View source for Keith Olbermann

{{Short description|American sports and political commentator (born 1959)}}
{{Redirect|Olbermann|his 2013 sports talk show|Olbermann (TV series)}}
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{{Use American English|date = October 2019}}
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{{Infobox person
| name               = Keith Olbermann
| image              = Keith Olbermann - small.jpg
| caption            = Olbermann in 2008
| birth_name         = Keith Theodore Olbermann
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1959|1|27}}
| birth_place        = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| education          = [[Cornell University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| occupation         = {{hlist|Sports announcer|broadcast journalist|political commentator}}
| years_active       = 1980s–present
| television         = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'' (2003–2012)
* ''[[SportsCenter]]'' (1992–1997, 2017–2020)
* ''[[Football Night in America]]'' (2007–2010)
* ''[[Olbermann (TV series)|Olbermann]]'' (2013–2015)
* ''[[The Resistance with Keith Olbermann]]'' (2016–2017)}}
| party              = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| awards             = [[RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award|Edward R. Murrow Awards]] (3)<ref name="gets prime-time" />
| website            = {{URL|twitter.com/keitholbermann|Official Twitter}}
| module             = {{Infobox youtuber
| child = yes
| youtube_id           = UCeAACGXB76rAOON6aaY72-Q
| youtube_display_name  = CountdownWithKO


| youtube_years_active  = 
| youtube_genre         = 
| youtube_subscribers   = 194 thousand<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
| youtube_views         = 30.4 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW -->
| stats_update        = June 14, 2024{{nu|date=October 2025}}
}}
}}
'''Keith Theodore Olbermann'''<ref name="Olbermann1997" /> (born January 27, 1959) is an American sports and political commentator and writer. Olbermann spent the first 20 years of his career in [[sports journalism]]. He was a sports correspondent for [[CNN]] and for local TV and radio stations in the 1980s, winning the ''Best Sportscaster'' award from the California [[Associated Press]] three times. He co-hosted [[ESPN]]'s ''[[SportsCenter]]'' from 1992 to 1997. From 1998 to 2001, he was a producer and anchor for [[Fox Sports Networks|Fox Sports Net]] and a host for [[Major League Baseball on Fox|Fox Sports' coverage of Major League Baseball]].

From March 2003 to January 2011, Olbermann hosted the weeknight political commentary program ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'' on [[MSNBC]]. He received attention for his pointed criticism of [[American conservative]] and right-wing politicians and public figures.<ref name="niche" /><ref name="olbermannfactor" /><ref name="honest" /><ref name="boyer" /><ref name="Rodrick" /> Although he has frequently been described as a "[[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]]",<ref name="will use" /> he has often rejected being labelled politically, stating, "I'm not a liberal. I'm an American."<ref name="not liberal" />

From 2011 to March 30, 2012, Olbermann was the chief news officer of the [[Current TV]] network and the host of a Current TV program also called ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann''.<ref name="breaks silence" /><ref name="new show" /> From July 2013 until July 2015 he hosted a late-afternoon show on [[ESPN2]] and [[TSN2]] called ''[[Olbermann (TV series)|Olbermann]]'',<ref name="espn2olbermann" /> as well as [[TBS (U.S. TV channel)|TBS]]'s [[Major League Baseball on TBS|Major League Baseball postseason coverage]]. From September 2016 until November 2017, he hosted a web series for ''[[GQ]]'', titled ''The Closer with Keith Olbermann'', covering the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 U.S. presidential election]], later renamed ''[[The Resistance with Keith Olbermann]]'' after the victory of [[Donald Trump]].<ref name="gqcloser">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by line.--> |title=Keith Olbermann bringing political commentary to GQ |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-keith-olbermann-bringing-political-commentary-to-gq-2016-9 |newspaper=Business Insider/Associated Press |date=September 12, 2016 |access-date=October 20, 2016 |archive-date=October 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021070855/http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-keith-olbermann-bringing-political-commentary-to-gq-2016-9 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2018, Olbermann returned to ESPN's ''SportsCenter'' program, expanding in May to some baseball play-by-play work. On October 6, 2020, he again resigned from ESPN to start a political commentary program on his YouTube channel.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Flood|first=Brian|date=2020-10-07|title=Keith Olbermann walks away from ESPN gig to bash Trump on daily YouTube show|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/keith-olbermann-espn-trump-youtube|access-date=2020-10-31|website=Fox News|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104042059/https://www.foxnews.com/media/keith-olbermann-espn-trump-youtube|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Strauss|first=Ben|title=Keith Olbermann leaves ESPN (again) to 'bring flamethrower' to Trump on YouTube show|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/06/keith-olbermann-youtube-politics/|access-date=2020-10-31|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> On August 1, 2022, Olbermann relaunched ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' as a daily podcast with [[iHeartRadio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/keith-olbermann-countdown-podcast-1235324815/|title=Keith Olbermann Is Bringing 'Countdown' Back as Daily Podcast With iHeartMedia|work=Variety|first=Todd|last=Spangler|date=July 25, 2022|access-date=August 12, 2022|archive-date=August 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813214126/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/keith-olbermann-countdown-podcast-1235324815/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is described as a news-driven show featuring his trademark "Special Comment" political analysis, "The Worst Persons in the World" segment, and readings from the works of humorist [[James Thurber]].

== Early life ==
Olbermann was born January 27, 1959, in New York City,<ref name="Olbermann1997" /><ref>{{cite journal|title=Current Biography Yearbook|author=H.W. Wilson Company|journal=Current Biography Yearbook: Annual Cumulation|year=2009|publisher=H. W. Wilson Company|issn=0084-9499|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vwZAAAAYAAJ|access-date=July 11, 2022|quote=Keith Olbermann was born in New York City on January 27, 1959 to Theodore Olbermann, an architect, and Marie Olbermann, a preschool teacher...}}</ref> the son of Marie Katherine (née Charbonier),<ref name="6apr2009" /> a preschool teacher, and Theodore Olbermann, a commercial architect.<ref name="boyer" /> He is of [[German American|German]] ancestry.<ref name="Ref_2007" /> Olbermann and his younger sister Jenna (b. 1968),<ref name="Ref_2008" /> were raised in a [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian]] household<ref name="Ref_2008a" /> in the town of [[Hastings-on-Hudson, New York|Hastings-on-Hudson]]<ref name="Ref_2006" /> in [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester, New York]]. He attended the [[Hackley School]], a private [[Ivy Preparatory School League|Ivy League Preparatory school]]<ref name=boyer /><ref name="Rodrick" /> in nearby [[Tarrytown, New York|Tarrytown]].

Olbermann became a devoted fan of [[baseball]] at a young age, a love he inherited from his mother, who was a lifelong [[New York Yankees]] fan.<ref name="6apr2009" /> As a teenager he often wrote about baseball [[trading card#baseball|card-collecting]] and appeared in many sports card-collecting periodicals of the mid-1970s. He is also referenced in ''Sports Collectors Bible'', a 1979 book by [[Bert Sugar]], which is considered one of the important early books for [[trading card]] collectors.<ref name="Steinberg1997" />

