Keith Olbermann: 'This IS the Last Edition of Countdown'

[Hissyspit]

Run time: 06:16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2LPfO3XR-E   Posted on YouTube: January 22, 2011 By YouTube Member: MiniRtist Views on YouTube: 3   Posted on DU: January 22, 2011 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 13955

 
MSNBC Countdown w/ KEITH OLBERMANN - Jan. 21, 2011


????????

OLBERMANN: "I think the same fantasy has popped into the head of everybody in my business who has ever been told what I've been told: that this is going to be the last edition of your show. You go directly to the scene from the movie 'Network,' complete with the pajamas and the raincoat. And you go off on an existential other-worldy verbal journey of unutterable profundity and vision. You damn the impediments, and you insist upon the insurrections, and then you emit Peter Finch's gutteral resonant ... 'So...' And you implore, you WILL the viewer to go to the window, open it, stick out his head and yell...

Well, you know the rest.

In the mundane world of television goodbyes, reality is laughably uncooperative."

When I resigned from ESPN 13 and a 1/2 years ago, I was literally given 30 seconds to say goodbye at the very end of my last edition of Sportscenter. As good is my witness, in the commercial break just before the emotional moment, the producer got in my earpiece and said 'uh, could you cut it down to 15 seconds, so we can get in this tennis result from Stuttgart?'

So I am grateful that I have a little more time to sign off here. Regardless, this IS the last edition of Countdown. It is just under eight years since I returned to MSNBC. I was supposed to fill in for the late Jerry Nackman for exactly three days. Forty-nine days later, there was a four-year contract for me to return to this nightly 8 p.m. time slot, from which I had fled four years earlier.

The show gradually established its position as anti-establishment: from the stagecraft of 'Mission Accomplished,' to the exaggerated rescue of Jessica Lynch in Iraq, to the death of Pat Tillman, to Hurricane Katrina, to the nexus of politics and terror, to the first Special Comment, the program grew and grew thanks entirely to your support, with great rewards for me, and I hope for you, too. There were many occasions, particularly in the last 2 and 1/2 years, where all that surrounded the show, but never the show itself, was just too much for me. But your support and loyalty, and if I may use the word, insistence, ultimately required that I keep going.

My gratitude to you is boundless, and if you think I've done any good here, imagine how it looked from this end, as you donated $2 million to the National Association of Free Clinics, and my dying father watched from his hospital bed, transcendentally comforted that his struggles were inspiring such overwhelming good for people, he and I and you would never meet, but would always know.

This may be the only television program, wherein the host was much more in awe of the audience then vice versa. You will always be in my heart for that, and for the donations to the Kranick family in Tennessee, and these victims of governmental heartlessness in Arizona, to say nothing of every letter and email and Tweet and wave and handshake... and online petition.

Time ebbs here and I want to close with one more Thurber story - it is still Friday. So let me thank my gifted staff here, and just a few of the many people who fought with me and for me: Eric Sorenson, Phil Alongi, Neil Shapiro, Michael Weismann, the late David Bloom, John Palmer, Alana Russo, Monica Novotny, my dear friends Rachel Maddow and Bob Costas - and my greatest protector and most indefatigable cheerleader, the late Tim Russert.

And now let me finish by turning again to this ritual of reading Thurber stories to you... This one is called The Scottie Who Knew Too Much.

- snip -

'Moral: It is better to ask some of the questions, than to know all the answers.' The Scottie Who Knew Too Much by James Thurber.

Chris Hayes filling in for Rachel Maddow on The Rachel Maddow show is next. Again. All of my greatest thanks.

Widen the shot out a bit so we can do one of these one last time. Thank you, Brian.

Good night. And good luck."

http://my.firedoglake.com/scarecrow/2011/01/21/breaking-keith-olbermann-out-at-msmbc

Breaking: Keith Olbermann Out at MSNBC
By: Scarecrow Friday January 21, 2011 6:15 pm


Stunning his Countdown audience, Keith Olbermann announced at the very end of his show tonight that this would be the last edition of Countdown. He gave no explanation but thanked his audience.

Within minutes MSNBC released a statement indicating that it was not renewing Keith’s contract.

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.

The new evening lineup would be:

6:00 p.m. Cenk
7:00 p.m. Hardball
8:00 p.m. Larry O’Donnell
9:00 p.m. Rachel Maddow
10:00 p.m. Ed Show

We’ll add details as we get them. But the first question has to be: Is this the first action by cable conglomerate Comcast, after the FCC and Justice Department approved their takeover of NBC, in deciding what we see on television?

[OhioChick]

1. Rec n/t

[olegramps]

109. The first action of a Dictatorship is shut down the Free Press.

It wouldn't be long before the O'Reillies, Hannities and Lushballs will be calling for the violent reaction against anyone who opposes their Right Wing Fanaticism.

[molly77]

123. From across the water

I will donate my television to a nursing home with specific instructions to give it to an alzheimer patient so that he/she can forget the crap as soon as they see it.

