From MSNBC…
STATEMENT REGARDING KEITH OLBERMANN – SUNDAY, NOV. 7
From Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC:
After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night’s program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night.
If you think this is the last of this….you’re probably wrong…
The New York Times’ Brian Stelter writes about where Joe Scarborough was on Election Night…
Where was Joe Scarborough on election night? He was 160 miles from MSNBC’s studio, speaking to students at Williams College in Massachusetts with his co-host, Mika Brzezinski, who graduated from there.
Mr. Scarborough’s absence from the biggest news event of the year was noticeable to some viewers, since he is the only openly conservative host on MSNBC. But in retrospect, his choice to stay away from the studio looked wise. It reaffirmed that his morning talk show with Ms. Brzezinski, “Morning Joe,” stands apart from the liberally themed shows at other hours on MSNBC.
What’s Nuclear:
Keith Olbermann Suspended Indefinitely by MSNBC – Here’s what we know as of this hour: 1) Keith Olbermann made three campaign contributions to Democrats without clearing it with NBC, per NBC guidelines. 2) Olbermann was suspended by MSNBC 3) The blue blogs and progressives are up in arms, threatening all kinds of boycotts. 4) Some conservatives are siding with Olbermann saying that he’s a pundit and should be allowed to make contributions. Here’s what we’re not sure about: 1) Why Olbermann was suspended, it was thought it was because he didn’t clear the contributions with NBC, per NBC’s guidelines but today reports emerged that Olbermann was suspended for not agreeing to go on the air and fall on his sword. 2) When or if Olbermann will return: MSNBC doesn’t want to lose him but it’s unclear whether Olbermann doesn’t want to lose MSNBC after this suspension.
What’s Merely Just Hot:
Big Election Night for FNC – FNC got big numbers, numbers that beat the broadcast networks, on election night.
Olbermann “suspends” WPiTW – Olbermann decided to yank his WPiTW segment from Countdown.
Jonathan Wald to EP Piers Morgan – Wald got tapped by CNN to helm Morgan’s program.
Cenk Uygur to anchor MSNBC at 3pm this month – Still no official word from MSNBC that Uygur will indeed be anchoring the 3pm ET hour the rest of the month but Uygur was on at 3pm Thursday and Friday…
Brian Stelter and Howard Kurtz appearing together split screen for the first time ever – Kurtz looked like he hated every second of it too…
Rachel Maddow’s “defense” of Keith Olbermann – I put the word “defense” in quotes because I’m not sure it was really a defense, though a lot of her critics are calling it that. It was definitely a big time shot at FNC though…
What’s Not:
CNN Election Matrix – CNN never was able to get the bugs out of CNN Election Matrix, forcing viewers to have to watch as the Matrix jittered and the TV picture, minus the lower third graphics, stuttered.
MSNBC’s All Progressive Election Night Orchestra – The network faced stiff criticism for fronting an election night anchor team that carried nary an NBC journalist. Some of the segments during the night were a travesty, Michelle Bachman’s interview by Chris Matthews being the most discussed example. This spectacle got amplified after the story broke on Olbermann’s Democrat candidate contributions.
Keith just tweeted…
Greetings From Exile! A quick, overwhelmed, stunned THANK YOU for support that feels like a global hug & obviously left me tweetless XO
Politico’s Mike Allen writes that Keith Olbermann was suspended for refusing to issue an on-air apology for his campaign contributions…
Network sources tell Playbook that Keith Olbermann was suspended because he refused to deliver an on-camera mea culpa, which would have allowed him to continue anchoring “Countdown.” Olbermann told his bosses he didn’t know he was barred from making campaign contributions, although he is resisting saying that publicly.
If this is accurate, everyone should reset their expectations levels that Olbermann will be back on MSNBC. If he got suspended because he wouldn’t go on the air to say he screwed up, that means that we’re not witnessing the results of a disciplinary action on account of a technical violation – not clearing giving contributions as had been widely believed – but a disciplinary action on account of insubordination and denials – a pissing match.
That is much more serious in terms of describing the state of relations between Olbermann and NBC. We may in fact be witnessing a cable news version of chicken. MSNBC will have to win this game, whether it wants to play it or not (and given Olbermann’s value to the network it definitely doesn’t want to be playing it because of the possible ramifications). And because of that the likelihood that Olbermann could walk is higher today than it was yesterday.