While at Hackley, Olbermann began his broadcasting career as a play-by-play announcer for WHTR. After graduating from Hackley in 1975, he enrolled at [[Cornell University]] at the age of 16<!--PLEASE DISCUSS BEFORE CHANGING THIS-->.<ref name="Counting_Down_w_KO" /> At college Olbermann served as sports director for [[WVBR-FM|WVBR]], a student-run commercial radio station in [[Ithaca, New York|Ithaca]].<ref name="Counting_Down_w_KO" /> Olbermann graduated from Cornell University's [[Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences|College of Agriculture and Life Sciences]] in 1979 with a BS in communication.<ref name="offbio" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Simpson|first=Elizabeth|title=Olbermann '79 entertains with Cornell anecdotes and political commentary|url=https://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2011/03/olbermann-entertains-cornell-anecdotes|publisher=Cornell Chronicle|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=October 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003004357/http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2011/03/olbermann-entertains-cornell-anecdotes|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CALS Departments & Majors|url=https://cals.cornell.edu/academics/departments-majors/|publisher=Cornell University|access-date=September 12, 2013|archive-date=September 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903024922/http://cals.cornell.edu/academics/departments-majors/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Sports broadcasting ==
Olbermann began his professional career at [[United Press International|UPI]] and the [[RKO Radio Network]] before joining then-nascent [[CNN]] in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn2TTadqcuo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/cn2TTadqcuo| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Redskins 1983 Super Bowl parade, Keith Olbermann on CNN|last=Cathy Ferkleheimer|date=December 10, 2012 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Among the early stories he covered was the [[1980 Winter Olympics]] at [[Lake Placid, New York|Lake Placid]], including the "[[Miracle on Ice]]."<ref name="Counting_Down_w_KO" /> In the early-to-mid 1980s he was a sportscaster on the old [[WNEW (AM)|WNEW 1130-AM]] radio station in New York City. In 1984, he briefly worked as a sports anchor at [[WCVB-TV]] in [[Boston]] before heading to Los Angeles to work at [[KTLA]] and [[KCBS-TV|KCBS]]. His work there earned him 11 [[Golden Mike Award]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtna.org/GoldenMikeAwards/winners.asp|title=Radio and Television News Association of Southern California – Golden Mike Awards Winners|website=www.rtna.org|access-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005130633/http://rtna.org/GoldenMikeAwards/winners.asp|archive-date=October 5, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> and he was named best sportscaster by the California [[Associated Press]] three times.<ref name=imdb_bio />{{Better source needed|reason=[[Wikipedia:Citing IMDb]]|date=November 2017}}

=== ESPN ===
In 1992 Olbermann joined [[ESPN]]'s ''[[SportsCenter]]'', a position he held until 1997 with the exception of a period from 1993 to 1994 when he was at [[ESPN2]]. He joined ESPN2 as its "marquee" personality to help launch the network.<ref name="Ref_d" /><ref name="Ref_e" /> He often co-hosted ''SportsCenter''{{'}}s 11:00&nbsp;p.m. show with [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]], the two becoming a popular anchor team. In 1995 Olbermann won a [[Cable ACE Awards|Cable ACE award]] for Best Sportscaster.<ref name="offbio" /> he later co-authored a book with Patrick called ''The Big Show'' about their experiences working at ''SportsCenter''; he also said that the short-lived [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] [[dramedy]] ''[[Sports Night]]'' was based on his time on ''SportsCenter'' with Patrick, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] having been co-owned with [[ESPN]] since 1985 (ESPN now produces all sports coverage on ABC, which is branded ''[[ESPN on ABC]]'').<ref name="Ref_2004" /> In his last year with KCBS before moving east to work for ESPN, Olbermann's salary was $475,000 but started at "just over $150,000" with ESPN.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201106/espn-oral-history-sportscenter-keith-olbermann |date=June 2011 |access-date=April 27, 2012 |work=GQ |title=Game On! The Untold Stories and Furios Egos Behind the Rise of SportsCenter |author=James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales |archive-date=January 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109041157/http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201106/espn-oral-history-sportscenter-keith-olbermann |url-status=dead }}</ref> He made $350,000 at the end of his tenure at ESPN.<ref name="Solo" />

Early in 1997 Olbermann was suspended for two weeks after he made an unauthorized appearance on ''[[The Daily Show]]'' on [[Comedy Central]] with then-host and former ESPN colleague [[Craig Kilborn]]. At one point in the show he referred to [[Bristol, Connecticut]] (ESPN's headquarters), as a "Godforsaken place".<ref name="Solo" /> Later that year he abruptly left ESPN under a cloud of controversy, apparently burning his bridges with the network's management;<ref name="scorchedbridges" /> this began a long and drawn-out feud between Olbermann and ESPN. Between 1997 and 2007 incidents between the two sides included Olbermann's publishing an essay on ''[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]'' in November 2002 titled "Mea Culpa", in which he stated, "I couldn't handle the pressure of working in daily long-form television, and what was worse, I didn't know I couldn't handle it."<ref name="meaculpa" /> The essay told of an instance when his former bosses remarked he had "too much backbone", a claim that is literally true, as Olbermann has six [[lumbar vertebrae]] instead of the normal five.<ref name="meaculpa" />

In 2004, Olbermann was not included in ESPN's guest lineup for its 25th anniversary ''[[SportsCenter]]'' "Reunion Week", which saw [[Craig Kilborn]] and [[Charley Steiner]] return to the ''SportsCenter'' set. In 2007, ten years after Olbermann's departure, in an appearance on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'', he said, "If you burn a bridge, you can possibly build a new bridge, but if there's no river any more, that's a lot of trouble." During the same interview Olbermann stated that he had recently learned that as a result of ESPN's agreeing to let him return to the airwaves on ESPN Radio, he was banned from ESPN's main ([[Bristol, Connecticut]]) campus.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7bXnJ9MvOI|title=Keith and Dan with Dave|date=June 27, 2007|publisher=YouTube|access-date=June 22, 2015|archive-date=January 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115061647/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7bXnJ9MvOI|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Post-''SportsCenter'' ===
[[File:Keith Olbermann (2006) (cropped).jpg|upright|thumb|Olbermann in 2006]]
In 1999, Olbermann joined [[Fox Sports Net]] to be the star anchor for their sports news show ''[[National Sports Report|Fox Sports News Primetime]]'', which was an ill-fated competitor to ''SportsCenter''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/2015/the-keith-olbermann-timeline.html|title=The Keith Olbermann Timeline|first=Ken|last=Fang|date=July 9, 2015|access-date=January 7, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108050247/https://awfulannouncing.com/2015/the-keith-olbermann-timeline.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Olbermann later left that show to be an anchor and executive producer for ''The Keith Olbermann Evening News'', a sportscast similar to ''SportsCenter'' that aired weekly on Sunday evenings. While at Fox he hosted the [[2000 World Series]] as well as [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox Broadcasting]]'s baseball ''[[Major League Baseball Game of the Week|Game of the Week]]''. In May and July 1999, Olbermann also guest-starred ten times on ''[[Hollywood Squares]]''.<ref name="Ref_f" />

According to Olbermann, he was demoted by Fox when he asked for a slight reduction in duties for health reasons, and then was fired from Fox in 2001 after reporting on rumors that [[Rupert Murdoch]], whose [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] owns Fox, was planning on selling the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref name="Ref_2004a" /> Olbermann characterized the demotion as "blackmail."<ref name="Ref_2011a" /> When asked about Olbermann, Murdoch said, "I fired him ... He's crazy."<ref name=murdoch /><ref name="Guardian2011" /> In 2004 Olbermann remarked, "Fox Sports was an infant trying to stand [in comparison to ESPN], but on the broadcast side there was no comparison—ESPN was the bush leagues."<ref name="Counting_Down_w_KO" />

After Olbermann left Fox Sports in 2001, he provided twice-daily sports commentary on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Radio Network]], reviving the "Speaking of Sports" and "Speaking of Everything" segments begun by [[Howard Cosell]].<ref name="Sandomir2002" /> In 2005, Olbermann made a return to ESPN Radio when he began co-hosting an hour of the syndicated ''[[Dan Patrick Show]]'' on [[ESPN Radio]], a tenure that lasted until Patrick left ESPN on August 17, 2007.<ref name="patrick" /> Olbermann and Patrick referred to this segment as "The Big Show", just as their book was known. Patrick often introduced Olbermann with the tagline "saving the democracy", a nod to his work on ''Countdown''. On April 16, 2007, Olbermann was named co-host of ''[[Football Night in America]]'', NBC's NFL pre-game show that precedes their [[NBC Sunday Night Football|Sunday Night NFL game]], a position which reunited him in 2008 with his former ''[[SportsCenter]]'' co-anchor [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]]. Olbermann left the show prior to the start of the 2010 season.<ref name="Shain2010" />

