Keith Olbermann

[BroncoBuff]

Like I posted about Chris Matthews, I'm also convinced Keith Olbermann has some kind of imbalance. He's pretty widely accepted as the most preternaturally talented broadcaster on the air today (possible exception of Vin Scully), but he is definitely a head case. I say this even though he's been my broadcasting idol for 21 years now, ever since I was a sportscaster in El Paso Texas in 1987, and El Paso cable just happened to get Los Angeles independent stations including KTLA).

http://www.newyorker.com/images/2008/06/23/p233/080623_r17500_p233.jpg

Despite idolizing Keith, my eyes are wide open, and his peculiarities manifest in truly strange ways. He seems to always strive to place himself in dramatic, Quixotically-heroic postures, even when there appears no cause for such. Much like Dan Rather's odd self-focus and self-involvement to Walter Cronkite from the convention floor when he was roughly cordoned away from an interview, Keith "places himself" into situations where he fancies himself "fighting the bastards single-handedly."

The "tears-in-his-eyes," halting, choked-up delivery on-air when Tim Russert died - even days afterward - is the kind of laughably over-dramatic pretense you'd expect from a 6th grader feigning sckness to stay home from school. He barely knew Russert, they worked in different cities. So as mondo-talented as Keith is, he is also a head case.

Olbermann's relationships with co-workers are bizarre beyond description ... he plays dramatic "us vs. them" games, and ever since his rating doubled the past 20 months, he tolerates no deviance from his line. His guests NEVER contradict his opinions, in fact he recently fired Dana Milbanks, one of his talking heads, because Milbanks wrote something mildly unflattering about Obama in his newspaper column. He refuses to have two contrary opinions on at the same time, and also flatly refuses to use MSNBC's excellent stable of right-wing talking heads Pat Buchanan, Tucker Carlson, Mike Murphy, Peggy Noonan and Joe Scarborough.

http://www.breitbart.tv/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/olberm.jpg

Dan Abrams was in charge of MSNBC when Keith's ratings skyrocketed, and was always a big Keith-backer. But Keith turned on him when Abrams initially refused to cancel Tucker's show. A power play ensued, and Tucker was fired (as a show host). Abrams himself filled Tucker's slot, but Keith refused to introduce Abrams' show at the end of Countdown (the most standard of talent courtesy). Dan Abrams is in my view an AMAZING host, and "Verdict" was probably the best, most even-handed, objective and entertaining program in all of television. But Keith was not finished with him... he pushed for his old CNN buddy Phil Griffin to be named president of MSNBC, and he prevailed (actually Griffin is imminently qualified for the job). Then, once Griffin was in, Keith pushed for the ouster of Dan Abrams as a host, and the placing of his protegee Rachel Maddow as host of a show in that slot. Again he prevailed, but it seems to me Maddow is not ready. Her show is uneven, and wildly slanted in a way that sometimes seems to defy common sense. She should've spent another year as a talking head before taking her own program ... you only get one shot at a show like that.

Keith met his match when he messed with the big boys at big brother NBC News (Steve Capus and Tom Brokaw principally), and his antics and slanted comments got him demoted as host of MSNBC's live political coverage.

[BroncoBuff]

Do NOT cross Keith!

And it seems funny to me that Keith's talking heads are exclusively on Keith's show ... none of them show up on other MSNBC shows ???


http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/950/headerar4.gif

Tuesday, Aug 05
Milbank Leaves Countdown, Joins CNN

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank has ended his four-year relationship with MSNBC's Countdown, and it's not on the best of terms.

Milbank, who, because of a partnership between his paper and the NBC cable news channel, has been a part of MSNBC's programming since at least the 2000 election. The end seemed to be sealed with a column he wrote last Wednesday describing Sen. Barack Obama as the "presumptuous nominee." That set off a firestorm of discussion on all three cable news channels last week. The column also drew the ire of Countdown host Keith Olbermann.

So, last night on Countdown (clip after the jump), Olbermann said, "We had decided not to have Dana on this news-hour again until this was cleared up, and, sadly after some very happy years, he's apparently chosen to make that cloud permanent. Good luck, Dana."

Olbermann went further on his pre-Countdown post on the Daily Kos writing that Milbank would not be returning to the program, mainly due to his inclusion of the following Obama quote, which many have said was taken out of context: "I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions."

