Keith Olbermann Praises "Naive" Chris Matthews, Compares "The View" To A Blender, Challenges Bill O'Reilly To Arm Wrestling Match

Keith Olbermann, whose MSNBC contract was renewed for four more years yesterday — at an estimated $7.5 million per year (or $30 million over four years) — spoke to TVNewser's Gail Shister about Chris Matthews, women in cable, and what it's like to be on "The View" (watch his appearance here).

On Chris Matthews
Olbermann — who explained to "The View" that he does not vote, said he would vote for Chris Matthews if he runs for Senate in Pennsylvania (no matter that he is not a Pennsylvania resident):

"I would definitely suspend my symbolism and vote for him....I like Chris. I think he approaches his job like a public servant. He has a genuinely naive 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' commitment to making good things happen in this country."

On "The View"

Olbermann said visiting "The View" is like "sitting in a blender for 10 minutes, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Five people were asking me questions at the same time."

He called Barbara Walters "just a delight" and reminisced fondly of his boozy lunch with Whoopi Goldberg in 1999, when she was hosting "Hollywood Squares"

On women in cable
Olbermann praised colleague Rachel Maddow: "Given the lack of success of women as anchors in prime time, it may not be far from true [that Rachel Maddow is the Queen of Cable, as Stephen Colbert suggests]. There are only two: Greta [van Susteren of Fox News Channel] and Rachel. It's been made more difficult for women, mostly through the actions of men."

As Shister notes, he notably leaves out his 8PM competition on CNN, Campbell Brown, who he has recently started referencing on his program.

On Bill O'Reilly
Olbermann challenged Bill O'Reilly to an arm wrestling match, and is sure that he would win:

"He'd never do it, because every time we're in the same place, he keeps himself 25 feet away, but I'm ready to go. I do yoga, work out three times a week. I think I could take him if it comes to that."

Read the whole interview here.

Comments

[BOin08]

KO thinks he's in shape because he does yoga? Lol. Ever meet a "yoga guy" that had upper body strenght? Yoga might allow Keith to put his ankles on his earlobes, but he aint whuppin' nobody

[faith]

Keith is finished. When he admitted that he did not vote, in the presidential election, no less. He a man who has taken Bush to task (a good thing) for years?? Olberman has no right to take anyone to task if he is not willing to stand up for his principles and vote. I am ashamed I ever listened to his analysis of politics. Shame on Keith. He fooled the nation.

[research]

Kieth is great. never miss countdown.

[crz112112]

If Keith was not a US citizen, was an anchor on BBC airing out of London with exactly the same bush-bashing, would you still hate him?

Dont be ashamed, he did not fool anyone. He opened your eyes and be thankful for that. Please calm down. Let him deal with his problems.

[Seeitmyway]

I take great delight in watching Keith take great delight in exposing Bill-O. It's kind like listening to my 9-year old tell me about something really cool that happened at school or on the soccer field. Pure joy!

[1099]

You are abosutely right Ma'am!

Often when I listen to Keith I feel as if I am listening to a nine year old.

[Liberalrep1980]

This is American still last I checked. Guy doesn't want to vote, he doesn't have to. Australia fines people for NOT voting. As far as reporters and journalists not voting because they are journalists is a bit silly. Even POTUS votes. Now, that doesn't mean I want to hear why, I don't want a reporters opinion, I want them to deliver news so I can form my own opinion. Now Olberman, though sometimes may seem like a jounalist is really a show host. He says this happened and then gives an opinion as hosts do. Bet you BO voted. Your a citizen of the US, you can vote on any damn thing that is brought up in your state, for your Presidency, or for this nation no matter what you do for a living. If he just doen'st want to vote that's cool, I can dig it, but to not vote because you are in the business is silly.

[CDT1969]

Thanks for the link, but I do not find their stated positions to be persuasive at all (the two journalist who wrote in support of not voting). I do, however, find this school of thought to be oh so pretentious and utter twaddle, which does aptly explain Olbermann's support of this practice.

