Olbermann in a Clash at New Job

[elleng]

The broadcaster Keith Olbermann is famous for estranging himself from his bosses, be it at ESPN, Fox or MSNBC.

At his new home, Al Gore’s Current TV, he has done it in record time.

Mr. Olbermann, who was hired last year to be the top star of the upstart liberal news source, had been on the job scarcely three months when trouble started. He declined Current’s requests to host special hours of election coverage, apparently out of frustration about technical difficulties that have plagued his 8 p.m. program, “Countdown.”

The channel decided to produce election shows without him. Mr. Olbermann, however, said he did not know that, and on Tuesday, the day of the Iowa caucus, the cold war of sorts reached a flash point. He held a staff meeting even though “Countdown” had been pre-empted.

Perceiving it to be an act of defiance, David Bohrman, Current’s president, wrote a memo to Mr. Olbermann’s staff telling them that the anchor had long ago given up the opportunity to anchor on election nights. “We assumed,” he wrote, that “Keith had communicated to you.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/business/media/olbermann-in-a-clash-at-new-job.html?hp

[teddy51]

1. I'm certain that Keith has enough money to retire if he choses to do so.

Maybe he should take a leave of absence, and see how the wind blows.

[opihimoimoi]

2. Keith has a prob needs fixing....we need him and his wit.....

[glinda]

23. Job change and death in family take sometimes a long time to sort or

even emerge. I have faith that time will provide an even keel and a way forward for him. He is very intelligent.

[Burge]

3. Well, it's not unusual for a "genius" to be a bit eccentric

and it appears that Olbermann is no exception.

[Samantha]

8. Overly intelligent people (which Olbermann is definitely one) are overly sensitive as well

I can see both sides of this, but I definitely can understand Olbermann's embarrassment at the technical difficulties. They have happened often during "Countdown" shows, and it is embarrassing. However, one must make allowances for the fact this is a new adventure for everyone concerned, and these problems will not be worked out overnight. It is to the advantage of everyone involved to take extra steps to make sure this relationship endures, because it is one the public at large very sorely needs.

I think everyone's intentions are in the right place; it is just a tough thing to start up. And remember, MSNBC's success didn't happen overnight. Despite the quirks Olbermann might have, his value far outweighs the idiosyncrasies.

I don't have to understand him; I just need to hear his commentary. That is it in a nutshell for me. And as for Al Gore, I can't thank him enough for handing Olbermann a new microphone.

Sam

[MADem]

4. He's not really "new" at Current, but that aside, it's not the first time he's had problems at work.

He has a deserved reputation for an inability to work or play nicely with others. I know he had trouble with his set, and they moved him into another corner of the room, where he worked in a "black void" that some said had a very cool look to it. I only saw a still shot of it--it looked pretty "different" to me--and IMO, different is good when it comes to television commentary. All the networks look too much alike. The article speaks to this issue:

Current is a start-up of sorts, lacking the backing of a deep-pocketed parent company — something Mr. Olbermann hasn’t contended with in years. When the channel put on Iowa caucus coverage without Mr. Olbermann on Tuesday, it was derided by online commenters as cheaply produced; “the production values were only slightly better than local public access,” wrote Jonah Goldberg of the conservative National Review, calling it “hilarious.”

Mr. Olbermann did not directly cite production values as a reason for his absence, but he said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, “I was not given a legitimate opportunity to host under acceptable conditions.”

I watched a bit of that coverage, and I have to say that the shitty production values worked in their favor--it was the most DIFFERENT coverage on the television. If Jonah "Everything I ever got, I got from MOMMY" Goldberg wants to characterize them as hilarious, he's more than welcome, but the different look of the set, so unlike the plastic, bright red crap on every other station, is what KEPT ME WATCHING.

Olbermann should focus on content and not get so uptight or diva-ish about sets. Electrical problems, sure--but you've got to dance with the one what brung ya, and it's never a smart idea to start dissing the people who pay you. Roll with it--the "quality" in the programming comes from the intelligent commentary, not from the pretty desk or the leather on the chair.

[Major Hogwash]

5. You should spread that far and wide -- it's more effective to smear someone that way.

Jus' saying.

[MADem]

14. Well, that was a very mature comment on your part.

No, not really--that's sarcasm on mine.

Rather than take issue with anything specific I have said, you go for the "Waah, you're smearing someone" complaint.

Do understand that I'll take your complaints with all of the gravity that I feel they deserve. If you can't have a civil discussion about this topic, that's your issue, not mine.

FWIW, I haven't said a thing that hasn't been reported in a number of publications. Do the Google, perhaps you might learn something.

Have a nice day, now!

[Major Hogwash]

18. Just a minute now.

You didn't work with KO.
So, you're just regurgitating crap that you've read about him.