[olegramps]

184. At last, a suitable disposal for wasted technology!

[Leopolds Ghost]

185. I have a specific question. HOW CAN A FUCKING CABLE SERVICE PROVIDER OWN A BROADCAST NETWORK?

Isn't it on their AGENDA to put out of business local broadcast stations (like the one that sponsors the McLaughlin Group) and network news affiliates?

[dsharp88]

116. "Wanted: Republican Sympathizer to host MSNBC News Show"

Comcast's classified ad to replace Keith Olbermann.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. "I've been told - this is the last edition of your show"

Dosen't mean he didn't push them to buy him out so he didn't have to deal with them, but still. Pretty clear.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

27. media consolidation killing 1st amendment. Comcast merged with NBC

then fired Keith

[defendandprotect]

68. Well, it took Congress to enable these monopolies and Obama to enable FCC ...

to do this Comcast disaster -- !!

We have anti-trust laws laws which aren't being used --

PLUS, as we can see, the more powerful the right wing becomes the more

paranoid it becomes about any bit of truth getting out --

and that's because truth is like a pebble hitting a mirror -- it shatters

the myths - the lies!

Keep on throwing those pebbbles!

:nuke:

[MissDeeds]

107. Agreed

Freedom of the press/media is a becoming part of a bygone era. It's frightening.

[truedelphi]

173. Hi there, Defend and protect -

I was cleaning out my garage the other day, and I found a mid eighties issue of "Insight," the
magazine of conservative Republicanism.

The issue I found was the one where they devoted many pages to a discussion of how important the Anti-Trust laws are, and how sad it is that they are not employed more often. (Done in a journalistic and non-editorializing way.)

They also had several articles deploring the "Friedman-Style Theory of Supply Side Economics."

It was pathetic to read such a conservative rag and realize that these days, every other article in it would be more radically progressive than what either currently party represents!

[bobbolink]

182. That's really eye-opening! I hope you kept that issue, and can find a way to open some other eyes

with it.

[The Wielding Truth]

85. It was the first thing I thought of. Would they pull Keith off again.

[molly77]

126. Keith Olberman has principles

That is a quality that US corporate owned media cannot tolerate. He wouldn't talk about monica lewinsky 24/7 during the clinton administration. Remember? WE were told the news shows had to make money and people wanted to hear all about monica all the time. That turned out not to be true. It was all about trashing bill clinton..democratic party.

After Obama became president..they couldn't find dirt on him . But Tiger Woods was on Huff Po every day with another white woman...for months. Scary stuff when the black people have money , they will come after your women.

[Divine Discontent]

3. He is a wonderful human being...

[Hissyspit]

5. Olbermann - Off Air. Glenn Beck - Still On.

[The Wizard]

12. Olbermann - Off Air. Glenn Beck - Still On

There is no God.

[alp227]

16. so are Hannity and O'Reilly n/t

[molly77]

127. God has nothing to do with it.

It is fascism.

[femrap]

150. You're right

God has nothing to do with it....it's the CEO of Comcast. I think a boycott of Comcast would be nice.

And this buyout of NBC by Comcast was brought to you by a Democratic Administration. Corporation says, "Jump." Political minions say, "Where?" I bet the Corporation really says, "Suck." You can figure out the rest.

I want Ed at 6:00. Damn it. Guess I'll just go read at 6:00. Wonder when Rachel will get booted? Ed, too for that matter.

If DUers had any umph, we'd organize. Americans, organize? Right.

[Divine Discontent]

43. HS, UGH, can I have some Kleenex. Again, I say, "Liberal Media... my ass!"

:cry:

[slay]

95. +1

and fuck Jon Stewart for saying both sides are the same. THEY AREN'T. Republicans on tv and radio get aways with EVERYTHING - while we get shit. The corporate takeover of America has indeed been accomplished I think. Fucking sad. Fucking pathetic.

[slay]

96. self delete

posted in wrong spot - wooops

[defendandprotect]

69. Ironic, isn't it ... ? Or maybe criminal ... ?

No boobs allowed on TV -- but Comcast purveor of internet porn at $500 million

and more a year is OK -- and Glenn Beck's psychotic ravings and murderous threats

against liberals seemingly "no problem" -- !!!



:eyes:

[molly77]

113. Can we all forget politically correct and admit that our country is fascist?

Why watch TV anyway when it is mostly propaganda?

[Dangerman]

174. Totally agree...

We will miss you Keith... May good fortune smile upon you.

[CLANG]

4. WTF? Does anyone know why this happened?

[defendandprotect]

70. COMCAST ... !!

[Paper Roses]

101. The dirtiest word in my vocabulary? Comcast.

[femrap]

151. Comcast CEO. nt

[mzmolly]

162. Really?

Do we have a link to more info on this?

[femrap]

171. Here's something

http://myonline-reviews.com/keith-olbermann-fired-or-just-silenced-21648

Ceo is a real repugnant....keith and he hate each other.

[mzmolly]

177. UGH.

If they continue "tinkering" I'll tinker with my cable TV provider.

[femrap]

178. If I had Comcast, I'd

look for another provider. I really liked The Dish...it had Free Speech TV and Link TV on it.

When I move in the next couple of months, that's what I hope to get.

