Keith Olbermann On Letterman: Talks Current TV, NBC Exit (VIDEO)

Keith Olbermann made his first television appearance since his exit from MSNBC on Wednesday, chatting with David Letterman on "The Late Show" about his new Current TV show, as well as current events.

Olbermann's new show--which, like his MSNBC show, will be called "Countdown"--starts June 20. Letterman asked him what caused him to leave MSNBC in January.

"At some point...it's occurred to me that the best place for me to start doing the news...would be at a place that's just in the news business and nothing else," he said. "Just a company that's just news and we could kind of make every decision relying on that...and that had been at the back of my mind for a while."

Letterman asked Olbermann about the nine employers he has left during his professional career, and wondered what the state of the bridges he burned are. "I did not burn the bridges," Olbermann said. "I have napalmed them."

Letterman then turned to the question of the name of the show. How, he wondered, had Olbermann managed to keep it after leaving MSNBC?

"We just sort of did it," Olbermann said. "We'll hear from them if they're not happy."

WATCH:

Comments

[MAragon]

12:25 AM on 06/01/2011

Definitely looking forward to seeing Keith on my tv again. I've been glued to Maddow's show since we lost Keith's program.

[JohnnyAce Okeke]

12:56 PM on 05/29/2011

Keith Olbermann and Al Gore need to poach Lisa Ling from The Oprah Channel onto Current TV. Her show "Our America with Lisa Ling" is awesome but OWN's poor ratings are harming the shows potential and its credibility. Current would make a much better home for her. Olbermann can do for Lisa on Current what he did for Rachel on MSNBC. {{-_-}}

[SotallyTober]

02:37 AM on 06/01/2011

Poor ratings? I beg to differ. It's a brand new network...give it a chance. Shhheeesh! I make a daily point to watch the OWN network. Has many diverse programming which is a lot better than what tv has to offer now. Do you even actually watch OWN?

[spilkus]

06:55 AM on 05/23/2011

Was Letterman asking for a bit of recognition for essentially starting the countdown list craze which led to KO's show format? C'mon, throw him a bone K.

[Akin]

05:58 AM on 05/23/2011

http://www.olbermannwatch.com/archives/2010/06/olbywatch_fact.php

For all the fans of Keith who say he is never wrong.

[CompassionateLiberal]

10:17 PM on 06/08/2011

Get a life! It's just tv.

[johnblack53]

10:31 PM on 05/22/2011

This is to the moderator at Huffington Post what are your guidelines to people who do online stalking? For two days now this person Akin has been stalking me every chance he gets. Please go back and check all of his post. There are hardly any that deals with this subject at all. The man has problems and seems to be obsessed with me. I told him twice that I am not into homosexuality and he keeps insisting on pursuing me. He has yet to post any article at all about the subject at hand and has spent the majority of his time stalking me. This is getting a little eerie. Is there anyway this pervert can be stopped?

[Akin]

05:43 AM on 05/23/2011

boo hoo hoo ... Maa mee!!!

[johnblack53]

04:53 PM on 05/23/2011

Keep, on talking to yourself fool. Nobody's listening. Haven't you noticed you are the only one posting to this article today? People have moved on.

[Akin]

06:05 AM on 05/23/2011

Isn't it strange that this poor, deluded, tormented soul inserts his sorry self to say this right between TWO original contributions ON SUBJECT of good Keith Olbermann, addressed by myself to the wider community, not even addressed to him, to which he is the only one to reply in personal terms?

Who's the stalker here? All I said is, he is in the habit of calling people names to drive them out of conversations. I called him out. He got angry. I appealed to him to get over it. He got even angrier. I said well, in that case unload, And I'll match you punch for punch till you get tired. And I'm still in the middle of this managing original contributions AND doing my work.

I can take it - but as he's cracked, please just tell him to go somewhere, cool off, and learn not to try to bully people. This is a space for the exchange of opinions and arguments. If he can't handle the heat, jb should simply get out of the kitchen.

[Akin]

09:58 PM on 05/22/2011

http://www­.guardian.­co.uk/worl­d/richard-­adams-blog­/2011/jan/­22/keith-o­lbermann-m­snbc-nbc-t­erminated

For those in any doubt, it's official: Keith Olbermann was fired.

[johnblack53]

10:43 PM on 05/22/2011

For those in doubt doubt no more. This is another hack dime-a-dozen website this man is famous for.

[Akin]

05:44 AM on 05/23/2011

The Guardian, mindless!

[Akin]

09:25 PM on 05/22/2011

johnblack53
11 Fans
05:44 PM on 5/19/2011
"What does this have to do with this man returning to TV? Talk about off subject."

mrpell
56 Fans
05:54 PM on 5/19/2011
"That stalker look he has in his beady little eyes. Quite relevant in my opinion. Little thin skinned john?"

