Keith Olbermann Breaks Silence On MSNBC Exit; Could Earn $100M at Current TV

[NYCGirl]

Also, he's hired David Shuster, and Tim Russert was his champion at MSNBC.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-olbermann-breaks-silence-msnbc-195404?

*Olbermann says things turned for the worse after Tim Russert, one of his only allies at NBC, passed away. “Tim knew how to play them,” he says. “He managed to do that with every faction, with every complaint from the Republican side, with every complaint from the Democratic side, with every complaint from a staffer. He knew how to turn it into a conversation that ended in laughter. Tim, for the noblest of causes, could bullshit very well. And I admired him for it. It seems to sap my creative voice.”

*On the night of his final broadcast, Olbermann began the show not knowing if it was his last. In fact, when Olbermann went on air at 8 p.m. EST on January 21, neither he nor his staff knew this was his final broadcast. Olbermann had prepared two endings for the show; one with two readings from James Thurber, and another with a Thurber reading and his farewell to viewers. “As far as anybody knew,” says Olbermann. “I was doing the two Thurber stories.” Meanwhile, huddled off camera at Countdown’s Studio 1A Up, above the Today show’s Studio 1A, were Olbermann’s representatives (two ICM agents and Michael Price, Olbermann’s manager) and MSNBC president Phil Griffin and an NBC lawyer. At the 8:30 p.m. break, the parties agreed to release Olbermann out of his contract and he told his staff for the first time. Later, he and his team went out to eat at New York City’s Gramercy Tavern.

*He has not spoken to longtime mentee Rachel Maddow since leaving. "There were lots of people who were forced to choose sides. And particularly in Rachel's case, I didn't want to add to the pressure on her already. The last thing I need to do is be calling her up and saying, 'How's that Michael Steele working out for you?' Which is exactly what I would do if I were in the office

[Scuba]

1. Maybe he'll buy stars for a few DUers. n/t

[HappyMe]

10. And make a huge contribution to No Kid Hungry. nt

[SharonRB]

2. Oh, yes -- he hired Shuster!

That's an amazing piece of news.

[rurallib]

3. That is good to hear. Isn't Michael Moore contributing also?

Seem to remember someone saying "M$NBC hired Michael Steele, Current hired Michael Moore."

[eleny]

7. I think KO tweeted that thought

Btw, I change the channel every time there's a segment with Steele. TCM is always a safe bet for a change of pace.

:hi:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Wait wut? Michael Steel has a show? That bumbling idiot?

[rurallib]

12. No he's a (paid) "contributor"

And much like another poster here, when Steele comes on, I turn someplace else.

[bullwinkle428]

4. I definitely plan to watch KO, but feel bad for Rachel after reading this.

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. Will Shuster have his own show? He'd be the only one I'd tune in for.

:hi:

[NYCGirl]

24. No, sounds like he's the permanent guest host for Keith. NT

[Me.]

6. SHUSTER!

YAHOO

[eleny]

9. Every new piece of news about Current is better and better

[Me.]

16. What A Line-Up

What Joy

[Parker CA]

21. Such great news! Two of my favorites once again in the place! nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. Don't care much about the Tim Russert story.

The White House had a direct line to Russert controlling the news we heard. He didn't control anything. He may have kept Olbermann on the news, but it didn't do much for the rest of us getting a fair and balanced view of what what happening in the march to war.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

13. full article has been posted!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/confessions-keith-olbermann-195411

:)

[NYCGirl]

14. Thank you for the link. When I posted the OP, the only

full version was for subscribers.

[Shagbark Hickory]

15. Hey, Oprah did it. Howard Stern did it. Who else?

[Bake]

17. Just heard him interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air

DAmn, it's good to hear his voice again!!! Can't wait until he's back on TV!! His absence is the kind of absurdity up with which we will not put!

Bake

[ProfessionalLeftist]

27. I caught that interview this afternoon too...

Others can listen to it here if you missed it:

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/07/136931640/keith-olbermann-the-countdown-to-his-new-show

[PatSeg]

18. Just read the full article

I'm so glad David Shuster will be part of the show. I've been wondering about him ever since he was fired from MSNBC.

Fascinating article. Can't wait for his show.

[mod mom]

19. it's 10 Mill not $100 Mill but still a lot!

[Kingofalldems]

20. Republicans hate Olbermann--- a big reason I like him so much

I love to see internet foaming at the mouth over him.

[UTUSN]

22. Weasel G.E. Russert was his pal?! And, wow, ultimate stick-it, SHUSTER as his sub!1 n/t

[chowder66]

23. Asked how he was injured, he jokes, "I broke it on Glenn Beck's shiny metal ass." ....

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/confessions-keith-olbermann-195411

[GeorgeGist]

25. No pauper

[Uncle Joe]

26. I read on the Rolling Stone article that Ken Burns would be contributing as well.

Thanks for the thread, NYCGirl.:thumbsup: