We Have a Final Score: Olbermann 1, Righties 0

This is a very good time to be Keith Olbermann, the host of "Countdown" on MSNBC who last month received a four-year contract extension that will take him through 2011 -- this, in the wake of rising ratings and a major uptick in national prominence as a passionate, eloquent and uncompromisingly blunt Bush Administration thorn. But the good times just keep on rolling for a man who until recently distinguished himself as a victim of his own self-destructive zeal. Now, instead of sabotaging himself, he's smiting his enemies.

Case in point: the right-wing attack blog OlbermannWatch at www.olbermannwatch.com. Until today, it was a clearinghouse for Olbermann bashing and propaganda, keeping up a running stream of invective designed to discredit the host. But as of 12:01 a.m. today, OlbermannWatch is no more, its founder Robert A. Cox waving a white flag in surrender upon realizing the negative stream was accomplishing little other than to help raise Olbermann's profile. They say there's no such thing as bad publicity so long as they spell your name right, and here we have definitive proof.

Yes, if you head over to OlbermanWatch now, what you'll find is no longer a blog at all but rather a short and embittered message to its fans. To wit:

"There is no disguising the fact that we have been extremely unhappy with the recent decision of NBC Universal to not only retain Keith Olbermann for four more years but to elevate him in an unprecedented fashion. We had held out hope that MSNBC would allow Olbermann's contract to expire even up until the last few weeks. But the deal is done and our Countdown Clock expired at midnight on March 1, 2007.

"Given this, we have come to the conclusion that we have done more harm than good over the past 2+ years in keeping Olbermann in the public eye at a time when few were watching his show and even less cared about his assault on the journalistic standards we hold dear. So, after careful consideration and consultation with the entire staff, we have decided the time has come to retire OlbermannWatch.com.

"It's been a great run. We certainly had a lot of fun running the site but it's just been increasingly difficult to maintain our enthusiasm as Olbermann's ratings have increased and a compliant media has done everything to boost Olbermann and his show.

"We wish all of you the best over the next four, painful years."

Sincerely,
Robert A. Cox
Managing Editor
OlbermannWatch.com

Oh mercy. It's just so very sad when bad things happen to good bloggers. Or perhaps I have that transposed. You talk about a complete victory for Olbermann. To actually have the opposition take credit/blame for his ratings bounce and rise in popularity is almost like being touched by Edward R. Murrow himself. Not that OlbermannWatch deserves credit or blame in this case, merely pity. And so we'll give it to them, along with a heartfelt Happy Trails.

And meanwhile, over here at Watching OlbermannWatch, they're popping a few champagne corks right about now. (Special thanks to my TV junkie pal Joe Bua for that tip.)

Anyway, as Murrow and Olbermann might conclude, "Good night. And good luck."

UPDATE: Check out this thoughtful profile of Olbermann that ran late last month in Rolling Stone.

Comments

[Joe Bua]

Did you know that there was a blog called this?

http://WatchingOlbermannWatch.blogspot.com

They're celebrating, natch.

I can't seem to fit this champagne bottle through this series of tube called the Internet.

[Bec]

For anyone who hasn't already seen this (KO in Rolling Stone mag) -
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2007/02/ode_to_olbermann.html

[cadavra]

Given that COUNTDOWN's ratings have nearly doubled since last summer, you'd think the rocket scientists at the various news nets would take a hint and stop cramming their schedules full of BushCorp toadies and sycophants. But no--Keith is still a lonely voice in the wilderness. Watching TV make not make you stupid, but working in it sure seems to!

[Tamsen T]

Interesting

I just saw the rolling stone story. KO has a gf who just graduated college? I like the guy but isn't that just a little icky?

[harkin]

Is that why O'Reilly's ratings are three times Olbermann's..... because KO talks about him non-stop?

[MyBoo2]

What is the big deal with this guy? He's fine, but why all the hero worship? I guess I just don't see it? First there are all these fan sites and then sites watching sites about the guy. Insanity! And for what? If anything I think he has a tendency to come off no less pompous than Bill O'Reilly most of the time. Not that I'm a fan of Bill's, mind you. If forced to choose, I'll take Keith every time. But that said, seriously people. What gives? Comparisons to ER Murrow? That's a bit much. Is it not? I think Keith has a long way to go in this biz before he'll be earning himself a place in our kids' history books.

[Rona]

That is funny! Crazy rightwingers. More power to you, Keith! Although what is this about him dating a girl just out of school? I must say that does sound a little skeevy, even for Keith. If that's even true, considering his apparent level of intellect, what on earth would they ever even talk about? I would like to think he has more class than that. But I also used to think that about James Woods, too. Even Jerry Seinfeld dated a teenager for a while. You just never know about people sometimes!

[The Other Me]

There is nothing better than a man who is whip-smart, wickedly humorous, baseball fan extraordinaire AND great looking. Why can't I be 25 years younger...I would love to be his personal stalker.

[Brian]

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