Keith Olbermann: "This is the Last Edition of Countdown" (Video)

Friday 21 January 2011

by: Matt Renner | t r u t h o u t | Report

Keith Olbermann: "This is the Last Edition of Countdown" (Video)
Keith Olbermann.

Keith Olbermann announced tonight that his show "Countdown," a mainstay of progressive media, would end after Friday's broadcast. In a statement, MSNBC said the network and Olbermann "have ended their contract."

"The last broadcast of ‘Countdown with Keith Olbermann’ will be this evening," the statement said. "MSNBC thanks Keith for his integral role in MSNBC’s success and we wish him well in his future endeavors."

The New York Times reported Friday that Olbermann "came to an agreement with NBC’s corporate management late this week to settle his contract and step down." The Times noted that while Olbermann "did not discuss any future plans...NBC executives said one term of his settlement will keep him from moving to another network for an extended period of time."

Olbermann, who has been a fixture at MSNBC since 2003, extended his contract in 2008 for an additional four years for an estimated $30 million.

This announcement that Olbermann would be leaving MSNBC comes two days after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) gave final approval to a controversial merger between NBC Universal, MSNBC's parent company, and Comcast.

The Times reported, "NBC executives said the move had nothing to do with the impending takeover of NBC Universal by Comcast."

Last year, Olbermann was suspended for two days after Politico reported that, prior to the midterm elections, he donated $2,400 to Arizona Democratic Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Raul Grijalva and Kentucky Senate candidate Jack Conway in violation of NBC News' "policy and standards."

NBC Universal Chief Executive Officer Jeff Zucker, who was one of Olbermann's staunch defenders and was expected to be on his way out once the merger received government approval, sent a farewell memo to staff today.

MSNBC said the "The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell" would take over "Countdown's" 8 pm time slot.

Watch Keith Olbermann's farewell speech in the video player below.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here is the full transcript of Olbermann's closing remarks to his viewers:

I think the same fantasy popped into the head of everybody in my business who has ever been told what I have been told: 'This will be the last edition of your show.'

You go to the scene from the movie 'Network' complete with the pajamas and the raincoat and go off on a verbal journey of unutterable vision and you insist upon Peter Finch's gutteral resonance. And you will the viewer to go to the window, open it, stick out his head and yell ... You know the rest.

In the mundane world of television goodbyes, reality is laughably uncooperative. When I resigned from ESPN 13-and-a-half years ago, I was given 30 seconds to say goodbye at the end of my last edition of "SportsCenter." With God as my witness, in the commercial break before the moment, the producer got into my earpiece and said 'Can you cut it down to 15 seconds so we can get in the tennis result from Stuttgart?' I'm grateful that i have more time to sign off here. Regardless, this is the last edition of 'Countdown.' It is just under eight years since I returned to MSNBC. I was supposed to fill in for exactly three days; 49 days later, there was a year contract for me to return to this 8:00 time slot that I fled years earlier.

The show established its position as anti-establishment with the stage craft of 'Mission Accomplished' to the exaggerated rescue of Jessica Lynch in iraq to the death of Pat Tillman to Hurricane Katrina to the nexus of politics and terror to the first 'Special Comment.'

There were many occasions where all that surrounded the show and never the show itself was too much for me. With your support and loyalty, if I may use the word 'insistence,' required that I keep going. My gratitude to you is boundless and you think I have done good here, imagine how it looked as you donated $2 million to the National Association of Free Clinics and my dying father watched from his hospital bed and comforted that his struggles were inspiring such good for people, he and I and you would never meet, but would always know.

This may be the only television program where in the host the much more in awe of the audience than vice-versa. You will also be in my heart for that and the donations to the family in Tennessee and these victims of governmental heartlessness in Arizona, to say nothing of every letter and tweet and wave and handshake and online petition. Time ebbs here and top the close with more story. It is still Friday. Let me thank my gifted staff and a few of the many people who fought with me and for me: Eric Sorenson, Neal Shapiro, Michael Weiss, David Bloom, John Palmer, Alana Russo, Rachel Maddow and Bob Costas and my greatest protector, the late Tim Russert.

