the link and choosing "Save Link As" to your desktop or wherever you prefer.
12 - Tommy Mack
The big picture is that Keith is in show business.
It is easy for audience to focus on the shiny bits because that is the show. Few look at the business, not "hobby." MSNBC is a business.
For that matter, so is Keith [a business]. He is a face, the shiny bit. There are agent, accounting, legal, public relations, fitness, grooming, clothing and coaching businesses behind him.
There is precedent, though. Jack Paar quit his show twice.
13 - El Bicho
"MSNBC will be looking for NPR type funding soon"
There being taken over by Comcast, but don't let the facts factor into your opinion
14 - Baritone
RE#12. Great revelation! It's ALL a business. When the venerable Murrow and Cronkite were holding court, it was a business. DUH!
As to Arch's comment - The good people at FOX rarely have anyone taking questions except those who have high level wing nut pedigrees. Although, they do occasionally bring in semi-literate people they feel confident they can humiliate, kinda like the old Joe Pine shows.
15 - Alan Kurtz
Great revelation? That Keith is in show business and that MSNBC is a business!
Sorry, I have a bachelor's degree in business administration, but am embarrassed to admit that I fail to follow your logic. As I understand it, Mr. Olbermann was until yesterday the host of MSNBC's top-rated program and therefore the network's single biggest moneymaker. Why, then, would the executives fire him strictly on business grounds? That seems counterintuitive, if you'll forgive my saying so.
16 - Baritone
Alan, not sure at whom your comment was aimed. As to my comment (#14) I was being incredulous myself. That was the point of the Cronkite/Murrow line, and, of couse, the well tuned "DUH."
I do NOT believe that the Olbermann's departure was a "business" decision for either party. I don't think it was ideological either. It was, IMO, personal. Olbermann and the NBC powers that be have been rubbing each other the wrong way for some time. Olbermann does have an outsized ego, there's no question of that. It was, perhaps, inevitable. This is a scene that Olbermann has played out more than once; oft-times with much greater bluster and fanfare. I presume he will land somewhere.
B
17 - zingzing
if i were olbermann, i'd land on my ass in fucking vacation-land. stay there for a while, i would. take some time off, get some perspective. he's smart enough to be better than his show was, i think. he was the liberal attack dog, and nothing more. we don't need an anti-fox. that shit's for idiots.
18 - Tommy Mack
Alan, “Effective December 16, 2010, Alan Kurtz is no longer writing for or commenting at Blogcritics” is clearly over. You might want to change that. Sorry you found my logic a bit off. Coca-Cola did something like it when they introduced “New” Coke.
Has anybody ever heard of the term “time out”?
You should read James Thurber. You might learn something.
19 - Ruvy
Another overpaid "gliberal" bites the dust. Boo hoo, sniff, sob!!!
20 - roger nowosielski
@18
Kinda low blow, don't you think? But I suppose you're just doing your job telling Alan in no uncertain term that his logic stinks.
I really like your form of argument. Got to try it myself.
21 - Benedict Declercq
Via podcast I regularly listened to Keith Olbermann. His erudition, eloquence, warm humanitarian approach, genuine indignation and reasonably funded criticism showed me, an average citizen of Bruges (Flanders " Europe), a different side of the US; kinder, more rational, more human. I will really miss him as the sane voice from an increasingly insane society.?Thank you sir Keith.
22 - Dan
I guess those who will miss olbermann as a "sane voice" will now need to rely solely on the voices in their heads.
23 - Arch Conservative
I enjoyed reading post #22 because it was funny.
24 - Andy Marsh
Apparently sanity is relative also....
Dan - That is most definately one of the best comments I've EVER seen!!!!
25 - Andy Marsh
El Bicho - Have you ever heard of sarcasm? Or do you actually take every comment you read here literally?
I know that NBC has been taken over by Comcast. It was all over MSNBC when Morning Joe was talking about Olbermann getting fired...yeah yeah, nobody knows if he was fired, left, what the fuck ever!!!
Try unwadding your panties for a minute and lighten the fuck up!!!!
As if you have a clue what a fact is anyway?!?!