So where did Milbank end up last night? On CNN, opposite Olbermann. And what does Milbank say about this? What he told TVNewser, after the jump...

As for his MSNBC departure and arrival on CNN, Milbank tells TVNewser: "It predated the column and nothing occurred along the lines Keith described." A week ago tonight, Milbank appeared on Countdown and was identified as "MSNBC political analyst." An insider tell us Milbank's contract with MSNBC expired earlier this year.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/cnn/milbank_leaves_countdown_joins_cnn_90844.asp#more

[Rohirrim]

For the most part I enjoy Keith, but you're right, the guy has an enormously bloated ego. His OCD on O'Reilly and their ratings battle is occasionally disturbing. I usually change the channel when he does one of his soapbox rants employing his weird Edward R. Murrow fixation. But hey, what are you going to watch at 6? There's nothing else on. ;D

[BroncoBuff]

For the most part I enjoy Keith, but you're right, the guy has an enormously bloated ego. His OCD on O'Reilly and their ratings battle is occasionally disturbing. I usually change the channel when he does one of his soapbox rants employing his weird Edward R. Murrow fixation. But hey, what are you going to watch at 6? There's nothing else on. ;D
Yes, his commentaries are difficult to watch for me too ... but I disagree on the O'Reilly stuff. His O'Reilly treatment is actually my favorite thing on TV (except Broncos games). The day Keith ran the old 'Current Affair' Billo blowup was perhaps the most enjoyable thing I've ever seen on TV. Ever.

[frerottenextelway]

Maddow has ratings like 5 times that of what Abrams did, and does twice what anyone else on the network does besides Keith. Thankfully, they listened to Keith and the Kossacks who wrote in daily to give her a shot. Time to can Gregory and Joe Scarass.

[BroncoBuff]

Maddow has ratings like 5 times that of what Abrams did, and does twice what anyone else on the network does besides Keith. Thankfully, they listened to Keith and the Kossacks who wrote in daily to give her a shot. Time to can Gregory and Joe Scarass.
Wow ... I hadn't seen the ratings yet. Is this true?

[frerottenextelway]

Wow ... I hadn't seen the ratings yet. Is this true?

Yes. She even beat Keith (and Larry King H2H) by a few thousand on Tuesday. Keith's ratings for the repeat at 10:00 ET have also doubled thanks to having a real lead in now.

Rachel Rocks.

[frerottenextelway]

Ratings:

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/default.asp

[BroncoBuff]

Ratings:

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/ratings/default.asp
WOW! ... and here I thought it was too soon to check her numbers. Thought it was too soon :~ohyah!:





Hey fne ... guess who's starting for the Vikings Sunday? :wiggle:

[Play2win]

Rachel doesn't have to pull punches with Palin. End of story.

[frerottenextelway]

WOW!Hey fne ... guess who's starting for the Vikings Sunday? :wiggle:

Yep, crown them already. There goes the Broncos chances to win the Super Bowl. At least being runner-up to the Great One will be nice.

[Spider]

5p: 6p: 7p: 8p: 9p: 10p: 11p:
FNC ElectionHQ: Hume: Shep: O'Reilly: H&C: Greta: O'Reilly:
338 407 370 731 716 727 507
CNN Blitzer: Blitzer: Dobbs: Brown: King: Cooper: Cooper:
300 326 387 431 496 647 419
MSNBC Hardball: Gregory: Hardball: Countdown: Maddow: Countdown: Maddow:
271 243 277 509 534 412 254
HLN Prime: Prime: Beck: Grace: Beck: Grace: Showbiz:
129 98 134 412 211 373 275

[TDmvp]

Maddow is trash .... i used to listen to Air America cause a couple of comics used to be on it i liked ... chick is a classless whore who thinks hoping people she disagrees with die is good radio ...good luck with that msnbc ...

[TDmvp]

I wish i could remember who the comic was that used to come on during the early hours with her some days "Air America" during Maddow's first show ... "she had more then one" they moved her around two or three times ...
but they used to "tease/joke" all the time about whenever someone was going out of the country they didn't like that just maybe their plane would crash , or get attacked ... real funny stuff ...

