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

[zona9]

Fatty Keith, he of the child bearing hips, whip O'Reilly at, well, anything physical? lol! Keith is too cowardly to have anyone with a differing opinion on his own show, he'd ball in a the fetal position if confronted by O'Reilly. I know, you know it, Keith knows it.

[JDHART]

Really? O'Reilly's getting a little old and stringy to whip anyone. He's pushing 60 to Olbermann's 50ish. Then again Olbermann does have that 22 year old girlfriend to keep up with so you're right, maybe he should work out more.

[Amalek]

Arm wresting? Get serious Keith.

Challenge him to a cage fight. Two men enter, one man leaves.

[OregonMamma]

Wow, apparently there is a journalistic school of thought regarding not voting:

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

I was not aware of this before. My first reaction on seeing "does not vote" was disappointment but I understand his reasoning now. I think Olbermann is one of the best guys out there...

[progressivelady]

It's nice to hear someone say what Iam thinking, and Keith does it for me, Good for you Keith, All never understand what the attraction is On Bill O, he appear's to be a Bully, just like the rest of the faux new's crowd

[Mattie]

There are exactly the same, one comes from the right the other from the left. They are both big talking bags of wind, who like to bully people.

[iPolitics]

A new Public Policy Polling survey in Pennsylvania shows Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) leading Hardball host Chris Matthews (D), 40% to 27%, in a potential 2010 U.S. Senate race.

The good news for Matthews: "People are at least open to the possibility of voting for him, hence Specter's standing well below 50%, usually not good news for an incumbent."

[harriscrl3]

Tsk tsk tsk 7.5 million per year that puts you smack in the pay more Obama tax bracket. Lucky him I hear folks complaining about having to pay more taxes under Obama and I thought to myself damn I wish I was in that bracket I would gladly pay more.

Carol

[mfc1832]

30million$$$$ herr olbermann.......money well wasted msnbc...oh don't worry bail-out money coming in Jan. for management error.................also.....stay tune for more journalistic view's by shiv ver's up my leg matthews who will keep us up to date on obama's journey, with journalistic view's of course no negativity will be spoken only sunshine and flowers.........what a world...........

[YouDisgustMe]

english please.

[eamichael]

Agreed.

[sclucie]

Well, maybe he wll balance out ABC's Jake Tapper, who has gone on national TV (Charlie Rose) and called Obama an S O B. Did he get fired? Nope. he got an appointment as White House Correspondent. Sure makes sense to me, Disney boys.

[snafubar]

This is nice mfc1832...you've been a member here for a matter of days, and you've posted two comments. You don't like Olbermann, we got that. Why don't you tell us the comparative wisdom and insight we could gather from watching the anchors you prefer, oh great and wise one?

Or you can go back to the forest and hang out with the other trolls.

We understand now that you have got a weed in your garden about Olbermann. If it's because he told the truth about the last eight years contributed to that glorious thing called democracy which swept your party out on it's evangelical war-mongering butt, we understand that you've got to find someone else other than your party and it's candidates to pee on in frustration.

Have at it. You lost.

[nanton29]

' We understand now that you have got a weed in your garden about Olbermann '

Judging from mfc1832 posts, I am not sure if he has a weed in his garden about Olbermann or if he has too much weed in his brain.

[CDT1969]

Olbermann is an entertainer and, as we know, entertainers get paid well - so, well done KO. It is especially impressive (or a sad commentary) when one considers he isn't original at all! He rips off Jon Stewart, David Letterman, Edward R. Murrow and Joseph Welch ("You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?") without shame. And now we find out he has lifted (for how many years?) George Carlin's symbolic refusal to vote (absolute idiocy).

He is not a serious voice, as much as he may try with his stage craft and theatrics, he panders to his audience, as all good entertainers do, and he is petty and callow regarding those who don't share his views. Olbermann is MSNBC's response to Sean Hannity who, I imagine, is rewarded with a similar paycheck for similar behavior.

-CDT

[Zork4]

More serious than you think. He put himself on the line on the gay marriage issue in a way Hannity could only dream of in opposition.

http://www.adventuresinurbanliving.net/2008/11/keith-olbermann-on-gay-marriag.html

He may be theatrical and over the top as a shtick, but here he was from the heart and he was right.

