Keith Olbermann Reacts To "SNL" Sketch, Proves Palin Altered "SNL" Script

Keith Olbermann reacted to the "SNL" sketch in which Ben Affleck portrayed him as a cat-loving pompous freak Monday night, and also to a report that the McCain campaign was "tickled" by the sketch.

He had previously told Time's Ana Marie Cox, "Honestly, everybody deserves a laugh but if on the weekend before the presidential election they spent more than seven seconds bothering with ME, the campaign staff has even less of a clue than I thought." He had also blogged at DailyKos about the incident, saying:

In terms of my whole career I really haven't been doing this that long (1997-98, 2002-date) but don't presidential campaigns have more to worry about on the day before the election than me?

Am I misunderstanding? Aren't two breaths spent on a sketch done on Saturday Night Live, two breaths not spent calumnying Obama?

Monday night, Olbermann continued with this "Who, me?" line of attack, but also brought evidence — in the form of cue cards — that Sarah Palin was scripted to compliment Tina Fey for her impression when she appeared on SNL but ad-libbed and left the line out.

Watch:

Comments

[emmasvoice]

I watch MSNBC for the Olbermann Show and the Rachel Maddow show.

[egghumor]

Whether or not one likes Olbermann (or his style) of course is matter of taste. I think he's a very important voice among hundreds of others in the media. Limbaugh has certainly burned up countless airtime hours with his histrionic rhetoric. I think Olbermann's often searing soliloquies impressively articulate the feelings of many folks who don't have the opportunity to have a such a high-profile voice.

I have no problem with SNL sending up a parody of Olbermann (he's perfect fodder for such) but I thought Ben Affleck 's "performance" was horrendous and painful to watch. It's hard to believe the guy's a highly experienced actor. His whole appraoch to the character was amateurish and therefore greatly undercut much chance for real wit. A very embarrassing performnace by Affleck.

Again, as for Olbermann, I personally appreciate his tirades; especilly those against Palin's outrageous hypocrasy. Keep it up, Mr. Olbermann! Bravo!

[ldm56]

kinda harsh on affleck. imho, i thought it was perfectly executed.

[gdkzen]

Affleck seems like a nice guy and a true creative talent as a writer...but he is no actor. He should leave the acting to Matt and Jennifer and stick with writing.

[devild1nosaur]

Bravo, Keith.
Sticks and stones...
Yeah, hasn't that "hate the media" (except for Fox) strategy has worked out nicely for Shrub, Deadeye Dick, and all their pals. Can't wait to see them tried as the criminals they are once they leave DC. That smell you notice is the burn pile in the Oval Office...shredders are too sophisticated for the Rethugs...

[jimmyjones22]

lol, keith, YHBT

[YellerDawg]

Palin makes me want to scream, but the more I hear of the "Sarkozy" conversation, the more disgusted I am at the "comedians" who placed the call. It's just hitting below the belt, to me, certainly nothing to feel proud of. We know she's stupid. Do we have to humiliate her publicly? She can handle that without anyone's help.

[Samirah1368]

you're angry with the comedians??? thats a bit odd. what about her team that TOOK the call. I mean I don't have a CLUE what the President of France sounds like but come on he did not sound at all like a REAL president should...he sounded like a clown and she was stupid enough to fall for it

[veracity]

Keith Olbermann has been doing yeoman work this year... he has been the ICEBREAKER crushing the ice, the massive sheets of media "DON'T ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS!" ice acting as a barrier between American public (citizen/voter) curiousity & need-to-know, and the corporate media's "Bubble" barrier between Bush, McCain, and other GOP bigwigs having to answer tough questions.

Like - you know, the McCain campaign HARPING on "REVEREND WRIGHT HATES AMERICA!" - even as Sarah Palin's _husband_ signed on to the ALASKA SECESSIONIST PARTY, whose founder clearly said, on videos everywhere, "I HATE THE AMERICAN FLAG, and EVERYTHING IT STANDS FOR."

