Olbermann vs. Cooper…
I’d heard about this but hadn’t heard it until this evening. Last night on Countdown Keith Olbermann put Anderson Cooper on his Worst Person in The World list for these comments. Here’s the Olbermann Watch audio (which also contains the comments on Bill O’Reilly’s Ken Allard interview). I have to agree with Olbermann about the mystery network thing. ABC, CBS, and NBC are fully staffed so who exactly was Cooper referring to? Was it a weekend gig? I don’t see how it could be primetime. CBS isn’t ready to toss Katie Couric overboard. Not at 15 million a year.
But what makes this nomination odd is that just last week Olbermann put FNC’s PR department on the Worst Person list for the “Paris Hilton” ad attacking Cooper. Now Olbermann himself is attacking Cooper with similar themes…
And by the way is Anderson Cooper the only one who doesn’t know that Anderson Cooper is not actually a TV journalist but just an experiment in mass marketing?
Spud, I believe there was a rumor that CBS was courting AC for the anchor spot (and 60 Minutes) during the network’s search for Dan Rather’s successor. Maybe KO and other MSNBCers know something that we don’t.
Comment by Goldfish — February 10, 2007 @ 8:54 pm
But the timeline is all wrong because Couric was given the chair way back last April. Cooper specifically mentioned December.
Comment by Spud — February 10, 2007 @ 8:57 pm
Hmmmm. Intriguing.
Comment by Goldfish — February 10, 2007 @ 9:03 pm
I was surprised when I saw Cooper pop up during the “Worst Person” segment. Good catch with the Fox News PR bashing a week before that.
There might be behind-the-scenes talk that is going on and, perhaps, Cooper or CNN took a swipe at Olbermann. Or perhaps MSNBC is making an aggressive move to overtake CNN and Olbermann is doing his part. I don’t want to be a conspiracy theorist, but this is just a strange reversal.
On a side note - the Fox News ad that mocked Cooper was harsh, but it was pretty accurate. Cooper went off the deep end when he did an “AC 360 Special” about his own show. A “journalist” should never showcase himself as THE story. Also, if I were Cooper I’d be bothered that I get consistantly beat by Greta “the search for Natalie Holliway continues” Van Sustern.
Comment by FishOil — February 10, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
“Cooper went off the deep end when he did an “AC 360 Special” about his own show.”
What on earth are you talking about, FishOil? They often have AC360 specials which are a one-hour block devoted to one particular topic instead of the news of the day, but they are always ABOUT the topic, which is Afghanistan, or Crime in New Orleans, or Slavery or whatnot. They have never done a special on the show itself.
Cooper (and other CNN reporters) often files a “Reporters Notebook” piece about what it’s like REPORTING the story, and these are invariably interesting, if not within the strict definition of ‘hard news’. Anderson’s are typically a little more poetic and atmospheric than, say, one from Candy Crowley or Kelli Arena, and they deal with ‘getting the story’ rather than the story itself but they never are more than 2-3 minutes.
Comment by Arthur — February 10, 2007 @ 9:18 pm
” I don’t see how it could be primetime. CBS isn’t ready to toss Katie Couric overboard. Not at 15 million a year.”
For what it’s worth, Spud, now that they have her under contract, what’s to prevent CBS from moving Katie to mornings? Spending 15M for a morning host isn’t outside the realm - I think she was making more than that at NBC, wasn’t she, and took a paycut to get an evening anchor gig? Unless her contract explicitly calls for the evening slot, they might just want to shore up their morning (which needs it), since she’s not having any great effect on their ratings in the evening.
Comment by Arthur — February 10, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Or they could have expanded his role at 60 Minutes and gave him the weekend anchor/special coverage spots.
