Keith Olbermann fired by Current TVKeith Olbermann was abruptly fired on Friday by Current TV, after only a year on the air, the latest feud and flame out by the loudest liberal voice on Cable TV.
In a letter to its viewers, such as they are, Current TV said the former ESPN and MSNBC pundit would be replaced by former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer, who has recently been subbing for Olbermann. The letter by the network, chaired by ex-Vice President Al Gore, said:
“We created Current to give voice to those Americans who refuse to rely on corporate controlled media and are seeking an authentic progressive outlet. We are more committed to those goals today than ever before.
“Current was also founded on the values of respect, openness, collegiality and loyalty to our viewers. Unfortunately, these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann and we have ended it.”
In announcing Olbermann’s replacement, Gore said: “Elliot Spitzer is a veteran public servant and astute observer of the issues of the day.”
Olbermann released a statement saying he will sue Gore and Current TV co-founder Joel Hyatt. He faulted them for failing to address technical deficiencies that have plagued the program and network.
“It goes almost without saying that the claims against me implied in Current’s statement are untrue and will be proved in the legal actions I will file against them presently,” Olbermann added.
Olbermann, a former sportscaster, came to prominence at MSNBC during President George W. Bush’s second term with scathing, often-emotional commentaries aimed at administration war policy and such targets as then-Vice President Dick Cheney.
“Countdown with Keith Olbermann” took aim, as well, at the right-wing Fox News Channel. The loudest mouth at Fox, Bill O’Reilly, became the frequent “winner” in Olbermann’s nightly “Worst Person in the World” contest.
Bloviating by BillO in response helped boost Olbermann’s ratings, and ignited a war of denunciations between Fox and NBC. Olbermann loved to do on-air impressions of Australian-born mogul and Fox overlord Rupert Murdoch, who once fired Olbermann from a previous job.
But Olbermann was a difficult employee. MSNBC built a lineup of other liberal commentators, notably Rachel Maddow, and decided to sever ties with Olbermann in the middle of a four-year, $30 million deal.
In letting Olbermann go, MSNBC was equally cool, declaring:
“MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in its success and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Olbermann was given the title of Chief News Officer at Current TV, and Gore described him as a “perfect fit.”
Spitzer resigned as governor of New York after revelations that he had patronized a high-priced call girl service. He resurfaced, briefly, as a CNN host. He recently hosted a New York fundraiser for Washington gubernatorial candidate ex-Rep. Jay Inslee.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.