Like, you know - "HOW MUCH MONEY DOES DICK CHENEY HAVE IN HIS _HALLIBURTON_ STOCK OPTIONS - and HOW many BAILOUT BILLIONS are Treasury Sec. Paulson shovelling to HIS former company, Goldman-Sachs, to PROTECT HIS 'blind trust" PORTFOLIO THERE ??

The TOUGH QUESTIONS the American craven media have NOT asked these past 8 years, is the story of the decade.

Olbermann's courage is only matched by his expertise. It is right there in the intials: _M_S_N_B_C.

As in "Microsoft Network" and NBC - owned by GENERAL ELECTRIC. Two of the HEAVIEST of heavies in corporate America, the bedrock foundation and funders of Republican misrule.

IF Olbermann had EVER SLIPPED UP in his many and frequent rants... he would have been CANNED months ago.

The fact that Olbermann has survived such scrutiny, and GOP wrath, alone, means that he is ON TARGET just about _every_ _damn_ _time._

[ldm56]

you tell 'em!

[decm]

Ah, but he got the Churchill quote wrong... not "arrogant pedantry"; "arrant ", not "arrogant" is more commonly ascribed, but see: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/churchill.html

[vnetuolsbm]

I love Keith Olberman. But I do think they nailed the impersonation in some aspects. However, what the hell was with the Shakespearian inflection in the voice Ben? I think the cat could have done better. But gotta admit, it was pretty damned funny. Kudos!

[cubbie172000]

Hey gang, I watch Keith Olbermann and that is not what he was saying at all. He wasn't complaining about them doing a sketch about him, he was complaing about the fact that the McCain campaign said it was "about time" they did something on Olbermann. He was saying that it was ridiculous for the McCain campaign to be talking about him...not SNL doing a sketch about him. Heck, he even talked to Ben Affleck about it when he was rehearsing.

[aHamilton]

Did Keith also say it was ridiculous for Obama to complain about Fox news, in 3 different interviews in 24 hours?

[research]

No, because FOX news is using lies to promote McCain.

That's important.

[SwingVoteNYC]

...It was supposed to be how republicans see K.O. He thought it was funny...I personally thought it was too long but funny. what was really funny was Tina Fey "Going Rouge" and selling the T-shirts and McCain Asked " What are you doing over there" that was classic..

[sociocanuck]

I think you meant Rogue; though Rouge is a lipstick shade... so maybe that works too. ;)

[condieshoes]

Well, Keith goes over the top and should, I think, get a sense of humor about himself.

I like his show and when he was first "let loose" by his boss, he was the only one who was giving a voice to the American people who were and are sick of the lies from this Administration and staff. Just so sick of it.

But now, ease up Keith. Your spin is sometimes worse than you know who.

[sociocanuck]

I'm not certain you actually watched the video.

[WritusMaximus]

I don't think Palin will appreciate McSame helping SNL to once again have fun at her expense. The republican civil war is at hand.

[catlover68]

I loved KO's "reaction" last night to the Ben Affleck skit. It's called "satire" to you folks who thought Keith was complaining last night...............

[Ron1951]

Keith, I love your show. but if you're going to dish it out you've got to be ready to take it. Grow up and learn from this stupid reaction and how hard you pushed it. Even Eugene Washington told you that you were making too much of this.

[robiform]

It's Eugene Robinson, not Washington--do all African-Americans on TV look alike to you?? And apparently you, like too many people who have commented here totally missed the point--Keith liked the Ben Affleck sketch; he was at the dress rehearsal. Try opening your eyes and ears!!

[susieq10007]

Keith needs to get a thicker skin. You can't go after people and then get hurt and offended when what goes around comes around. I agree mostly with his POV but he kinda foams at the mouth...like the Fox guys. He seems like the other side of the coin.

[synthfiend]

I'm sorry what were you looking at? Because the clip I just watched didn't seem to have Olbermann being hurt or offended in the least.

[iranter]

in the form of cue cards — that Sarah Palin was scripted to compliment Tina Fey for her impression when she appeared on SNL but ad-libbed and left the line out.

and she should be banned from life for that!!!