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Comments

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So sorry to see him go! No

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 21:41 — Cathy (not verified)

So sorry to see him go! No one can fill his spot in my book!

And tyranny gets just a

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 21:57 — Anonymous (not verified)

And tyranny gets just a little closer.

Comcast chairman, Ed Snider,

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 22:10 — Jim (not verified)

Comcast chairman, Ed Snider, is a fanatical Randian (as in Ayn Rand) and dislikes Fox because it is not sufficiently conservative. Yes, you read correctly, he wants to move NBC to the right of Fox News. Comcast recently acquired NBC from GE. Expect Rachel Maddow and the others to be gone in six months.

Keith, Whither thou goest,

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 22:17 — Earl Nash (not verified)

Keith, Whither thou goest, we will follow--even back to Bristol!
Ah, you must be replacing Bud "Light" Selig!!! Congrats!!!

No more MSNBC, Bravo, USA,

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 22:33 — LoisB (not verified)

No more MSNBC, Bravo, USA, SyFy, USA - even the freaking Weather Channel.

I just hope Keith goes elsewhere; maybe Free Speech TV or Link TV.

Keith - there is no one like you. You will be sorely missed: I never, ever missed a show (except when you were suspended). MSNBC'S/Comcast's loss - and ours.

I anticipated that Keith

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 22:52 — Gary Beals (not verified)

I anticipated that Keith would be Comcast's #1 target and it may have been a stipulation in the acquisition agreement. That would tell me that Rachel is next to go, especially since I believe Keith did a hard-sell to get her on MSNBC. Hell, Griffin could never have been able to recognize that kind of talent and the ratings boost she would bring. It would be great, if Keith is financially set, to see Keith on listener-supported FSTV (Free Speech TV. Really gonna miss him.

Well Keith, they say the

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 23:20 — Anonymous (not verified)

Well Keith, they say the truth will set you free and so, now you are. The world needs you and your insights, a new venue will be found, your voice will be heard. Thank you for your sanity.

With style and grace, Mr.

Fri, 01/21/2011 - 23:40 — Mary M (not verified)

With style and grace, Mr. Obermann leaves and if anyone does not see the horror in this merger of Comcast and NBC, and the death of Free Speech it portends, they are not paying attention. The voices of hate and intolerance spew on...

BYE BYE Keith, you tell it

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 00:57 — Kathleen Pfeifle (not verified)

BYE BYE Keith, you tell it the best. Miss you already. Stupid Comcast!Stupid FCC!

Boycott them. If necessary,

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 02:18 — Anonymous (not verified)

Boycott them.

If necessary, get mobile broadband, but stop paying them and their affiliates.

failure to do so makes you complicit in this.

It's an obvious political hit job. Not only was the contract terminated early, but he is required to remain off the air for the remaining two years.

it's outrageous.

Hey Oprah! Here's a Golden

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 04:38 — billnbillieskid (not verified)

Hey Oprah! Here's a Golden opportunity to pick up one of our National Treasures for your new Network. MSNBC seems to be going the "Fixed" News route, I guess Rachel, Lawrence and Ed will shortly follow Keith. MSNBC's loss, not theirs. I hope God, in His infinite wisdom sees fit to dispense the proper penance to the Koch Brothers', Comcast, et al; and lets MSNBC pay for their egregious error in judgment. Keith will undoubtedly land on his feet. A sincere and heartfelt "Thank- You" to you , Keith. Yours is an American voice that will NOT be kept silent. I'll keep my eyes peeled for your return elsewhere.

Thank you Keith for

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 07:30 — Anonymous (not verified)

Thank you Keith for imforming and entertaining us all. The anti-establishment and liberal/progressive cause on television just lost a huge voice. MSNBC will definitely lose in the long run with this move. Good night, and good luck.