Comment by Goldfish — February 10, 2007 @ 9:45 pm
i dont know if any of you remember, but cooper aired a peice that was made up ENTIRELY of still photos of him in lebanon - cooper on the hotel balcony, cooper checking in, cooper eating, cooper next to a burned out car, cooper next to a bombed building. It was the MOST self absorbed thing I have ever seen. I just cant stomach anyone who stands in war zone or natural disaster with a lighting crew and a personal still photographer. Oh and all the blue he always wears, hell, they even got him a blue bullet proof vest for lebanon. sheesh!
Comment by john — February 10, 2007 @ 10:03 pm
Olbermann’s routine criticism of his competitors demonstrates a lack of class and is not an effective use of airtime. I don’t understand the point of calling AC “an experiment in mass marketing” unless it fills some insecurity within KO. While CD started as a news show, the focus is no longer on the news. I started watching CD in 2003 and I’m disappointed with the changes, especially over the past year. That WPiTW segment would be the first to go, IMO.
Comment by Char — February 10, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Good catch with the Fox News PR bashing a week before that.
I can’t take credit for that. Olbermann Watch had that first. But with a slightly different edge.
Comment by Spud — February 10, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
Heh - John’s projecting again. Just what he’s projecting, I don’t know… http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/original/anderson_cooper_mideast.jpg
Blue vest?
FWIW, John, it’s not just that he wears blue all the time, he wears the same shirt. Kind of hard to make the case that someone’s a fashion plate when to all appearances he owns ONE shirt. Check it out if you don’t believe me. EVERY time he’s in the field - same dark blue abercrombie shirt. He either has a dozen of them, or he packs very very light.
Comment by Arthur — February 10, 2007 @ 10:26 pm
Arthur - the show I was referring to is described by John in comment #8. He basically made himself to be the focus of the show, and it was a pretty pretentious thing to do.
Don’t get me wrong…Cooper has “earned his journalistic stripes” in many ways more than others have. I still agree, however, with the critique that Fox News published (minus the hyperbolic Paris Hilton reference, of course).
Stephen Colbert had Cooper on his show and had a great line he told Cooper - “You’re the only one that came out of Katrina smelling like a rose.”
Comment by FishOil — February 10, 2007 @ 10:52 pm
FishOil - I think both you and John are reacting to a Reporter’s Notebook, a two-three minute segment every once in a while. They’re not even once a week, and they do focus on the reporters, not the stories, but they are very popular with regular viewers. If you were to check out the comments on Cooper’s blog, you would find that they are often in direct response to viewer questions.
A number of them are posted online on the show’s page:
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/
Comment by Arthur — February 10, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
I’ve never done this before, but I’m copying Alison’s comments from the thread, below, which discussed Arkin and O’Reilly. Somehow the topic turned to AC and Olbermann, but I believe part of her statement needs to be re-published here as it pertains to this topic exactly. Here’s the excerpt:
“… Olbermann, a former sportscaster, has never gone overseas to cover a single story nor ventured into a single danger zone in the United States. Yet, Olbermann was questioning the journalistic credentials of Cooper, who has made it his life’s work to go into dangerous areas of the world and Olbermann’s attack on Cooper seemed to be totally without merit and more about his own jealousy and resentment since Cooper has just signed a $4 million a year contract, is making the cover of magazines and had apparently been offered a network news job which he turned down. The idea that someone whose main experience reporting from a field is confined solely to a sports field dared questioned the credentials of someone who has spent the vast majority of his career (sans his “Mole” hosting gig) in danger zones is ridiculous to me and his attack was totally without merit. THAT was the story. And since when did it become the vogue to go on the air and attack your competitors? Yet Olbermann seems to make a career out of it (and Fox too for that matter). When did these antics become standard on-air behavior exactly? ”
Comment by Alison — February 10, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
—
The above is so true. And who does Olbermann think he is, sitting in the comfort of his studio in Secaucus every night, hurling insults at his competition? And what are his credentials? 1.) Sports 2.) Having on guests that agree with his opinion 100% of the time 3.) Attacking others who DO go after stories in dangerous parts of the world, or who do take on criminals, corrupt judges, etc.