[Spider]

I wish i could remember who the comic was that used to come on during the early hours with her some days ... but they used to "tease/joke" all the time about whenever someone was going out of the country they didn't like that just maybe their plane would crash , or get attacked ... real funny stuff ...

Sam Sedar

[Spider]

I still crack up at his Santa Clause having WMD and needing a green card to come into the states

[TDmvp]

Sam Sedar

that name don't ring a bell ...
can't remember , was the first year or 2 of Air America tho,
but he wasn't there every day , he was just a comic , i would know if i seen ....
I'll dig around cause now this is buggy me on who he is ....

[Rohirrim]

Yes. She even beat Keith (and Larry King H2H) by a few thousand on Tuesday. Keith's ratings for the repeat at 10:00 ET have also doubled thanks to having a real lead in now.

Rachel Rocks.

I have to agree. Rachel is very sharp. Her depth of knowledge is impressive; Usually much stronger than the people she's talking to.

[SonOfLe-loLang]

I have to agree. Rachel is very sharp. Her depth of knowledge is impressive; Usually much stronger than the people she's talking to.

Love Rachel. Very sharp, very biting in her sarcastic tone. Sometimes she thinks she's a bit funnier than she is, but always informed and level headed.

[BroncoBuff]

I have to agree. Rachel is very sharp. Her depth of knowledge is impressive; Usually much stronger than the people she's talking to.
She's HUGELY intelligent, no doubt about that ... but since her show started, she seems to be taking positions and making arguments that contort logic, in my view. Red meat for the left I guess ... but even though I'm a lefty, I prefer balance. I don't need my opinions pandered to.

BTW - those ratings are of course the 25-54 age demo. Throw in 55+ and Fox skyrockets.

[BroncoBuff]

I still crack up at his Santa Clause having WMD and needing a green card to come into the states
That was first class comedy .... speaking of that, this is a good thread for LABF to post those Fox screen-shots again. With the Union Jack waving? Classic! ROFL!

[epicSocialism4tw]

Olbermann has always been somewhat of a clown to me. From his annoying sports desk personality to his modern megalomaniac.

Didnt like him on sportscenter then, cant watch him for the abrasiveness now.

Dudes a shill.

[Pseudofool]

Rachel Maddow is probably the best liberal advocate on TV. Olbermann is a talented, smart guy, but his self-satisfiedness is troubling. Maddow, on the other hand, is pretty sober about her intelligence and knowledge, which like others have said, is pretty vast.

[epicSocialism4tw]

You folks love to complain about Limbaugh and co., but I guess that things are a little different when the shill is on your team.

[Spider]

That was first class comedy .... speaking of that, this is a good thread for LABF to post those Fox screen-shots again. With the Union Jack waving? Classic! ROFL!

I wish could remember the show he did that on

[BroncoBuff]

You folks love to complain about Limbaugh and co., but I guess that things are a little different when the shill is on your team.
Yuo haven't actually read my posts, have you ... hmmm...

[Spider]

You folks love to complain about Limbaugh and co., but I guess that things are a little different when the shill is on your team.

what in the **** thread is your monkey ass reading ? Maybe you have had a little too much Jesus juice ..........

[Mr.Meanie]

Is that the girl that used to be on Air America? She was horrible.

[Spider]

Is that the girl that used to be on Air America? She was horrible.

dont confuse Maddow with Graffalo ........ Maddow ripped Joe .S a new one

[Spider]

Here is Maddow .........
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[Spider]

Maddow has systematically taken the right wing pundits apart .. she even took Pat Buchanan and I like pat
here is a clip of her taking Carlson and pat
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[Play2win]

Go Olbermann, Maddow, Chris Matthews, Jon Stewart-- Dig up that dirt and through it back in McCain and the Repub's faces. Say the mean truths and facts that cut to the bone, that Obama can't...

This is how (changes in) Public Opinion works... :militia:

:charge:

[Spider]

Go Olbermann, Maddow, Chris Matthews, Jon Stewart-- Dig up that dirt and through it back in McCain and the Repub's faces. Say the mean truths and facts that cut to the bone, that Obama can't...