Weather or not Comcast is

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 09:52 — mysterioso (not verified)

Weather or not Comcast is behind the departure of Olbermann, we have lost a very important and necessary voice of factuality. Its not that Mr. Olbermann is a bleeding heart liberal or that he hates the right, its that he told the truth. He brought to light the dirty dealings of the corporate backed republican party. Remember, sunlight is the greatest disinfectant. The corporate right couldn't stand to be illuminated in the manner Mr. Olberman had positioned them.

Keith, you were loud and my

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 15:22 — jack van Dijk (I am not afraid) (not verified)

Keith, you were loud and my wife and I will miss you.

The Edward R. Murrow of our

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 15:30 — Anonymous (not verified)

The Edward R. Murrow of our time. A sad day to see Keith go. Boo, hiss MSNBC and Comcast.

Watching the drivel that the

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 15:51 — Anonymous (not verified)

Watching the drivel that the networks try to pass of as news is a waste of time for me. I really don't care which celebrity is headed for rehab today or for bimbo of the day alerts. Network news is all fluff and a joke.

Keith had the balls to tell the truth. We still have Rachel but without Keith's lead in, I'll probably watch Rachel a lot less, if at all. I don't like "The Last Word" so I won't be turning the set on for that.

We can thank Obama's FCC and Comcast for starting to Foxify all of the "news".

Sorry to see you leave. But

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 15:59 — Fran Schmidt (not verified)

Sorry to see you leave. But in my heart, I know the public will hear your clear brilliant voice soon. Write a book and go on a speaking tour. So long, my friend.

When insanity was about to

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 16:19 — treid (not verified)

When insanity was about to be the only voice we had, Keith stepped in. So much for the so called liberal media.

Corporate takeover. Morning

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 16:27 — cheryl (not verified)

Corporate takeover.
Morning Joe will now be the anchor of another far right station. Ed will be gone next, then Rachel. Lawrence O'Donnell, like Obama, is another corporate Democrat that will remain as the "voice of the left". Anyone who represents real working or now unemployed Americans will be gone. The parties have merged and are purging the last vestiges of New Deal Democrats that stood against the corporate state for the people.

Why is the transcript wrong

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 16:48 — Anonymous (not verified)

Why is the transcript wrong in so many areas?

first the supreme court

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 17:11 — joan (not verified)

first the supreme court decides that cororations are human ie people and can then allow millions to pimp the right wingers, then fcc decides what is and what is not free speech.
better open your eyes, people, orwellian time is near.

If the rest of the American

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 17:19 — Abdullahi Edward (not verified)

If the rest of the American population thought and verbalized on the extremely volatile issues of these our dangerous time like Keith Olberman did the US and the rest of the world would be a far better place to live in!!!!!

Folks, they is no left. That

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 18:23 — Anonymous (not verified)

Folks, they is no left. That is a fantasy of the GOP noise machine. There are some of us who are, but no one in politics is. The Congressional Democrats are moderates. To the far Right - and there is to the GOP these days is the far Right - everything looks Left.

Indeed, indeed, the darkness is descending.

When money equals speech,

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 18:48 — James Moffat (not verified)

When money equals speech, only wealth has a voice.

Fear not. MSNBC , NOT KEITH is toast.
Were I the owner of a network, I'd sign him before the ink was dry on his settlement.

Sorry (not SURPRISED) to see Comcast join the Reich, but I won't follow them.

OK so he gets his eyebrows

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 19:03 — MG (not verified)

OK so he gets his eyebrows colored, he's an entertainer. He'll manage somehow, surviving on $10-15 mil for a while until someone makes him another crazy offer. I occasionally enjoyed his relentless outrage. Glenn Beck he ain't, and that's a good thing.

Truth to power is fickle.

