Keith Olbermann & Countdown To Air On NBC Sunday Before NFL Game
By Logan Murphy Tuesday Aug 21, 2007 9:15am
Via The New York Times: (h/t Taylor Marsh)
“Countdown With Keith Olbermann” the highly rated cable news program, will be shown on network television on Sunday before a preseason NBC football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since Mr. Olbermann, right, will have a regular role in NBC’s football coverage once the season begins — appearing as a co-host on the pregame show “Football Night in America” on Sundays — this weekend’s appearance of his cable show will give a wider audience a look at what he has been up for the last four years. “ ‘Countdown’ is rocketing right now over at MSNBC — its ratings are going through the roof,” said Phil Griffin, senior vice president of NBC News. (In July Mr. Olbermann’s show averaged 721,000 viewers, an increase of 88 percent over last July, according to MSNBC.) Mr. Griffin added, “The world has changed, and I think people have come in line with the smart, focused approach he has on the show.” No immediate plans for additional network appearances of “Countdown” have been made, but Mr. Griffen did not rule them out. “It may be the first of several times you see Olbermann on the network,” he said.
As Taylor puts it: "This will drive Bill-O berzerk. As for Rush Limbaugh, he'll be pea green with envy."
This is a big opportunity for Keith to be given a true nation-wide, prime time audience and it's long overdue. Just think of all the people who will tune in early to watch football and find honest and hard hitting journalism! Bravo, NBC, bravo...
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First!
good for KO...he needs a bigger audience.........since the sheeple won't listen to the truth from the other sources....Maybe KO will get through to them.....
"Just think of all the people who will tune in early to watch football and find honest and hard hitting journalism!"
Yeah, both of them...
I sure hope all those numbed up teevee watchers can absorb some of Olbermans truth and honesty instead of getting off the couch for another can of Budwieser.
Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy.
Eat that Billo!
I hardly doubt that O'Reilly, Limbaugh and those of that ilk will be jealous- quite the contrary, they will trumpet this as irrefutable proof of the vile, hate-mongering, ideological left-wing bias in the MSM that they've dissembled about for years.
Well this will be a good experiment for news in general. We'll see if the general public is ready for Keith's kind of show. If they are, I'll have some hope for the future.
And all I can wonder is how long before faux and all the reich wing zombies start an across the board smear job?
I have no doubt they're sitting around scratching their empty little heads right now trying to figure out why KO is so popular. It's a little thing called the truth guys. Honest journalism. I'd suggest they try it but I suspect exposure to anything even approaching reality would cause the reich wingers to burst into flame not unlike a vampire exposed to the sun.
Olbermann will knock the socks off those who are disgusted with the current regime and aren't familiar with his show. Bravissimo, NBC.
Great maybe, maybe it will get some of our "Sports Fans" in this country interested in things that really matter a little more. Youpolls
Does that mean Olberman will be on opposite of the Simpsons?
if keith goes to the networks they will shut him up...i say no to this...
pissed off patricia @ 7:
My guess is that many will feel that their "escapism" will be interfered with and thus scare NBC away from any kind of "daring" in the future. It will be up to all of us to give lots of positive responses [if merited] to force them to keep at it!
Olbermann is GRAND! And, given Olbermann and the Daily Show are the only reason I pay Comcast $50/mo., if NBC picked up 'Countdown' I'd save $600 a year...
One's never to old to dream.
ysbaddaden @ 11:
Doh !!!
Yeah I'm sure he's going to be a big hit amongst these true blood NFL devotee types.
http://www.usmayors.org/trees/DSC_7050.jpg
My recommendation for the first Sunday Night Match-up: Keith-O vs. Bill-O!
WHOOPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is great!
Here in Denver, for some inexplicable reason, MSNBC and KO were taken from basic cable and moved to premium cable subscription (comcast), essentially making them inaccesssable to most folks in the area. This was at the same time that his special comments were become so effective (and anticipated).
Things have gotten so bad, that I immediatly put on my tin foil hat and assumed that Comcast had an agenda when they did that, and specifically targeted KO, defying the market to suppress his message, making him more like Murrow every day!
7PM will also challenge 60-sukkkup minutes in NYC.
Can you spell: "BIG MARKET ATTACK ON CBS" ?
Maybe they'll add this to Olberman's show
http://www.orato.com/files/story/2206/like.jpg
Could be worse, they could add this:
http://www.strelna.ru/thn/800/rel/dba/music/44908/image_blob/chron_id.jpg
Wonder if KO will "tone down" this show somewhat....you know, stop tossing papers
after some of his commentary, forgo the "Worst Person in the World" segment, and
instead have known guests, and hopefully have one of his "Special Comments" aired.
