Keith Olbermann abruptly departs MSNBC
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MSNBC announced Friday night that its marquee "Countdown" anchor and talk show host Keith Olbermann was out. The network did not provide a reason for his abrupt departure.
"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," NBC Universal said in a statement.
Olbermann and his bosses have clashed in recent months. He was suspended in November for two days after revelations that he gave donations to a Democratic political candidate, which was a violation of the company's ethics policies for news employees.
-- Meg James
Photo of Olbermann by AP
Keith Olbermann was fired by ESPN.
Then Keith Olbermann was fired by Fox.
Now Keith Olbermann's been fired by MSNBC.
Probably because he's too good for all of them...couldn't possibly be because he's he's an arrogant jerk.
Posted by: JD | January 21, 2011 at 07:47 PM
Keith will miss himself quite immensly.. His pompous self importance was always amusing to watch. He had quite a high regard for his "Schtick" and thought by using " How do you do that Sir", was some sort of eloquent rebuttal to any issue.
He was exactly like the windbags on the right, arrogant, self important and simplistic. Good riddance to a not very nice human being.
Posted by: OUTSIDER | January 21, 2011 at 07:47 PM
Olbermann is a disgusting, hateful person. And anyone who enjoys his antics is a disgusting, hateful person. Good riddance.
Posted by: Miffy | January 21, 2011 at 07:51 PM
I do believe the mechanics were pretty straight forward. Rachael demanded that he either out himself, or leave.
Posted by: muhammed atta | January 21, 2011 at 07:52 PM
It's no wonder MSNBC competes so poorly with FixNews. I hate the fact that they devoted endless hours of programming to life-in-prison documentaries when they could be providing more reasoned and intelligent coverage of our political scene. Like many others, I''ll miss hearing Keith's scathing commentaries and his real effort to state the truth in a large public forum, which happens so rarely.
Posted by: Joe Shea | January 21, 2011 at 07:52 PM
This is only the first of a move toward the center for MSNBC as part of Comcast controlled NBC-Universal. I wouldn't be surprised to find that Rupert Murdoch holds stock in Comcast (well, who knows?). To say this decision has nothing to do with Comcast gaining control (51%) is like saying we are not in the middle east for the oil. I'm sure Keith saw the writing on the wall a long time ago and I can only hope he left with most of his 30 Million intact.
Posted by: BarryOB | January 21, 2011 at 07:52 PM
Will we see him on Fox News soon?
Posted by: Warren | January 21, 2011 at 07:54 PM
It's stunning that most conservatives think FOX is real news. It's very scary indeed. Well, when you are uneducated, it is quite east to fool you indeed. My favorite argument by conservatives when telling them FOX is NOT a real news network. "Well they have the highest ratings, so it must be real." I rest my case. Keith, come back.
Posted by: Mark | January 21, 2011 at 07:57 PM
maybe he can get his old espn job back... HA!
Posted by: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! | January 21, 2011 at 08:04 PM
It's very sad for America that the corporatocracy has silenced one of the last national voices of truth. Biased, of course, but so are so many more on the far right where the bias is dishonest and often dangerous. I expect Ed Schultz and Rachel will be next to soften their opinions. Shame on you MSNBC. You just lost this viewer.
Posted by: Bill Waring | January 21, 2011 at 08:45 PM
I hear Freddie Mercury warming up the vocal chords:
.
"Another liberal bites the dust!
.
Another liberal bites the dust!
.
And another one down,
.
And another one down,
.
Another liberal bites the dust!"
Posted by: KO Is KO'd | January 21, 2011 at 08:46 PM
Didn't watch. Don't care. Sounds like he was loved by the far-left and therefore must have spent most of his show calling everyone whom he didn't like the usual list of names leftist 'intellectuals' through around these days in order to appear to be smart and soooo caring: racist, sexist, homophobic, bigoted, anti-'immigrant', xenophobic, etc. , etc... and on and on with angry, self-righteous diatribes against anyone to the right of Western Europe. Is it any wonder nobody watched?
Posted by: Carlos 001 | January 21, 2011 at 08:49 PM
Excellent news... there'll be a little less hate on the airwaves. For a while.
Posted by: West Coast | January 21, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Good riddance Keith....you are the absolute WORST person in the world and should have been fired years ago.
