Keith Olbermann Fired from Current TV, Replaced by Eliot Spitzer
Sputtering rage muppet Keith Olbermann has finally been fired from Al Gore's Current TV, Brian Stelter reports. He spent less than a year at the network, which took him on after he was similarly canned by MSNBC in 2011, and won't make a goodbye statement. In a hilariously bitchy "letter to viewers," Current writes:
We created Current to give voice to those Americans who refuse to rely on corporate-controlled media and are seeking an authentic progressive outlet. We are more committed to those goals today than ever before. Current was also founded on the values of respect, openness, collegiality, and loyalty to our viewers. Unfortunately these values are no longer reflected in our relationship with Keith Olbermann and we have ended it.
Current has chosen to recommit to values of respect, openness, collegiality and loyalty by hiring former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, the respectful, open, collegial and loyal sex-haver of prostitutes, for a show called "Viewpoint." Spitzer will start tonight.
As tribute, we present our all-time favorite Keith Olbermann tweet sequence. We'll miss you, bud.
Congrats to driver of NJ Transit 8088 license plate OXZ3976 who just endangered lives of everybody in Lincoln Tunnel by changing lanes 505pm
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 12, 2012
Its well known that I don't drive. Medical reasons RT @deejaydee @KeithOlbermann You're NOT tweeting and driving, are you?!
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 12, 2012
I was just a guest on a tv show, f-head. They send cars RT @Illuminatas Congrats to KO who is enough of a 1%r to ha... tl.gd/f9vok4
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 12, 2012
Attn @NJTransit: Congrats to driver of bus 8088 plate OXZ3976 who endangered lives of everybody in Lincoln Tunnel by changing lanes 505pm
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) January 13, 2012
Update: Oh, God, he's tweeting now. Everything is Al Gore's fault. He's going to sue Current, or something. Here's his full statement:
I'd like to apologize to my viewers and my staff for the failure of Current TV.
Editorially, Countdown had never been better. But for more than a year I have been imploring Al Gore and Joel Hyatt to resolve our issues internally, while I've been not publicizing my complaints, and keeping the show alive for the sake of its loyal viewers and even more loyal staff. Nevertheless, Mr. Gore and Mr. Hyatt, instead of abiding by their promises and obligations and investing in a quality news program, finally thought it was more economical to try to get out of my contract.
It goes almost without saying that the claims against me implied in Current's statement are untrue and will be proved so in the legal actions I will be filing against them presently. To understand Mr. Hyatt's "values of respect, openness, collegiality and loyalty," I encourage you to read of a previous occasion Mr. Hyatt found himself in court for having unjustly fired an employee. That employee's name was Clarence B. Cain.
http://nyti.ms/HueZsa
In due course, the truth of the ethics of Mr. Gore and Mr. Hyatt will come out. For now, it is important only to again acknowledge that joining them was a sincere and well-intentioned gesture on my part, but in retrospect a foolish one. That lack of judgment is mine and mine alone, and I apologize again for it.