[Stuart G]

6. Rec, kick..thanks for posting..nt

[Grassy Knoll]

7. Fuck Comcast ,I Will switch back to CNN.

[PatrynXX]

28. Fuck em all. Switch to PBS. the most trusted name in news

CNN too right wing Fox isn't news and MSNBCFOX well knew this day would come which is why I stopped watching Rachel. Cya MSNBCFOX. Nice to know ya. Seems you don't give much shit for your viewers. So I won't give much shit for you. I'll be watching online news and thats about it. Days of Broadcast news is fairly numbered anyway.

[defendandprotect]

91. We still have BBC --

[border_town]

102. Yeah soon the Republicans

will shut them up too. We are heading into a very bad place. A very powerless place. Europe or Canada is looking better and better to me

[MissDeeds]

111. "A very powerless place"

is exactly right. Corporations rule this country.

[chowhound]

163. comcast wont care where you go

cause every month you send them a check. that check says i dont care what you do just dont cut the feed. you'll have to cancel comcast, go to another provider, for comcast to notice you.

[djp2]

8. They must have bought out his contract...

because he would bow to COMCAST's censorship.
The real question is whether Keith has a gag clause or can't work broadcast news for the next two years...What are the conditions?

[Bette Noir]

24. The word on Twitter is that he can do radio and internet, but not TV.

[JDPriestly]

29. He will have a fabulous internet career.

I hope he teams up with some of the other liberals on MSNBC and they all go internet. Internet is the future. Comcast owns a lot of i, but I think that someone may be able to figure out a way to take their advantage away from them. Comcast is a greedy scumbag, in my opinion.

[defendandprotect]

71. We can also draft KO to run for office -- how about president?

[JDPriestly]

132. Great idea. Maybe that is his plan -- running for office.

He could really make a difference -- mayor of New York first?

[molly77]

114. He can be added to the list of those who told the truth and got fired.

Bill Maher, Rosie O'Donnell and Phil Donahue. All were popular and were fired for telling the truth.Fascists.

[femrap]

152. Maybe he can work w/ Dan Rather?

or is that TV?

[DebJ]

117. Would that restriction likely be only for the remainder of his

contract period? Or extended out?

[WhoIsNumberNone]

9. Just as we all predicted

No doubt Rachel will be next...

[defendandprotect]

72. Agree ... but note the winner in this is O'Donnell -- conservative and willing to deal?

[slay]

100. No kidding. Replacing Keith with fucking O'Donnel is just another slap in the face

to intelligent liberals.

[Hubert Flottz]

93. Ed will be next!

Count on it!

[tblue]

147. Without Keith, Ed and Rachel, who will watch MSNBC?

The network will die. And good riddance.

[femrap]

153. I wonder what

CEO of Comcast wants to turn this channel into....probably lots of soft porn... constant reruns of 'How I Met your Mother.' I'm sure he has plans that will appeal to the 'angry white dudes.' He'll probably try to steal beck from faux!

[stockholmer]

10. Dear USA, welcome to even more toe-the-line corporatist American media, hugs n kisses-Comcast, xoxox

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/richard-adams-blog/2011/jan/22/keith-olbermann-msnbc-nbc-terminated

[dixiegrrrrl]

11. I KNEW I could count on you to get the video up, dear Hissy.

We have cut the tv cord, no more cable bills.
Now I depend more than ever on the videos being posted.
And commercial free...wheeeeeee.

[FailureToCommunicate]

13. What the heck?!?

Thanks for posting this Hissyspit.

[Hyper_Eye]

14. I hate to see Keith go. Cenk Uyger will get his shot though.

Keith has a had a good run. I think it will be good for him to get a new show with a new format. I have felt for some time that Countdown was a bit tired. That is especially true when you compare it to Rachel Maddow's show afterwords which is simply one of the best and most informative shows on television. Rachel has a lot of guests that agree with her positions but she also has no problem, and even loves, interviewing guests that she has criticized strongly. Keith always has the same guests and after years of the same formula a change is needed.

The good thing that will come of this is that Cenk Uygur will be filling Ed's old slot as a guest host and I am pretty certain that is going to lead to a long-term contract and his own show on MSNBC. I am a big Cenk advocate and I think he can really do something great with this shot. I hope it doesn't affect TYT too greatly though.

This is all very interesting and I am curious to see where things are going to be when the dust settles. I am very worried about this Comcast purcahse of MSNBC and what it means for a real liberal presence on network television. There are a lot of forces that would like to stomp it out. MSNBC is the conservatives big target and they will strike a major blow if they manage to take it down.

[Bette Noir]

26. Too bad I won't be watching.

[decidedlyso]

37. Comcast will eventually take them all out.

[davidwparker]

51. +1

Correct. Rachel will be next.

[truedelphi]

172. That is my great fear also. n/t

[harun]

120. Yah, Link TV and Democracy Now have been doing great work. They will be the

last ones.

[texshelters]

154. Watch Democracy Now!

It always has been and will be a better show than anything on MSNBC, etc.

http://www.democracynow.org/

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[Joey Liberal]

160. YES! I watch it all of the time! nt

[SoapBox]

15. I was watching (5PM Pacific) and couldn't believe what I was hearing...

...and I felt sick to my stomach.

