Keith Olbermann, Now With Double Meat

Today I am kvelling, because I get to feature my friend Michael Terry in a pretty hilarious and already-buzzy YouTube impression of Keith Olbermann, entitled "Keith Olbermann Issues A Special Comment On Yesterday's Lunch." For any of you who have felt ripped off by not getting your promised allotment of meat in a Subway sandwich, this one's for you.

Interestingly, a brief search of YouTube reveals that surprisingly few have attempted an Olbie impression, despite his considerable popularity across platforms (particularly that platform: Search results for "Olbermann" on YouTube number about 38,900). There is this guy, who reads political nursery rhymes in character, and a tip o' the hat to him, but the "Special Comments" have been ripe for parody for a while, owing to their distinctive style, strong emotion and association with Olbermann's persona (book!). I think MT's concept is pretty funny. Decide for yourself! Warning: It will make you hungry.

Interesting side note: The video just went up two days ago, but already there's a ferocious debate going on in the comments about who's better, Olbermann or Bill O'Reilly. A sampling: "You are dumber than a box of rocks. Olbermann get's his ass kicked by FOX and CNN." "You are the joke. You are more stupid than a pint of cold spit....Obermann is rated #1 on MSNBC." O-kay.

On a happier note, allow me to crow for a minute: Here's how MT has described his entree into comedy: "Four years ago a friend of mine urged me to take a sketch writing class. I kept refusing, but she was persistent. So I finally gave in, mainly to get her off my back." That's me! I'm the she! I ANNOYED him into success! Today, this former investment banker at Morgan Stanley has gone on to form the wonderfully hilarious sketch group Party Central USA with Brianne Halverson, Mike Condrick and recently HuffPo contributor Patrick Dall'Occhio (MT contributes too. Friends of mine know I like to recruit.) Originally, people wondered if it was smart to leave a Wall Street job for the uncertain world of comedy. Funny how that question feels a little out of date.

Anyhow — I love when I can give legitimate props to smart, talented people in this space. Now if you'll excuse me, there is a delicious six-inch somewhere with my name on it. (That is a Subway reference, people. Sheesh.)

Related:
Keith Olbermann "Special Comment" Archive [MSNBC]
Truth and Consequences: Special Comments on the Bush Administration's War on American Values [Amazon]
Keith Olbermann Is Mad As Hell And He's Not Gonna Take It Anymore [ETP]

Also Related:
Michael Terry [Michael Terry.com]
MT's Promo Reel [YouTube]
Party Central USA [YouTube]

Comments

[droolhound]

That vid is just hilarious! He had me at "Finally"

[2bsure]

Genoa HAM, sir? How dare you? Your grasp of the subject of luncheon meat is tenuous at best!

[adankwa]

That is absolutely funny and I bet my bottom dollar sir, that KO would find it hillarious

[protagonia]

I admire KO's courage and even the fashion in which it is delivered.

The liars on fox and rush limbaugh have all been targets of similar parodies. It was going to happen either way, but this one is benign. Harmless satire.

This tells us that KO is rising to the point where a parody is called for. A point of power. The only time that a Parodist will bother to put the effort into such an endeavor is when the target of the piece is famous enough for everyone to recognize the impression to begin with.

KO is getting famous.

Good.

[MeLuvHillary]

That's atleast 5 kinds of awesome.

[M1]

I LOOOOOOOOOVE KEITH OLBERMANN. HE IS THE GREATEST....SIR!!!!

[BOin08]

Very hard to distinquish between the two "special comments"-both deserve spots on SNL or Mad TV.

[catchdis]

i think keith o will get a kick out of this. it's clearer perhaps to his fans that, although a serious person, he doesn't take himself too seriously.

jeez, no harm no foul play on.

[jdw1981]

Actually he looks more like David Byrne than Keith O.

[GeorgeKaplan]

This was funny... if you like KO or Hate KO- this is funny, sir.

[GolfingDevil05]

"You have lost not just half your body weight, but two-thirds of your soul"? That's funny.

I'm a huge fan of Olbermann's, and I'd be willing to be that he would find this funny.

[TankGirlz]

Dollars to Doughnuts he puts it on the show... love it


But I have an inside subway rant joke with a friend so it's twice as funny

[rainbowblue]

Funny. I work for quizno's so this is so stupid. Our's isn't double meat, exactly either. Since a few months ago we reduced the portion of meat on a large sandwhich and the "premium meat" subs have been reduced by a 1/4. To top it off, the bread is getting narrower. The joke around the store is soon we will be serving subs on a breadstick. The soup sizes have shurnk as well. This is all while prices have increased a bit and coupons have dried up.

[ebanks84]

This guy can't hold a "match stick" to Keith Olbermann and shouldn't be no threat at all.

[BillFromDover]

Double meat. double cheese? I'll have mine with a double negative, sir.

[SgtLucifer]

Awfully juvenile... I religiously watch Olbermann, and this skit is a ridiculously unfunny parody of Olbermann. Keith does not take himself too seriously, unless he's taking on serious issues. This nut in the skit does not come close to mimicking Keith's style or parodying the messages of "Special Comment"(s) to deliver a humorous skit. I doubt if Keith will find it worthy to feature on his show.

[deckbose]

Yes sir, SgtLucifer, you hit the nail on the head. I personally find Olbermann incisive and witty, and for a long time his Special Comments were the only voice of reason and sanity in the mainstream media fighting for the favor of the White House. Nonetheless, his rhythm and tone are ripe for parody (in the sense that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), but as the Sgt. points out, this isn't it. It is a one-joke exercise, stretched beyond its thin parameters, and Michael Terry's mimicry is easy and obvious. Maybe this will encourage someone with more talent and imagination to do Keith justice, and then Terry can at least claim some influence.

[derekw007]

Lighten up Francis. Funny is funny and that was funny.

[JTyroler]

That's pretty funny.