EDIT (7/27/09): Keith Olbermann is out again this week. According to an article at The Huffington Post; filling in will be Lawrence O'Donnell, Howard Dean (I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing those episodes!), and Richard Wolffe. Mr. Olbermann himself responded to my diary in the comment section asking if I ever thought about checking out his baseball blog. The blog shows that he's been uploading a few posts here and there in his abscence. It still doesn't explain a sudden, unannounced 18-day (but who's counting?) absence from Countdown. Again, Keith, we miss you, and whatever the reason behind your extended disappearance from the airwaves, we wish you well and look forward to having you back!
After a full week of a Keith-less Countdown; "Keith Olbermann has the night off," is turning into MSNBC's, "Hiking the Appalachian Trail." Nothing against David Shuster, as he does a good job, but the reason I have tuned into Countdown from the beginning is because of Keith.
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If Keith is going to take extended, unexplained absences, he's going to have to let "Worst Person in the World" go. Right now it's essentially proprietary and only featured on the show when the show features Keith Olbermann. When Keith does come back, maybe he should name himself "Worse Person in the World" for leaving so long and so often.
Is something going on at MSNBC? Keith gave a lackluster excuse for dropping criticism of "Bill-O" (Bill O'Reilly), which was his stock-in-trade (at least in the "Worst Person" segment). It felt like he was asked to drop mentions of Bill and requested one final swipe to explain it away. Rush Limbaugh has acted as placeholder for Bill O'Reilly many an episode, now.
Bill-O has only gotten worse, but Olbermann hasn't mentioned the man in weeks (months?). Did MSNBC crack down after tiring of Bill-O attacking the network and/or GE? Is this where Keith's abrupt promise never to use "Bill-O" or "Bill-O the Clown" again on his show came from? Because what offended Keith was no worse than any number of acts he had previously criticized the blowhard O'Reilly for committing.
Is Keith retaliating with extended absences from the network where he is star? Is this a renegotiation ploy? Or am I over-thinking this and Keith is merely under-the-weather? Whatever the cause, Keith is missed and hopefully he knows -- and MSNBC realizes -- how eagerly his fans await his return.