Patterico's Pontifications

4/21/2010

MSNBC Meltdown

Filed under: Media Bias — DRJ @ 7:07 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

There are new problems at MSNBC:

“A week-long anchoring stint on MSNBC by Donny Deutsch ended abruptly on Wednesday, and four people briefed on the decision said the cancellation stemmed from an unflattering mention of that channel’s No. 1 anchor, Keith Olbermann, a day earlier.

Mr. Deutsch had labeled his hour on MSNBC “America the Angry,” and Mr. Olbermann was shown briefly in a series of clips of media bloviators during a segment that pondered what role the media plays in fomenting the public’s anger. The four people briefed on MSNBC’s decision said Mr. Olbermann’s anger about the segment prompted the cancellation of the weeklong “America the Angry” series…

Mr. Olbermann’s detractors have repeatedly claimed in the past that he has refused to host his show on occasions when he was unhappy with management…

“The segment did not go unnoticed and we’re dealing with it internally,” said Jeremy Gaines, an MSNBC spokesman.”

Hugh Hewitt was on the offending program and adds more.

MSNBC suspended David Shuster earlier this month and now Deutsch has been ousted. I can see why they might cringe at an Olbermann boycott. But the question remains: At this point, which will melt down faster — Olbermann or MSNBC?

— DRJ

UPDATE: MU789 reminds me of this recent MSNBC moment on Morning Joe where the hosts dared not say Olbermann’s name when the topic of leftwing extremists came up. The Deutsch story shows they were right to be hesitant.

25 Responses to “MSNBC Meltdown”

  1. Do not get on Olberman’s bad side. He’s taking names.

    The better segment was on Morning Joe when Joan Walsh said she didn’t know anyone on the left as crazy as Rush or Beck and Scarborough and Miki wanted so bad to yell Olberman’s name but had to refrain from saying the name that must not be mentioned.

    MU789 (25b69d)

  2. So what is that Blowberman has that gives him so much cover?

    kansas (9b3da8)

  3. Yeah, when Scarborough’s lefty host makes a mockery of the Slate editor being such a hacky sack, you know there’s big problems afoot. But more importantly, who the heck actually watches MSNBC?

    Dmac (21311c)

  4. This is a bit like Kissinger’s description of faculty fights. They are especially nasty because so little is at stake.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  5. Thanks for the reminder, MU789. I’m adding that to the post.

    DRJ (09fa6c)

  6. Olbermann is the big tadpole in the sidewalk puddle.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  7. Olbermann denies.

    Olbermann ardently denies that he had anything to do with the move. He e-mailed Brian Stelter of the New York Times, who originally reported the story, with this:

    “Your account is entirely untrue. Your e-mail is the first I am hearing of any of this. What I know of what happened is this: Phil Griffin phoned me yesterday enraged at what was on that show and I didn’t disagree with him.” Mr. Griffin is the president of MSNBC.

    After Stelter went ahead with the story, Olbermann took to the tweets:

    @KeithOlbermann This just in: complete fail by @BrianStelter of NY Times: http://nyti.ms/crdp0F I advised him of how wrong he was and he still posted.

    @KeithOlbermann Sad to say, @BrianStelter was an innovative and hardworking blogger. He’s in over his head where he is now.

    Even if everything Olbermann says is true, instead of ‘not disagreeing’ with Griffin he might have told the executive he didn’t take offense — or didn’t take sufficient offense to think it warranted Deutsch’s ouster.

    In any event, MSNBC has now fired the guy they hired to replace the guy they suspended (David Shuster) and all for the sake of a guy who isn’t even the highest-rated host of his own television program.

    Heh.

    Dana (1e5ad4)

  8. Olbermann denies.

    Olbermann ardently denies that he had anything to do with the move. He e-mailed Brian Stelter of the New York Times, who originally reported the story, with this:

    “Your account is entirely untrue. Your e-mail is the first I am hearing of any of this. What I know of what happened is this: Phil Griffin phoned me yesterday enraged at what was on that show and I didn’t disagree with him.” Mr. Griffin is the president of MSNBC.

    After Stelter went ahead with the story, Olbermann took to the tweets:

    @KeithOlbermann This just in: complete fail by @BrianStelter of NY Times: http://nyti.ms/crdp0F I advised him of how wrong he was and he still posted.

    @KeithOlbermann Sad to say, @BrianStelter was an innovative and hardworking blogger. He’s in over his head where he is now.

    Even if everything Olbermann says is true, instead of ‘not disagreeing’ with Griffin he might have told the executive he didn’t take offense — or didn’t take sufficient offense to think it warranted Deutsch’s ouster.

    In any event, MSNBC has now fired the guy they hired to replace the guy they suspended (David Shuster) and all for the sake of a guy who isn’t even the highest-rated host of his own television program.

    Heh.

    Dana (1e5ad4)

  9. Well, you can tell by the way he really truly believes in the massive importance of his petty constant insulting style that he can’t stand to be criticized.

    I’ll never forget the disgusting way he attacked the extremely moderate Brown, and then ‘apologized’ for not being ugly enough. Like he’s a toddler, he was that upset at the flack he was getting. I’m sure lots of these people have thin skin. I bet O’Reilly hates how serious people don’t respect him.

