You know how we’ve said that one of the best things about the political race is that the GOP candidates have had little fear of telling the world exactly who they are, and this amount of honesty — while the stuff nightmares and insane asylums are made for — is still a bit refreshing? Yes, well, Keith Olbermann has apparently been taught by the greats.
The “greats” of ego stroking, complete asinine assholery. His appearance on David Letterman last night, which we suppose was to generate some support in his new fight with his most recent former employer, CurrentTV, just basically proves how much of a pompous jackass he really, truly is.
After days of a scintillating brouhaha with Gore and Co. that named the anchor a “job shirker” and a “cab snob” of course Olbermann would take to the airwaves to try and prove that CurrentTV was truly at fault for not recognizing his irreplaceable value.
CurrentTV contends that Olbermann missed 19 of 41 workdays in January and February. In addition they claim that he was basically impossible to work with. They cite that during his tenure with the network Olbermann went through at least three car companies, some even speculated that it was more like eight. The reason may be surprising to some, but not to others who’ve heard of the former sportscaster’s diva antics. An insider says:
“One time it was that the drivers talked to him, he did not like that the driver saw fit to speak to him. The other time he complained that the driver smelled.”
Other things CurrentTV indicated as behavior leading up to Olbermann’s ousting:
- Olbermann’s refusal to use the $250,000 set that he helped design. Then Olbermann complained about the simple black backdrop that he’d elected to use.
- Bosses said Olbermann did nothing to promote the network, its other hosts, or guest hosts. He wouldn’t lead in to shows that followed his, or discuss any other show on the network.
- Olbermann was a no-show on days leading up to the Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary and even the day before Super Tuesday.
Olbermann shot back via Twitter imploring fans not to believe everything they read or have heard, he further accused CurrentTV of a smear campaign, and agreed with a fan who said, “Current banked on you to build their ratings, but they didn’t deliver on resources to upgrade your show.”
That brings us to Olbermann’s Letterman appearance last night where he compared himself to a $10 million chandelier that was basically installed into the ceiling of a hut made of dung. He then blamed himself for not recognizing his worth and that it was his fault for selling himself short, and for getting into bed with a network that basically couldn’t afford the likes of him. Letterman, who appeared willing to let Olbermann blather on, stopped and confirmed that he was indeed the chandelier in his scenario.
Now, it’s been said time and again, that when Olbermann is at his best, he really is good. Meaning that even though he’s full of theatrics, his voice was influential in left wing media, not just heard, but also needed in politics. However, that can only take someone as far as their ego will let it. No one is going to sit by and let you crap all over their network while you demand millions for the privilege. One could say that Olbermann knew exactly what he was getting into working with Gore and his relatively small network that has spent the better part of the last few years in “building mode” while working to attract and keep a core audience. Sure, Olbermann was promoted to be a big part of that. But giving him carte blanche? No, that seems unlikely for any network.
As it stands, The Hollywood Reporter says that in the lawsuit filed by Olbermann, he’s asking for $40 million (the remainder owed on the five-year, $50 million deal he signed in early 2011) plus additional compensation for “disparagement” in an alleged campaign to discredit the TV newsman. He also claims that he didn’t exceed his allotted vacation time and that he was suffering from a throat infection during his absences, and that the truth of the matter was that Current’s facilities were substandard and “amateur hour.” Since Current has alleged “material, serial breach” of contract for “unauthorized absences” as well as “sabotage” and “disparagement” much of the nuts and bolts of the case could come down to email correspondence like the one where Olbermann asked for the day off the day prior to the GOP Super Tuesday primaries and was told Current would pre-empt his show if a replacement couldn’t be found, which made Olbermann go ballistic. You see, Olbermann was used to MSNBC just sticking in some filler guy, which also fueled his anger, whenever he went AWOL for a few days.
Al Gore and Joel Hyatt are mostly treating the whole thing like the ranting of a petulant child when they hear about Olbermann’s Twitter rages and media stoking finger-pointing. We assume the David Letterman appearance will be considered in the same vein.
We get the feeling that with every new aggrieved outburst Olbermann may find himself farther and farther away from making a return to television. The question remains, “Who will want him” after all this?
