He's Back: Keith Olbermann Returning to Cable TV in October

NewsBusters.org ^ | June 6, 2013 | Randy Hall

[Kaslin]

Like a zombie that just won't stay dead, pretentious left-wing talking head Keith Olbermann has somehow managed to find a way to befoul Americans' living rooms once more.

Thankfully, unless you are a baseball junkie, you won't have to witness his bloviations since Olbermann is scheduled to serve as a host for the Turner Broadcasting System's coverage of post-season Major League Baseball playoff games.

The move is a logical one for Olbermann, who began his television career as a sportscaster for almost 20 years before venting his venom on politics for the liberal MSNBC and Current TV channels.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Olbermann will lead TBS's Atlanta-based studio show with Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley and possibly a second analyst. This season, the channel will cover both Wild Card playoff games, 18 of the 20 League Division Series contests and even has exclusive rights to the National League Championship Series.

“It’s well known that Keith is a fan of the game, and when you combine that with his studio experience, keen insight and passion for baseball and its history, he’ll add a new dimension to our MLB post-season studio shows," David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports at Turner Broadcasting, said in a statement.

We're excited to have him join Dennis in studio and look forward to Keith sharing his in-depth knowledge of the game, MLB teams and players with our viewers for three great weeks in October.

THR reporter Marisa Guthrie stated that Olbermann -- “a dedicated New York Yankees fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of the game” -- got his start sportscasting for CNN in 1981, later becoming one of the original hosts of ESPN's “SportsCenter” franchise from 1992 to 1997.

That year was the beginning of his on-again, off-again connection to liberal cable television. He left ESPN to host his own prime-time program -- entitled “The Big Show With Keith Olbermann” -- on MSNBC.

Not long after the show got underway, the host complained that it was consumed with the Monica Lewinsky scandal, so he quit and went to work as a producer and anchor for Fox Sports Net and Major League Baseball of Fox from 1998 to 2001.

On March 31, 2003, Olbermann returned to MSNBC to host “Countdown,” a weeknight news and commentary program in which the host ranked the five biggest news stories of the day, as well as listed his choice for “The Worst Person in the World,” who was almost always a conservative Republican.

Olbermann was also known for his lengthy "Special Comments" slamming his favorite targets, President George W. Bush and anyone in his administration. During one such segment, the liberal host went so far as to claim that the GOP occupant of the White House “hates kids.”

But by 2010, the ratings for “Countdown” were falling, and on Jan. 20, 2011, Olbermann surprisingly announced that day's edition would be the last for him on MSNBC.

Just one month later, Al Gore's Current TV announced that Olbermann would bring his “Countdown” program to that liberal channel.

In March of 2012, Olbermann was very publicly fired by network co-founders Al Gore and Joel Hyatt after feuding with them for months over his numerous demands. The deranged former host responded by suing the business for violating his five-year, $50 million contract, and both sides agreed to a private settlement just three weeks ago.

In her TMR article, Marisa Guthrie wrote that over the past several months, the liberal broadcaster has kept busy by writing on his baseball blog and attending Yankees games. He wrote a sports-related blog last April for The Huffington Post and unsuccessfully begged ESPN to re-hire him.

Along with Olbermann's struggle to find gainful employment, this has been a difficult year for liberal cable channel hosts. Just a few days ago, Larry King -- who was once considered the linchpin of the CNN prime-time line-up -- agreed to host two weekly programs for the ratings-challenged RT website channel.

However, the TBS announcement also noted that including his hosting work, “Olbermann has covered 19 World Series and 28 MLB post-seasons during his career.”

One can't help but wonder how many weeks or months Olbermann will last in this most recent gig. We won't exactly be surprised if his next incarnation is as an extra on "The Walking Dead."

[fatnotlazy]

No wonder tv is called a vast wasteland.

[Da Coyote]

Makes it hard to judge which enterprise likes low IQ bottom dwellers more - the entertainment industry or politics.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

He was a one trick pony that isn’t going to sell in the age of Obama. Libs tuned in to watch him drool and foam at the mouth about Bush. No one gives a s___t about his analysis of Obama and he isn’t going to top Matthews in terms of sticking his nose up Obama’s a___.

[cripplecreek]

I guarantee TNN has placed a political gag on him for the baseball coverage. If they haven’t they’re asking for trouble.

[clintonh8r]

Thanks for the warning.

[Mears]

Well there goes baseball,my favorite sport.

And he will be with Eck,who I love.

I only listened to him once(not s a sportscaster) and he struck me as someone who was mentally ill. Really,really weird.

.

[Mr. K]

wasn’t he OK as a sports announcer?

(I mean just to be fair)

[GeorgeTex]

He was horrible as a sportscaster. I remember when he first showed up on local news in Los Angeles. I remember thinking, “Where did they find this loser?”

[bigbob]

just crap I’ll never see

[GraceG]

He’s here… he’s here!
Now… broadcasting in his underwear from his mommy’s basement...
Deep in the bowels of liberal hell hole...
Somewhere under the recyling bins atop a pile of earth friendly compost ,
we have once again made contact with that loser-—
Keith Olberman!!!!!

[Gay State Conservative]

They say that Pee Wee Herman is making a comeback too.

[Venturer]

Doesn’t bother me at all. I won’t be watching.

I doubt anyone else will,.

[Wiggins]

Amazing that he is able to find work these days.

[nascarnation]

Imploding baseball ratings.
Can we bet this in Vegas, it’s a lock....

[catfish1957]

Anyone else who is interested in letting TBS know of your plan to boycott their games beause of Keith Olberman should call....

Sal Petruzzi of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. at 212-275-6897 or sal.petruzzi@turner.com

[Lizavetta]

Both of his fans will be elated.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[Makes it hard to judge which enterprise likes low IQ bottom dwellers more - the entertainment industry or politics.]

Partisan politics and spectator sports vie for the distinction of modern opiate of the masses.

[5thGenTexan]

I wonder - the first time he makes a political comment will he be shown the door like Rush?

[tumblindice]

“Like a zombie that won’t stay dead ...”

Keefe Olderwoman responds: “Why, I have half a mind to ...........
BRAAAAAAAINS!”