This evening my friend Keith Olbermann announced that he is leaving MSNBC and that Countdown will end this week. His departure will be a great disappoint for millions of viewers but I have little doubt that Keith will continue his unique brand of commentary and coverage in a different forum. I will personally miss our conversations on and off the program. Keith has been a unique voice in our society and I trust that we have not heard the last of that voice on myriad of issues confronting this nation.
I have known and worked with Keith since the 1990s and his first news show, The Big Show with Keith Olbermann. He has held a number of positions on different networks — all with equal success. The public has always connected with Keith’s wit and often wacky style. He is one of the smartest individuals I have ever known. He also genuinely cares about the issues addressed on his show.
In an age of blow-dried, robotic anchors, Keith gave the public something different and magnetic. He invented his own genre in news — a style later mimicked by others in their own programs.
Keith’s career has always been as unpredictable as his style. The public has always been drawn to him by his refusal to compromise and his fierce independence. Those characteristics that are so central to his success with viewers often led to conflicts with his respective networks. He is the ultimate lone wolf in an industry known for its pack mentality.
There are certain classics in American culture. They include the 67 Mustang, Wrigley Field, and every John Wayne film. For many news junkies, they also include Keith Olbermann. Intense, irreverent and insightful, Keith is unique. For that reason, his fans and friends will not allow him to be gone from the airways for long.
Thanks, Keith, and Godspeed.
Jonathan Turley
bdaman Beck’s too violent. Going to Florida, next week, bdaman.
I think Olberman should be Becks co-host 🙂
Rufus Johnson sez: “….the public could truly get both sides of an issue.”
******************************************************
Rufus, putting Fox News and getting both sides of the issue in the same paragraph is an oxymoron. It does not compute. Those are mutually exclusive concepts.
Keith would never work for Ailes and Murdoch.
If I were head of Fox News, I would be talking to Olbermann. They have Geraldo don’t they.
Exactly Rufus, and lets just look at the trend. Lou Dobbs, John Stossel, Glen Beck, Juan Williams. I think Olberman would be a great addition to all the ones added over the last two years.
The other old saying is timing is everything. Maybe Hu doesn’t like Keith.
General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) this week announced it would sign a series of deals with Chinese partners in energy, rail, and aviation as it strives to increase its presence in the burgeoning Chinese market.
The announcement coincided with a four-day state visit to the United States by Chinese President Hu Jintao. The deals could be worth as much as $4 billion-plus in sales for the conglomerate over the next decade and are expected to create or help maintain about 4,700 American jobs, the Financial Times reported.
Revenue from the deals would add to GE’s top line over the coming five to 10 years, GE spokeswoman Leigh Farris said.
http://moneymorning.com/2011/01/20/ge-china-deals-to-bring-in-4-billion/
eniobob:
“That would “NEVER” happen and you can take that to the bank.”
If I were head of Fox News, I would be talking to Olbermann. They have Geraldo don’t they.
In fact I would be thinking about a show with say Olberman and Dana Perino (Bush’s former press secretary). Now that would be good television. And that would be fair and balanced.
The liberals could hate Perino and the conservatives could hate Olberman and Fox could make money like it was going out of style.
And the public could truly get both sides of an issue.
I did raise an eyebrow when I heard that the merger w/Comcast
I guess net neutrality is out of the question or is it.
This was not news I wanted when I awakened this morning. Disabilities force me to record the msnbc line-up and watch same on the next day.
I did raise an eyebrow when I heard that the merger w/Comcast was approved, presciently I asked myself, “what about msnbc?” Well, I think we know how things will sort now.
I have watched Keith since his days as a sportscaster on CBS/Los Angeles and loved his sarcasm and wit. In the midst of the Bush regime, I found Keith again, and he helped us through the last of that horror and helped make sense of what is going on in DC.
Lots has happened to him in the last 2 years with the passing of both parents. Now this. I have no doubt, however, that his wit and brilliance will be on the air again soon.
And lastly, good manners demand that I thank Mr. Turley for his erudite explanations of constitutional law and, now, this blog.
Not only was Olbermann their top rated show but he was doing better against O’reilly in the key demographic (males 18-49) that advertisers pay more to reach. What ever the reason economics was not a factor.
Well Eniobob as the old saying goes. Money talks, bullshit walks and thats why I drive a car.
he has resigned.
More like forced to resign.
Bdaman:
“Now how ironic would it be if Foxed picked Olberman up and then you were forced to watch Fox in order to see him. Too Funny !!!!!”
That would “NEVER” happen and you can take that to the bank.
Had to get up early this morning and just as he was going to break and he annouced he would be doing his weekly reading,I thought that I would turn in.Saw headline this morning and was shocked to see he has resigned.
As of this posting I see at Huffington Post the comments stood at 20,000 and counting.
Keith you are a man of your words and beliefs.No need to look back.
The one that needed to go was Chris Mathews. He wants to see Obama’s birth certificate, which everybody knows is posted online and written down somewhere in the archives. Ha Ha !!!!!!
MSNBC HARDBALL 700,000
Thats why I said the truth doesn’t matter anymore. The truth is Olberman is first under Fox. Now how ironic would it be if Foxed picked Olberman up and then you were forced to watch Fox in order to see him. Too Funny !!!!!
Bdaman,
If it’s about viewers–why would MSNBC want to get rid of Countdown when the show is more popular than the network’s other programs?
We can’t have people like Phil and Keith on air telling Americans the truth and questioning the actions of our political leaders and corporate giants, can we?
You can but it’s really up to the viewers. It’s about ratings which equals dollars. Truth doesn’t matter anymore.
Keith has had a rough go at it as of late. his father died this year and his mother died the year before.
NEWS RACE
THURS. JAN. 20, 2011
FOXNEWS O’REILLY 2,918,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 2,079,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 1,940,000
FOXNEWS SHEP 1,786,000
FOXNEWS BECK 1,780,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 1,460,000
MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,106,000
CNN PIERS 1,025,000
MSNBC MADDOW 976,000
MSNBC O’DONNELL 855,000
MSNBC SCHULTZ 760,000
CNN COOPER 740,000
MSNBC HARDBALL 700,000
The one that needed to go was Chris Mathews. He wants to see Obama’s birth certificate, which everybody knows is posted online and written down somewhere in the archives. Ha Ha !!!!!!
AY Fox is so slanted that MSNBC gave some balance. CNN is boring.
frank,
Right you are about Phil Donahue! We can’t have people like Phil and Keith on air telling Americans the truth and questioning the actions of our political leaders and corporate giants, can we?
AY – yeah I was a tad older but THAT particular GIRL was not my type. It seems to have worked for them though.
When you say ‘bad’ am I to assume you mean from a skill set standpoint? She was hardly a ‘bad girl’ in the sense I was warned about growing up. I remember her father having a television show and I would say she came by her acting abilities from him.