Olbermann: "...if it's the end of my career, I will have gone down saying something I believe in."

[DeepModem Mom]

This is a TV critic's report of an amazing session with Keith Olbermann at the TV Critics Association meeting in Los Angeles, where Olbermann, part of NBC's presentation, talked about "NBC Sunday Night Football," the AFL-CIO Democratic Presidential Candidates Forum to be broadcast on MSNBC, and, of course, "Countdown":

*Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Melanie MacFarland
Keith Olbermann, "O'Reilly's Virus," to moderate his first Democratic Presidential Candidates forum.
"It is, to some degree, the way a virus feels about the host." – MSNBC's Keith Olbermann on Bill O'Reilly.

In Keith Olbermann's point of view, which an increasing number of people care about nowadays, Bill O'Reilly is the Worst Person in the World many, many times over. Olbermann's list of why that is the case will no doubt continue to grow as long as the Fox News Channel pundit continues to breathe.

Olbermann has anchored "Countdown" on MSNBC since 2003, but it has only been in the last couple of years that he has made serious waves. His scathing commentaries became YouTube sensations, lighting up the blogosphere when he famously took on Donald Rumsfeld and the Bush administration for the first time last summer. Olbermann said he's done 22 of them since August 2006. His viewership is up 72 percent over last year's numbers.

"So many people who agreed with it felt that that aspect of television or expression in this country had been silent, whether silenced or voluntarily silent, for a very long period of time," Olbermann said. "So that was kind of a dam-burst kind of thing."...

***

Over breakfast with television critics Tuesday morning, Olbermann let us know how he really felt about his bete noir.

"My gratitude to him has increased with every passing week," he said. "I used to say that I owed him a percentage of my salary. I think, actually, I started with I needed to send him a fruit basket. Then, I went up to percentage of the salary. And now, it's just, you know, good ol' Bill. Writes half of my material for me."...

***

On why pointed liberal commentary is limited to the realm of cable:

...."I think personally it requires some willingness to say, 'OK, I've thought this up, I've thought this through, and if it's the end of my career, I will have at least gone down saying something I believed in and I think it's important for the country. And for journalism in the country.' There are not a lot of people who are willing to do that."...

NOTE: MUCH, MUCH MORE AT LINK...A GREAT INTERVIEW!
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/archives/118243.asp?from=blog_last3

[AX10]

1. K & R!

[LibinMo]

2. K & R

I love Keith O.

[connecticut yankee]

36. Me, too

but it's a tossup between him and George Clooney.


:loveya: :loveya:

[Patsy Stone]

3. K&R

For the best news guy in the business.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Yes, indeed! nt

[williesgirl]

5. Even Cronkite didn't have the balls that KO has. rec'd

[jhrobbins]

33. I used to love Cronkite, but when he threw Dan Rather under the bus

during the Bush Awol bebacle, I have lost all respect for him

[BootinUp]

6. marker placed

to read this interview later. Looks like one not to be missed.

[Graybeard]

7. Just ask Phil Donahue, he was fired for doing exactly that...

...he said what he believed and was fired for it. Now Abrams is trying to imitate KO. Why not just give Keith two hours?
:evilgrin:

[Berry Cool]

11. KO claims that wasn't the only reason Phil was fired.

He says Phil's show was very expensive because it had a live audience.

[Graybeard]

29. Nonsense.

Donahue was fired for providing air time to critics of the Bush administration...period.

http://allyourtv.com/0203season/news/02252003donahue.html

[Berry Cool]

43. That was part of it, but that was not the whole reason.

Are you saying Keith lied?

Edit to add reference to Firedoglake Book Salon:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/11/05/fdl-book-salon-welcomes-keith-olbermann-2#comment-364443

I did want to defend (slightly) MSNBC on the Donahue front. I had just returned to the place at the time and got the lay of the land, and I know I’ll be deflating one of the most popular urban legends.

But Donahue was not cancelled because he was anti-war. I have no doubt that was A reason, but probably one of about ten. The show’s ratings fell and soared depending on how much it was advertised; the studio audience was a costly issue; his staff was twice the size of anybody else’s (or mine), and he was, at best, reluctant to adjust. I knew everybody involved in the process, and the Donahue-Was-Cancelled-Because-He-Was-A-Liberal story sounds great, but doesn’t reflect the complexities. Hell, we also killed off Michael Weiner Savage about five months later.

[Freddie Stubbs]

16. KO was able to increase MSNBS's ratings, Donahue never did

[Graybeard]

28. Donahue was the top-rated show on MSNBC.

At the time of his firing Donahue was the top show on MSNBC pulling even larger audiences than Hardball.

http://www.allyourtv.com/0203season/news/02252003donahue.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Yet his numbers were not an improvement from what was in the time slot previously

Of course Hardball has lower ratings, it's not on in prime time.