This is a great lose for Dems, Progressives and Liberals.

[alp227]

17. wow i didn't know that Cenk is getting his own MSNBC show!

Interesting. Thursday's MSNBC evening sched was (eastern time): 6PM Ed, 7PM Hardball second episode (it's also shown at 5PM), 8PM Countdown, 9PM Rachel, 10PM Last Word.

[dixiegrrrrl]

18. Is Rachel's job safe?

I wonder how many people will avoid/cut off Comcast and MSNBC after this.
( ok..except for Rachel, of course).

There really are no "real" news sources left on tv, except for Democracy Now.
Which fortunately one can see/read online.

[Hissyspit]

20. No, of course it's not.

If you mean, are they going to keep her on, well, we shall see.

[HankyDubs]

23. silencing dissent

rachel is next.

[decidedlyso]

40. This is exactly how takeovers are accomplished.

[quarbis]

83. Actually

I'd bet ED is next -- too liberal

[era veteran]

19. Damn, watching Keith has been a ritual.

Creepy Comcast? The freeperoids will be celebrating.

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. We cannot let this attack on progressive voices to continue

Please take the time to send an email to MSNBC

[e-mail]

[snappyturtle]

64. Thank you...I will and it won't be pretty! nt

[decidedlyso]

22. Time to take down Comcast before they get a foothold. Anyone who

doesn't know what's coming down is not paying attention. And everyone should prepare for the SOTU next week. 2011 will be the year of the takeover. No one left to fight them. And I mean fight them--not faxes, emails and speeches, ad nauseum. Keith was THE major voice. RM is next.

[Bette Noir]

25. Bernie Sanders was a tiger last year, when Keith was suspended.

Bernie has been loudly protesting the Comcast takeover of NBC specifically because it held the risk of silencing people like Keith. I want to hear whwat Bernie has to say, now, almost more than I want to hear what Keith has to say.

Keith's birthday is this coming Thursday. What a birthday present.

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. Anyone want to start a rumor that Keith Olbermann left MSNBC to become White House Press Secretary

and watch some conservative heads explode?
( saw this on Twitter just now)

[Historic NY]

34. that would blow the zit heads all over the place

[PSzymeczek]

81. Somebody said something about that

over on DKos.

[zinnisking]

105. After reading your headline,

my brain released an overload of serotonin. That was awesome!

[Historic NY]

31. Wow who will speak for the little guy now?

[Veracious]

32. Ummmm WTF just happened?

was Olbermann taken off the air or what?

[Hissyspit]

33. Yes, Olbermann was taken off the air.

[goforit]

35. WOW!!! Sorry to hear you go Keith. Please come back.

[rasputin1952]

36. Not just a loss...

but a great loss

The media once again takes a great stride...backward.

[Hissyspit]

38. Not just a loss.

But a concerted counterattack by the Corporate Right.

[Divine Discontent]

44. "a great stride...backward".... +1

sigh...

[goforit]

39. WTF is up with Comcast!!!....Starting with the fucking foot Comcast!!

[AldebTX]

41. Hate This

And I know the other side is cheering.

[L. Coyote]

42. O.K., someone can pay the dude more money and salvage their ratings.

I hear Fox is lagging :rofl:

[dsharp88]

45. We Need to Stay to Suport Rachel and Lawrence and Cenk and Ed.

Don't let the bastards win.

[Robeson]

63. You don't think they're next?...

...it's all about message discipline at this point.

[defendandprotect]

73. Larry looks ready to deal ... I wouldn't support him -- but Rachel and Ed... yes!

[xxqqqzme]

161. 'We' do not!

I love Rachel's program. I love how she is a dog w/ a bone on some issues - so focused. But I will not support comcast after this. But I will no longer watch her program - it is just a matter of time before her contract isn't 're-newed' either. She has her spot now because Keith gave her the exposure she needed. She had one of the, if not THE, best program on Air America.

I rarely got to see Big Ed's program - he is on too early on the left coast - O'Donnell's wishy washy nature disgusts me - Comcast must love him - he'll stay.

Nope - I'm finished w/ this whorporate bullshit. The left - which is really little more than the center because the right is sooo far to the right - has lost. The whorporate right has pulled the chair away just as we thought we had a spot to sit and rest.

[mahannah]

46. Keith Olbermann: The Scotty Who Knew Too Much

[florida08]

47. sickening

Larry O'Donell is no Keith Olbermann..watch the ratings fall in that time slot. Glad for Cenk. Rachel's ratings will soar as she's the best now that Keith's gone.

[Chimichurri]

48. This is a travesty.

[davidwparker]

49. My Response: I just dropped MSNBC from my satellite

lineup. I had extra tiers just to get Countdown.

He was a target of the right even more than Dan Rather was. This answers the question in the last paragraph. I was unfortunately out and didn't know until I turned on Real Time and heard Bill mention it to Rachel.

[dpbrown]

50. Those fucking dicks at Comcast and that pissant who suspended him earlier

We're being told to shut up and take it, because Comcast is going to give us just the fuck what they want to give us, and we can go pound sand.