Shortly before rejoining ESPN, Olbermann signed a contract with [[Major League Baseball on TBS|TBS]] to host the studio show portions of its coverage of the [[Division Series]] and [[National League Championship Series]]. He replaced [[Matt Winer]], who had been in this role since his departure from ESPN to join the [[Turner Sports]] family, and was originally supposed to host the show with TBS' [[Dennis Eckersley]]. Instead, Eckersley was sent to join [[Don Orsillo]] and [[Buck Martinez]] to call the [[2013 American League Division Series#Oakland vs. Detroit|Detroit-Oakland series]]. TBS later hired [[Dirk Hayhurst]], [[Pedro Martínez]], and [[Mark DeRosa]] to provide analysis. [[Tom Verducci]] also joined the studio crew, as he was replaced by [[Rachel Nichols (journalist)|Rachel Nichols]] as a field reporter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Olbermann to host TBS' postseason baseball studio show|date=June 5, 2013|url=https://nypost.com/2013/06/05/olbermann-to-host-tbs-postseason-baseball-studio-show/|publisher=New York Post|access-date=May 19, 2022|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520033300/https://nypost.com/2013/06/05/olbermann-to-host-tbs-postseason-baseball-studio-show/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Return to and departure from ESPN ===
{{Main|Olbermann (TV series)}}
It was announced on July 17, 2013, that Olbermann would host his own one-hour nightly show on [[ESPN2]]. The two-year contract would allow him to deviate from the topic of sports into realms such as "pop culture and current events",<ref>{{cite news|title=Olbermann Will Return To ESPN|newspaper=The New York Times|date=July 17, 2013|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/sports/after-16-year-absence-olbermann-is-said-to-be-returning-to-espn-to-host-show.html|access-date=July 17, 2013|last1=Miller|first1=James Andrew|archive-date=July 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717172127/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/17/sports/after-16-year-absence-olbermann-is-said-to-be-returning-to-espn-to-host-show.html|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as politics, which was a right Olbermann claimed he did not intend to exercise.<ref>{{Citation | last = Pierce | first = Scott D. | title = Keith Olbermann promises no politics on his new ESPN2 show | newspaper = [[The Salt Lake Tribune]] | date = July 25, 2013 | url = https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/blogstv/56642603-63/olbermann-politics-talking-sports.html.csp | access-date = April 5, 2016 | archive-date = February 21, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010247/http://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/sltrib/blogstv/56642603-63/olbermann-politics-talking-sports.html.csp | url-status = live }}</ref>

Olbermann was suspended by ESPN in 2015 for the week following Penn State University's annual philanthropy THON due to a Twitter exchange he had with Penn State supporters.<ref>{{Citation|title=Keith Olbermann Benched by ESPN For Comments About Penn State |newspaper=StateCollege.com |date=February 24, 2015 |url=https://www.statecollege.com/keith-olbermann-benched-by-espn-for-comments-about-penn-state/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225150528/http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/keith-olbermann-benched-by-espn-for-comments-about-penn-state%2C1462946/ |archive-date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=May 19, 2022 }}</ref> THON is the world's largest student-run philanthropy, raising over $160 million for pediatric cancer research since 1977. In the Twitter exchange, Olbermann stated, "PSU students are pitiful."  Later, prior to apologizing, Olbermann stated, "I'd like to thank the students and alums of Penn State for proving my point about the mediocrity of their education and ethics."<ref>{{Citation|title=Fallout Continues to Pile Up After Olbermann Rant Against Penn State |newspaper=statecollege.com |date=February 25, 2015 |url=https://www.statecollege.com/fallout-continues-to-pile-up-after-olbermann-rant-against-penn-state/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226155525/http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/fallout-continues-to-pile-up-after-olbermann-rant-against-penn-state%2C1462951/ |archive-date=February 26, 2015 |access-date=May 19, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | title = ESPN suspends Keith Olbermann after a series of nasty tweets insulting Penn State students | newspaper = [[Business Insider]] | date = February 24, 2015 | url = http://www.businessinsider.com/espn-suspends-keith-olbermann-for-a-week-2015-2 | access-date = February 24, 2015 | archive-date = February 26, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150226113921/http://www.businessinsider.com/espn-suspends-keith-olbermann-for-a-week-2015-2 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=ESPN Suspends Keith Olbermann For Penn State Tweets |newspaper=[[Deadspin]] |date=February 24, 2015 |url=http://deadspin.com/espn-suspends-keith-olbermann-for-penn-state-tweets-1687751753 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224235215/http://deadspin.com/espn-suspends-keith-olbermann-for-penn-state-tweets-1687751753 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |access-date=February 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=ESPN's Keith Olbermann taken off the air after fighting with Penn State fans on Twitter |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=February 24, 2015 |url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/02/espn-keith-olbermann-penn-state-twitter-taken-off-air |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224200249/http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/02/espn-keith-olbermann-penn-state-twitter-taken-off-air |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |access-date=February 24, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Olbermann apologized on his program upon his return March 2, but noted, "I'm much more sorry about batting practice [i.e. trolling or cyber bullying]. So for me, batting practice ends."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82957112/|title=LA Times|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=March 3, 2015|archive-date=October 6, 2012|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20121006015957/http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82957112/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In July 2015 ESPN announced that it would be Olbermann's last month with the network. ESPN said that it was a "business decision to move in another direction".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/07/08/keith-olbermann-out-espn-contract |title=Keith Olbermann's second tenure at ESPN comes to end after two years. |newspaper=Sports Illustrated |date=July 8, 2015 |access-date=July 8, 2015 |archive-date=July 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714234843/http://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/07/08/keith-olbermann-out-espn-contract |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== The Ringer ===
In 2016, Olbermann wrote an article for [[Bill Simmons]]' company "[[The Ringer (website)|The Ringer]]" after [[Muhammad Ali]]'s death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theringer.com/muhammad-ali-keith-olbermann-remembrance-2d81ba11561b|title=Muhammad Ali: Champion of the World.|date=June 4, 2016|access-date=June 4, 2016|archive-date=May 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170531084059/https://theringer.com/muhammad-ali-keith-olbermann-remembrance-2d81ba11561b|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Third tenure with ESPN===

In January 2018, Olbermann returned to [[ESPN]] once again, presenting occasional commentaries on ''[[SportsCenter]]'' throughout the first half of 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/keith-olbermann-espn-sportscenter.html|title=Keith Olbermann's again working with ESPN, contributing to 'SportsCenter'|date=2018-01-31|work=Awful Announcing|access-date=2018-07-14|archive-date=June 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604214539/http://awfulannouncing.com/espn/keith-olbermann-espn-sportscenter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2018, Olbermann's role at ESPN expanded to include a return to the role of ''[[SportsCenter]]'' host and the addition of occasional [[ESPN Major League Baseball]] play-by-play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2018/05/keith-olbermann-to-expand-multi-faceted-espn-role/|title=Keith Olbermann to Expand Multi-Faceted ESPN Role|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|date=May 25, 2018|access-date=May 19, 2022|author=Josh Krulewitz|archive-date=May 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517042203/https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2018/05/keith-olbermann-to-expand-multi-faceted-espn-role/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== News journalism ==
In 1997, Olbermann left ESPN to host a prime-time show on [[MSNBC]], ''The Big Show with Keith Olbermann'' (ESPN objected to the use of the title).<ref name="Solo" /> The news-driven program, with substantial discussion, relied on Olbermann to carry the 8:00–9:00&nbsp;pm hour.<ref name="Solo" /> The show typically covered three or four topics in a one-hour broadcast. Olbermann also hosted two Sunday editions of ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' and once co-anchored a Saturday edition of the ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' show.<ref>A search of the [http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/ Vanderbilt University Television News Archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105181132/http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/ |date=November 5, 2014 }} shows that Olbermann anchored ''NBC Nightly News'' on April 12, 1998 (Easter Sunday), and May 9, 1998. On his ''Nightly News'' debut Olbermann led with coverage of the [[April 1998 Birmingham tornado]] and introduced stories about observances of Easter at the [[Holy See|Vatican]], the [[Northern Ireland peace process]], and [[Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement]] among other subjects.</ref> During that period Olbermann, along with [[Hannah Storm]], also co-hosted [[NBC Sports]]' [[Major League Baseball on NBC|pre-game coverage]] of the [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] [[1997 World Series]]. Olbermann became frustrated as his show was consumed by the [[Lewinsky scandal|Monica Lewinsky scandal]]. In 1998, he stated that his work at MSNBC would "make me ashamed, make me depressed, make me cry."<ref name="scorchedbridges" />

Olbermann left MSNBC for Fox Sports Net shortly thereafter. After leaving Fox Sports in 2001, Olbermann returned once more to news journalism. In 2003, his network won an [[RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award|Edward R. Murrow Award]] for writing on the "Keith Olbermann Speaking of Everything" show. In addition, Olbermann wrote a weekly column for [[Salon.com]] from July 2002 until early 2003,<ref name="Ref_h" /> worked for [[CNN]] as a freelance reporter,<ref name="Counting_Down_w_KO" /> and was a fill-in for newscaster [[Paul Harvey]].<ref name="Ref_i" /><ref name="Ref_j" /> Olbermann revived his association with MSNBC in 2003 briefly as a substitute host on ''[[Jerry Nachman|Nachman]]'' and as an anchor for the network's coverage of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|war in Iraq]].

=== ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' ===
{{Main|Countdown with Keith Olbermann}}
Olbermann's own show, ''Countdown'', debuted on MSNBC on March 31, 2003, in the 8 p.m. ET time slot previously held by programs hosted by [[Phil Donahue]] and, briefly, [[Lester Holt]]. ''Countdown's'' format, per its name, involved Olbermann ranking the five biggest news stories of the day or sometimes "stories my producers force me to cover", as Olbermann put it. This was done in numerically reverse order, counting down with the first story shown being ranked fifth but apparently the most important.

The first few stories shown were typically oriented toward government, politics, and world events; the segments ranked numbers two and one were typically of a lighter fare than the preceding segments. These lighter stories sometimes involved celebrities, sports, and, regularly and somewhere in the middle, the bizarre, in a segment he called "Oddball." Opinions on each were offered by Olbermann and guests interviewed during the segment. Olbermann had been criticized for only having guests that agree with his perspective. Former ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' television critic Howard Rosenberg stated that "''Countdown'' is more or less an echo chamber in which Olbermann and like-minded bobbleheads nod at each other."<ref name="Rosenberg2008" />

On October 13, 2004, Olbermann launched ''[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6210240 Bloggermann]'', his ''Countdown'' blog, hosted on MSNBC's website.<ref name="welcome_to_bloggermann" /> Olbermann used the open format of the blog to expand on facts or ideas alluded to in the broadcast, to offer personal musings and reactions. However, in February 2007, Olbermann launched a new blog, ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20150201181155/http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/default.aspx The News Hole]''.

In a technique similar to that of former [[CBS News]] anchor [[Walter Cronkite]] in connection to the [[Iran Hostage Crisis]],<ref name="Bliss1991" /> for the last six years of the program, Olbermann closed every show by announcing the number of days passed since President [[George W. Bush]] had declared the end of "major combat operations" in Iraq under a banner that read "[[2003 Mission Accomplished Speech|Mission Accomplished]]" (May 1, 2003). Olbermann would then crumple up his notes, throwing them at the camera and saying "Good night and good luck", echoing another former CBS newsman, [[Edward R. Murrow]]. (Yet Olbermann himself discounted this gesture to his hero as "presumptuous" and a "feeble tribute.")<ref name="olbermann_murrow" />

On February 16, 2007, MSNBC reported that Olbermann had signed a four-year extension on his contract with MSNBC for ''Countdown'' which also provided for his hosting of two ''Countdown'' specials a year to be aired on NBC as well as for his occasional contribution of essays on ''NBC's Nightly News with Brian Williams''.<ref name="Ref_k" />

Olbermann co-anchored, with [[Chris Matthews]], MSNBC's coverage of the death of fellow [[NBC News]] employee [[Tim Russert]] on June 13, 2008.<ref name="Elber2008" /> He presented a tribute, along with several fellow journalists, in honor of Russert.<ref name="Ref_l" />

During the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 U.S. presidential election]], Olbermann co-anchored MSNBC's coverage with Chris Matthews until September 7, 2008, when they were replaced by [[David Gregory (journalist)|David Gregory]] after complaints from both outside and inside of [[NBC]] that they were making partisan statements.<ref name=replaced /> This apparent conflict of interest had been an issue as early as May 2007, when [[Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign, 2008|Giuliani campaign officials]] complained about his serving in dual roles, as both a host and a commentator.<ref name="Ref_m" /> Despite this, ''Countdown'' was broadcast both before and after each of the presidential and vice-presidential debates, and Olbermann and Matthews joined Gregory on MSNBC's Election Day coverage.<ref name=electionnight /> Olbermann and Matthews also led MSNBC's coverage of the inauguration of President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name=inauguration /><ref name=inauguration2 />

In November 2008, it was announced that Olbermann had signed a four-year contract extension worth an estimated $30 million.<ref name="tvnewsernov08" />

==== Feud with Bill O'Reilly ====
After beginning ''Countdown''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s "Worst Person in the World" segment in July 2005, Olbermann repeatedly awarded [[Bill O'Reilly (commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]], host of ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'' on [[Fox News Channel]], the dubious honor.<ref name="niche" /> The feud between the anchors originated with Olbermann's extensive coverage of a 2004 [[sexual harassment]] suit brought against O'Reilly by former Fox News Channel producer [[Andrea Mackris]] during which Olbermann asked ''Countdown'' viewers to fund the purchase of lurid audio tapes allegedly held by Mackris.<ref name="Hagan2004" /><ref name="mackris_lawsuit" /> In 2008 O'Reilly decided to avoid mentioning Olbermann's name on the air, and once cut off a caller who mentioned Olbermann.<ref name="banned" /> O'Reilly has also criticized MSNBC's news commentary and political coverage without ever specifically mentioning Olbermann.<ref name="niche" /><ref name="Ref_2006a" /><ref name="Carpenter" /> The rivalry continued when in 2006 at Television Critics' Association in California, Olbermann donned a mask of O'Reilly and made a [[Nazi]] salute, leading to a letter of protest from the [[Anti-Defamation League]].<ref name="Ref_n" /><ref name="feud boils" /><ref name="Ref_o" />

In an article on "perhaps the fiercest media feud of the decade", ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} [[Brian Stelter]] noted that in early June 2009 the "combat" between the two hosts seemed to have abruptly ended as a result of instructions filtered down to Olbermann and O'Reilly from the chief executives of their respective networks.<ref name="Stelter2009" /> On the August 3, 2009, edition of ''Countdown'', Olbermann asserted that he had made statements to Stelter before the article was published denying that he was a party to such a deal, or that there was such a deal between NBC and Fox News, or that any NBC executive had asked him to change ''Countdown'''s content. Olbermann maintained that he had stopped joking about O'Reilly because of O'Reilly's attacks of [[George Tiller]], and soon resumed his criticism of O'Reilly.<ref name="Ref_2009a" />

==== Suspension ====
On October 28, 2010, days before the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 U.S. elections]], Olbermann donated $2,400 each to three Democratic candidates for Congress: [[Kentucky]] Senate candidate [[Jack Conway (politician)|Jack Conway]], and [[Arizona]] Democratic Representatives [[Raul Grijalva]] and [[Gabby Giffords]].<ref name="Suspended"/> Grijalva had appeared on Olbermann's show immediately before Olbermann mailed the donations. In response, on November 5, MSNBC President [[Phil Griffin (presenter)|Phil Griffin]] suspended him indefinitely without pay for violating a network policy which required employees to obtain approval from management before making political contributions.<ref name="Danny2010" /><ref name="NYT-suspend" /> An online petition calling for his reinstatement received over 250,000 signatures;<ref name="Olbermann suspension ending" /> two days after the suspension began, Griffin announced that Olbermann would return to the air on November 9.<ref name="Olbermann suspension ending" />

==== Departure ====
On January 21, 2011, Olbermann announced his departure from MSNBC and that the episode would be the final episode of ''Countdown''.<ref name="EndCountdown" /><ref name="FinalCountdown" /> MSNBC issued a statement that it had ended its contract with Olbermann, with no further explanation. Additional reporting in the days immediately following suggested that the negotiations for the end of Olbermann's tenure at MSNBC had begun soon after the end of his suspension.<ref name="Keith Olbermann -- The Rich Get Richer" />

=== Current TV and FOKNewsChannel.com ===
On February 8, 2011, it was announced that Olbermann had become the chief news officer for the public affairs channel [[Current TV]] and would begin hosting a one-hour prime time program on the network at 8&nbsp;pm Eastern&nbsp;– the same time slot that ''Countdown'' had been on MSNBC.<ref name="Olbermann Said to Be Going to Current TV" /><ref name="show time" /> On April 26, 2011, it was announced that Olbermann's new show would debut on June 20 and would be named ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann''.<ref name="unveils" /> Olbermann was also heavily involved in the development of the rest of the network's news programming.<ref name="coming to current" /> The deal also included an [[Equity (finance)|equity stake]] in Current TV.<ref>[http://current.com/keith-olbermann/ Countdown with Keith Olbermann // Current TV<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208211320/http://current.com/keith-olbermann/ |date=February 8, 2011 }}</ref>

