MSNBC's Rachel Maddow spiked Keith Olbermann as her replacement as show nears end

[LiberalArkie]

MSNBC nearly tapped Keith Olbermann to fill Rachel Maddow's soon-to-be-vacant primetime slot, but Maddow personally made sure her former mentor didn't get the job.

Olbermann, who helped develop the network's voice before he was ousted in 2011, told The Daily Beast's "Source Material" that he was deep into negotiations with NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell and news chief Cesar Conde to return to MSNBC in the 9 p.m. weeknight spot before Maddow intervened.

“I offered to have her production company ‘produce’ the show," Olbermann said. "Would give her some proxy control and a f*ckton of money but she and [former MSNBC chief-turned-consultant to Maddow’s production company] Phil Griffin refused."

“I do not expect to continue negotiations with the successors to this management team,” he added. “Management is worse than asleep at the switch.”

Snip

https://www.rawstory.com/rachel-maddow-keith-olbermann/

[Kittycatkat]

1. What's up with Rachel? I want Olbermann!

[Tetrachloride]

2. This is my kind of thread and Keith has the sharpened vocabulary

[AZSkiffyGeek]

17. Yeah, he could exchange appearances on his show for campaign donations

Just like he got fired for the first time.

[Tetrachloride]

5. "Management is worse than asleep."

Keith wants to say more

[JHB]

6. Good for Rachel

What's needed in that slot is a successor to TRMS. Olberman can turn a good rant, but there's a depth that TRMS has that he lacks.

[Samrob]

15. Bur he was going to keep her production team. That show is not ALL Rachel.

I want Olberman back. I don't see anyone else out there to replace Rachel or Olberman. Maybe Lawrence?

[Hekate]

32. I agree

[oldtime dfl_er]

7. So give him another hour

You know what? I trust Rachel Maddow. Either she is actually planning to come back (god willing) or she has someone else in mind for the spot. I trust her.

That said, I would LOVE to see Olbermann back on the air. There are plenty of hours that need filling. I would sign a petition to help make that happen.

[Botany]

8. I was a big fan of Keith back in the day but I have come to the conclusion that he is just a dick.

Keith seems to think that he is more important than the story. Talented? Without a doubt
but there is a reason so many of the people who used to work with and for him want nothing
to do with him now.

[samsingh]

41. I was a huge olbermann fan, but he proved to be unreliable and a prima dona

Gore hired him to do the news, and i recall Olbermann was upset about production values and limos and not concerned about the news. He quite during an election cycle because he didn't feel appreciated.

It was so very disappointing.

[BigmanPigman]

9. Keith would have given MSNBC higher ratings...

stupid move on their part.

[Grasswire2]

16. Higher than Maddow's, even, maybe

KO is very popular.

[BigmanPigman]

35. Even when he braodcasts from his own apt. building balcony

like he did during tRump and Covid he was a must watch. 10 minutes of Keith covers more than 60 minutes of other programs.

[BigmanPigman]

37. It is.

He sold his tRump Tower apt at a loss 4 years ago.

[DURHAM D]

10. This is the 10th or 12th OP on this matter.

Glad Olberman won't be on my tv. Can't stand the jerk.

[Celerity]

18. Yes, it is meandering into 'flogging a dead horse' territory.

[USALiberal]

23. Lol

[Me.]

11. So She Spiked THe Chance Of The Guy Who Got Her The Job In The First Place

hmmm...Rachel looks different to me

[Hekate]

21. Olbermann has burned his bridges with employer after employer

Makes me wonder what he said to her all those years ago.

[Me.]

46. Do WE Know If He Said Or Did Anything At All?

[Hekate]

47. Do we know what exactly Rachel did or said just now?

[Me.]

48. This Is Not The Only News Source Reporting THis Story About Her

While none. now or before, have reported the cause being something he said or did.

[ruet]

54. Yet MSNBC Wanted Him Back.

[Grasswire2]

12. So give Ali Velshi Rachel's hour, and give KO the Eleventh Hour!

Can't stand Stephanie Ruhle. KO would knock that hour off the charts!

[BlackSkimmer]

13. I'm guessing Rachel has her reasons. nt

[UTUSN]

14. K&R for, *YAY*!

[Celerity]

19. Maddow is far more knowledgeable with what is going on than anyone on DU. I trust her enough to come

to the conclusion that she is doing the right thing.

[mahina]

43. +200000

[Hekate]

20. There's a few things missing from this story (which is getting reposted often). One is Rachel's side

…or the side of her spokesperson. That would be fair, would it not?

The other thing missing is the story of Olberman’s career arc. When he was bounced out of MSNBC all those years ago, I was a fan of his. Then I got to read about how he burned his bridges behind him from job after job after job.

That puts a whole different slant on things, in my opinion.

[Sneederbunk]

59. Who is stopping Rachel from giving her side?

MSNBC is the employer, not Rachel.

[Hekate]

60. Here at DU, Rachel is being blamed for "spiking" his chances. Since a lot of folks like to ...

… pole-vault to conclusions, she’s coming off as the bad guy.