Person watching for the first time, might not like some of his usual and customary
antics, so perhaps doing more news and less theatrics would keep them as an audience.
Just saying....
pissed off patricia @ 7:
no matter what the public says, I expect wingnuts to attack every syllable.
that said, I hope he has a "special comment" AND "worst person" segments.
Is this why he's had substitute hosts all week? Hardly worth it.
This is great news. Poor Billo is going to go ape shit. To bad for Rush, he has a face for radio.
It’ll be interesting to what the response (or lack thereof) from the Culture Warrior from Levittown.
1.) He seems to do all he can to even mention KO.
2.) He once launched a rather infantile petition drive to put Phil O’Donahue (One
wonders why he didn’t opt for Bill Donahue!) into KO’s time slot. Still, avoiding the mere mention of KO’s name.
3.) When a caller did mention KO, Falafel disconnected the line and threatened the caller with a “visit from Fox Security”.
We really need a psychologist to probe into the scrambled mind of Falafel and explain him to us, especially as he unravels even further.
BaScOmBe @ 23:
Go Keith!
Too bad KO is not simultaneously broadcast on NBC. With a new Harris poll showing deep apathy amongst americans towards politics anything that might enlighten them to the dangers we face from within is a good thing.
Monotheistic, power-hungry, warmongering rulers + cowtowed press + apathetic populace = recipe for disaster.
baby jesus considers football one of his mistakes along with the prostate and appendix design, but baby jesus loves Keith and will watch
I disagree with the assertion that the world has changed. Americans have always wanted truth in their news reports, it's just now, news is more infotainment instead of news. After MSNBC booted Phil Donahue off the air for speaking the truth about the war in Iraq, it seemed that sane rational people had no where left to get their news... Keith is a breath of fresh air. And his ratings reflect what so many people thought about this quagmire and this quagmire of an administration.
So, Good on Keith and Keep up the good work!
Yay! Concussion-riddled couch-potatoes with the IQ of spinach will be exposed to fact-based and sober reporting! They're going to be THRILLED.
"left" and "right" are all a charade.
In case you haven't noticed yet.
cg @ 32:
LOL
You get it.
Special Commentary?.....probably not.....even still it'll be well worth watching as always
The Rothschild banking family was famous for backing both sides in war.
So the American Corporate Media Empire is tossing us a crumb off of their sumptuously laid out table, and hedging their bets by playing both ends against the middle.
Bravo.
Don't mean to be the skunk at the garden party, but I'll withhold my applause until I see a general shift by them, on all channels, away from O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Coulter, Malkin.
But I won't be holding my breath waiting for that to happen.
~Nyc
I can just envision my conservative NFL watching relatives.
"What in the hell is this god damned pansy lefty commie doing on here!"
>>"this weekend’s appearance of his cable show will give a wider audience a look at what he has been up for the last four years..." just before appearing on NBC Football and destroying his credibility and reputation.
It's a bad move. Political commentary (especially commentary with a slant) has nothing to do with football, and there's no reason to think he can pull off the move. Anyone remember Dennis Miller's attempt at football commentry?
This will hurt his career.
I LOVE IT!!!
why do conservatives hate america?
There's basically two governments.
Hollywood and The Military Industrial Complex.
If we get Hollywood in 09 at least we'll just be entertained to death.
Lesser of two evils I suppose.
This is good news for fans of the truth. Now if we can just get David Schuster a full time gig!
LegallyBlond @ 5:
Here, here...(or is that "Hear, hear"?) anyway, KO has earned this. He has done an admirable, exemplary job in distinguishing himself from the Bloviating Barons of Bombast. Where the rest cater to Idiot America, Olberman prods and howls and holds things up to the light. He is the Only Honest Man In Town....
Keith rocks. Even better, he informs, and also slips in a bit of entertainment. One of the best programs available on television.
FUCKIN' A! GOOD FOR YOU,KEITH!! I guess now were gonna have to listen to O'Crybaby whine about the liberal bias in football!
While I admire Olbermann, this being US tv, he is way to soft when you compare him to the rest of the world.
What the US and the factinistas need is a fighter. Someone willing to tear into their opponent and tear them apart.
Politics in the US are lame. People will happily let others denounce them and not say a flipping word.
Try doing that to the likes of a Galloway (check youtube). He tore into congress when he appeared there and left the conservatives gasping for air.
If Olbermann can do one thing with the 'football' format it would be to have a 'trench'.
A *real* no spin zone. Kinda like the debates but get good people. People with bite.