[Overseas]

52. K&R. I will really miss Countdown with Keith Olbermann. //nt

[TuxedoKat]

53. Wow, I'm speechless

will miss him terribly. I hope to see him somewhere else soon. Prayers for you Keith to land on your feet in a better place.

[Marblehead]

54. comfuckingcastic

[Crunchy Frog]

55. I hate corporatism.

[AsahinaKimi]

56. Masaka!!

I am in shock :wow:

[pam4water]

57. OMG NO! Replace by O'Donnell who is for reducing Social Security & bores me in a comma.

[defendandprotect]

74. Notice they were slipping him in -- agree with your assessment -- !!

Larry looks ready to be very cooperative!!

[James48]

58. NEW WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY

replacing Gibbs.

Saw it on Wiki- so it must be true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Press_Secretary

[pam4water]

59. LOL

[Jakes Progress]

60. Drop Comcast.

It is the only form of protest that will mean anything.

[pacalo]

61. ...

:cry:

[snappyturtle]

62. I could just cry. My life has been turned upside down the last five months

and, bellieve it or not, Keith Olbermann was my quiet refuge of sanity late night...I recorded his show daily. I am outraged at MSNBC (Comcast). No offense to Larry O'Donnell but he will not pull the ratings, imho, that Keith did.

I'm afraid I'll regard today as the beginning of the end to free speech. No one gave us news as Keith so faithfully did.

:cry:

[myrna minx]

65. I'm so stunned. Watching Countdown has been a wonderful

gathering of myself and a friend a few times a week to unwind and talk about current events, the state of the nation, the world and our lives. Keith and Countdown brought about a sense of belonging amongst the senseless. This is so heartbreaking for me, but I guess I'll learn to love my comcastic overloards like I learned to love big brother. :-(

[bbgrunt]

66. NOOooooooooo! No reason to watch anything any more.

[defendandprotect]

75. EXACTLY ... put the TVs in the closet -- get rid of the Orwellian screen...!!

Any time you are watching you are an audience for the ads --

it's costing you electricity -- and you're creating profits for

corporations who are your enemies!!


Meanwhile, re Comcast -- not only should this be against anti-trust laws --

but they do a huge amount of business in internet pornography!! $500 million

and more a year!


In the end, who let this happen -- Obama and our Congress!

[defendandprotect]

67. Of course it's Comcast -- but ....

they've also succeeded one way or another of having KO give Jon Stewart a

lot of competition which had to have effected his show the last two years or so --

and imo someone then stole Jon's compass -- and he began to hit the wrong notes

too often. That still hasn't entirely straightened out -- but I will from time

to time check in with him to see what's going on.


Did Rachel comment on KO leaving on her show tonight?

Also notice the new line up pulls up the more conservative -- and more willing? --

Larry O'Donnell -- and shakes Schultz down to 10pm? I'll try Schultz at 10pm!


Internet will also be facing Comcast upheaval soon, imo!



Thanks, Obama, for one more monopoly decision for Comcast -- and another blow

against the interests of the people!

[PSzymeczek]

82. Chris Hayes guest-hosted

for Rachel tonight.

[defendandprotect]

90. Thank you -- and someone posted a link to a comment she made later...

based on KO "quitting" -- didn't actually look at it yet --

It's in this thread somewhere --

[WiffenPoof]

76. Well, That's It For Me...

I no longer understand the world around me. I'm not even sure that it is even important anymore.

-PLA

[wundermaus]

77. And now the silence is deafening...

Keith Olbermann Special Comment: False Promise Of 'Objectivity' - 11/15/10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lOMwWO5QaE

[burrowowl]

78. Damn it!

Is Rachel next?

[go west young man]

79. Fuck television. I've been internet only for years and it's great.

And way cheaper. No crap shows. And a healthy brain that can pick and choose wisely.
Got a 27'inch IMac, a high speed connection, Netflix for streaming movies at $12 a month
and you get all the best TV shows from HBO, Showtime and such. They are all on Netflix.
No propaganda and more family time. Definitely the way to go. So a big fuck you to Comcast.
Keith you have always rocked. Thanks for all the great shows.

[bhusar]

80. Phil Griffin's e-mail

Maybe we should flood Phil Griffin's e-mail again like back in November, unless he changed it. It won't bring Keith back
but it will send him a message. [e-mail]

[Rhiannon12866]

88. After the unprecedented wave of support KO got in November,

I can't even imagine the scope of the reaction to this. ;(

Welcome to DU, bhusar! We're glad to have you with us! :hi:

[SpankMe]

84. I. Am. Stunned.

Someone on here who knows him....PLEASE keep us updated.

This is horrible.

[EFerrari]

86. They're going to say Keith was fired because he's too angry

but that is bullsh!t. He was targeted because he's too effective and because he has a huge audience.

Well, he'll land on his feet. We should really be saying goodbye to MSNBC because Comcast just blew up the brand. Maybe Cenk will get something out of it, which he richly deserves so that's something.

I hope Keith finds a way to kick their @sses.

[Blacksheep214]

87. Since I work in sight of the NBC/Universal building

I have given them the one finger salute for all of us.

