O’Reilly escalates Olbermann feud…
I got tipped off on this last night but the link wasn’t working so I had to hold off posting it. Bill O’Reilly has started a petition drive to have Keith Olbermann fired! We haven’t heard the last of this I’m sure…
Dear Chairman Wright:
We, the undersigned, are becoming increasingly concerned about the well-being of MSNBC and, in particular, note the continuing ratings failure of the program currently airing weeknights on that network at 8:00 PM EST.
It is now apparent to everyone that a grave injustice has been done to the previous host for that time slot, Phil Donahue, whose ratings, at the time of his show’s cancellation three years ago, were demonstrably stronger than those of the current host.
Therefore, in an effort to rescue MSNBC from the ratings basement and to restore the honor and dignity of Mr. Donahue, who was ignobly removed as host three years ago, we ask that you immediately bring Phil Donahue’s show back at 8:00 PM EST before any more damage is done.
UPDATE: This may have had something to do with the petition…
And somewhere, Johnny Dollar is having an orgasm about all of this.
Comment by JaneDoh — February 24, 2006 @ 12:19 pm
How can this be a “feud” when this is only O’Reilly’s second attempt at even addressing Olbermann (from what I’ve seen, anyway). O’Reilly launched a clever campaign against Olbermann, without even mentioning Keith’s name (he referred to him as Donahue’s “successor”).
And the campaign isn’t mean-spirited at all; O’Reilly has just stated that Phil Donahue’s ratings were better than are Olbermann’s, and that the change would benefit MSNBC. Note that he did not attack Olbermann at all!
Comment by Missy — February 24, 2006 @ 12:21 pm
As I told Dollar, if O’Reilly ignored Olbermann’s attacks, nobody would really care about Olbermann’s attacks. Every time he responds, he gives Olbermann’s “crusade” a new lease on life. Plus by not directly responding and making this about something it isn’t (ratings instead of Olbermann trying to “truth squad” O’Reilly), O’Reilly opens the door for further examination of this spat which elevates Olbermann’s original charges.
This is a bad PR move. It actually could give Olbermann’s show a profile boost. When you’re number 1, what number 2 or 3 says about you shouldn’t matter. By responding, O’Reilly is trying to play Olbermann’s game, and it’s a game he can’t win because the deck is stacked against him.
And by expanding the scope and dragging in Wright and NBC, it’s no longer just Olbermann vs. O’Reilly…it’s all of NBC Universal vs. O’Reilly…
Comment by Spud — February 24, 2006 @ 12:30 pm
Whoa! Our own coup d’etat.
Maybe this would help the gang who couldn’t think straight.
Comment by Cara — February 24, 2006 @ 12:32 pm
I think Olbermann’s demo ratings are significantly better than Donahue’s show.
It’s about Keith Olbermann taking on Bill O’Reilly and endless cheap shots at MSNBC and CNN, even before Olbermann was employeed by MSNBC, the second time. This is about Bill O’Reilly and the rest of the FNC PR Monkeys feeling the need to slam the competition to feel superior, and peoplem Cafferty and Olbermann, are finally calling them on it.
Comment by blogthat — February 24, 2006 @ 1:33 pm
All I want to say is that Bill does have a sense of humor; unfortunately, not everyone is appreciating it. He mentioned this campaign at “The most ridiculous item of the day” segment.
Comment by Gabe — February 24, 2006 @ 3:27 pm
Bill’s website has now blocked the ability to see who had signed the petition. Probably because the majority of “signers” were making slams at Billy Boy. He’s mighty thin-skinned for someone who loves to dish it out isn’t he?
Comment by JaneDoh — February 24, 2006 @ 3:36 pm
I thought Donahue had better ratings, I’d love to see him back on MSNBC at 8PM. As far as O’Reilly goes, he’s the best damn thing going on cable news in the night time.
Comment by Audrey — February 24, 2006 @ 7:34 pm
Thank you Gabe. O’Reilly does have a sense of humor, and I think this is one of those times.
Everyone knows that this could only be some kind of farce. I mean we are talking about MSNBC!
Comment by Skippy — February 24, 2006 @ 7:49 pm
This has to be the stupidest thing Bill has done yet (aside from his constant whining about “mine is bigger than yours”–ratings that is). It’s gonna backfire on him big time…but I have to thank him because it’s going to be so much fun to watch it happen!
Comment by tanne — February 24, 2006 @ 8:35 pm
When you think that Billy-boy can’t hit a new low in stupidity, he starts digging.
Comment by sharonapple — February 25, 2006 @ 12:30 pm
Please! O’Reilly’s days are numbered. Thank God! I have never known a bigger buttkisser for the Bush Administration.
This is the famous “loofa man”…who pretends he has the credibility to be a news anchor/pundit…when he is most contemptable. Al Franken, Air America, and Keith Olbermann will endure long after Bill is forgotten…what a sad excuse for a human being.
Comment by Aaron Coleman — March 1, 2006 @ 10:07 pm