[eamichael]

Yeah that special comment was great. I think it was the first one in a quite some time worthy of the title (hence the campaign comment business).
I was actually really unsure of Keith's stance on the issue, but I'm glad we see eye to eye on something so important.

[planetjeffy]

Keith basically revived MSNBC all by himself. Who the heck watched it before he was there? I sure didn't. Cash well earned.

[Amalek]

If you watch Keith and Billo back to back, and split the difference, you basically have the news.

[cwhig1848]

Sean Hannity--Gaston from Beauty and the Beast.

[Mikeeee]

You're wrong not to vote Keith!
You're under no obligation to inform anyone who you voted for.

[janice1227]

I have to second this - your vote is secret and sacred. No excuse is acceptable.

[rcpmac]

Sacred? I don't think a vote is connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration. Sara Palin may think so but....

[4wehttam]

I agree. I love Keith but he is ABSOLUTELY wrong not to vote. Bad example to set.

[eamichael]

I have to agree. Not voting only tells the government that you choose to opt out of making decisions or are indifferent. This is a bad example to set. Obama wouldn't be president-elect if the majority of his supporters decided to show it through not voting.

[sclucie]

I agree. I understand the logic - he can pretend to be unbiased - but he's an American. When you look at the 2000 election - at how close that election was - it is unbelivable to me that anyone would not vote. I don't care if he lives in New York or not.

[thesummerone]

I was surprised and a little disappointed to hear that Olbermann doesn't vote. I don't consider voting to be a right. I consider it to be a priviledge and a responsibility. (I've heard that Australia actually fines people who don't vote and I don't think it's a bad idea. ) That being said, Keith is a bright, articulate anchor with a keen wit. I enjoy his program immensely and will continue watching it whenever possible. Who knows? Perhaps one day he'll reconsider and cast a ballot.

[leira07]

i'm australian, and we're fined if we don't register to vote when we turn 18, then fined again if we don't turn up to vote.. though it's hard to keep track of everyone, so voter registration and actual voting is down significantly.. and nobody i know has actually been fined

so for me personally, it's kinda hard to understand why it's such an outrage if he doesn't vote if he chooses not to.. especially if it's for a legitimate reason like (perceived) neutrality.. when it's compulsory, it feels like a duty and responsibility - but a privilege? call me an absolute snob and undemocratic, but to think that the homeless guy who begs for spare change in the city is required by law to vote is actually worrying..

though voting would be a symbolic gesture, i think KO has contributed a lot more to the democratic process in his own way than a lot of ppl out there who are considering quitting their cable subscriptions because he doesn't vote..

oh and he does yoga?? how zen.

[Zork4]

I've talked to homeless people over the years and many of them know a lot more about life and history than most. A lot of them also know more about going overseas to fight in wars than people who have focused only on career and making money and who get their information from soundbites. Before you disparage people on the street be aware that many are veterans who gave service to their country before they fell on hard times. People end up homeless through family break-ups, medical catastrophies and yes, sometimes by choice. And in the Australian case, systemic racism against the Aboriginal inhabitants of the land.

In a Democracy everybody has the right to vote. It is a shame of American Democracy that so many barriers to voting have been in place for so long. But it didn't work this time and probably never will again.

[leira07]

i just read over my post and realised it sounded like i'm attacking you :(
not my intention at all - just responding to your part about australia..
the rest of it is just my own view in response to some of the other posts in general

[6bd]

Journalists often assume this approach to maintain an air of biparitsanship.

[Daniboy]

I've always heard if you don't vote,you can't gripe. Apparently Keith never heard this!

[moosha]

30 mil to a guy who doesn't vote but tells us we should. His show was the only reason I was paying 50 bucks a month for cable. Now I can cancel it and save some money.

[Daniboy]

Who will Keith attack for the next four years? No more Repubs!

[eamichael]

As long as Fox News is alive my friend, there needs to be someone to watch it for us, so we don't have to. : )

[NoSandwiches]

You don't vote,sir? You are given the right to vote and you do not exercise it, sir? You, sir, make me sick.

[eamichael]

(cue dramatic camera change)
Saturday Night Live.
Hilarious.