Keith Olbermann On MSNBC: 'A Lot Of Desperation Over There'

Another day, another lengthy Keith Olbermann profile.

Wednesday saw the release of an article about Olbermann by the New York Times' David Carr. It is one of several that have appeared in the runup to the launch of Olbermann's Current TV show, "Countdown," on Monday. Olbermann has also been on a bit of a TV tour, appearing on David Letterman's show a few weeks ago and sitting down with both Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon this week.

Among the juicier tidbits from Carr's profile is a small but pointed comment Olbermann makes about MSNBC, his former home. Carr writes that Olbermann is very critical of the network's decision to hire former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele as a contributor, seeing it as a worrying move to the center by MSNBC.

"There is a lot of desperation over there now, and it's completely justified," Olbermann tells Carr.

Also, Olbermann talks about his occasional encounters with arch-nemesis Bill O'Reilly at Yankee Stadium.

"Every time I looked in his direction, he was looking at me and immediately looked away," he says. "What I can't stand about him is that he never, ever says he is wrong. He is slower in correcting his mistakes than the Catholic Church was in acknowledging they got it wrong about Galileo."

Read the full profile here.

Comments

[ASpeciallady62]

03:37 AM on 06/19/2011

I don't see where Keith made a mistake leaving MSNBC because they couldn't come to an agreement about his new contract for himself. Walking out on your wealthy income to make a statement about yourself takes a lot of courage.He is solid on his beliefs.That he is on the right path for his life

[osaggie]

10:07 PM on 06/17/2011

Miss you at the 8:30 spot, Keith, but please don't fang MSNBC too much. Just keep us informed about where you are going to be airing your views. You can count on your fans!

[jokerdanny]

04:47 PM on 06/17/2011

keith basher's need to remember msnbc's move to the left was a response to loud mouth righties already on the air

[oldgeek1]

04:42 PM on 06/17/2011

NBC has a record of huge mistakes when it comes to talent.
Leno over Letterman, allowing Couric to leave, etc.

[thejackass]

04:33 PM on 06/17/2011

A bitter man with a bad job. You can go away now Keith nobody cares anymore.

[my4salebox]

02:06 PM on 06/19/2011

Ah, the ubiquitous "What I like is the center of the universe" comment as if made by a 14yr old.

Cute.

[scarpenteri]

04:32 PM on 06/17/2011

When will Weiner, Olberman, Charley and the rest figure out that running their mouths is NOT the way to go? Freedom of speech is great, but we also have the right to be quiet!

[dennis1943]

02:04 PM on 06/17/2011

Keith was the face of my anger towards the Bush administration............for that,i cannot thank him enough.

[ziegleraandd]

08:32 PM on 06/17/2011

Most of you liberals find it very refreshing to follow each other to the Cool Aid dispenser.

[dennis1943]

09:55 PM on 06/17/2011

I considered myself a moderate till Bush took office............he pushed me off the edge.

[Chiku Gardiner]

12:41 PM on 06/17/2011

Get over it Kieth. I hope your new studio has enough room for you and your ego.

[LonosCurse]

12:38 PM on 06/17/2011

Keith's motto: Leave no bridge unburned.

[mairs]

03:15 PM on 06/17/2011

He's making 1 1/2 times more than he was.... still getting paid until the end of his MSBNC contract, has a lot more control over his show, looks happy and excited to have this new challenge, and you are the superior one? I have to laugh.

[LonosCurse]

07:09 PM on 06/17/2011

Yuk it up.

You would have felt better had you just gone out and had a drink.

[mercedes1947]

11:53 PM on 06/17/2011

The truth just is. And the truth is Keith is and always has been a loose cannon. He left ESPN under a cloud of controversy and has been banned from their main campus. He was fired from FOX sports.

"...burning his bridges with the network's management, this began a long and drawn-out feud between Olbermann and ESPN. Between 1997 and 2007, incidents between the two sides included Olbermann's publishing an essay on Salon.com in November 2002, titled "Mea Culpa", in which he stated: "I couldn't handle the pressure of working in daily long-form television, and what was worse, I didn't know I couldn't handle it.

"...ten years after Olbermann's departure, in an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, he said: "If you burn a bridge, you can possibly build a new bridge, but if there's no river any more, that's a lot of trouble."

"In 1998, he stated that his work at MSNBC would "make me ashamed, make me depressed, make me cry."[31] Olbermann left MSNBC for Fox Sports Net shortly thereafter."

"Olbermann said he just learned Friday that his show was over, and hinted that the departure wasn't voluntary. He still had two years left on his contract, and survived a recent high-profile clash with NBC brass..."

All of these are referenced at wikipedia.

The truth is not superior, it just is.

[chance1946]

12:33 PM on 06/17/2011

Keith was entertaining and he is a smart guy, He did carried away on MSNBC, but it worked for him. The new owners Comcast may have been to his undoing. AS MSNBC is very far left they have a token rindo in Joe , with the addition of Mike Steel , that blew me away. Hp is a great source to catch the news but i notice that I was favored at least 5 times and go one. I am wondering if some people don't get full credit. Maybe just a computer error , but that's ok. It is just fun getting your message out and seeing what others are thinking. I forgive you Hp.

[Jett7]

12:01 PM on 06/17/2011

The day Keith left MSNBC was the day I stopped watching the network all together. I will never forget how Olbermann called out the B_ush administration repeatedly for their lies, and his comments during that time were spot on and truthful. The 8'oclock evening time slot will be worth watching once again starting June 20th on Current.

[venturen]

10:29 PM on 06/27/2011

Can I get some of what you are smoking...it must be really mind altering!

[Cape Coral]

11:27 AM on 06/17/2011

"Olbermann is very critical of the network's decision to hire former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele as a contributor...," of course you are Keith, and that is why you are gone from MSNBC.
Keith, you don't get it.
Having a show like you had, where all the guests agree with one another and compliment each other's take on a issue is BORING.
Civil discourse is stimulating.
Remeber Speech 101 in College Keith?
Night after night all anyone would hear on your lame show was, "that's right Keith."
BORING and subsequently you are GONE.

[Ulalume s Ague]

01:35 PM on 06/17/2011

I guess you never watch fox news.

[StarGazr5992]

10:58 AM on 06/17/2011

I agree after all he really has no view and has no clue

[walkinthedogdude]

10:56 AM on 06/17/2011

Keith, just don't go to reading Thurber to us. It's such a groan.

[chance1946]

12:39 PM on 06/17/2011

(Walk), you are right sometime I learn something and i might even change my mind, but I much prefer fair and balanced and I will make up my mind. This blame game dries me nuts. Tell me what you would do differently. If you tell me your guy will win that's ok, tell me why?

[maigesheng]

05:07 PM on 06/17/2011

I can recommend a wonderful brand of lotion for those nuts.

Just kidding. I like the few comments you've made today. And since some people care about fans,

You are fanned. =)

[walkinthedogdude]

09:57 AM on 06/20/2011

(Chance), I'm missing something here. What are you refering to? Who is my guy?

[moreobamafarrakhanluv]

10:33 AM on 06/17/2011

JUMPING JEHOSAPHAT! KEITH OLBERMANN's BACK! HOT DIGGITY DOG!!!!! I'm excited. I'ts about time.....