Why does MSNBC put up with this? Apparently because his audience is increasing. But why? can’t people see through his hypocrisy? How can he POSSIBLY sit there are question the credibility of someone like AC, who has in fact risked his life to get us stories of significance, while Keith sits parked behind his desk, night after night? And Countdown has a lot of “fluff” stories, especially when compared with what AC’s program puts out.
Finally, Olbermann makes it sound as if there’s no way AC could have been considered for a network anchor job. Of course he could have - that’s not a stretch at all. Maybe it would not have been a 6:30 p.m. weekday network anchor position, but it’s not a stretch at all to think that he could have been hired in some capacity to anchor for one of the three broadcast networks.
Comment by Missy — February 10, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
Just when I think he can’t get any worse,KO, this Anchor-Without-A-Clue goes further over the edge.
Instead of attacking everyone he can put in his sights, he should pull up his pants, put his baseball cap on straight, get out from behind his desk,and go out and do something.
Comment by cella — February 10, 2007 @ 11:36 pm
Hint : Anderson has worked for both of them. Last year it
was all the buzz in the Anderblogs.
Comment by futrue tv mogul — February 10, 2007 @ 11:59 pm
Arthur - I’m not a regular viewer of Anderson Cooper’s show, but I do remember a show that came after the Irael/Lebanon conflict last summer where the topic was his coverage of the event. You might be right about it being the segment you referenced…it was a while back so I don’t remember. What I do remember is thinking - “Wow, how pretentious is this?” But that’s just me.
As I said, I know that Cooper has earned his journalist’s stripes and has nothing to prove compared to a Keith Olbermann. Then again, I see a lot of truth to the Fox News print ad…again, just me. Like I said, I’ve seen his show on numerous occasions but I’m not a regular viewer, so I could be wrong. Perhaps I fell into Fox’s trap of attacking the messenger instead of critiquing the message (i.e. the content of the show).
On a side note - I think Alison raises an interesting question…”When did these antics become standard on-air behavior exactly?” It’s hard to imagine a few years ago watching, say, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings trading barbs against each other on their respective shows and the networks taking out print ads bashing other news anchors directly. Cable news is a becoming a very unique frontier.
Comment by FishOil — February 11, 2007 @ 12:22 am
You media heads crack me up. No matter whether you are liberal or conservative you are all pompous and full of slimy puss in your hearts. Please remember ANY poll firmly tells you the American people think you are BIGGER SCUM than even politicians.
What is reassuring to me is to know you twits will never run anything IMPORTANT, only your overworked minds and you very over optimistic egos.
What a bunch of stuck-up little ninnies you are
Gene
Comment by Gene Wiley — February 11, 2007 @ 1:17 am
Thanks Spud for beginning this thread. And thanks Missy for getting what my point is in all of this. I’m less interested in if CBS or ABC offered him a gig than the fact that Olbermann, who has never, ever, ever gone out of that studio unless it was a cushy live set-up in DC or NYC to cover a story, felt that he had the right to criticize Anderson Cooper who has a long history of venturing into danger zones and battlefields all over the globe. And yes, that Olbermann has now decided he’s not satisifed with going after O’Reilly & Fox, that he’s now apparently expanding to go after CNN too. And while his criticisim against Fox might sometimes be valid, what he said about Cooper was most certainly not. I know too that Cooper is most certainly not the best anchor in the world. Actually, I think Olbermann is much smoother on air but until I see Olbermann risking his neck from something other than a pop fly ball into left field, he has no right to even open his mouth to criticize someone’s credentials who has risked their life to cover a story.
Comment by Alison — February 11, 2007 @ 1:53 am
Alison & Missy:
Also recall all of the fawning praise from TV critics ad pundits about how “brave” Olbermann is for hurling insults from a studio in NJ, yet AC and Shep Smith are actually on the front lines, and until recently have received about 1/4 of the write-ups KO gets. That’s what galls me. The fact that a coward who never leaves a studio can be lauded, yet reporters out in the field are ignored.