You've been caught at it before, it seems...!

[johnblack53]

10:49 PM on 05/22/2011

Caught doing what? If you had bothered to read this man's post it is clear he was talking about Keith Olberman not me. But per usual you twist things around to support your own narrow minded narrative. Please go somewhere and grow a brain.

[Akin]

06:09 AM on 05/23/2011

Haha, I'm not talking about what YOU said silly (you talk nonsense anyway) it's what mrpell said that counts!

He said YOU were a stalker; that you had beady eyes (Strewth, man/woman!)

With all the replying you are addressing at me, it is clear that you are fascinated with my mind and my brain. I must remember to never let you know where I live! You must be one of those who can never be given the sack, poor tormented clinger!

[Akin]

08:47 PM on 05/22/2011

johnblack53
11 Fans
12:34 PM on 5/20/2011

"You have spent the last 14 hours here trolling. With all that overtime you must be expecting a monster check this week."

Well, well well - who could tell that the Trollmeister himself would be the next in line for his monster check - for FAILING in his mission to discourage others from debating, by calling them names?

[johnblack53]

09:19 PM on 05/22/2011

Who called you any names? If I wanted to call you any names I have in mind I am sure that Huffington Post would ban me for life. And when are you planning on posting something about the article at hand and quit harassing me? Where are you getting with it? NOWHERE! So quit wasting your time. This article is about Keith Olberman and you haven't posted one thing yet about it. All you have done is harass me continually. Do you see how petty this is making you look? Please go somewhere and get a life.

[Akin]

09:41 PM on 05/22/2011

Have posted below.

Read and learn, cowboy!

[johnblack53]

06:20 PM on 05/22/2011

akin....

Let me be straight with you. Your views are not the issue here, that's part of the HuffPo process. What I take exception to is your attempt to harass those you disagree with by calling them "trolls".

This is the single logical reason I never call people trolls, but take engage on the issues and let them decide how often they rejoin the debate - which is a free and open one, don't forget.

I've never met you, so perhaps we've got off on the wrong foot. I respond to a lot of people on HuffPo, YouTube and other web spaces. I really am not picking just on you. But please, just think it over. Surely you've got decent enough substantive positions to advance in these arguments? Why not lead with those instead...............................Let me straighten you out. I will say what I want to say when I want to say it. And who has been following me all over this board two days harassing me? How is that engaging on any issue?

[Akin]

08:20 PM on 05/22/2011

johnblack53,

One question then: Is your own writing on this very story and treatment of others as quotable as you think?

Those who have occupied glass condos should not start an intifada...

[johnblack53]

08:31 PM on 05/22/2011

And those who can't stand the truth shouldn't waste their time posting here.Please go somewhere and pester somebody else you are worst than a gnat. Why are you so childish anyway? Grow up and become a man.

[Akin]

08:54 PM on 05/22/2011

"Le­t me straighten you out. I will say what I want to say when I want to say it."

So will I. Get used to it. :D

[johnblack53]

11:49 PM on 05/22/2011

Well then please try saying something that makes since and quit with this incoherent babbling of yours.

[Elliott Negin]

12:05 AM on 05/22/2011

Jack Mirkinson: You misreported what Olbermann said. He said that OTHER people said he didn't burn his bridges, he napalmed them. Olbermann then said he didn't burn bridges, he burned the rivers. Not a big deal, but let's be accurate.

[rain33]

07:01 PM on 05/21/2011

countdown to 6/20/11! keith will make history again so we can tell phil griffen- YOU'RE FIRED AGAIN!

[enigma2]

10:41 PM on 05/22/2011

Go Keith Go!! Can't wait to see what his show will be like, especially interested to see if the worst person in the world will be revised..

[hometoroost10]

06:06 PM on 05/21/2011

Hahaha -- Keith-O. He still cracks me up, even as he fades into obscurity.

[CynAnne]

12:49 PM on 05/21/2011

I'm glad Keith has had a chance to 'decompress' and deal with the events in his life the last few years (those who already know of the both the illnesses and then passing of both his mother and father know how closely the two sorrows occurred in time - combining those with the unrelenting lies and hubris we saw in our American life and politics would have taxed anyone to the breaking point. I always took those things into account when Keith would sound too strident, too angry...which happened more and more frequently as his observations and warnings seemed to go unheeded). Looking forward to watching him 'back in action' - keep up the good fight, Keith. :)

[murphysgirl]

12:39 PM on 05/21/2011

Gotta love Keith!! Boy do I miss him!!

[Mars777]

10:56 AM on 05/21/2011

i don't care what people say. i've been missin' him. i love me some KO preachin' to the chior. hallelujah!

[Akin]

04:07 PM on 05/21/2011

Bless! (at least, you're honest)