Keith Olbermann
MSNBC announced Monday that the network had signed anchor and Countdown host Keith Olbermann to a new four-year contract.
The pact will keep Olbermann at Countdown and NBC's Sunday Night Foobtall until at least 2010, paying him roughly $7.5 million a year. Olbermann's brand of commentary, most often directed at President Bush and his administration, led to the highest ratings in the show's five-year history last month. But with that administration heading out the door, where will Olbermann direct his anger?
In a Monday appearance on The View, Olbermann joked: "We're switching to all Mariah Carey as of tonight." But that wasn't the case at all.
Instead, Olbermann delivered an emotional railing against the passing of California's Proposition 8, proving his "Special Comment" segments don't need to attack Bush to pack a punch.
Watch the six-minute commentary after the jump.
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Keith Olbermann courtesy MSNBC Photo
MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann news/talk program will get a prime-time showcase on mothership NBC this Sunday at 7 pm/ET, when it presents a live broadcast leading into coverage of the Eagles-Steelers NFL preseason game. An ESPN alum, Olbermann will also serve as a contributor this season to the Peacock's Sunday Night Football in America telecasts.
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Keith Olbermann courtesy MSNBC Photo
Keith Olbermann, host of MSNBC’s Countdown, will moderate a forum of the Democratic presidential candidates scheduled for Aug. 7 in Chicago. The 90-minute event is being sponsored by the AFL-CIO and will air live on MSNBC. Olbermann, a critic of the Bush administration whose ratings have spiked as the president’s popularity ratings have dropped, is by far the most partisan TV news anchor selected to moderate such an event in the current campaign season. His selection comes after the Democrats have very publicly rebuffed offers by Fox News Channel to sponsor a debate because they believe the channel has a pro-Republican bias. Olbermann, never known to come to the defense of Fox News, believes that was a mistake. “I don’t know if I would advise anyone to pass up free television time,” he told reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour. “Whether it’s Fox News or Al Jazeera.” — Reporting by Stephen Battaglio
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Keith Olbermann
War hasn't been hell for Keith Olbermann. As President Bush's poll ratings have declined in response to his handling of the Iraq situation, the ratings for Olbermann's nightly MSNBC newscast Countdown have shot up. The irreverent anchor recently signed on to front the cable news channel's most-watched show for another four years. NBC News sweetened the pot by giving him occasional essays on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and two prime time specials each year on the big network. The Biz asked Olbermann to reflect on his recent success and his new deal.
TVGuide.com: Countdown's ratings have built a lot over the year. Do you think it had something to with MSNBC finally sticking with a show for more than a few months
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The Hollywood Reporter says MSNBC is likely to announce a new long-term deal with Countdown host Keith Olbermann today. Which is perfect, because the anti-Bill O'Reilly will be in the perfect position to name a certain poophead jock "the worst person in the world"....
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Dan Abrams, MSNBC
MSNBC marks its 10th year on the air this summer, but there isn't a lot to celebrate. Even with the muscle of NBC News behind it, the cable news network has lagged in third place behind Fox News Channel and CNN in recent years. The powers that be at 30 Rock hope to jump-start the operation with the surprising appointment of Dan Abrams as its new general manager. The network legal correspondent and host of The Abrams Report will run the day-to-day operation and report to Phil Griffin, a senior executive at NBC News who also keeps his eye on Today. The Biz talked to Abrams, son of well-known First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams, about his new job behind the camera.
TVGuide.com: So how was that first day?Dan Abrams: A lot of phone calls. A lot of interviews. But also a lot of walking around. I'm trying to make it cl
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