Keith Olbermann gives abrupt goodbye to MSNBC show

[NYMdaveNYI]

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Keith Olbermann was MSNBC's most popular personality and single-handedly led its transformation to an outspoken, left-leaning cable news network in prime time. Despite that, he often seemed to be walking on a tightrope with his job. Friday night, it snapped.

Olbermann returned from one last commercial break on "Countdown" to tell viewers it was his last broadcast, and read a James Thurber short story in a three-minute exit statement. Simultaneously, MSNBC e-mailed a statement that "MSNBC and Keith Olbermann have ended their contract." The network thanked him and said, "we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Neither MSNBC President Phil Griffin, Olbermann nor his manager responded to requests to explain an exit so abrupt that Olbermann's face was still being featured on an MSNBC promotional ad 30 minutes after he had said goodbye.

Olbermann was nearly fired in November, but instead was suspended two days without pay for violating an NBC News policy by donating to three political campaigns, including the congressional campaign of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. He returned and apologized to his fans, but not the network.

Read more: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDefault/*/Article_2011-01-22-Olbermann/id-cce1cae73e4c417eb016f2c7dfddcb27

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AP is suggesting that this was NOT related to the Comcast merger.

I don’t completely buy that, yet.

I wish Keith the best, and I am confident that he can rise to success once again.


KNR please, for KO.

[daggahead]

1. We will see him again, no doubt. n/t

[Jkid]

2. It was an abrupt goodbye.

Two years ago he signed a 4-year contract with MSNBC with the show.

[buckrogers1965]

3. Too bad.

It was nice to hear a single voice on the mainstream news that supported "liberals."

I am a right winger, and I am sure that my perceptions are distorted by my world views.

Those on the opposite spectrum from my views are also distorted in their world view.

I am fairly certain that somewhere in the middle between my views and those on the left is the truth.