During the interim between shows, Olbermann launched an "official not-for-profit" blog called FOKNewsChannel.com, "FOK" being an abbreviation for "Friends of Keith". The blog featured political commentaries by Olbermann—including [[viral video]] versions of ''Countdown'''s "Special Comment" and "Worst Person" segments, as well as photographs of his outings at [[professional baseball]] games.<ref name="website launches" /> On May 29, 2011, the FOKNewsChannel.com domain redirected to the Current website promoting the June 20 launch.<ref name="foknews" />

Olbermann was fired from Current TV on March 30, 2012. In a statement from Current TV, they stated that "Current was [...] 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."  Olbermann released his own statement, apologizing for "the failure of Current TV" and "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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/03/keith-olbermann-to-file-against-current-tv-119218|title=Keith Olbermann to file against Current TV|author=Keach Hagey|work=POLITICO|date=March 30, 2012|access-date=March 30, 2012|archive-date=March 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330215739/http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/03/keith-olbermann-to-file-against-current-tv-119218.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
The two parties sued each other over Olbermann's firing. On March 12, 2013, it was announced that Olbermann settled his $50 million legal claim. In a joint statement, Olbermann and Current TV said: "The parties are pleased to announce that a settlement has occurred, and that the terms are confidential. Nothing more will be disclosed regarding the settlement."<ref>{{cite web|title=Keith Olbermann Settles $50 Million Current TV Lawsuit|date=March 12, 2013|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/keith-olbermann-settles-50-million-428231/|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=May 19, 2022|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520033300/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/keith-olbermann-settles-50-million-428231/|url-status=live}}</ref>
According to ''Politico'', Olbermann's professional reputation suffered greatly as a result of his dispute with Current, which accused Olbermann of making "material breaches of his contract, including the failure to show up at work, sabotaging the network and attacking Current and its executives."  Purportedly, despite actively shopping other networks for offers, Olbermann was unable to find an outlet interested in hiring him. According to ''Politico'', the fact Olbermann had been rendered unemployable as a result of the dispute, factored heavily during settlement negotiations between his attorneys and representatives from CurrentTV.<ref>"Sources: Olbermann's inability to get a job cited in Current TV settlement." By DYLAN BYERS, writing for ''Politico''. [https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/03/sources-olbermanns-inability-to-get-a-job-cited-in-current-tv-settlement-159322] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209072249/https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/03/sources-olbermanns-inability-to-get-a-job-cited-in-current-tv-settlement-159322|date=December 9, 2021}}. Published March 14, 2013, Retrieved December 9, 2021.</ref>

=== GQ ===
On September 12, 2016, [[GQ|''GQ'' magazine]] announced that Olbermann would, as a special correspondent, host a web series covering the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 US presidential election]]. The series, titled ''The Closer with Keith Olbermann'', aired twice weekly on GQ.com.<ref name="gqcloser" /> It was retitled ''The Resistance'' after [[Donald Trump]]'s victory.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gq.com/story/watch-the-closer-keith-olbermann|title=Watch 'The Resistance' with Keith Olbermann|last=Olbermann|first=Keith|date=November 21, 2016|work=[[GQ]]|access-date=December 21, 2016|archive-date=December 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222034809/http://www.gq.com/story/watch-the-closer-keith-olbermann|url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2017|March}}, it had nearly 170 million views on ''GQ''{{'}}s YouTube and Facebook.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://medium.com/idea-insider/keith-olbermann-the-closer-the-resistance-viewed-170-million-times-gq-youtube-gq-facebook-aa54e17a4cbc | title=Keith Olbermann's The Closer and The Resistance have been viewed almost 170 million times on ''GQ''{{'}}s YouTube and Facebook | work=Idea Insider | date=April 2, 2017 | access-date=May 2, 2017 | author=Black, Lee Bob | archive-date=April 9, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409200144/https://medium.com/idea-insider/keith-olbermann-the-closer-the-resistance-viewed-170-million-times-gq-youtube-gq-facebook-aa54e17a4cbc | url-status=live }}</ref> In mid-October 2017, Penguin Random House issued a hardcover book by Olbermann, ''Trump Is F*cking Crazy (This Is Not a Joke)'', consisting of 50 essays based on ''The Resistance'' commentaries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564314/trump-is-fcking-crazy-by-keith-olbermann/9780525533863/|title=Trump is F*cking Crazy by Keith Olbermann|website=PenguinRandomhouse.com|access-date=2018-11-18|archive-date=November 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118081917/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564314/trump-is-fcking-crazy-by-keith-olbermann/9780525533863/|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 27, 2017, in episode 147 of ''The Resistance'', Olbermann announced his retirement from political commentary, citing his belief that "this ... presidency of Donald John Trump will end prematurely and end soon, and I am thus also confident that this is the correct moment to end this series of commentaries".<ref>{{Citation|last=GQ|title=Trump is Finished {{!}} The Resistance with Keith Olbermann {{!}} GQ|date=2017-11-27|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmkXR7EL_RY|access-date=2018-11-18|archive-date=November 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128051347/https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xmkXR7EL_RY|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' Podcast ===
On August 1, 2022, Olbermann began producing and hosting a weekday podcast titled "Countdown with Keith Olbermann", for iHeart Media.<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{cite news|title=Keith Olbermann to Host New Podcast on iHeartMedia|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/keith-olbermann-to-host-new-podcast-on-iheartmedia-1235185676/|access-date=7 September 2022|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|date=25 July 2022|archive-date=September 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907162659/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/keith-olbermann-to-host-new-podcast-on-iheartmedia-1235185676/|url-status=live}}</ref> It usually consists of a similar five block show from the TV days with three blocks changed out. The main, a dog in need, a headlines section, worst person, a sports rundown and the number one story either being a story of Olbermann's (usually his experience in the news media) or a short story from [[James Thurber]] on Fridays. The podcast currently releases 2-5 episodes per week, during the weekdays.

== Acting ==
Olbermann has made several acting appearances either as himself or simply as a sports/newscaster, most notably as [[List of BoJack Horseman characters#Tom Jumbo-Grumbo|Tom Jumbo-Grumbo]] (a blue whale newscaster on the MSNBSea network) in several episodes of ''[[BoJack Horseman]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/BoJack-Horseman/Tom-Jumbo-Grumbo/|title=Tom Jumbo Grumbo|website=Behind The Voice Actors|access-date=2016-10-21|archive-date=October 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018165448/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/BoJack-Horseman/Tom-Jumbo-Grumbo|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cornellsun.com/2015/10/29/interviewing-the-cornellians-behind-bojack-horseman/|title=Interviewing the Cornellians Behind BoJack Horseman|date=2015-10-30|website=The Cornell Daily Sun|access-date=2016-10-21|archive-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010213118/http://cornellsun.com/2015/10/29/interviewing-the-cornellians-behind-bojack-horseman/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/the-locker/craig-kilborn-voiced-a-cartoon-character-in-a-scene-keith-olbermann.html|title=Craig Kilborn voiced a cartoon character in a scene with Keith Olbermann|date=2015-07-21|newspaper=Awful Announcing|access-date=2016-10-21|archive-date=May 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515212325/http://awfulannouncing.com/the-locker/craig-kilborn-voiced-a-cartoon-character-in-a-scene-keith-olbermann.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Political positions ==

=== Viewpoints ===
Although it began as a traditional newscast, ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' eventually adopted an opinion-oriented format. In a ''Countdown'' interview with [[Al Franken]] on October 25, 2005, Olbermann noted that in 2003, after having [[Janeane Garofalo]] and Franken on his show, a vice president of MSNBC had questioned him on inviting "liberals" on consecutive nights, contrasting that occurrence to the apparent ideological latitude he enjoyed at the time of the second Franken interview.<ref name="Ref_2005" />