I wait for an Olbermann defender to stand up for his “bravery” in light of what AC and Shep do.
Comment by eddiebear — February 11, 2007 @ 2:21 am
I’m done with Countdown after hearing Keith’s petty and off-base remarks about Anderson Cooper.
Comment by Marty — February 11, 2007 @ 5:59 am
I think’s it’s quite telling that a few of the people who are now jumping on Olbermann for criticising Cooper uttered not a peep when Fox took out that highly personal ad on him the other week (that was presumably desgined by some PR lackey who’s never left the US). Is this actually the first time that Olbermann and Fox are singing from the same hymn sheet?!
I also don’t follow the logic that Olbermann needs to travel to the same far flung places as Cooper in order to criticise him - do people who ‘bash’ Bush need to have held high office, do people who criticise the conduct of a surgeon need to have practised medicine?
Comment by Mr A — February 11, 2007 @ 7:54 am
#17 - Fishoil, for what it’s worth, a lot of news viewers don’t care for CNN’s ‘reporters notebook’ vignettes; they don’t think the reporter’s voice and impressions have any place in ‘hard news’. I personally like the behind-the-scenes stuff because I’m a news junkie and like to see how it comes together.
In one of Cooper’s notebooks filed from Beirut, he took us along with a ‘Hezbollah press tour’ they had arranged to show the damage the Israeli shelling was having in the Hezbollah-controlled slums. He showed us the intimidating young men on motorcycles with cellphones who were keeping all the press vehicles herded in the right direction, showed that they (and all the other press teams on the ‘tour’) weren’t free to go wherever they wanted and shoot what they wanted, and notably pointed out that the screaming ambulances all the cameramen on the tour were filming weren’t responding to a shelling, but were presenting a staged ‘photo-op’ so the press could have some exciting motion in their film. I expect many news outlets used that ’screaming ambulance’ footage to illustrate stories; only CNN bothered to tell us they weren’t going anywhere.
I guess I would agree that these behind-the-scenes pieces would be out of place on a broadcast news show - with only 22 minutes, they can’t afford the luxury of showing us how they get their news. But Cooper has two hours - he can take a few minutes to satisfy my curiosity any time he wants.
I doubt he’ll ever assume Cronkitian gravitas, so if you want a voice-of-god anchor telling you what to think, you’re never going to like Cooper. I find it telling, however, that both liberals and conservatives are among his many defenders; he’s one of the only anchors I know who doesn’t spin the news. After watching him for several years, I honestly couldn’t tell you if he was liberal or conservative.
Comment by Arthur — February 11, 2007 @ 8:45 am
… oh, and #18? Thanks for sharing and I hope you’re better real soon.
Comment by Arthur — February 11, 2007 @ 8:47 am
“I also don’t follow the logic that Olbermann needs to travel to the same far flung places as Cooper in order to criticise him - do people who ‘bash’ Bush need to have held high office, do people who criticise the conduct of a surgeon need to have practised medicine?”
When one surgeon criticizes another, Mr. A., you’d better believe the criticizing surgeon’s creditials matter. If Tom Shales were the one making the silly slam, no one would be telling HIM to go to war before he opens his yap - he’s a TV critic. But KO is in the same position Cooper is. So yeah, it matters that he took a considerably less difficult route to get there and then presumes to sit in judgment.
Comment by Arthur — February 11, 2007 @ 8:54 am
Everyone seems to forget that Mr. Olbermann won an Edward R. Murrow award b/c of his coverage of 9/11, spending 40 straight days covering the aftermath from ground zero.
The reason Olbermann doesn’t do that kind of reporting now is b/c of health reasons. He’s been confined to his comfy position at the anchor desk b/c of doctor’s orders, not b/c he doesn’t want to do extensive reporting.
Cooper does deserve some credit however for his willingness to travel nearly anywhere in the world to report a story, even though he was the former host of The Mole, and rose to fame because of one news story, and news story where I believe Shep Smith over at FNC did a much better job of covering by the way.
