Today Show Editor Fired Over Lawrence ODonnell Tirade Leak

[left-of-center2012]

NBC internal investigation identified staffer who released embarrassing footage of MSNBC host

NBC News has fired the staffer it believes responsible for leaking embarrassing footage of Lawrence O’Donnell berating his staff and complaining about “hammering” in his earpiece, the New York Post reported Monday.

Following an internal investigation, the network identified an editor at the “Today” show as responsible for leak and dismissed that person on September 26, according to the Post. The former employee’s name has not been released.

A network source told Post that the former editor “left a very clear trail.”
A spokesperson for the network declined to comment.

The broadcast-quality footage, which quickly went viral following its publication on the website Mediaite on September 20, ignited days of mockery for O’Donnell and was compared to the famous Bill O’Reilly “do it live” video from “Inside Edition.”

“What’s going on, why am I losing this, why don’t I have sound,” O’Donnell complains about an earpiece. “Who’s asking for a Labor Day rundown in my ear? … You have insanity in my earpiece … F—in’.”
The footage lasts for more than eight minutes.

Read more at:
http://www.chron.com/entertainment/the-wrap/article/Today-Show-Editor-Fired-Over-Lawrence-12281712.php?ipid=hpctp

[NightWatcher]

1. He looked very unprofessional in that video

If a camera is near you, assume it's rolling.
If you are mic'ed, assume it's hot.

I'm amazed he went on as much as he did. Maybe he was having a shit day, but he looked worse that Bill-O.

[hlthe2b]

2. Yes... Still, I have sympathy for the situation.

Nothing is more infuriating to me than to have a zillion separate loud conversations going on directly around me when I am trying to speak to the person directly in front of me.

I suspect I would react badly as well.

[snooper2]

3. No, just showing his true self he is a pompus asshole

[UCmeNdc]

6. No I disagree. I think there was a serious technical problem in his in ear monitors

The problem should have been solved within a few minutes. But for the problem to continue throughout the show must have been maddening. These guys are paid to run the technical part of the show mistake free. It is not like there is any artsy, experimental way to run sound into a monitor system. So not being able to correct it is strange. Hence the announcer has a right to get upset if it keeps going after ten minutes. It is not amature hour on a major show like this.

[snooper2]

7. he works with the same people every day, he is a dick

Or maybe he just had an extra drink before the show while getting his makeup done

[Joanie Baloney]

4. I disagree

The unprofessional one was the editor who leaked it hoping to derail Lawrence. That back-fired. Lawrence wanted things to be as planned. Someone was effing things up. That's what happens during commercials.

-JB

[lame54]

5. It was a mirror of O'Reilly's but...

Bill's is still much funnier

If i was in a band that would be the name of our live album
Fuck it - we'll do it live
With O'Reilly on the cover

[ecstatic]

8. I'm a little surprised because I like LO and think

he's a genuinely good person. I haven't seen the video (not sure I care enough), but right now I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because I can completely relate to how infuriating it can be to have unrelated gibberish being spewed in my ear (in my case during conference calls). One person makes and takes random phone calls on the side in the middle of trying to discuss important issues. When this happens on a call that is not crucial, I simply hang up... but I assume you can't "hang up" / turn off earpiece when recording a live show. Maybe I'll watch the video.