This is how (changes in) Public Opinion works... :militia:

:charge:

here is my beef with Olbermann , he always has guest on that only agrees with him , he leads them into answers to a question he is asking , he needs to be challenged , he needs to have someone that has a different point of view , Maddow rise to stardom is she takes on all comers , as it is right now Olbermann is a prime time Rush Limbaugh

[Play2win]

I'm of a different opinion, we need to curb Public Opinion to fight against Rove, Diebold, etc., Olbermann is an assett in public opinion influence that will at least even the scales.

Obama wants to run a campaign with integrity, which I am thankful for, but to combat the unethical actions and standards of the republicans it is neccessary to have some way of exposing them for the lying cheats they really are. New media, blogs and shows like Olbermann's do this. So I say Charge Ahead...


Olbermann is saying to McCain's face "I'm your Huckleberry!!!"

[Spider]

I'm of a different opinion, we need to curb Public Opinion to fight against Rove, Diebold, etc., Olbermann is an assett in public opinion influence that will at least even the scales.

Obama wants to run a campaign with integrity, which I am thankful for, but to combat the unethical actions and standards of the republicans it is neccessary to have some way of exposing them for the lying cheats they really are. New media, blogs and shows like Olbermann's do this. So I say Charge Ahead...


Olbermann is saying to McCain's face "I'm your Huckleberry!!!"

we agree we do need to change public opinion , we just disagree about how to do it ...... for example , you see maddow slap down Tucker , Pat , Joe , etc .... makes a person think , hey wait a minute of a 3 time senator ( joe ) or a log time government man ( pat ) cant dispute maddow , then maybe she is right , where as Olbermann , people just say meh . another flunky on his show that is a yes man ...... People get caught up and pay more attention to people arguing , then agreeing ..........

[frerottenextelway]

You folks love to complain about Limbaugh and co., but I guess that things are a little different when the shill is on your team.

That's a strawman argument. There are many on the Right that I disagree with, but and enjoy reading or watching. Limbaugh on the other hand, fails the basic human decency test.

[Spider]

even Stewart has people on that have a different point of view , Stewart wins every time ......... this sways public opinion more

[Play2win]

we agree we do need to change public opinion , we just disagree about how to do it ...... for example , you see maddow slap down Tucker , Pat , Joe , etc .... makes a person think , hey wait a minute of a 3 time senator ( joe ) or a log time government man ( pat ) cant dispute maddow , then maybe she is right , where as Olbermann , people just say meh . another flunky on his show that is a yes man ...... People get caught up and pay more attention to people arguing , then agreeing ..........

I just think the more ways we can attack it the better. Just like the Broncos offense right now-- we attack with the running game, passes to the TE, to Marshal, to ROYAL, Jay throwing outside the pocket, from the pocket, screens to the RB, Sprint Right Option, QB Draw-- Hell, whatever it takes, to get the job done.

I just want to Get 'R DONE... ;D

[Play2win]

even Stewart has people on that have a different point of view , Stewart wins every time ......... this sways public opinion more

I think they all sway public opinion, but it depends on each group's personal, individual experience to see what situation sways their specific opinion, and overall public opinion in general.


The way I look at it, the more ways the Republican party and their candidates are attacked, and by as many different directions as possible, the better!!! :thumbsup:

[Spider]

I think they all sway public opinion, but it depends on each group's personal, individual experience to see what situation sways their specific opinion, and overall public opinion in general.


The way I look at it, the more ways the Republican party and their candidates are attacked, and by as many different directions as possible, the better!!! :thumbsup:

what needs to be done is sway the swing voter , the uncommitted........ these people are not swayed by 1 way conversations , they want to see the issues hashed out ...........

[Play2win]

what needs to be done is sway the swing voter , the uncommitted........ these people are not swayed by 1 way conversations , they want to see the issues hashed out ...........

I think some are, when there is enough circumstantial evidence that keeps getting stockpiled higher and higher. But, yes, there are a lot of voters that will react better to heated debates by the two factions. I think, as the football saying goes, it is not a bad problem to have...

[Spider]

I think some are, when there is enough circumstantial evidence that keeps getting stockpiled higher and higher. But, yes, there are a lot of voters that will react better to heated debates by the two factions. I think, as the football saying goes, it is not a bad problem to have...

;D

[Mr.Meanie]

Wow after watching those clips, especially the Hardball one, I really like her. She actually debates instead of trying to over/out-talk her opponent. Maybe I was thinking of Randi Rhodes or something.