    But never let them see you bleed. That’s showbiz 101. Keith always makes clear just how sensitive he is to the ‘teabaggers’. He was actually hiding on Brown’s election day. And of course, he’s probably already schedules his next dental appointment for election night November.

    He’ll be remembered as an ugly coward, even by the left.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  10. I read that Comcast was in touch with Kelsey Grammer to have some kind of light hearted right leaning news outlet.

    Of course, it’s Comcast that bought a majority stake in GE Universal. I guess they like making money, which might mean some of this junior high Olbermann stuff won’t cut it.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  11. Dana, “Heh” indeed. Why MSNBC brass treats Olbermann like some delicate flower which must be protected is mind boggling. Keef must know sumpin’ about somebody, because otherwise there is no reasonable explanation why it is literally a firing offense at that network to speak ill of him or to criticize him. I think Kitty Kelley should consider KO for the subject of her next expose biography.

    elissa (70f1f0)

  12. Olbermann is too over the top for me. He seems to feign “outrage” a little too frequently. Of course many other talking heads have the same problem… Especially over at fair and balanced.

    Chris Hooten (0e1f31)

  13. One sure way for MSNBC to get some (any) ratings would be to allow a free-fire zone on “Bathtub Boy”. Plenty of viewers would tune in to witness the fileting of that pompous orange asshat.

    Marty Farty (cb1d38)

  14. Keith seems to be as thin-skinned as his idol, “Teh Won”. And I’m with elissa. He has something on someone.

    PatAZ (9d1bb3)

  15. I guess he should have named the show “America The Angry Right“.

    Do not offend the king!

    Patricia (fa8e06)

  16. Olbermann is so thin-skinned and talent deprived he doesn’t allow anyone with opposing viewpoints to appear on his show. COURAGE!!!!11ty!!!!!

    daleyrocks (1d0d98)

  17. I just came across this video of Plbermann when he was a little boy:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5pQfOMkhmQ

    OxyCon (d3bc7e)

  18. Olbermann is too over the top for me. He seems to feign “outrage” a little too frequently. Of course many other talking heads have the same problem… Especially over at fair and balanced.

    Comment by Chris Hooten

    I’m pretty partisan myself, so I guess I shouldn’t judge when I note that this is ridiculously partisan. The problem this post brings up isn’t that Olbermann is feigning outrage (or expressing it legitimately… which is more realistic). The problem is that a news network refuses to allow anyone on it to criticize a powerful interest.

    Fox certainly does not do anything like that. Jingoistic partisans often cannot criticize their own side without noting ‘but they are wayyyy worse’ That’s not really a bad thing except when someone dishonestly shifts the problem. The problem is not Beck getting angry. Guess what: a lot of people are angry about stuff and it’s health to talk about why.

    The problem is that MSNBC fires you if you talk about MSNBC. That’s terrible behavior.

    Dustin (b54cdc)

  19. And if you’re thinking that getting pissed off about being called angry is kind of ironical, well, you’re WRONG!!

    mojo (8096f2)

  20. Did I say “wayyyy worse?” No. I said “many other talking heads, especially over at fair and balanced” I did not suggest how many or how it was distributed, other than Fox News seems to have a concentration of them. I intentionally did not want to say Fox was way worse, to avoid the obligatory, “Show me the proof” BS, when that isn’t even the point of the comment at all. I was merely saying that Olbermann is not alone on that issue.

    Chris Hooten (0e1f31)

  21. Olbergasm, Sir, is in a class, Sir, by himself, Sir. There is prolly nobody, that can muster up some feigned and faux moral indignation and pomposity than the sportscaster turned asshat. Nobody. He has no equal.

    JD (9f2abc)

  22. I’ll take that as an opinion, and disagree with it. I can do that, right?

    Chris Hooten (0e1f31)

  23. Sure, you can disagree with an opinion.

    You could also choose to comment on the topic of the thread, instead of doing the imdw-shuffle (“what about the other side?”). If you did so, then you would actually be engaging in a discussion, rather than hurling invectives.

    Icy Texan (2d6ef1)

  24. I tune in to Olbermann’s show about once every 6 weeks or so, just to see if he’s still on TV. I may have to wait a minute or two if there’s a commercial on, otherwise a quick look and I’m gone.

    I’m also getting fed-up with FOX. It’s the fair and balanced thing. It’s a waste of time listening to Leftist lies and talking points, ad nauseam. I want a show that reports the news, not one that inflicts disinformation on me.

    It’s boring. I’ve got to put up with commercials, but I don’t have to put up with Leftist propaganda, nor do I respect talking heads pretending to be objective while they provide a bully pulpit for charlatans.

    FOX’s Procrustean bed doesn’t fit my needs. It’s time we had a news network that was forthright enough to tell the Leftists they wouldn’t air their lies, and they wouldn’t pretend there were two sides to every issue.

    ropelight (5dcb5b)

  25. ropelight,
    It’s time we had a news network that was forthright enough to tell the Leftists they wouldn’t air their lies, and they wouldn’t pretend there were two sides to every issue.

    You’re reading such a network right now.

    Brother Bradley J. Fikes, C.O.R. (9eb641)


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