Comment by The Voice of Reason — February 11, 2007 @ 9:59 am
IMO opinion there are some who believe that AC/360 is a two hour program of hard news and compare it to the thirty minute evening news broadcast. That is comparing it to apples and oranges. It just is not so. It is a program of news, pop culture and other interesting informative pieces. I have watched the program for three years now and enjoy it as much as ever. I love the reporters notebook segment and the Shot. There are many segments and “How to Help” features that I also like. I am a news junkie but do not spend time critiquing news programs, formats, or content. I watch because I like the reporter and from Anderson Cooper, I believe I get the truth.
I do not watch any programs or anchors that spend air time personally attacking another. Words have energy and the Universe has a way of balancing this energy so watch out Keith Olberman and Bill O’Reilly.
Comment by Judy Stage — February 11, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Actually I did think the Fox swipe at Cooper, calling him the Paris Hilton of News was below the belt.
And I really do wonder how big the egos are on these guys (O’Reilly & Olbermann) that they actually honestly believe their viewers want to hear the “me-fest” they put on every night. I don’t. It’s why I don’t like either one of them. That being said, at least O’Reilly has had the balls to go to Iraq which is more than I can say for Olbermann. And yes, it does matter if Olbermann goes out into the field to cover stories when he’s rumored to be demanding $4M a year, the same amount of money that AC just signed for with CNN. I can see where AC might be worth $4M, he’s clearly willing to go anywhere, to face any danger and it seems that MSNBC can’t even get Olbermann to do extra segments for them from the STUDIO when they’re doing their all-day political specials. What exactly makes him worth that kind of money? And yet he thinks he’s somehow superior to AC? True, he’s a much smoother on-air anchor and Cooper does stumble a lot over his words on air but there is no comparison whatsoever when it comes to who is the better field reporter. To be even considered in the same league with Cooper, Olbermann would be forced to leave the confines of his comfy studio for something other than Spring Training.
Comment by Alison — February 11, 2007 @ 10:56 am
Just as FNC’s “Paris Hilton” ad was out of line so are Keith O’s comments. Both infuriate me but also make me laugh because they are both so outrageous.
Comment by myview — February 11, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
Olbermann’s hypocrisy knows no bounds. He rips FOX for bashing Anderson Cooper, then he bashes him.
He rips FOX for using Insight Magazine as a source on a story (repeatedly), but he’s repeatedly used the same magazine. It’s also funny that on a day they promoted he was going to follow up on the FOX story, the NY Times ran an article exposing how many times MSNBC had used Insight Mag.
For some unknown reason, KO’s “Insight/FOX” follow-up was dropped from that night’s show.
Comment by bigred — February 11, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
Voice of Reason,
What health issues? This is the first I have heard of it.
Surely you jest!
Comment by cella — February 11, 2007 @ 3:33 pm
Same here. I’ve never heard of any health issues that could keep him confined to a studio. They don’t seem to affect him during spring training in FL or when he has a talk show appearance in LA.
Comment by Goldfish — February 11, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
“Oh and all the blue he always wears, hell, they even got him a blue bullet proof vest for lebanon. sheesh!”
I remembered seeing a blog post that explained it, John, you should read it, it might make sense to you
Olbermann has a vision problem He said in an interview
“In motion I have no way of perceiving depth past about 15 miles an hour, so I can’t drive and I’m a kind of terrified passenger because things suddenly appear to be closer to me than they really are.”
that sure would prevent him from doing real field reporting, so let’s be fair. Having said that it doesn’t give him any more rights to deny somebody being a jounalist, somebody who’s done 15 years of reporting involving great risks. Sure, CNN might have went overboard with the marketing campaign, but how is it differnt from comparing Cooper to Paris Hilton? Generally (not lately) AC’s show covers hard news in depth. A claim that hard news are NEVER more then a quarter of his show doesn’t seem right.
