Keith Olbermann, Television Critics Association Meeting

IS IT WORKING?

Olbermann's Latest Stunt Attracts Media Attention






A quick question for Keith Olbermann: is it working?

To get the attention of Bill O'Reilly, FOX News and anyone else who will listen, you've tried every stunt known to mankind. Yet despite all of those often- desperate ploys, the only thing you're beating is poker on CNBC.

Is it time for a new target? Perhaps, but with all of the mainstream media attention your latest stunt is generating, we doubt you'll soon change.

If only this course of action could lead to big ratings, however!

What Olby does prove is that serving as a liberal media darling certainly doesn't guarantee an audience.


Or, instead of this "calculated strategy" theory, could the truth really be that Olbermann is simply nuts? After Saturday's stunt at the Television Critics Association summer meeting, your guess is as good as ours.

In a move that is still generating fresh publicity several days later, Olbermann donned a Bill O'Reilly face mask and gave a Nazi salute. This continues his ongoing obsession with O'Reilly, who continues to generate ratings that are several times higher than Keith's.

Can tearing down the competition somehow bring success for the MSNBC laggard? So far, it certainly hasn't worked.


Yesterday, FOX News Channel Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes fired back, calling Olbermann's antics "over the line", according to the AP's Beth Harris:

Fox News Channel chairman and CEO Roger Ailes responded to Keith Olbermann's latest critical volley against Bill O'Reilly on Monday, saying the MSNBC host's behavior "is over the line."

Ailes, appearing Monday at the summer meeting of the Television Critics Association, said Olbermann takes shots at Fox's O'Reilly because it boosts his ratings.

"Clearly he has no viewers except those he gets when he attacks Fox News, and particularly has made himself committed to continuing to attack Bill," Ailes said.

Olbermann opened his Saturday session at the critics' meeting by whipping out a mask of O'Reilly and giving a Nazi salute.

"I really think that's over the line," Ailes said.

During his "Countdown" show on MSNBC, Olbermann regularly tweaks O'Reilly. Olbermann has named O'Reilly his "Worst Person in the World" at least 15 times. The nightly "award" is Olbermann's way of criticizing bad behavior.

O'Reilly has referred to Olbermann - although not by name - as a "notorious smear merchant" and pointed out the low ratings for "Countdown."

At what point does Keith finally work on building himself up, or at the least, finding a new target?

To find out, we'll be watching... a different program.

NOTE: Olbermann Watch has substantially updated its post with a great deal of new information late Tuesday, find it here.

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Air Olby: Pete at IHillary