[ooglymoogly]

35. Where are you getting your funny facts

Pug talking points?

[jhrobbins]

34. Donahue was ruffling feathers during that 'time' when no one spoke out about the

Emperor. Remember that time - it wasn't all that long ago when the Bush administration was teflon.

[Berry Cool]

44. But Olbermann has pointed out many times that there were other factors around Donahue's demise.

Of course, some people plug their ears and refuse to believe Donahue was canceled for anything but being "politically incorrect." Olbermann said it was partly because his show's ratings, high as they were, were not justifying the expense. Countdown is a cheaper show.

[BlooInBloo]

8. What? Fighting for something without being guaranteed a win? Obviously not a DUer.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. K&R FOR K.O.,,,,,N/T

[FloridaJudy]

10. K&R n/t

[annabanana]

12. So THAT's where he was....

I miss him when he's out of town. I think it's cute that he doesn't understand why no one's stolen his fact-based coverage and tried to capitalize on it. He really thinks that Murdoch would suddenly change horses.

[tex-wyo-dem]

13. KO is truly a rare breed...

Speaks truth to power with eloquence and heart, backs up every bit of it with facts and historical perspective and does this in the face of those who control the purse who also want to control the message. Any other talking head or journalist wouldn't dare attempt this for the fear that it would spell the end of his/her career and be blacklisted from the industry forever...or worse. That is the definition of principled courage.

Thank you, KO! :patriot:

[Auntie Bush]

14. Keith is truly OUR hero!

[Highway61]

15. Bless you Keith

Journalism with honesty and integrity :applause:

[rabies1]

17. He is like a shock to the system.

I am always surprised that they allow him on the air and let him speak!
He's the lone voice of sanity. Kudos Keith! You are one of our heroes.

[lovuian]

18. God Bless him

:angel:

[AldebTX]

19. An Interview I Would Love to See

I would love to see an interview between Keith Olberman and Jon Stewart....I don't care who interviews whom...I just think it woudl be great TV...I don't think EITHER would hold back on their opinion on the current state of the media.

[LiberalFighter]

24. If only KO could interview Bush and Cheney and really grill the hell out of them

[TechBear_Seattle]

27. When Hell freezes over

The Junta does not DARE come within shouting distance of anyone who might possibly ask difficult questions.

[JitterbugPerfume]

20. Keiths truth telling only proves that

people are hungry for the truth . He is a beacon of light in a VERY dark news media

[mzmolly]

21. What's additionally great about Olbermann is that he does it with a sense of humor.

We so NEED a sense of humor in these dark times.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

22. God Bless Him. That's Integrity For Ya.

He's an example for all the rest to follow.

[Nightjock]

23. "On why pointed liberal commentary is limited to the realm of cable"

I don't view his show as "liberal". He is just telling the truth!
If there was a Dem in the whitehouse doing what bush is doing, Olberman would be all over him/her. And so would DU. That is the difference between us and the freepers. We would not believe the bullshit excuses coming out of the whitehouse!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

25. It would appear that telling the truth is now considered a liberal value

Makes me all the more proud not to be a conservative.

[frogcycle]

26. I think he should get yet another Algae Award just for saying that!

...."I think personally it requires some willingness to say, 'OK, I've thought this up, I've thought this through, and if it's the end of my career, I will have at least gone down saying something I believed in and I think it's important for the country. And for journalism in the country.' There are not a lot of people who are willing to do that."...

[Kurovski]

31. K&R. (nt)

[CanOfWhoopAss]

32. K.O. for K.O. (NT)

[swimmernsecretsea]

37. Did I need more reasons to admire this man? Hell, this is a rare individual.

He keeps saying things that just amaze me with their wisdom. You are a great man, Mr. Olbermann. I honor you.

[nikto]

41. Keith Olbermann...

is a great American and an outstanding Patriot.

[DeepModem Mom]

42. Yes, indeed, nikto -- welcome to DU!!!

[swimmernsecretsea]

47. One of the few modern heroes. He makes us all proud.

I'd not heard of him about a year ago, and now I feel bad if I miss Countdown.

[DemReadingDU]

38. Kick for Keith

[populistdriven]

39. k&r 100 !!!

[fooj]

40. Integrity at its finest.

[Mike Nelson]

45. Keith is GREAT!

He shows courage in a pool of cowards.

[JoeySoCal]

46. A true freedom fighter.

God and I can't tell you how I wish there were more. An Army of KO's.
Olbermann/Letterman '08