-CDT

[CDT1969]

My above reply was intended for "OregonMamma" and the link she posted.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8470.html

-CDT

[BOin08]

Thanks Keith, but we're through with you - you're money is on the dresser

[truthglow]

Not me. Love ya Keith.

[Mattie]

Do people actually listen to a man to ignorant to vote!

[fredfep]

think those criticizing KO, should go look at Edward R. Murrow. For the time he was very outgoing in his political stances. That there were less yo-yos out there to rip at him rather than pay attention to what he said, is a comment on our times, where low-intelligence sorts are al over the place including on opular cable news programs.

He may be over the top at times, but he is correct on most of his opinions. Based up on both facts and a heart. Yes, 30 million, 100 million, all that is quite absurd, and that his station is owned by GE should make anyone suspiscious as to his actual influence, but as long as he keeps the yo-yos mad at hime, he's doing something right. Maddow has right wingers on her show, at times they try their domination with their issues & disdain for anything liberal as immature & childish, but she perseveres.

It makes no difference having them on. Note that Palin won't go near a true newsman for an interview anymore. Lauer could have asked her about Somolia or Rwanda or Basutoland, she would have been nonplussed and clueless. He doesn't even try, he has always been a human interest man-on-the street sort of media guy, not very deep at all. Neither was Couric, all she did was ask her simple questions. How much does Matt Lauer make? Charles Gibson? (must be poor, always worried about his capital gains being taxed)

[macsuibhne]

Olbermann's editorial feature is called Special Commentary because the rest of the show is just plain ole commentary. What's the next iteration? "Super Commentary?"

Commentary has filled in for news for a few years. Chris Matthews' show is commentary. So is David Gregory's. Wherever there are pundits, there is opinion. But it's not news.

The worrisome thing is that most of the public relies on the cable chattering class for news. Some even depend on Jon Stewart, who is fun and smart, but he's not fronting a news operation on Comedy Central. He's an entertainer. I'm certain he doesn't claim to be anything else.

But the blurring of the distinction between entertainment and news divisions ... and the vertical integration of media ... are all of a piece. Keith Olbermann is what has resulted from this shift: an entertainer posing as Edward R. Murrow. Good luck,. indeed.

By the way, I'm a lifelong liberal Democrat. I'm not a mouthpiece for McCain or Bush or Rove or any of the others. I abhore everything those men stand for. But I would hope there are some of us in the progressive camp who can think critically about the massive companies that feed us information, the men and women they employ (for a whole lotta money), and the "content" they generate. I'm not talking about thinking meanly. Just critically.

[ItsJen]

Congratulations, Keith! It is very well deserved.

[raythewatchman]

He may be an arrogant blowhard and self-righteous windbag, but he's OUR arrogant blowhard and self-righteous windbag

[rhetoricdog]

Ha ha ha! This made my day. :)

[Topgun2]

KO is totally unbiased, so don't use the word "our." You demean KO.

[Mattie]

LOL unbiased! !!!!!

[freedomfighter1]

I don't get some of the negative things I hear about K.O. My husband and I think he's great. We get our news from his and Rachael's shows. I think he's smart and funny. He deserves more money IMHO.

[NYC07]

I wish Keith would publicly whip O'Reilly, we could all use the catharsis.

[rubberneck]

They gave this pin head 30 million? Pathetic.

[elz]

If Olbermann is a pinhead, then Hannity must be an atomhead who by the way just got a $100 million contract for spewing his hate to his audience of haters. Not bad for someone with a HS diploma and an honorary bachelor degree from Jerry Falwell Univ. Couldn't have done it without a massive audience of people who have no clue about the concept of critical thinking.

[gbrooks]

Why do people care so much if he votes anyways?

My own philosophy is that unless you have someone extraordinary, I always vote against the incumbent. They had their chance to do something remarkable and if they didn't, out they go. Party doesn't matter at all.

[JonG345]

That sounds like a terrible plan!

[gbrooks]

Really? Why?

You get a job, you don't perform it well, you get canned--it happens to the rest of us. Being a politician is a major honor and requires remarkable performance. If you are not remarkable (in a good way), you don't deserve the job. Sayonara!