Fallout…
Following up on yesterday’s Radar interview with Keith Olbermann which probably caused a bigger stir than was originally intended, Eat The Press weighs in…
Under Abrams, MSNBC’s ratings are climbing steadily, not only for Olbermann but across the board. This is not to say that Phil Griffin doesn’t share in responsibility for MSNBC’s progress; as the NBC Senior VP overseeing the network, his role is to collaborate with Abrams on the network’s progress. But Griffin is big-picture, and Abrams is the day-to-day manager of almost 600 employees — including Olbermann, whether he likes it or not. He’s the guy sending memos and getting quoted, particularly saying nice things in articles about Keith Olbermann. It is churlish — not to mention highly unprofessional — that Olbermann isn’t doing the same.
I think the author’s experience as a frequent guest on Scarborough’s program and the fact that she knows Dan Abrams puts her in a good position to hae a good assessment of how involved Dan Abrams is or isn’t in running MSNBC on a day-to-day basis.
I’m not real sure of what Olbermann’s motivation was here, but it should hardly come as a shock to see him take a swipe at a fellow MSNBC employee, after all, so far this year, he’s managed to make similar swipes at Rita Cosby, Tucker Carlson, and Joe Scarborough in sources as varied as GQ, the NY Daily News, and in on-line interviews with Jossip and Radar.
Comment by Alison — December 5, 2006 @ 8:55 pm
I agree with HuffPo. I don’t know why KO keeps shooting himself in the foot. You’d think he would have learned by now.
Comment by Goldfish — December 5, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
He’s not shooting himself in the foot. He knows, at least for now, that he and Chris Matthews are unfireable. And just last week, I read somewhere (maybe here?) a quote from him saying he could take his talent anywhere. I don’t think that’s true, but his contract is up in March; and I’m sure the Abrams dig was all about his new contract. He thinks he’s more valuable than Abrams; and he’s trying to kick everyone he feels is less valuable than himself.
Comment by erljr — December 5, 2006 @ 10:59 pm
No one is unfireable, especially given NBC’s budget cuts. Where is he going to take his talent? I’m not sure even ESPN would hire him full-time again. Maybe HDNet.
Comment by Goldfish — December 5, 2006 @ 11:15 pm
I have a correction to my previous statement - Brian Williams, Tim Russert and the Today show crew pretty much are unfireable from NBC unless they do something really stupid or illegal.
Comment by Goldfish — December 5, 2006 @ 11:19 pm
KO is “unfireable”? Just who does he think he is? Aren’t his ratings still lower than O’Reilly’s 4 a.m. rerun, Martha MacCallum’s 1 p.m. program and “Fox and Friends FIRST”, which airs at 6 a.m. ET?
Comment by Missy — December 5, 2006 @ 11:37 pm
Olbermann and Matthews are pretty much unfireable. Yes! They would be the last to go. Unless MSNBC went to all tape and got rid of everyone. Who would go before them? Alison Stewart, Tucker Carlson, Joe Scarborough, Norah O’Donnel, Melissa Rayburger, Chris Jansing, Bill Fitzgerald, Amy Robach, Imus, Alex Witt, Lisa Daniels, Contessa Brewer, David Shuster, and a whole bunch of faces we never see.
And didn’t you read the part where I said I don’t think it’s true that he could “take his talent anywhere”? I think he’s taking a gamble. It’s the tactic of kissing the butts of all of those you consider “above you,” and kicking all of those you consider “below you.”
I don’t know anywhere else he could “take his talent,” unless it’s back to sports and radio. If he continues to push the envelope by insulting his co-workers, he may not get a new contract at all.
Comment by erljr — December 6, 2006 @ 12:02 am
I think the only question would be if Olbermann is let go from MSNBC… would he then spend more time insulting them… or keep on with his FOX bashing shtick?
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 6, 2006 @ 1:30 am
Erljr, just because Olbermann might perceive Abrams to be “below him” doesn’t change the fact that Abrams is his boss. Keith needs to learn that his delusions of grandeur are just that — delusions.
Comment by Caufield — December 6, 2006 @ 1:34 pm
I agree Caufield.
Comment by erljr — December 6, 2006 @ 1:43 pm
Unfireable? Probably. But keep in mind that he’s supposedly negotiating a new contract. The Oakland A’s didn’t fire Barry Zito. They just don’t have the money to keep him.
Comment by William — December 6, 2006 @ 2:07 pm
erljr, I agree with you that Keith is taking a gamble here. Insulting coworkers may have worked when he called Rita Cosby, “dumber than a suitcase of rocks,” but as was pointed out, Rita wasn’t his boss. The guy needs a filter between his brain and his mouth.
It’s only a recently that anyone has paid any attention to Keith and IMO it is more for his critique of the Administration than for his personality. I’m sure MSNBC and Dan Abrams can find a cheaper and lower maintenance alternative to spew “special comments.”
Comment by Buck — December 6, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
Excellent point William.
I am not filled with venom for this man. Actually there are times I like him. But for someone who is supposed to be so smart, I keep wondering how can he be that dumb? I shake my head and wonder what he is thinking. You just don’t publicly badmouth your boss, and his phrasing was disrespectful. Plus, his response wasn’t even answering the question. Buck, he should take you up on your filter suggestion.
Dan Abrams’ and Phil Griffin’s solution could be that with all the budget cuts MSNBC just can’t afford him. He may be increasing ratings but sometimes a diva just isn’t worth the trouble.
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