From the NYTimes website:
Keith Olbermann, the anchor of "Countdown," will remain at MSNBC through the next presidential election season, the cable news channel announced Monday afternoon.
Not much else to add but a big ol' whoppin' "Congratulations!"
And that congratulations is both to KO and the rest of us as well...
Olbermann's Countdown has really taken off, from the press release announcing his new contract:
In October 2008, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" had its best month ever in the key Adults 25-54 demographic, and is up a tremendous 170 percent in A25-54 from Oct. 2007 and up 180 percent in total viewers. "Countdown" continued its dominance over CNN at 8 p.m., out-rating "Campbell Brown" by 35 percent in A25-54 and 41 percent in total viewers. Excluding coverage of the presidential debates, "Countdown" is the #3 top-rated show in cable news in A25-54. "Countdown" is also the #1 cable news show among young viewers, Adults 18-34.
And he's needed viewers to accomplish that and i know that we Kossacks are, in general, big fans of the man and his voice. It's good to see him getting recognition for his work, the network tore up his old four year contract set in 2007 to give him a new, higher paying, four year contract.
I didn't see it, but I guess he was on The View this morning and he made some light of how the tone of his show may change somewhat now that his preferred candidate is going to be in the White House and the dems will control both legislative bodies. But he isn't going to roll over (again from NYT site):
He dismissed a suggestion that he’d be soft on Democrats by saying that Hillary Rodham Clinton is still mad about his criticisms of her last spring.
Here's to hoping that he has continued success, that his ratings weren't just due to the current Resident in Chief and that he continues to hold ALL those in power accountable. The last thing we need is for KO to be dismissed as a lefty Rush Limbaugh or O'Reilly. I have confidence that he won't.
Go get 'em Keith! With all apologies, Good day and Good luck!
UPDATE 1: Here is the NBC press release, certainly very laudatory.
And here is a, erm, reaction at Newsbusters. Using the term "ooze" is certainly descriptive and weighted. Check out the comments, though. Commentor Leon nails it on the head. Update 1 Update: D'oh, this Newsbusters post is actually reaction to 2007 contract renewal (ht snewp). My trying to do this quickly is showing, keep me off the rec list! How embarrassing!
UPDATE 2: So this isn't a reaction to KO's new contract, but a reaction to him in general posted at In Session. Had to link it because the initial post is very funny.
UPDATE 3: Finally, a reaction, from Jossip. It's not terribly exciting, smacks more of rotten grapes then actual criticism, but given the "quality" of the initial comment posted, it might be a page worth keeping an eye on for a few hearty laughs during your Monday.