Posted by: David | January 21, 2011 at 08:57 PM
I am so dissappointed by the loss of one of the most elequent speakers who told the truth no matter what. It is amazing how some people are so ignorant and blind & not able to see into or beyond the forest for their own judgements. There are many who respected Keith and valued what he said. I hope that he finds ways to keep telling more especially to those that are so mixed up inside that they can't find their depth or intellegence but only know how to be cruel to anyone who doesn't agree with them. The rudness will always reflect back on them, they will always be only hurting themselves but are too lost to know it.
Posted by: Sunny More | January 21, 2011 at 08:58 PM
What is so hard to understand? He was silenced.
How funny, that we in the United States still can't get our heads around the fundamental reality of a democratic totalitarianism. Of course Milton Friedman made sure that was possible (see Naomi Klein), and was proven out with Thatcher and Reagan. We still assume it is a "contract impasse" or some such other negotiating ploy or angle, part of some "compromise" strategy that stars of such ilk, who have played these games with corporations for so long know how to play. It is inconceivable that these mergers are taking away the airwaves for fun and profit. MSNBC cares not a whit which side it falls on, Mr. Beale, as long as the shareholders are happy and Mr. Murdoch has a few more wrinkles in his Fair Dinkum. Get over it, people. It's happened here!
Posted by: Dodger Tony | January 21, 2011 at 08:58 PM
The guy has been an arrogant jerk since he was the sports guy at KTLA....good riddance....
Posted by: eddy | January 21, 2011 at 09:00 PM
Gulp! I was wondering what the hoopla ringing my ears was all about when CNN's Anderson Cooper mentioned Olberman's name at the end of the program. I ended up shocked in disbelief when the Countdown host decided to resign suddenly. Nothing made sense to me on his actions since he was at odds with upper management on his unannounced political contribution. Oh, well. I don't watch any of the news cable networks due to too much unending talk in a soap-opera atmosphere. Good luck & godspeed, KO!
Posted by: palmstring | January 21, 2011 at 09:00 PM
It's all about ratings. Ratings = $ for every network. Ratings are based on viewership. Ratings sell commercials, which pay for everything on cable or non-cable networks (except PSB, funded "mostly" by our tax dollars).
Olberman just could not obtain ratings for his time slot against other networks. As much as Olberman fit perfectly along with Maddow, Schultz, O'Donnell, and Matthews, MSNBC apparently had to replace him in the 8 PM time slot. We may find out of he was offered another time and turned it down. We many see a Leno/O'Brien type issue come out.
Remember the bottom line in private enterprise...it'a all about the bottom line. They have to make a buck to compete. It's not like government.
Posted by: Tom | January 21, 2011 at 09:01 PM
Obama's request to tone down the rhetoric is obviously bearing fruit. Goodbye, Keith -- alas, we knew you all too well. F*rt!!!
Posted by: unclesmrgol | January 21, 2011 at 09:04 PM
For all idiots like Daniel...TV is not a zero-sum game. 2.9 mill for O'Reilly vs 1.1 mill for Olberman just means that the vast majority of viewers are tuned into Sports, or the Entertainment show blocks or the Game show block (not to mention the other 100 or so simulataneous offerings on the non-news networks). Having (by far) the oldest median viewer ages means that either set of blowhards (Fox or MSNBC) really don't have nearly the clout that their overzelous defenders proport...
Posted by: souvien | January 21, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Who is next = Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz? We cannot have our coffee with coffe and no water. I noticed Rachel was not on her show after Keith shut his show down. I know she was as upset as we are. Rachel and ED JUST LEAVE YOUR SHOWS before you get fired for been the best news casters on TV. The three of you (Keith, Rachel, Ed) go to a network that know how good you 3 are. I am sorry Rachel and Ed that your friend is gone !!!!
Posted by: Gerald Korlaske | January 21, 2011 at 09:08 PM
He was the most interesting on MSNBC. Who's watching lockup?
Posted by: Lou Varoujan | January 21, 2011 at 09:11 PM
The Evil Empire aka Comcast has started purging MSNBC of all truthful newscasters. Look for them to hire Glen Beck to replace Keith. BTW, Comcast majority owner is a huge Republican supporter
Posted by: PaiaGirl | January 21, 2011 at 09:12 PM
People like Beck, Limbaugh, et al, do such a good job of making conservatives look like total buffoons that we hardly need "liberal" commentators any more. Loved KO and he will be missed, especially for his outstanding "special comments" - he can't really be replaced, but LO'D is pretty savvy and though left-leaning, truly "fair and balanced" so I still may tune in to MSNBC periodically. I watch FOX because if you want to defeat an enemy - you have to know what it's thinking.
Posted by: Foxslayer | January 21, 2011 at 09:13 PM