I went over to Twitter and asked KO what he had to say about this.
This latest craptastic rumor started on Saturday before New Year's Day.
KO denied it.
Then the rumor was expanded on the next day and said he was going to talk to his lawyer about getting out of his contract with Current.
KO denied it.
Then someone asked him if he was upset because they had heard from someone else that he was quitting Current.
KO denied it.

KO denied it 3 different times.
But, he can't stop what anyone says about him in a newspaper, or on a blog, or on a tv program like TMZ.

I'm jus' saying.

[MADem]

19. Excuse me, but KO was the one who GAVE the interview to the Hollywood Reporter.

Run along now, and ask him if he didn't say what he said.

He also tweeted that he'd be doing the coverage on Iowa, and having a COUNTDOWN that day, when neither came to pass. So, do with that what you will.

Who says anything about him "quitting Current?" Or talking "to his lawyer about getting out of his contract...?"

Not me.

So why even toss that in, like it matters to the discussion or I'm thinking or saying that sort of stuff is the case?

He's simply having a tiff with the boss--that much is obvious. I'm sure they'll work it out. The guy has a five year contract worth around ten million per annum, it's in his and their interests to come to terms.

If anyone's making more out of this tiny little imbroglio than it actually is, it ain't me. The guy does have a reputation for flying off the handle, though--he should not be surprised when people notice.

[Major Hogwash]

20. Once again,

See reply #12.

KO has been denying these rumors since Saturday.

[MADem]

22. He should have clued in his LAWYER, so she'd be denying the rumors, too...

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/lawyers-intercede-in-rift-between-olbermann-and-current-tv/

Lawyers for the anchorman and the channel that employs him are having conversations amid a dispute about whether he can and will anchor special election coverage....it is apparent that there is behind-the-scenes tension between Mr. Olbermann and his newest network home.

...Mr. Olbermann, according to Current TV, turned down an opportunity to anchor on caucus and primary election nights. Mr. Olbermann asserted in a statement backed up by his manager, Michael Price, that he was not given a “legitimate opportunity to host under acceptable conditions.” He seemed to be suggesting that Current’s technical limitations were adversely affecting him, though he has not said so publicly.

In fact, the normally sharp-tongued Mr. Olbermann has not spoken ill of Current TV in public at all — an indication that his contract includes a nondisparagement clause. Such agreements are sometimes put into place to stop employees and their employers from publicly belittling or demeaning one another.

[gateley]

6. Yeah - diva-ish is my take on it, too. Careful, Keith -- the higher they climb... nt

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Buh-bye Keith. One would think that after having been fired from...

just about every job he's ever had he'd think at least a little bit about "why."

Is radio next? There you don't need a set big enough for you head.

[leveymg]

9. The NYT is the last to talk about problems putting out the news.

But, they and much of the rest of the worthies in the MSM seem to take delight in Olbermann's difficulties. Gee, I wonder why.

[rurallib]

10. This was refuted on here last week

Olbermann himself sent out a tweet calling the story a lie.

[elleng]

11. Would like to see that tweet, rurallib.

[rurallib]

12. I copied this from a thread here but didn't mark the thread

then sent an email to a friend:


Here's Keith's just-Tweeted reply to the rumor:

View profile
"I've just replied to BrianStelter as follows: anybody who describes my disposition towards Current as "disgruntled" is either uninformed, working from a personal agenda, wrong - or all of the above"

[leftynyc]

15. I'm skeptical

If he hadn't had these kind of diva problems at seemingly every job he's held, I would be more inclined to believe him. His ego gets the better of him at times.

[elleng]

17. Thanks. Good to see.

[MADem]

16. His interview with the Hollywood Reporter postdates that tweet.

He also said his show was going to air, and it didn't.

Trying to paper over the fact that KO is having some contentious moments over at CURRENT won't work. It is happening; this isn't a case of "Everyone is lying except him."

Hopefully, they'll be able to come to some sort of agreement, KO can continue on in his multi-million dollar gig, and everyone can move forward smartly.

Here is one link discussing the imbroglio; there are many others:
http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/01/05/keith-olbermann-clashes-current-tv/

I watched the Granholm - Gore - "that Cenk dude" Iowa coverage with the field reports from David Shuster. I thought it was great stuff. The sets may have not been fancy, the graphics didn't hop all over the screen frenetically, but the conversation was first-rate. I actually liked the set--it looked different from the usual fare, and that I found appealing.

[bigwillq]

13. Keith seems to be quite the diva (nt)

[MrMickeysMom]

21. As it turns out, Cenk is doing a bang-up job on the election coverage, so looks like it they recover

Meanwhile, declining of the Olbermann allows others to excel... it's all good.

I love Countdown, and will continue to watch it for that reason, even with the black background, which by the way, I thought was there on purpose after the power-outage in the studio.