Comment by lynn — February 11, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
This is nothing new. Since AC 360 got a primetime slot,
there has been these people who love to bash Anderson
Cooper. I think most of the big 3 anchors realize it is
a previlege to have the positions they have and much is
expected of them. Trust me MSNBC is turning off a lot
of people who are finding them down right unwatchable.
I am with you Marty ; MSNBC has lost me as a viewer.
This is playing out big time and getting old. KO might
just have reached his don’t get too cute moment. Although
there is buzz that KO will try and pass this off as a joke.
What is it that the FNC and MSNBC fear about Anderson
Cooper ? I don’t think the back and forth betweend KO
or BOR makes any sense either. Cable news is doing
damage to itself and coming off as juvenile and dumb.
Besides the ratings we flock here to see are only
a fraction of the picture. There is a whole lot of data
that we will never see. I find it odd that in trade
pbulications the word is that CNN touts the 18-49 demo
to advertisers.I hope some day we will get the full
picture : the hourlies, and all demos. There are
like numerous demo catergories from education to
income from women to men. So I am a little suspect
because we are not getting the big picture. I don’t
think any blog or personal attacks affect my viewing
habits.
Comment by futrue tv mogul — February 11, 2007 @ 5:25 pm
Mogul, can you say where you heard the buzz that he was going to pass it off as a joke?
Comment by Goldfish — February 11, 2007 @ 5:47 pm
He has celiac disease.
He’s anemic and problems with his joints and bones (I used to wonder why he walked funny, kinda like a very tall or gangly person, but maybe the disease has something to do with it).
Of course I’m not exactly sure how severe his case is, but I’ve definitely heard that’s why he doesn’t report from the field anymore.
Comment by The Voice of Reason — February 11, 2007 @ 7:12 pm
I have it too. I’ve never been advised to alter my life or avoid travel or physical activities because of it.
Comment by Goldfish — February 11, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
So tell me Voice of Reason–why is it that Olbermann talks about eating pasta regularly when he’s at the ESPN Zone in NYC? If his disease as serious as you claim, he wouldn’t be able to go near it. I also recently heard him reference eating cereal and bread on a sandwich. If he had as severe a case as you claim he has, he would NOT be eating those things.
And how is it Voice of Reason–that Keith can fly to Washington, to Florida (three times last year) and to California (at least that many times) to appear on Leno and receive a GQ award but yet he somehow can do that but can’t leave the studio to actually report a story? Simple answer: Because he wants to go hang with Hollywood Celebs and collect awards and cut audio for a cartoon show and be on Leno, because he wants to go to Spring Training in Florida, but he doesn’t want to report from the field because he would be over his head and out of his depth.
Furthermore, nowhere has Olbermann ever said that his physical problems leave him confined to a studio. He’s tried to leave that impression but the truth is that he doesn’t like to fly–I heard Patrick making fun of him once for that.
And one more thing? I have as severe a case of it as you could imagine and like Goldfish, no one has ever told me to limit my activities because of it either. And he’s never said such a thing–you’ve just decided to exonerate him with some totally made-up excuse!
And maybe he moves awkwardly because he’s simply dorky!
Any other excuses you’d care to dream up to share with us over some of Olbermann’s more colorful adventures? His slams at Rita Cosby? Dan Abrams? Any number of former and current co-workers and network management? His extracurricular romps with fans? Some sort of justification for slamming Cooper???
In fact, if it was true that he can’t fly and he’s been confined to a studio (which totally isn’t true) but just saying that it was–wouldn’t he, shouldn’t he have been that more respectful of someone like Anderson who does risk his life to cover stories from the field?
You know, Olbermann continues to make statements like he’s made about other newscasters for two reasons. One–the network apparently never reprimands him for it and two–his fans will dream up exotic excuses like “voice of reason” did to exonerate him. The man has got it made.