When people get all riled up they tend to speak without thinking first... you see them for who they really are.
Olbermann - rocketing.
O'Reilly - just watching.
Look, given the state of the MSM today Keith could appear on Sesame Street and PBS and I'd tune in any time to watch him!
Not to pee on anyones parade, as good as this sounds,
don't be surprised if the program gets pre-empted
for some 'staged' reason, oh like say a breaking news
terror alert....just sayin.
Any bets that fox won't be putting o'liely's show on right before the Sunday morning game to counter this?
On second thought, he couldn't be any worse than Terry Bradshaw.
Random @ 38:
Disagree. Most people (who don't watch msnbc) hear Keith's name and think of his tenure at ESPN, were he was well-liked. Besides being an asshole and not funny, Miller did not have sports experience.
theWalrus @ 52:
True that, Walrus.... Miller was a pseudo-intellectual self-indulgent hack who thought he was a comedian by being able to use high school graduate-level words culled from an SAT with which to pepper his droning monologues....and the morons who listened to him were sooo impressed by his wit and intelligence! Give me a fucking break! Keith O doesn't pretend to be anything more than what he knows he already is...a former sports broadcaster with a reasonably intelligent take on the politics in the US. No way will his career suffer. His star is rising especially in a sea of offal who call themselves journalists in the MSM.
love, love, LOVE Keith. i have my husband's permission to marry him if the opportunity presents itself... :-)
Sunday Olbermann?
Sweeeeeet.
On the one hand, it's good to hear KO is getting a wider audience, on the other, it sounds almost as though the execs are looking for an excuse to kill the show and/or KO's career by putting it on just before a sporting event. I mean, intellectually, sport and politics are at opposite ends of the spectrum, people who are getting ready to watch a game are hardly in a mood to engage with seirous issues.
It sounds like a nutty decision to me, but who knows, maybe they have done their homework and it will work. I hope so.
cg @ 32:
You say couch potato like it's a bad thing.
Just cover me with melted butter.
I think it's terrific that Keith is being given a shot on the main NBC network, however I think Countdown is better suited to MSNBC. Besides, Olberman is their main attraction right now and I doubt they would want to lose him to the main network.
If NBC is doing this for PR purposes to increase his audience on MSNBC then I say Bravo!! Keith's home is MSNBC where he has the freedom to articulate his points without interference.
My only wish is that Countdown will shed some of its lighter fare like "Keeping Tabs" in favor of more hard news and commentary.
..in a deep o'Lielly-type voice..
"I have to say that the NFL and NBC are playing with fire by associating with fellow travellers of known or purported sympathizers of terrorists."
The thing about Olbermann is the guy's show is often really, really funny! I wouldn't be suprised by early 2008, the guy is doing his hour show daily on NBC.
theWalrus @ 52:
Exactly. The difference between KO, and Miller and Limbaugh, is that Keith was a sports commentator... most people don't realize this.
Keith got his start as a sports commentator, then moved to MSNBC as a political commentator. He was unknown at MSNBC for a couple of years until Katrina hit, and he went on a huge rant against the Bush Admin and huge clusterfuck of a response to the natural disaster. This event is what catapulted his career.
theWalrus is correct. Mr. Olberman was a pretty good sports guy on ESPN, and still keeps a hand in on the radio - I'm sure hardcore football/sports fans know that. But, he has other attributes that Miller, Rush, Billo, et al lack: he is intelligent, articulate, a good writer, has a broader range of knowledge, possesses common sense, and has a sense of humor and of humility. Perhaps we should encourage the others to watch and learn.
lucid fiction @ 49:
Bingo.
best news
I've heard in a long while
good for you keith
suck it bill
heh...
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/donselect
How bout we get a reminder of this before the weekend, i haven't had cable for months, and i'd like to see countdown again, but I hardly watch TV on sundays, so a refresher would be nice.
It seems that a few people here can't get past the myth that sports fans are all beer guzzling neanderthals. The reason Miller bombed is because He was and remains a pompous ass. I think it's a wonderful idea whose time has come.
I wonder if we'll get to see this in the Seattle area.
Consulting these on-line TV schedules:
http://www.king5.com/tvschedule/
http://www.tvguide.com/Listings/default.aspx
http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/
reveals that KING5 has The Chris Matthews Show and Up Front With Robert Mak scheduled during the time, 4-5 PM/PT, that NBC has scheduled the Countdown with Keith Olbermann program.
I'll be really impressed if they would put KO on before the San Diego-New England matchup on September 16th, when someone might actually be watching. Preseason? C'mon.