In January 2007, ''[[The Washington Post]]'''s [[Howard Kurtz]] wrote that Olbermann was "position[ing] his program as an increasingly [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] alternative to ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]''."<ref name="Kurtz2007" /> Much of the program featured harsh criticism of prominent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and right-leaning figures, including those who worked for or supported the [[George W. Bush administration]], 2008 Republican presidential nominee Senator [[John McCain]] and running mate Governor [[Sarah Palin]],<ref name="replaced" /><ref name="Ref_2008b" /> and rival news commentator [[Bill O'Reilly (commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]], whom Olbermann has routinely dubbed the "Worst Person in the World".<ref name="olbermannfactor" />

The October 2007 edition of ''Playboy'' carried an Olbermann interview in which he stated, "Al Qaeda really hurt us, but not as much as Rupert Murdoch has hurt us, particularly in the case of Fox News. Fox News is worse than Al Qaeda — worse for our society. It's as dangerous as the Ku Klux Klan ever was."<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-09-11|title=Olbermann|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/olbermann-jonah-goldberg-3/|access-date=2020-11-01|website=National Review|archive-date=April 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424202503/https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/olbermann-jonah-goldberg-3/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2007, British newspaper ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' placed Olbermann at No. 67 on their Top 100 list of most influential US liberals. It said that he used his MSNBC show to promote "an increasingly strident liberal agenda." It added that he would be "a force on the [[political left|Left]] for some time to come."<ref name="mostinfluential" /> Avoiding ideological self-labeling, Olbermann described his reporting in 2006 to [[Salon.com]], "I don't think in these issues that I'm a liberal; I think that I'm an American. I think I'm acting almost as a historian on these particular things".<ref name="olbermannfactor" /> During the 2008 Democratic Party primaries, Olbermann frequently chastised presidential aspirant [[Hillary Clinton]] for her campaign tactics against her principal opponent, Senator [[Barack Obama]], and made her the subject of two of his "special comments".<ref name="Ref_2008c" /><ref name="Ref_2008d" /> Olbermann has also posted on the liberal blog [[Daily Kos]].<ref name="Ref_p" />

Before the [[2010 Massachusetts special election]], Olbermann called Republican candidate [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]] "an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, Tea Bagging supporter of violence against women, and against politicians with whom he disagrees".<ref name="roasts" /> This was criticized by his colleague [[Joe Scarborough]], who called the comments "reckless" and "sad".<ref name="Barr2010" /> Yael T. Abouhalkah of the ''[[Kansas City Star]]'' said that Olbermann "crossed the line in a major way with his comments".<ref name="Abouhalkah2010" /> The next night, Olbermann chose to "double down", as ''[[The Huffington Post]]'''s Danny Shea described it,<ref name="Shea2010" /> on his criticism of Brown by adding the word "sexist" to his original description of the Republican candidate. [[Jon Stewart]] criticized Olbermann about this attack on his show, ''The Daily Show'', by noting that it was "the harshest description of anyone I've ever heard uttered on MSNBC". Following Stewart's critique, Olbermann apologized by noting, "I have been a little over the top lately. Point taken. Sorry."<ref name="Shea2010" />

Olbermann accused the [[Tea Party movement]] of being racist due to what he views as a lack of racial diversity at the events, using photos that show overwhelmingly white crowds attending the rallies. In response, the Dallas Tea Party invited him to attend one of their events and also criticized his network for a lack of racial diversity, pointing out that an online banner of MSNBC personalities that appears on the website shows only white personalities. Olbermann declined the invitation, citing his father's prolonged ill health and hospitalization and stated that the network has minority anchors, contributors and guests.<ref name="McCann2010" />

In October 2020, Olbermann called for supporters and what he described as "enablers" of [[Donald Trump]], including United States Supreme Court nominee [[Amy Coney Barrett]] and conservative political commentator [[Sean Hannity]], to be "prosecuted" and "removed from our society".<ref>{{cite web |title=Keith Olbermann: "Terrorist Trump" And His Enablers And Supporters Must Be "Removed From Our Society" |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/10/09/keith_olbermann_terrorist_trump_and_his_enablers_and_supporters_must_be_removed_from_our_society.html |website=RealClearPolitics |access-date=October 12, 2020 |archive-date=October 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013180946/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/10/09/keith_olbermann_terrorist_trump_and_his_enablers_and_supporters_must_be_removed_from_our_society.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Barrabi |first1=Thomas |title=Keith Olbermann: Amy Coney Barrett, others should be 'prosecuted' and 'removed from our society' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/keith-olbermann-amy-coney-barrett-trump-prosecuted-removed-society |website=Fox News |date=9 October 2020}}</ref> Additionally. Olbermann labeled Trump "a terrorist" and called his supporters "a blight that will be with us for generations", further saying that Trump's "only barely-human delight comes from the morons in the crowd."<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-ESPN anchor Keith Olbermann labels President Trump a 'terrorist' and gets called out by Mitt Romney |url=https://www.nj.com/sports/2020/10/ex-espn-anchor-keith-olbermann-blasted-by-mitt-romney-for-calling-president-trump-a-terrorist.html |website=nj.com |date=October 13, 2020 |access-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019215333/https://www.nj.com/sports/2020/10/ex-espn-anchor-keith-olbermann-blasted-by-mitt-romney-for-calling-president-trump-a-terrorist.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also stated that Trump should be charged for each death that occurred from the [[COVID-19]] virus and to face the [[death penalty]].<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lw8kgXOWcXA</ref>

In March 2024, Olbermann called for the [[United States Supreme Court]] to be dissolved following the court's unanimous decision in ''[[Trump v. Anderson]]'' to allow Trump to remain on the ballot in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 election]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fortinsky |first1=Sarah |title=Keith Olbermann rips Supreme Court, calls liberal justices 'inept' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/4507380-keith-olbermann-rips-supreme-court/ |website=The Hill |access-date=5 March 2024 |date=4 March 2024 |archive-date=March 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305053859/https://thehill.com/homenews/4507380-keith-olbermann-rips-supreme-court/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

After [[Assassination of Charlie Kirk|Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September 2025]], Olbermann tweeted that Kirk should "burn in hell".<ref>https://ew.com/keith-olbermann-abc-affiliate-burn-in-hell-charlie-kirk-jimmy-kimmel-suspension-11812983</ref><ref>https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/keith-olbermann-under-fire-burn-124918109.html</ref><ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/international-sports/former-espn-host-keith-olbermann-under-fire-for-comments-on-charlie-kirks-death/articleshow/123992392.cms</ref> After the suspension of [[Jimmy Kimmel]] in September 2025, Olbermann responded to a tweet from [[Scott Jennings]] criticizing Kimmel by stating "You're next, motherf-ker." This was brought to Jennings' attention by other users and he referred the tweet to FBI director [[Kash Patel]].<ref>https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/scott-jennings-fbi-keith-olbermann-threat-b2832190.html</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo3Ngwt3LgE</ref>

=== Criticism of the Bush administration ===
In Olbermann's "[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann#Special comments|Special Comment]]" segment on July 3, 2007, he called [[George W. Bush]]'s [[commutation of sentence|commutation]] of [[Lewis Libby|Lewis "Scooter" Libby]]'s prison sentence the "[[straw that broke the camel's back|last straw]]" and called for the resignation of Bush and Vice President [[Dick Cheney]].<ref name="Ref_2007a" /> On his February 14, 2008, "Special Comments" segment, Olbermann castigated Bush for threatening to veto an extension of the [[Protect America Act of 2007|Protect America Act]] unless it provided full [[immunity from prosecution|immunity]] from lawsuits to [[telecom companies]].<ref name="Protect America Act" /> During the same commentary, Olbermann called Bush a fascist.<ref name="Protect America Act" /> In a special comment on May 14, 2008, Olbermann criticized Bush for announcing that he had stopped playing golf in honor of American soldiers who died in the [[Iraq War]]. He stated that Bush never should have started the war in the first place, and he accused Bush of dishonesty and [[war crime]]s.<ref name="boyer" />

== Personal life ==
Olbermann suffers from a mild case of [[celiac disease]],<ref name="Ref_2005a" /> as well as [[restless legs syndrome]].<ref name="boyer" /> In August 1980, he also suffered a head injury while leaping onto a [[New York City Subway]] train.<ref name="Ref_2009b" /> This head injury permanently upset his [[Equilibrioception|equilibrium]], resulting in his avoidance of driving.<ref name=boyer /> Along with [[Bob Costas]], he supports the [[Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation]] as an honorary board member.<ref name="Ref_s" />