Comment by Alison — February 11, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
On his show he said he has a mild case of celiac. My best friend has a severe case; travel is challenging but doable. Most cooks and chefs can tell us if there is modified food starch or gluten in the food. Fish is usually safe as are salads and fresh fruit. She carries her own snacks - easily available in our local grocery stores. We eat very well; I eat gluten free when I am with her. Her celiac does not affect her joints but she is not overweight. Again, that’s her situation. Maybe he has something else going on.
He manages to travel to Florida, Washington, and California.
Comment by Char — February 11, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Alison, next time, try reading my comment before you go on another “Olbermann style” rant. I said quote, “Of course I’m not exactly sure how severe his case is…”
I don’t have celiac, nor am I his doctor. I don’t know what it’s like to have the disease nor do I know how prevalent it is in Olbermann’s case. I simply told you he had it, and other’s have said that’s why he doesn’t report in the field anymore.
Read the damn comment for what it is, rather than reading into it what you want.
Comment by The Voice of Reason — February 11, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
It is in certain Anderfan blogs. Some think it was tongue
and cheek because of the tease leading up to WPTW. Personally, I did not see it.But apparently he said he
had some news on Anderson Cooper with kind of a wink
and a nod tone.
Voice of reason was not that for ABC radio.
Countdown has olny been around since 2003.now I am
not making light of the award , but if he is touting
his credentials as a televison journalist that is
a differnt thing all together.
As I surf the web , I think I am starting
to get some of the picture.Apparently, there was
a point when KO was involved on the CNN morning
show. Somehow AC ended up with the gig. A friend
of mine tells me they once heard that KO pitched
Countdown to CNN. They went with AC 360 instead.
Comment by futrue tv mogul — February 11, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
“The reason Olbermann doesn’t do that kind of reporting now is b/c of health reasons. He’s been confined to his comfy position at the anchor desk b/c of doctor’s orders, not b/c he doesn’t want to do extensive reporting.”
Voice, you’re spinning your own comments. YOU say he doesn’t report in the field anymore because of health problems & doctor’s orders, then you claim “others” said that’s why he doesn’t report in the field anymore.
What others? Are there two of you on this blog?
Comment by bigred — February 11, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
My cousin has it, too, plus he has heart disease. And he’s 51, which I believe is older than Keith. Yet he travels to China about 20 times a year for his job.
Could you imagine how Keith would attack someone like AC, Shep or O’Reilly if it were THEY that had Celiac’s and were using it as an excuse? We’d never hear the end of how childish they were acting, etc.
Sorry TVOR. While you are certainly a very dedicated fan of Keith’s, it looks like many of us are not going for this excuse.
Comment by Missy — February 11, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Didn’t sound like a joke to me. Sorry, KO.
Comment by Goldfish — February 11, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Two of me would be too much to handle…
My comments are not inconsistent. “Others” are simply other co-workers and media personalities who recounted Olbermann’s situation and doctor’s orders.
Am I somehow making up excuses for Olbermann? No, I have nothing invested in that. But there may, key word may, be other factors why Olbermann doesn’t report anymore. And there may not, and truth be told, it doesn’t matter.
Any broadcast journalist would tell you that in order to be a good anchor, you need to have been a good field reporter, and Keith has done that, winning the Murrow award. I’m not of the mindset that while you’re an anchor, you still need to report from the field in order to be a good anchor. Does it help? You bet, but it’s not necessary.
Olbermann’s problems as an anchor has more to do with his endless crusade against BO which is getting very old very fast, rather than his lack of current news reporting.
Comment by The Voice of Reason — February 11, 2007 @ 9:09 pm
Would you clarify as to what “others” you refer to? Because I’ve just done a Lexis-Nexus search and I gotta tell you, I couldn’t fine a single source that supports what you tried to claim here. And sorry, the voices in your head don’t count.