Now it's becoming a Liberal Media! Nice!
In your face O'Rly.
Since O'Reilly is too much of a coward to even mention Olbermann's name, how will Bill-o spew his fake outrage over this news?
THAT'S GREAT. I CAN'T WAIT. WHAT TIME? I DON'T WANT TO MISS IT. I'VE HEARD SO MUCH GREAT STUFF ABOUT OLBERMAN. I WANT TO TAPE IT. I HOPE HE BECOMES A REGULAR.
Way to go Keith!
I'm Canadian, and I love this guy. Just wish we had someone like him up here.
Keith has worked hard, and deserves every single viewer he gets.
One thing though - I hate it when he lowers himself (or his corporate masters forcibly lower him) to covering Brittney Spears and Paris Hilton. It's beneath you Keith!
The only difference between Politics and Sports is that whoever wins in Sports has absolutely no impact on peoples lives. Olbermann will become a superstar after this. Bravo NBC.
It's not the "smart focused approach," it's the content of the show. KO does a great job, but he's not shoveling BS like the motley crew at Faux News.
Throbbin @ 71:
Whenever Musto shows up, it's great television. Also the #1 story (and last story of the show) being Paris or Hilton is a commentary on the majority of mainstream media, and I feel it is necessary to the show.
Excellent!
Since I first found "Countdown" I have got my relatives to watch it also. It's so refreshing to find "real" news on TV and Keith has stepped out and spoken up. Hopefully other "news" stations will fall off the Kool Aid wagon and start reporting real news. I am so glad to see Keith getting more air time. I loved his hosting of the Democrat forum for MSNBC.
Keith and the folks at MSNBC should figure a way to steer the new wider audience back towards his previous special comments. Maybe promote that each new comment can be seen at such and such youtube address, where all his other important comments will be archived.
This is some of the best documentation anyone in the MSM has kept. Definitely historic.
Thank you Keith!
hmoore @ 62:
A gas attack on the White House?
boosh gets flatulence?
I suspect this is ko's last chance to be bought, it will depend if football is the subject...he's had a good run so far, I just hope he's careful, same to his family, and to the rest of c&l's faithful
glta
L.A. Confidential @ 16:
That's a scary picture.
I don't see KO letting them control his content to any great extent. If they want him because of his ratings potential then they're just going to have to take him as he is.
What does anyone think those ratings represent anyway? They represent the audience's respect for the truth - something they're not getting anywhere else.
I don't see KO just taking a dive on this one.
*
Much as I love KO, I'm afraid neither he, nor the traditional network audience, may be quite ready for him in prime, big network, time. Keith is neither mainstream nor traditional (as those words are applied to the media), and trying to fit him into those categories may end up being catastrophic.
Keith has developed a niche on MSNBC. His followers know where to find him, and many more are beating a path to his MSNBC door (as the ratings prove). What's wrong with 700K viewers a night, and a multi-million dollar, multi-year contract on MSNBC? If he over-exposes himself to the yahoos who think journalism is what they get from the current crop of NBC talking heads (Tim Russert, David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell, etc.), he risks a substantial backlash that may affect his MSNBC standing, especially if the NBC bigwigs wither under the inevitable onslaught of right wing attacks that is sure to ensue from Keith's network appearance.
I'm afraid the network's corporate paymasters have a plan here, and it isn't maximizing KO's exposure. This is a booby trap for Keith that I hope he survives.
Good night, and GOOD LUCK, Keith!
As Taylor puts it: “This will drive Bill-O berzerk
How will we know the difference?
'bout time. i hope he doesn't hold back . fuck it. go for the balls.
Only problem...
These a football types, ...what Keith has to say will no doubt be waaaaay over most of their heads.
it's awesome but i think keith's vocabulary is too complex for a lot of the morons who watch football. ya know its funny thinking back..I wonder how many repug-nicans run abc seeing that they had both rush limbaugh and dennis miller as co hosts for MNF previously. abc/disney is filled with a bunch of cocksuckers who will do anything to push the bush agenda
He'll do fine. He might have to 30-40 minutes of oddball, but I think worst person in the world with falafel boy getting bronze,silver, and gold will play well. I excited to see how well orally will handle this. I think he'll send flowers
Martskers @ 81:
I agree with you. You just saved me a lot of typing.
I'm glad Keith's getting more exposure. He always brings his a game every night
What Dennis Miller wants to be when he grows up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU9KBXHIObU
An anatomical specimen
Take a gander at this.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.briansdriveintheater.c...
Rush is more like pee-yellow than pea-green...