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 19:13 — Casey (not verified)

Truth to power is fickle. You ride the wave of indignation and insight to confront the rich and powerful who have offended, only to find they are not done offending. To the contrary, they go the next step. Lies to go to war, death is the price of Middle East oil in Iraq, nuclear terrorist experts are traded to win elections with more lies, that make nuclear terrorism more possible. These conservative acts are not enough.

They have to continue their vampire like existence of draining the life force from the people of the earth to continue their quest for greater material wealth, while our ethics and morals are bankrupted. Our economic stability is bankrupted, but that is not enough.

Lest you speak the patronizing speak and walk the way of the sheeple, you beg the rath of the rich and powerful sponsors of who decides what or the deciders...

Without metaphor, Oberman is great at speaking truth to power and the power is striking back. It's your move now Mr. Oberman and starting a progressive network is your future.

Over all, I've never thought

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 20:04 — Croft Woodruff (not verified)

Over all, I've never thought favorably of NBC nor did I have a favorable opinion of RCA [Radio Corporation of America] NBC's founder and original parent company when I realized that RCA was a major player in an attempt by various industry interests like Motorola, Philco to thwart the development of FM which was and turned out to be a far superior service compared to AM radio in the late 1930's and 1940's and chisel electronics inventor, Edwin Howard Armstrong, out of his patent rights to FM and other radio circuit inventions - most if not all that were key to the development of radio, TV, telephone and other circuits related to the electronics industry.
Read Lawrence Lessing's book "MAN OF HIGH FIDELITY."

Until now MSNBC was a shining light of real news compared to the racist crap on FOX, CNN and the fast fading light that once was CBS.

So long, MSNBC. I'll miss

Sat, 01/22/2011 - 21:06 — Dottie Gutenkauf (not verified)

So long, MSNBC. I'll miss Rachel but I doubt she'll last that long either. Firing Keith was probably arranged before the ink was dry on the deal with Comcast.

Keith, you were one shining light on cable. Find another venue and we'll go with you! (Not just twitter & facebook, please--some of us oldsters just don't do those things.) But do go on doing what you were doing--the country needs your voice and your passion for telling the truth.

I will miss "KO" and his

Sun, 01/23/2011 - 08:30 — hollywoodnc (not verified)

I will miss "KO" and his entertaining way of slapping FAUX NOISE and the sleazebag politicians destroying our once great nation continuously.
Imagine the state of our nation, if you would, if Countdown w/KO, never existed? I truly believe that KO kept people in check.

Now with the country the way it is, who will keep these corrupt people in check? The system of Checks & Balances with the ramblings of Faux Noise, is now off kilt.
Rachael is good, but can she do it alone??? How much freedom will she have with MSNBC management now with "Kumquat" (Comcast) paying the bills?

For Keith, the doors will fly open with many other tempting opportunities.
This was just his stepping stone to a bigger and better career.

The now comcast owned network will Crash and Burn.

Comcast: this week's WORST

Sun, 01/23/2011 - 11:08 — Tom Swift (not verified)

Comcast: this week's WORST PERSON IN THE WOOOORLD!!!!!

Hey--It was Obama's FCC &

Sun, 01/23/2011 - 20:32 — Anonymous (not verified)

Hey--It was Obama's FCC & SEC Chairmans that let the Comcast merger go. GE's Immelt (MSNBC 49% parent now) is now one of Obama's top economic advisers. Olbermann was fired as a WH CONDITION to the merger.

Why? Tue is the State of the Union. Obama is going to announce his plan to go along with The Catfood Commission (ie cut SS and Medicare.) Olbermann was staunchly against this, and very chummy with Michael Moore (who called for a primary challenger to Obama.)

If Olbermann also had a "no compete clause" upon his firing, that said he could not pundit/host for 2 yrs, he has been silenced from speaking out against the WH policy about SS and Medicare.

The precedent now set? Maddow, Schultz, O'Donnell are on notice to "tow the WH party line" or be fired. Orwellian, yes. Comcast was only the "messenger."

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Keith Olbermann: "This is the Last Edition of Countdown" (Video)

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