Olbermann's father, Theodore, died on March 13, 2010, of complications from [[colon (anatomy)|colon]] surgery the previous September. His mother had died several months before.<ref name="father death" /> Olbermann had cited the need to spend time with his father for taking a leave of absence shortly before his father's death, occasionally recording segments to air at the beginning of the shows which [[Lawrence O'Donnell]] guest hosted in his absence, giving his views on the state of the American [[Health care in the United States|health care system]] and updating viewers on his father's condition.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vogel|first=Kenneth|date=March 15, 2010|title=Olbermann's father dies|work=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/03/olbermanns-father-dies-034425|access-date=February 11, 2021|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109003830/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/03/olbermanns-father-dies-034425|url-status=live}}</ref> Olbermann has dated several women involved in politics and journalism, including [[Katy Tur]], [[Laura Ingraham]], [[Kyrsten Sinema]] and [[Olivia Nuzzi]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kosman|first=Josh|date=September 23, 2024|title=Olivia Nuzzi once dated ex-MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann — star reporter's love life in focus amid RFK Jr. sexting scandal|work=New York Post|url=https://nypost.com/2024/09/23/entertainment/olivia-nuzzi-once-dated-msnbc-commentator-keith-olbermann/}}</ref>

Olbermann is a dedicated baseball fan and historian of the sport, with membership in the [[Society for American Baseball Research]].<ref name="Keith2006" /> In 1973, when he was 14 years old, The Card Memorabilia Associates (TCMA) published his book ''The Major League Coaches: 1921–1973''. The September issue of Beckett Sports Collectibles Vintage included a [[T206]] card that depicted Olbermann in a 1905-era New York Giants uniform.<ref name="beckett" /> He argues that [[New York Giants (NL)|New York Giants]] baseball player [[Fred Merkle]] has been unduly criticized for his [[Merkle's Boner|infamous baserunning mistake]].<ref name="justice_for_merkle" />{{efn|See video: {{YouTube|id=9QVcGJwiO54|title=The Fred Merkle Story}}}}{{Dead link|date=October 2021}} He contributed the foreword to ''More Than Merkle'', a book requesting amnesty for "[[Merkle's Boner]]". Olbermann was also one of the founders of the first experts' [[fantasy baseball]] league, the ''[[USA Today]] [[Sports Weekly|Baseball Weekly]]'' [[LABR|League of Alternative Baseball Reality]], and he gave the league its nickname "LABR".<ref name="LABR" /> Olbermann wrote the foreword to the 2009 [[Baseball Prospectus]] Annual.<ref name="Ref_q" /> In March 2009, Olbermann began a baseball-related blog entitled Baseball Nerd. He has also written a series of articles on baseball cards for the ''Sports Collectors Digest''.<ref name="Ref_r" />

== Career timeline ==
* [[United Press International Radio Network]], sports reporter (1979)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://awfulannouncing.com/2015/the-keith-olbermann-timeline.html | title=The Keith Olbermann Timeline | date=July 9, 2015 | access-date=January 7, 2019 | archive-date=January 8, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108050247/https://awfulannouncing.com/2015/the-keith-olbermann-timeline.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[RKO Radio Network]], sports reporter (1980)
* [[CNN]], sports reporter (1981–1984)
* [[WCVB-TV]] Boston, sports reporter (1984)
* [[KTLA]]-TV Los Angeles, sports director (1985–1988)
* [[KCBS-TV]] Los Angeles, sports director (1988–1992)
* ''[[SportsCenter]]'', co-anchor ([[ESPN]], 1992–1997)<ref name=imdb>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0646021/|work=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb.com]]|title=Keith Olbermann|access-date=October 30, 2008|archive-date=March 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322124051/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0646021/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''The Big Show'', anchor (MSNBC, 1997–1998)<ref name=imdb />
* ''White House in Crisis'', anchor (MSNBC, 1997–1998)<ref name=imdb />
* ''[[Major League Baseball on Fox]]'', studio host (1999–2000)<ref name=imdb />
* ''[[National Sports Report]]'', co-anchor ([[Fox Sports Networks|Fox Sports Net]], 1999–2000)
* ''The Keith Olbermann Evening News'', anchor (Fox Sports Net, 2000–2001)<ref name=imdb />
* ''Speaking of Sports'' and ''Speaking of Everything'', commentator ([[Cumulus Media Networks|ABC Radio]], 2001)
* ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'', anchor ([[MSNBC]], 2003–2011)<ref name=imdb />
* ''[[The Dan Patrick Show]]'', co-host ([[ESPN Radio]], 2005–2007)
* ''[[Football Night in America]]'', co-host (NBC, 2007–2010)
* ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'', anchor ([[Current TV]]: 2011–2012)<ref name=imdb />
* ''[[MLB on TBS]]'', studio host (2013)
* ''[[Olbermann (TV series)|Olbermann]]'', host (ESPN2, 2013–2015)
* ''[[The Resistance with Keith Olbermann]]'', host (''[[GQ]]'', 2016–2017)<ref>{{cite web|title=Trump is Finished|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmkXR7EL_RY&t=8s|website=YouTube|access-date=28 November 2017|date=27 November 2017}}</ref>
* ''SportsCenter'', anchor and [[ESPN Major League Baseball]], play-by-play (2018–2020)
* ''[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]'', host ([[iHeart Radio]], 2022–present)<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com"/>

== Publications ==
* ''The Major League Coaches: 1921–1973'' (Card Memorabilia Associates, 1973).
* ''The Big Show: Inside ESPN's Sportscenter'' (Atria, 1997; coauthor: Dan Patrick). {{ISBN|0-671-00918-4}}.
* ''The Worst Person in the World and 202 Strong Contenders'' (Wiley, September 2006). {{ISBN|0-470-04495-0}}.
* ''Truth and Consequences: Special Comments on the Bush Administration's War on American Values'' (Random House, December 2007). {{ISBN|978-1-4000-6676-6}}.
* ''Pitchforks and Torches: The Worst of the Worst, from Beck, Bill, and Bush to Palin and Other Posturing Republicans'' (Wiley, October 25, 2010). {{ISBN|0-470-61447-1}}.
* ''Trump Is F*cking Crazy: (This Is Not a Joke)'' (Blue Rider Press, October 17, 2017). {{ISBN|978-0-525-53386-3}}.

== See also ==
* [[New Yorkers in journalism]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist
|30em
|refs=
<ref name="6apr2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna30092799|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for April 6, 2009|date=April 6, 2009|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305221306/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30092799/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Abouhalkah2010">{{cite web|last=Abouhalkah |first=Yael T |title=Keith Olbermann's disgusting comments |work=[[Kansas City Star]] |date=January 20, 2010 |url=http://voices.kansascity.com/node/7296 |access-date=January 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123184627/http://voices.kansascity.com/node/7296 |archive-date=January 23, 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="banned">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna11698322|title='Olbermann' banned from 'The O'Reilly Factor'|work=[[NBC News]]|date=July 11, 2006|access-date=June 27, 2009|archive-date=July 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730123901/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/11698322/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Barr2010">{{cite web| last =Barr| first =Andy| title =Joe Scarborough: Keith Olbermann is 'reckless'| publisher =[[Politico (newspaper)|Politico]]| date =January 19, 2010| url =https://www.politico.com/story/2010/01/scarborough-olbermann-reckless-031648| access-date =January 22, 2010| archive-date =January 22, 2010| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100122082710/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31648.html| url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="beckett">{{cite news|title=That Guy Olbermann's A Real Card!
|publisher=Beckett Sports Collectibles Vintage|url=http://staging.beckett.com/ebay/news.asp?a=3682|date=August 15, 2002}}{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref>

<ref name="Bliss1991">{{cite book|title=Now the News: The Story of Broadcast Journalism|url=https://archive.org/details/nownewsstoryofbr0000blis|url-access=registration|last=Bliss|first=Edward|year=1991|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=0-231-04403-8|page=[https://archive.org/details/nownewsstoryofbr0000blis/page/317 317]}}</ref>

