It has literally been years since I missed a single episode of Countdown with Keith Olbermann. I caught each and every episode on MSNBC for years and have watched each episode on Current so far. There's a Keith Olbermann bobble-head doll on my TV chillin' next to Yoda. When I found out Current was also signing Cenk Uygur and The Young Turks, my personal dream-pick for the 7 EST slot leading up to Countdown, I couldn't have been more psyched, especially to see Keith and Cenk together. Unfortunately, now over a month since TYT on Current began, I'm still yet to see my two favorite commentators team up, and the reasons why are starting to become clear.
The first time Current did their Politically Direct coverage I was disappointed by but understanding of Keith's absence. They had everyone together in a studio in California, Keith would be the odd-man out participating from across the country and there could be that awkward satellite-delay. Then another Keith-less Politically Direct came and went; still, I thought nothing of it.
After a week of best-of-Countdowns that finished off 2011, droves of loyal KO fans were anxiously awaiting his return on Tuesday, January 3 owing to what he said in the intro to the last best-of-Countdown as well as this tweet. But soon after, this startling tweet came down the pike, not just letting us know that we weren't getting any Countdown that night, but also that the decision was not Keith's to make.
That's when the controversy began, hyperbolic headlines that Keith and Current are already on the outs notwithstanding. Current claimed Keith was asked to anchor the Politically Direct IA Caucuses coverage that aired instead of Countdown and refused. Keith claimed Current didn't offer "a legitimate opportunity to host under acceptable conditions" and that Current was "[t]elling half the story."
I honestly have somewhat mixed feelings about that. On the one hand, Keith is getting paid a whopping $50 million over 5 years, and for that amount of money he should be able to put up with crappy managers and get on TV screens for his fans even if it takes some tongue-biting. On the other hand, when Keith started with Current it was with the understanding that he held the title "Chief News Officer" and would be making decisions such as how to cover the Iowa Caucuses.
So although I don't think it was particularly altruistic of Keith to refuse to go on-air, I can sympathize with his situation because he was blind-sided with what seems a broken promise. Current, on the other hand, has still not attempted to clarify why the decision was theirs and not Keith's, while all this time he and his fans have been expecting him to make these kinds of decisions.
This is just the first time something like this has come up (no previous Politically Direct coverage has preempted Countdown), this really is a crucial question for the future of Keith, Countdown, and Current. Is Keith Olbermann actually Current's Chief News Officer, and is that just a title or does it actually mean anything?
12:13 PM PT: Tweeted moments ago by @TeamOlbermann (KO fan account):
"Current now running a promo for Tuesday's New Hampshire coverage, that doesn't say who is anchoring."
Then, after I tweeted them my blog, @TeamOlbermann:
"Is Keith Olbermann Still Current TV's "Chief News Officer," If So, What The Heck Does That Mean? http://bit.ly/... (Via @ProgPatriotPA)"
Sat Jan 07, 2012 at 3:46 PM PT: Article with an update on the situation tweeted by @TeamOlbermann:
http://www.deadline.com/...
Apparently Current announced Keith was in charge of the full four hours of NH coverage Tuesday, then later the same day went back on their word and said that was no longer the case. This certainly takes away no legitimacy from my suspicion that this is more a problem with Current than with Keith. They can't even keep their story straight.
Sun Jan 08, 2012 at 6:45 PM PT: It looks like Keith will be anchoring NH primary coverage in a couple days, according to this article tweeted by @TeamOlbermann:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/...