This is bullshit!

Keith better be doing a Tony Snow, except for the dieing part.

[awoke_in_2003]

89. Fuck, just fuck...

sorry for the vulgarity, Hissy, but I don't know what else to say at this point.

[Leithan]

92. This just in from FAUX News:

Bill O'Reilly has canceled all of his Monday night guests so he can spend the whole hour gloating like an arrested adolescent and thumping his chest like a fucking Neanderthal, both of which he is.

[Name removed]

128. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Shining Jack]

94. K&R

:(

[EmeraldCityGrl]

97. I'm totally devastated.

I'm boycotting all things comcast so that means losing Racheal as well.
We need a new news network. The demand is there hopefully someone
will recognize it and consider the investment.

Keith has been the voice of reason and sanity so often over the last few
years. He is MSNBC. Schultz is gone and Racheal will have to play the
corporate game or she will be the next to go.

[slay]

98. All the reason to stop watching MSNBC (Comcast) and switch to FreeSpeechTV - www.freespeech.org

they have vids and a 24/7 live stream and lots of other cool shit. it's time we start abandoning large corporations in droves!

http://www.freespeech.org/

http://www.freespeech.org/schedule/

http://www.freespeech.org/free-speech-tv-live

[rurallib]

103. I watch FSTV a bunch also - Hartmann, Goodman and Laura Flanders

It would be fitting for all those who will miss Keith to watch FSTV and show them some Love$

[forty6]

106. They don't carry it in my area on TV, and I find it hard to watch those on my ..

13 inch laptop. Sorry, but it's just not the same. Maybe I'm just too old to get used to watching TV on a computer.

I paid over $500 for a flat screen TV just a year ago, a big purchase in my budget, and now one of my favorite news and politics shows is gone forever.

[slay]

159. You use the TV-OUT (or external monitor port) on your laptop and watch the video on your flat screen

http://en.kioskea.net/faq/228-how-to-connect-your-pc-to-your-tv-set

[democrank]

99. He will be missed.

[forty6]

104. How to ruin a good network. MSNBC execs or whoever did this...

should be the ones out of a job.

Keith was the best they had until Rachel appeared, brought to MSNBC by Keith, if I recall correctly.

As far as I am concerned the ONLY one in that lineup worth watching every day is Rachel, with Cenk a close second. Chris and Larry and Ed, although showing moments of insight and wisdom, fail to garner my attention, and frankly, their shows often bore me enough to turn them off.

Keith was the best they had, and his leaving on such short notice is an insult to his audience.

[feslen]

108. talk about hypocricies

...it's okay for Palin and Beck to continue their Attack of Hate and Terrorism but its not okay for Olbermann to counterbalance the idiocy?
not only is that wrong, but its completely unjustified to fire him under the guise of "freedom of speech."

[peace13]

110. Thanks Keith, you were the ONLY one to cover Ohio's stolen election.

We were on the streets in Columbus, Ohio...all 200 of us and we would come home and turn on Countdown to see what you would say about it. Thanks for that. The dark days were coming closer to the front page of American history and you were there to document it. We needed you then and we need you now. I know that you will be working for us no matter what direction you choose. Best wishes and thank you so much. Peace and love, Kim

[MissDeeds]

112. Countdown was the top rated program on MSNBC

It's interesting that they axed the top rated program on the network. I can't wait to hear the real story, and knowing Keith, it will eventually come out.

[gibby2433]

115. Do we need any more proof?

That the right-wing media cabal is attempting to control EVERYTHING? Where the FUCK is this "left-wing media" that supposedly dominates the country? This fucking SUCKS. Sorry for the vulgarity, but it does.

All of the mainstream media is owned by a handful of corporations. The mainstream media is decidedly RIGHT-WING. Sarah Palin and her "lame-stream media" squawking can go suck a dick. Again, sorry for the vulgarity but I'm super pissed this morning. (I didn't watch Countdown last night, so I'm feeling a bit sucker-punched this morning.)

[dixiegrrrrl]

118. "my greatest protector and most indefatigable cheerleader, the late Tim Russert".

So he is saying that when Russert died, he lost Russert's protection?
Russert died in 2008.

I know that Keith was responsible for Rachel being on the air.

Hmmmmm

[AsahinaKimi]

119. Can still follow Keith on twitter..

http://twitter.com/#!/KeithOlbermann

[big lu]

121. It's seems to be a stupid move, business-wise, for MSNBC

.. but I'm scared that in reality Comcast is planning on reshaping MSNBC to lean right and capture some of those mainstream Fox ratings.

[wisteria]

143. You make a good point. There is no point in a corporate owned media allowing

itself to be constantly scrutinized by those who speak truth to power-it is not in there interest to do so. They figure they can manipulate public opinion enough so that no ones knows what is going on behind the scenes, and they can continue to make their trillions and pull all the strings.