►Runs-With-Dog◄ @ 84:
See my comment #65
Mike Huntholl @ 85:
Excuse Me. I am a sports fan and not a moron. Being intelligent and loving football is not mutually exclusive.
David Hawes @ 92:
That's what beer's for.
cg @ 32:
Generalize much? I for one have a very high IQ, enjoy football and KO. Having intelligence and enjoying football are not mutually exclusive. Snobbery and elitist attitudes such as yours are one reason some people will never listen to people such as yourself, even if you ever do manage to contribute something of value to the conversation.
Martskers @ 81:
Keith Olbermann, 2007's Not-Ready-for-Prime-Time-Player
Fantastic!
Keith Olbermann, why do you pay attention to O'reilly? You both look clowns. My priniciple: when I realize that the people I associate are corrupt and liars; I move away from them for good reasons.
You have a choice either to wallow in the mires with these people or face reality and move forward.
Why ask why?
It's a preseason game.
He'd have a bigger audience on PBS after "This Old House".....
►Runs-With-Dog◄ @ 84:
Yeah, those knuckle-draggers are too busy making absurd generalizations. They probably can't even put subjects and verbs together correctly.
Go Packers.
xii @ 100:
No, they probably are not even intelligent enough to tie their own shoes, much less tell the difference btw real reporting an an hour long political commentary.
Go Broncos.
BA, MBA, University of Illinois
"...Since Mr. Olbermann, right, will have..."
In the photo & perhaps politically, KO is on the left!
On that day, COUNTDOWN will at least stand as a momentary shift from the right wing domination of the MSM. It's about time. Put KO on NBC & replace Tucker with Stephanie Miller on MSNBC!
Jay @ 101:
AND an....jeez, an MBA certain doesnt qualify you to type.
ysbaddaden @ 93:
Actually,here in FloriDuh,when the temp on-field is 110F,it's better to pour a nice crisp SmirnoffIce over ice in a tall cup. I got a beerbelly,but that's from my time in New England.
That's Smirnoff ICE .
If only they would show him prior, during and after any baseball games. Keith should be familiar to all ardent sports fan. After all, he used to be sportscaster/journalist.
Score one for one of the good guys.
_
Jim @ 94:
Mmm, condescension. The ironies is delicious.
Of course it's a generalization - but it's pretty obvious that Countdown is catering to a different demographic than Monday Night Football. It's a good opportunity for him, but let's not pretend that they're sharing an audience here.
L.A. Confidential @ 16:
Stereotype much?
Oops. Never mind. Should have read more. Jim handled this already.
Fan-fucking-tastic. Maybe Billo's head will explode. One can only hope.
I hope Mr. Griffin is reading this. We Want Shuster! We want Shuster! We love Keith and we also want Shuster!
SteveK @ 14:
I watch em both on the net. I want a consultant's fee...lol
Throbbin @ 71:
Couldn't agree more! Have a feelin that he has little choice in the matter - anybody know?
xii @ 100:
Martskers @ 81:
I don't think so. I watch NBC Nightly News daily (no cable) and they promote the hell out of Countdown - every night! I know NBC is as right wing as they come, but they know they have a winner there. Not sayin they won't boot Keith at the first reasonable opportunity, but MSNBC is struggling - except for Keith!
Wouldn't ya love to see a nice fat special comment - say on the Vietnam comparison Bush made today? We can dream, can't we?
CG @ 108:
Let's not pretend that there's no potential for statistically significant crossover, either. And let's not pretend that football fans tend to be "concussion-riddled mouth-breathers with the IQ of spinach," as was implied upthread. Not cool.
Someone kicked you ball?
ysbaddaden @ 117:
Me football-and-Olberman-lovin' ovaries.
xii @ 116:
Let's not pretend that there's no potential for statistically significant crossover, either. And let's not pretend that football fans tend to be "concussion-riddled mouth-breathers with the IQ of spinach," as was implied upthread. Not cool.
Fair enough (not really actually since I thought it was blatantly obvious I was describing a caricature, but whatever) - there will certainly be a lot of people who enjoy Keith's input, but it's absurd to suggest that this is Keith's "big break" for the reasons I outlined. An audience that feels compelled to watch pre-season football is not the greatest well to tap if you're looking for aficionados of angry political commentary, no matter how well-thought out or identifiable he may be. Let's call it the small victory that it is.
Agreed. I'd also suggest that Olbermann isn't quite the cult-status, too-radical-for-prime-time, secret counter-culture hero that he's often portrayed as in the blogworld. He's a mainstream media figure, widely recognized.
Worst Sport Broadcaster ever!
What NBC thinking?
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