Variety’s Brian Lowry writes that the soon to be off ESPN Keith Olbermann should go back to MSBNC…
Occasionally, a breakup proves a big mistake for both parties. Witness the strange case of MSNBC and Keith Olbermann.
The struggling cable network and the well-traveled host have both been back in the headlines – him, as of today, with official word that his contract won’t be extended at ESPN; and MSNBC with the news that Brian Williams will land there, giving the NBC News anchor a second chance on the company’s second-tier network.
While their relationship was often rancorous, Olbermann’s lengthy and biting commentary not only branded and defined MSNBC but set the channel on its current course. Indeed, the NBC-owned network’s entire lineup of primetime hosts – Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, Chris Hayes – were essentially spun out of Olbermann’s ribs, as management sought to build on Olbermann’s success by becoming a liberal counterweight to Fox News Channel.
All true, but Lowry then goes on to (accidentally) detail why an Olbermann return to MSNBC would be unlikely and even if it did happen it wouldn’t last…
For his part, Olbermann enjoyed both considerable freedom and the opportunity to weigh in on a wide variety of issues, a sense of latitude that suited his eclectic background and tastes. That included his frequent barbs at Fox and particularly time-period rival Bill O’Reilly, which created zesty fodder for the feud-happy media.
First of all, that’s not entirely accurate. Olbermann did have considerable freedom and opportunity…for the first few years. But what Olbermann wanted to do and what MSNBC wanted him to do became increasingly at odds with each other to the point that Phil Griffin famously declared, “We are at war.”
So consider the alleged reasons ESPN and Olbermann are splitting…content…with the reasons MSNBC and Olbermann split…content.
Why would Olbermann want to return to a scenario which essentially matches the scenario that is why he’s leaving ESPN?
It could happen. But I don’t see how it lasts for very long…
Filed under: MSNBC