[Sixty_cycle_humm]

122. This is all about the almighty dollar, nothing else.

Comcast is a corporation that has a single minded agenda, and that is to make profit. Nothing else matters, not ideology or politics, only ratings and what advertisers will pay per minute of time in that particular time slot. They must be looking at at the bottom line when they made this decision, it's where they are focused at all times. It will be interesting to see how far they will go to raise that number, hell if chainsaw juggling eunuchs on fire will be more profitable in that slot then that is what we will be forced to watch.

[Name removed]

124. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[loudsue]

139. That's all the reason this move is so stupid. Keith drew in all the crowds

Even my non-news-loving husband watched Keith, because he was a former sports dude, and he liked the guy so much.

If it was money comcast wanted, they just killed the golden goose.

[Sixty_cycle_humm]

146. I agree with you

My coworker and I were arguing over whether they did kill
their highest rated show over money, and he sent me this:

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 

He pulled this off of Drudge, which shows it was the highest
watched show MSNBC had in prime time.  They must have a reason
to do it but I can't figure out their logic.   Beating faux
news and that idiot O'Reilly has to be their ultimate goal but
how the hell is pulling Kieth off the air going to do that for
them??  Maybe that's why I'm not in advertising, because from
my point of view it was a completely dumbass move by Comcast.

[femrap]

155. Comcast CEO absolutely

hates Keith. Ceo is rich. He doesn't care. He'll turn msnbc into some soft pron channel and the baby rams will love it. Or he'll steal beck from Faux.

These CEO dudes are insanely evil....you have no idea. They'll buy a company just to even a grudge.

Like A & E....remember when it was REALLY 'Arts and Entertainment?'

[wisteria]

144. +1 n/t

[sce56]

125. Network circa 1976

For those who do not know the "I'M MAD AS HELL" reference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90ELleCQvew
Network is a 1976 American satirical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about a fictional television network, Union Broadcasting System (UBS), and its struggle with poor ratings. The film was written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Sidney Lumet, and stars Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch and Robert Duvall and features Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, and Beatrice Straight.

The film won four Academy Awards, in the categories of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

Network has continued to receive recognition, decades after its initial release. In 2000, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2002, it was inducted into the Producers Guild of America Hall of Fame as a film that has "set an enduring standard for U.S. American entertainment."<1> In 2006, Chayefsky's script was voted one of the top ten movie scripts by the Writers Guild of America, East. In 2007, the film was 64th among the Top 100 Greatest U.S. American Films as chosen by the American Film Institute, a ranking slightly higher than the one AFI gave it ten years earlier.

[no limit]

129. Cenk is getting his own show? Woooohoooo!!!!

Please tell me this is for real.

[humbled_opinion]

130. This is just more of the Change

we were told to believe in... Stand by for more drastic change in the near future. Maybe the President has fallen for that "American People spoke on NOV 2nd B.S....

[NeonDog]

131. Death metaphor from Comcast CEO about Olbermann:

My comments to Brian Roberts:
"Quote from Roberts when asked what he would do about Olbermann after COMCAST bought NBC:
“Let’s have that conversation­on in 12 months when we’re playing with live ammo."
Another murderous death metaphor from the right, and now Olbermann is canceled.
Good-bye cable hell-o satellite dish!"

Contact COMCAST CEO Brian Roberts::
[e-mail]
OR
http://blog.comcast.com/contact_author.html?mailTo=Brian%20L.%20Roberts

[intaglio]

133. Very weird thought, Robert Gibbs is resigning

Olbermann as WH Press Secretary?

[loudsue]

140. Give me a break. You think Obama would choose a LIBERAL for press secretary?

What part of Obama is a CONSERVATIVE, DLC, "Lieberman is my mentor" do you not remember? Did you even bother to read his books?

I'm sorry...I'm just upset about all of this. But, no. Olbermann is NOT going to be asked to join the white house press corps. Not a chance.

[intaglio]

141. I said it was wierd

I didn't say it was right

[molly77]

142. Campaigner Obama is a liberal.

What if repeated capitulation to neocons isn't bipartisanship but fascism. Just called bipartisanship to make it more palatable. Do you see any old friends of Obama's in his administration? See any clintonistas? They aren't even subtle.

[harvey007]

134. Thank you, Keith

I will miss your programs and special comments, your eyebrows, your always cool neckties, your wit and humor....you made TV worth watching.

[Joey Liberal]

135. This really sucks

Living in a red state (Oklafuckinghoma) I depended on Keith Olbermann and MSNBC. Fuck Comcast.

[SOS]

136. The Reichskulturkammer has an office in Philadelphia.

Living in an oligarchy is becoming more unpleasant by the day.

"Buying futures, selling futures, when there is no future".
-Al Pacino in "The Devil's Advocate"

[mb7588a]

137. Thank you for all you've done, Keith.

Enjoy your success, write a book about corporate nonsense, and maybe even run for something, or go back to sports which you love so dearly. Just have fun. You've earned it.

[jwirr]

138. The thing I am most angry about is the clause that keeps him off

the air for a specific length of time. That takes my right to listen to anyone I want away. Fire him if you must for whatever hypocritical reasons - do not take my right to follow him away.

[obietiger]

145. very sad

I was watching Keith's show and was unprepared for the announcement and then could not believe it! You will be missed Keith.