Now, to your newest claim—that Olbermann has a long history as a reporter. LOL! You gotta be kidding me. Olbermann only spent a couple of years as a field reporter in his sports career, and only at the beginning of his career. As a sports anchor, he was infamous for his refusal to go into the field and cover a game. Source; LA Times interview with former manager from his L.A. Sports Anchor Days. He claimed he’d rather stay in the studio and watch the game on t.v. because that was the same experience that the fan got at home. Of course, that rule didn’t apply when it involved a baseball game. And FYI? Those 9/11 reports? Most were phone-ins from his apartment and recounted his experiences walking around on the street in NYC. Oh yeah, that’s field reporting all right.
And more importantly, you still haven’t answered my question–how is it that Olbermann can put himself on an airplane several times a year to Florida for baseball spring training, to L.A. to see a girlfriend and go on Leno and to D.C. but can’t go to New Orleans when every single other anchor at MSNBC, even Chris Matthews and Tucker Carlson, political show hosts, and Dan Abrams, a CANCER victim went down there, but not KO. Nope, stayed in the studio. Where’s your explanation of that exactly?
And I wasn’t on a rant, I was merely pointing out some items which apparently you failed to take into consideration when you decided to spin this fantasy excuse for Olbermann, and that apparently made you quite angry, if anyone is ranting here, it’s you. But I guess being an Olbermann fan must be pretty exhausting as you try to spin his outrageous statements for him.
And oh yeah, if the positions were reversed and KO was the one with the years of experience of field reporting from danger zones, I bet you’d be singing a different tune if AC was the one without the field reporting experience, just as Olbermann himself would be.
We get it, you like Olbermann. You like Olberman so much that you’re willing to come up with bogus excuses and “sources” to justify the excuse you offered up for him. But in the future, don’t pull “sources” out of your butt that can be so easily fact-checked.
Comment by Alison — February 11, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
Alison, I wish I knew the names of the people whom I first heard about his celiac disease but I can’t remember. It was near the beginning of his most recent stint with the network; I believe it was when it was still entitled “Countdown Iraq” shortly during the time of the Iraq Invasion, but I’m not quite sure. I heard it on t.v. as well as in a newspaper interview I believe…
Again, read my words. Nowhere did I say that “Olbermann has a long history as a reporter”. That’s just factually incorrect. I said he won an Edward R. Murrow award while reporting, and that he has been a reporter… that’s it.
Again, I’ll say it for the last time. I DON’T KNOW HOW SERIOUS HIS DISEASE IS. It could be very serious, it could be an excuse. I don’t know and I don’t really care. That’s the excuse that was given. I also personally don’t have celiac, so I can’t tell you personally how difficult it can be. I’ve read some of the comments here, and it looks as if it MAY be a cop-out to use this excuse as a reason not to report, but MAYBE not, I don’t know.
And lastly before I put this dialog to a much needed close, “I bet you’d be singing a different tune if AC was the one without the field reporting experience…” You’d be wrong. AC is a good reporter and I respect him a lot.
I have a history with the media. I know a little something about facts and sources. Olbermann has celiac, and some have said that it is the reason he doesn’t report anymore. That’s just the facts. Simply because you couldn’t find it on Lexis/Nexis doesn’t mean it isn’t true. “I couldn’t find it on the internet so it must not be true” is an unbelievable conclusion to come to.
Comment by The Voice of Reason — February 11, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
If you knew about the media, you’d know how widely Lexis-Nexus is used to find info. So your claims that you’re connected to the media are dubious at best, but thanks for the laugh. If I can’t find it on there, and it does comprehensive searches for years back on radio and television transcripts in addition to newspaper and magazine articles, it simply does not exist. Olbermann has said that he has a very mild, mild case of it, and his eating habits would seem to support that.
And you still haven’t been able to answer my question: how is it that his illness doesn’t interfer with his flights to Florida, to L.A., to D.C.?
The voice of reason? How about changing your user name to the voice of spin.
Comment by Alison — February 11, 2007 @ 10:32 pm
Olbermann is inconsistent and can only garner ratings by attacking others?!?! I’m utterly shocked. Wait, no I’m not…
Comment by Caufield — February 12, 2007 @ 10:22 am