Josh Marshall: What The Hell Was That About?

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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/01/what_the_hell_was_that_about.php

I was just on in the opening segment of Olbermann tonight. And I get home and get this press release from NBC saying this was the last episode of Countdown. At first I figured it had to be a spoof email because, jeez, I was on and I didn't have any sense that any other than a regular Friday evening show was on. But sure enough I pulled up the recording and now I'm watching his final sign off.

I doubt I would have had any heads up or known anything was happening if Olbermann was going to go off the air. But I was a bit more stunned than I might otherwise have been because I was just over there. And I did not have any sense that there was anything any different than normal going on. Everything seemed calm and pretty sedate. There were a few more people than I'm used to seeing in the studio -- maybe two or three who seemed to be there to watch. But nothing that made me think twice that anything odd was going on.

I'm sure we'll be hearing soon enough what on earth happened here. But color me stunned. And really disappointed.

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1. Olbermann Leaves ‘Countdown’ on MSNBC, MSNBC contact page

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/olbermann-hosts-last-countdown-on-msnbc/?hp

9:24 p.m. | Updated Keith Olbermann, the highest-rated host on MSNBC, announced abruptly on the air Friday night that he is leaving “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” immediately.

The host, who has had a stormy relationship with the management of the network for some time, especially since he was suspended for two days last November, came to an agreement with NBC’s corporate management late this week to settle his contract and step down.

In a closing statement on his show, Mr. Olbermann said simply that it would be the last edition of the program. He offered no explanation other than on occasion, the show had become too much for him.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. So it may be keith

and I might be jumping the gun... I am still jumping the gun