[Name removed]

148. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

157. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[South End Liberal]

149. Did this have anything to do with Keith leavng so abruptly?

On Wednesday night's show, Keith said the following regarding Joe Lieberman's retirement announcement:

"The end of the line for Joe Lieberman, self-described ‘moderate Democrat.’ Don’t let the delusional liar door hit you in the delusional liar butt on the delusional liar way out."

2 days later Keith is gone. Coincidence? I wonder....

That's what I've liked about Keith and that's why I've watched his show every night over the years. He is not a cookie cutter, follow the mantra news "infotainer." Keith's real. His special comments are legendary.

In my area, Comcast had already moved MSNBC to a higher payment tier (while leaving CNN and FOX on the lower, less expensive programming package tier) to, in my opinion, discourage people from watching the network's programming. Now that they own MSNBC, watch for more changes to the programming -- to more copycat faux fox programming.

Yesterday was the death toll for any form of liberal, progressive programming on the tv networks. The corporations have truly taken over.

[South End Liberal]

156. Was Keith O "Helen-ized?"

Did they do to Keith what they did to Helen Thomas for speaking up?

I came across an interesting blog at the following link today:

http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/did-liebermann-use-his-white-house-connections-to-get-jeffrey-immelt-to-fire-olbermann/

The title is "Did lyin Joe Liberman use his White House Connections to get Keith Olbermann fired?"


Here's part of what was said:
If anyone tries to tell you this was done by Comcast, don’t buy it. That’s just PR guys trying to fix the story. This is all about Lyin Joe Lieberman throwing a hissy-fit and GE’s CEO taking a new job at the White House.

This came on so suddenly, a promo for Olbermann’s show ran at the halfway point of Rachel Maddow’s show which comes on after Keith’s. Had this been Comcast, they would have seen it coming. No, this is about Lyin Joe calling a marker with the Obama White House, so really, this is about Obama getting Olbermann fired. It wouldn’t be the first time the White House got MSNBC’s star personality fired… Phil Donahue?


He also said:
No corporation is going to come in with a new investment and kick out the big star just because they want to end net neutrality. That’s just stupid. The following is Comcast’s statement on the matter.

[texshelters]

158. Isn't it really about making money and gettig ratings

and if Maddow can hold an audience, why would they replace her. And why would get rid of Olbermann, their top rated show if there wasn't a major conflict over content or hours or direction?

It's not like Maddow's a real challenge to power like MLK, Chomsky, Malcolm X, Delores Huerta or even Amy Goodman, etc.

Really, Ed Shultz is far more progressive, and he doesn't give a damn. He'll go back to radio, or organizing or living in a box before he kissing Comcast ass.

And Cenk? He's radical at times and comes right out and calls people running the government liars. He might even say, "To hell with Comcast" on the air. So much for media consolidation creating more diverse programming though.

I think they asked something of Mr. Olbermann that he was unwilling to do, wanted to mess with his content or give him the 12 AM slot or something. Wasn't he still getting the best rating on MSNBC? Maybe he didn't want Army Recruitment ads playing during his show. Who knows. But I think the reason he left is more than "Comcast".

More will be revealed, no? I wouldn't be surprised to see a book out by Mr. Olbermann for next Christmas. "A Keith Olbermann Screw the Powers that Be Christmas".

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[diane in sf]

165. Hi Tex!

[mzmolly]

164. This is heartbreaking.

:(

[SnakeEyes]

166. Have to admit

I don't share the outrage over this. I do think its too bad though, I liked his show. Keith had a job for a company doing a TV show. New management came in and decided they didn't want his show on anymore. That's the TV business. And NBC has been corporate owned for a long time. Just went from one to another.

[pauldg0]

167. Olbermann.....

Should start his own network and let er fly. It would grow exponentially. Imagine..... OTV vs. FOX. Believe.me, it will work. Kieth...do it now....pleeze!!!!

[Love Bug]

168. When he was put on suspension the handwriting was on the wall.

[bobburgster]

169. Jesus! This is the first I heard of Keith Olbermann being dumped...

I sure hope it is not Comcast starting to flex its right wing muscles. MSNBC just lost a good one!

[deacon]

170. I'm done with anything NBC. n/t

[gateley]

175. FIrst time I've had a chance to watch this...

:cry:

[valerief]

176. OMG. I'm gonna miss KO SO MUCH!!! He's a voice of reason in the insanity.

Comcast SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS and SUCKS SOME MORE!!!!!!

:grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr:

[williesgirl]

179. Other than watching Rachel, MSNBC is OUT for me. Fuck them & GE. As for Comcast,

I'll be cancelling that next week. I fear Rachel is next.

[MasonJar]

180. To Keith

I just e-mailed MSNBC and NBC that I would never watch one of their programs again and I will not. I like Ed and Lawrence and Chris and Rachel, but not enough to give them a dime of my attention after you left. You saved their miserable hides. They can find viewers elsewhere.

[MasonJar]

181. To Keith

Keith, without you MSNBC is nothing. I will never watch them or NBC ever again.

[Swamp Rat]

183. Thanks. I like how he thanked all his staff/colleagues, etc.

Keith is an all-round swell egg. :D