As for her “speaking out,” it is 100% possible she intended for all of this to be private and confidential, and that she certainly has no intention of spreading old gossip around. Perhaps she has an adult sense of dignity — for both their sakes. Perhaps there is a history we know nothing of — since she’s not “telling her side” — and perhaps she believes she’s “rising above it” by not engaging in a back and forth.

See, anyone can speculate. This is mine.

[Tadpole Raisin]

22. Olbermann has burned his britches at a lot of places he has been at.

Leaving suddenly and in a huff. Once or twice could be for taking a moral high ground with management but he has made it a career.

No matter how good a presenter he is there is something more going on here. If it is true that she stopped him from getting the nod I think there is a good reason for it.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

26. When you're fired by ESPN, Fox, MSNBC and Current, maybe the problem isn't management nt

[Earth-shine]

31. That's some very funny mixed metaphors.

Both apply to Keith.

Burned his bridges.

Too big for his britches.


That having been said, I'd be happy to see him back at MSNBC.

[Tadpole Raisin]

38. Haha! I've done that many times and not on purpose. Maybe I watched

Too much of The Waltons as a kid. Everything seemed to be about britches, lol.

Now is it butt naked or buck naked?

[relayerbob]

24. That's fine with me

Watched him for a while, then he just became annoying and full of himself. He clearly still is full of himself, from his quotes.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

28. There's probably a reason he hasn't had a TV gig in a decade

His commentary can be brilliant but it's clearly not enough for networks to put up with him.

[relayerbob]

39. Yep. Operative words "can be"

Sometimes he's on fire. More often, he just rants, often missing the main points of an issue. I'm sure from all he reports, that working with him was a real joy.

[Demsrule86]

49. Sure both MSNBC and CNN are right wing...Keith is not. And since he gave Rachel her start...I see

disloyalty and maybe she is afraid his rating would blow hers out of the water. I think he would get way better ratings. I don't watch Rachel anymore...haven't in a while...but I and millions of others no doubt would watch Keith.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

55. So he's too left wing. That why he was fired from Current?

Maybe it isn't some seekrit conspiracy against liberals and it's just that he's an asshole who treats his coworkers like shit, is ethically compromised (making campaign donations in exchange for guest appearances) and airs his dirty laundry in public when he doesn't get his way.
But sure, Keith is the victim here.

[BlueIdaho]

29. Not a fan

I’m sorry but Mr. Olbermann has a track record. He’s hot out of the blocks but within a few years (or months) he’s out - usually with plenty of pyrotechnics. Twice at ESPN, once at Current TV, MSNBC, and FOX Sports. He’s fast to blame others for his failures and in return those left behind feel “fucking relieved” at having him gone.

For the admitted potential Olbermann offers, his biggest problem is his gigantic ego and the drain that creates on the news product he intends to deliver. His real “audience” it seems is the man the mirror.

[Demsrule86]

50. No he doesn't. He was fired for contributing to a Democrat...Morning Joe did the same thing and

nothing happened to him. Keith is great...he speaks his mind-no one owns him...Rachel is dead to me. I got to tell you, I find her show boring to begin with...out in the weeds most of the time...I love Keith and really don't watch cable news anymore.

[BlueIdaho]

53. Thanks for sharing

[AZSkiffyGeek]

56. He donated to Democrats in exchange for appearances on his show

That's a big ethical no-no for a journalist. But apparently a lot of people here don't care about ethics if they agree with the politics.

[iemanja]

40. Good

Obermann whining again. He's an expert at it.

[Demsrule86]

52. Keith was way more effective than any of the others including Rachel IMHO...as for whining...why

would Rachel do this...I really don't care for her that much and now out and out dislike her.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

57. Why would Keith decide to take his job negotiations to a gossip site?

That's REAL professional.

[iemanja]

58. Who knows if she really did

This is Obermann's account, and he has always believed the world owed him success. He's gotten fired from multiple jobs for a reason. Why would they want to rehire him?

[DET]

42. Good

Well, thank God Olbermann wasn’t chosen for that special spot, or hopefully any other. I never understood his appeal. In fact, I couldn’t stand him. Always struck me as a self-important pompous ass. We have more than enough of those right now. And it’s highly unprofessional of him to disclose behind the scenes maneuvering.

Rachel’s replacement is obvious, and has been for some time - Ali Velshi. The man is brilliant, down to earth, extremely flexible, and professional. I am amazed at how this isn’t obvious to MSNBC.

[BComplex]

44. I liked Olbermann long time ago, but my husband and I don't like him AT ALL anymore.

He's just a little too impressed with himself for us. And, of course, we LOVE Rachel, and to put Keith Olbermann in her position would just leave us watching CNN or something for that hour. I think Ali Velshi does a tremendous job in her absence.

The rest of the MSNBC lineup is awesome! I'm glad Rachel put the nix on the Olbermann idea.

[Demsrule86]

51. I kind of thing Rachel is impressed with herself. Also, she plans to walk away. And that means to

me that MSNBC will tilt even more to the right...I don't like any of them anymore except O'Donnell...and I have no doubt he will be gotten rid of...

[electric_blue68]

45. So is Rachel gone for good? I thought she was returning some time in ?April after...

wrapping up with the Bagman Spiro Agnew movie?