Pat O'Brien Fired From "The Insider" Over Staff E-Mail

He said he'd "get killed for this" — and he was apparently right.

Pat O'Brien was fired from "The Insider" following his e-mail to the show's staff announcing that middle class Americans "want to vomit" watching his replacement as the show's host, Lara Spencer, picking out accessories. A rep for the show confirmed to Page Six that O'Brien was fired.

The e-mail read:

"Hi, folks, I just spent a couple of days in Iowa - I'm a little bit of a favorite son there - and I spoke with maybe a thousand people and was very hands-on. Even Joe Biden said, 'You should be running (for president)!' But what I came away with was, these people can't afford gas, books, food or schools or movies!

"I was approached a hundred times by people asking, 'Can you help us?' I tried to tell them we care, but they didn't buy it. They wanted to, but watching Anya and Lara [Spencer] pick out accessories makes the viewers want to vomit. I'll get killed for this, but I'm actually the one not afraid for my job. I want people to be happy."

O'Brien was demoted to "Special Correspondent" in June, allowing Lara Spencer to be the show's only host.

Comments

[Bcakes01]

and who said the first amendment was dead...oh yeah bush did.....

"...The Patriot Act took our liberties
And there's no judge and no jury
Tapping our phones, breaking down our doors
waging on the people a civil war!
We work 3 jobs and bring home no pay
The IRS takes it all away
and we struggle, slave to pay the rent" - aimee allen

[katielady]

who is this guy and who is spencer? he sure thinks he is important and has some worthy insight to impart.. apparently hasn't read any news for the last year or so...

[ebanks84]

Anybody watching her in the first place surely has nothing better to do. This is not an American issue at present and should not even deserve a comment.

[Puller58]

He was on probation for his antics during his drug and alcohol days. (Guess appearing with Dr.Phil didn't work.) His point about Lara Spencer is rather silly given the nature of the show.

[rzan1]

Lara Spencer left Antiques Road Show (one of my favorites) for a show with no credibility. She must be a nincompoop.

[thenextquagmire]

Whether you like Pat or not, the point is that people can't afford gas, books, food or schools or movies! and he thinks these celebrity journalist are useless, living in Fantasyland, with it sound like, a lot of you.

[LeawoodKansas]

... I got nothing.

[kroses98]

Me either. Who is he, and why should we care?

[GetoffMylawn]

Who are you, cause I don't know you and I could care less about you. You mean nothing to me. Why am I reading this, why am I writing this. My time apparently mean vert little, because here I am writing about to people, about people with whom I no nothing and care less.

I just thought you'd like to know that I care even less about you not caring.

[JohnDavidMyself]

... Here's a Greek coin.

[blueknight41]

I agree this is not something too fire someone over this is what he thought of the piece on the show it really goes too show how much censorship is out there but i never felt that P O was good for that show anyway .

[alexaii]

Long overdue! I remember when he was at Anna Nicole's house after Daniel died. He asked her if Daniel's death could possibly kill her. What a creep!

[bloglorn]

While I've never been a fan of Pat O'Brien past the fact that I find him attractive, considering his educational background, as well as his experience in the media ( including a stint on local news in L.A.), there's no reason why he can't go back to his roots and show the folks in Iowa he really does care.

Getting fired from The Insider, a diversionary pulp program (let's watch gossip and see what other folks HAVE so we don't have to watch REAL news about the economy, the war, crime, etc), isn't such a bad thing and may serve as a launching pad for O'Brien for bigger and better things. Like Geraldo, he seems to come back from what most would consider career disaster bigger than before. I have no doubt the same will happen here.

Now that MSNBC has a brilliant, well-spoken pundit in Rachel Maddow (Rachel, if you only knew how bad you make duffuses like Matthews look) , how about a down-to-earth "populist" with a slightly different viewpoint in O'Brien? MSNBC's ratings would go through the roof.

[Belyse]

He was terrific as commentator for the Olympics years back - too bad he didn't get a spot as a sports announcer - this show never seemed a good fit for him from the beginning - he just cannot do Hollywood gossip without looking and sounding sleezy. What ever happened soon after he started with this show he then got into trouble and his drinking became an issue - all the ego stuff I bet is related to whatever he is running from when he turns to a bottle. Hope he saved his money... I doubt we will be seeing much of him in the future. At times I liked him and I really liked him when he was the anchor for the Olympics.

[TurgidCaterwauling]

Wow! First the economy, and now this!

[xilishx]

There isnt anything in that email that should get anyone fired.

Its an opinion

He isnt threatening anyone.

well maybe someones ego...ooo ouch!

very strange

[watchTVgetSTUPID]

The Insider is the "circuses" the Romans talked about regarding keeping the populace subjugated. Pat went against the real purpose The Insider is on the air (that is why he is suddenly no longer part of it)

Bread and Circuses

[USMC1980]

bad day for joe biden, what a political disaster he is

What planet are you living on. Joe Biden has been the biggest boon to American politics in years. I think you meant Sarah Palin, now that poor bim-bot is in fact a political disaster....she is also going to be a mangled mess after Joey the Shark gets through mopping the floor with her at the debates.

You may now commence you crying and bed-wetting:)

[jgalvan]

All that you are you owe to your parents. Why don't you send them a penny and square the account?