[Spider]

Wow after watching those clips, especially the Hardball one, I really like her. She actually debates instead of trying to over/out-talk her opponent. Maybe I was thinking of Randi Rhodes or something.

Randi is another one that is pretty vicious , some times over the top ......

[Bob]

even Stewart has people on that have a different point of view , Stewart wins every time ......... this sways public opinion more

Having folks on with differnt points on view changes opinion -- having one voice only is propaganda -- and should make one wonder about the strength of the augument...

If you want to influence Olberman is not your guy -- I wont listen to him, as he cant be trusted. Another thing is for that person to occasionaly call out mebers of tehir own party -- not just regurgitate talking points. I saw Romney do that recently and was disapointed -- as I know he is gunning for a job...

what I starve for is someone who can be an equal opportunty rip the party a new one artist ... (boy that could be read in several ways...)

[epicSocialism4tw]

Yuo haven't actually read my posts, have you ... hmmm...

Yeah, I read your post. I wasn't expecting the left-wing pundit celebration that followed though. From the same people who gripe and moan about Hannity, Rush, and the like. I guess I should have as the resident board lefties seem to specialize in hedonistic rationalized hypocrisy.

I guess that desperate times call for pep rallies.

[Spider]

Having folks on with differnt points on view changes opinion -- having one voice only is propaganda -- and should make one wonder about the strength of the augument...

If you want to influence Olberman is not your guy -- I wont listen to him, as he cant be trusted. Another thing is for that person to occasionaly call out mebers of tehir own party -- not just regurgitate talking points. I saw Romney do that recently and was disapointed -- as I know he is gunning for a job...

what I starve for is someone who can be an equal opportunty rip the party a new one artist ... (boy that could be read in several ways...)

you are coming around I see ;D but this also goes for Candidates , one thing that bugged me about Bush , he had a crowd that signed loyalty oaths , hand picked audience .. if you are gunning for a job like president , you need ot take on all comers and questions ........
Like in Boxing , Oscar De Lahoya didnt duck anyone , he lost a few fights , but he took on all comers ...... gotta respect that

[frerottenextelway]

Keith on DKos in reply to the right-wing whackos about ratings.

This is the new Republican meme: people are "rejecting" Countdown because Rachel gets higher ratings some night. It's a classic forest-for-the-trees thing. Since she started, my ratings are up 50-75%. It doesn't matter who has more on a given night. I'll be the one applauding loudest if she gets more every night.

Even if I was as shallow as somebody here suggests, you need to look a little bigger-picture.

This is our schedule, 8 PM-Midnight Eastern:

8 PM Me
9 PM Rach
10 PM Me
11 PM Rach

It's not just that I'm her lead-in; she is also my lead-in.

When I do really well at 8, she's likely to do really well at 9. If she does really well at 9, I'm likely to do really well at 10. If I do really well at 10, she's likely to do really well at 11.

So if she does better at 9 than I did at 8, I will do even better than I otherwise would have at 10, etc.

I did better than she did on Monday. She did better than I did on Tuesday. I did better than she did on Wednesday. But the point is, we're talking viewership totals above 1,500,000 in each of these hours, and "demo" viewerships in giddying numbers: 500,000; 600,000; 700,000. The shows are really profitable at something like 185,000 "demo" viewers (25 to 54's).

Also, I must again protest the Donahue Legend. For purposes of contrast, in his last month on the air in 2003, he averaged 439,000 viewers (tops at MSNBC at the time). Not demo viewers, total viewers. Rachel and I are talking to audiences three and four times Donahue's at his peak. He didn't help his longevity by his political stance, but he was cancelled because his ratings did not justify the expense of his show, which was probably more than Rachel's and mine combined. Here is the requisite link to Bill Carter's contemporary article in the NYT.

[Rank&File]

My kids only let me watch Noggin.

http://damonkee21.2waky.com/angelface/images/noggin.jpg

[Vega$Bronco]

All I know is he's going to go bankrupt :) if he keeps pay $100 to charity for each lie Palin tells.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Here is Maddow .........
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:thumbsup:

She takes that smarmy, lying little weasel Scarbor-ho to the woodshed, doesn't she?