<ref name="boyer">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/23/080623fa_fact_boyer?printable=true|last=Boyer|first=Peter J.|title=The Political Scene: One Angry Man|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=June 23, 2008|access-date=November 16, 2008|archive-date=October 14, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014201158/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/23/080623fa_fact_boyer?printable=true|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="breaks silence">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/confessions-keith-olbermann-195411|title=The Confessions of Keith Olbermann|author=Marisa Guthrie|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=November 8, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=January 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109081901/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/confessions-keith-olbermann-195411|url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- <ref name="burnedrivers">{{cite episode |title=[[Late Show with David Letterman]] |airdate=2007-06-27 |network=[[CBS]] |transcript-url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7bXnJ9MvOI}}</ref>
 -->
<ref name="Carpenter">{{cite news|first=Mackenzie|last=Carpenter|title=Anchor Olbermann counts on commentary to boost MSNBC's ratings|publisher=The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06346/745336-237.stm|date=December 12, 2006|access-date=February 19, 2007|archive-date=April 26, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426110102/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06346/745336-237.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="coming to current">{{cite web|url=http://current.com/keith-olbermann/ |title=Keith Olbermann Is Coming To Current TV |publisher=Current TV (announcement) |date=February 8, 2011 |access-date=February 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208211320/http://current.com/keith-olbermann/ |archive-date=February 8, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name="Counting_Down_w_KO">{{cite news|first=Eric |last=Finkelstein |title=Counting Down With Keith Olbermann '79 |publisher=Cornell Daily Sun |url=http://cornellsun.com/node/13424 |date=November 29, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213104905/http://cornellsun.com/node/13424 |archive-date=February 13, 2012 }}</ref>

<ref name="Danny2010">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspended_n_779586.html|title=Keith Olbermann SUSPENDED From MSNBC Indefinitely Without Pay|author=Danny Shea|publisher=Huffington Post|date=November 5, 2010|access-date=November 5, 2010|archive-date=November 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105202832/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspended_n_779586.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Elber2008">{{cite news |first=Lynn |last=Elber |title=Tim Russert's son to join NBC convention team |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2008-07-31-russert_N.htm |date=August 1, 2008 |access-date=April 22, 2010 |archive-date=November 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102105805/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2008-07-31-russert_N.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name=electionnight>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/167557 |title=How the Networks Covered Election Night &#124; Newsweek Politics &#124; Newsweek.com |publisher=Newsweek.com |access-date=November 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081129115113/http://www.newsweek.com/id/167557 |archive-date=November 29, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name="EndCountdown">{{cite news|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/21/keith-olbermann-countdown-over_n_812506.htmls|title = Keith Olbermann And MSNBC Announce They Are Parting Ways|publisher=HuffingtonPost|date = January 21, 2011|access-date = January 21, 2011|first=Carly|last=Schwartz}}</ref>

<ref name="espn2olbermann">{{cite news|url = http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2013/07/olbermann-returning-to-espn2-with-daily-late-night-show-aug-26|title = Olbermann Returning to ESPN2 with Daily Late-Night Show Aug. 26|publisher = ESPN Media Zone|date = July 13, 2013|access-date = July 20, 2013|archive-date = July 21, 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130721022305/http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2013/07/olbermann-returning-to-espn2-with-daily-late-night-show-aug-26/|url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="father death">{{cite web|url=http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/03/theodore_c_olbermann_1929-2010.html|title=Baseball Nerd: Theodore C. Olbermann, 1929–2010|last=Olbermann|first=Keith|date=March 13, 2010|access-date=March 13, 2010|archive-date=March 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315170659/http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/archives/2010/03/theodore_c_olbermann_1929-2010.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="feud boils">Burkeman, Oliver. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jul/26/usnews.broadcasting "News show feud boils over into open warfare"] www.guardian.co.uk. July 26, 2006.</ref>

<ref name="foknews">{{cite web|url=http://foknewschannel.com/ |title=FOKNewsChannel.com |access-date=April 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328133737/http://foknewschannel.com/ |archive-date=March 28, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name="FinalCountdown">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/keith-olbermann-leaving-msnbc-ends-countdown/|title=Keith Olbermann leaving MSNBC, ends 'Countdown'|website=[[CBS News]]|date=January 21, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2014|archive-date=September 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913080454/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/keith-olbermann-leaving-msnbc-ends-countdown/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="gets prime-time">{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Olbermann-gets-prime-time-show-on-Gore-s-network-2460375.php|title=Olbermann gets prime-time show on Gore's network|date=February 9, 2011|author=Joe Garofoli|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=November 7, 2011|archive-date=February 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214071410/http://articles.sfgate.com/2011-02-09/news/27328915_1_current-tv-msnbc-current-currency|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Guardian2011">{{cite news | work=The Guardian | title=How I was hired – and fired – by Rupert Murdoch | first=Keith | last=Olbermann|date=August 1, 2011|access-date=August 1, 2011 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/aug/01/rupert-murdoch-keith-olbermann}}</ref>

<ref name="Hagan2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.com/2004/air-women-snub-mackris-olbermann-offers-cash |title=On-Air Women Snub Mackris, Olbermann Offers Cash |last=Hagan |first=Joe |author2=Kolhatkar, Sheelah |work=[[The New York Observer]] |date=October 31, 2004 |access-date=October 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015151401/http://www.observer.com/2004/air-women-snub-mackris-olbermann-offers-cash |archive-date=October 15, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name=honest>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13559914/the_most_honest_man_in_news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225090659/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13559914/the_most_honest_man_in_news|archive-date=February 25, 2007|title=The Most Honest Man in News|last=Binelli|first=Mark|date=March 8, 2007|access-date=February 3, 2009|url-status=dead|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}<br />
{{cite journal|url=http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4268|journal=[[American Journalism Review]]|last=Lisheron|first=Mark|title=Is Keith Olbermann the Future of Journalism?|date=February–March 2007|access-date=February 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611014354/http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4268|archive-date=June 11, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name=imdb_bio>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0646021/bio|title=Keith Olbermann – Biography|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb.com]]|access-date=October 30, 2008}}</ref>

<ref name=inauguration>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/01/msnbc-president.html|newspaper=[[LA Times]]|date=January 12, 2009|access-date=February 3, 2009|title=Despite bias charges, MSNBC's Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews will lead inauguration coverage|last=Gold|first=Matea|archive-date=January 23, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123025022/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/01/msnbc-president.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=inauguration2>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/tv-decoder-live-blogging-coverage/|work=The Caucus|publisher=New York Times|last=Stelter|first=Brian|title=TV Decoder: Watching the Inauguration|date=January 20, 2009|access-date=February 3, 2009|archive-date=January 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130093556/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/tv-decoder-live-blogging-coverage/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="justice_for_merkle">{{cite web|first=Stan|last=Isaacs|title=Justice for Merkle: Keith Olbermann's crusade helps salvage Merkle's rep|url=http://www.thecolumnists.com/isaacs/isaacs74.html|publisher=TheColumnists.com|year=2002|access-date=October 30, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913062303/http://www.thecolumnists.com/isaacs/isaacs74.html|archive-date=September 13, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Keith2006">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12254330|title=Baseball's greatest Ambassador: Buck O'Neil (Keith Olbermann)|work=NBC News|author=Keith Olbermann|date=March 1, 2006|access-date=September 2, 2006|archive-date=December 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217152654/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12254330/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Keith Olbermann -- The Rich Get Richer">{{cite news|url=http://www.tmz.com/2011/01/24/keith-olbermann-msnbc-countdown-cable-news-comcast-nbc-universal-7-million-dollars-exit-package-televison-blackout-conan-obrien/|title=Keith Olbermann – The Rich Get Richer|date=January 24, 2011|work=TMZ|access-date=January 25, 2011|archive-date=January 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127161610/http://www.tmz.com/2011/01/24/keith-olbermann-msnbc-countdown-cable-news-comcast-nbc-universal-7-million-dollars-exit-package-televison-blackout-conan-obrien|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Kurtz2007">{{cite news|first=Howard|last=Kurtz|title=Bill O'Reilly And NBC, Shouting to Make Themselves Seen?|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/14/AR2007011401124.html|date=January 15, 2007|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-date=August 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110821082335/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/14/AR2007011401124.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LABR">{{cite news|first=Jonah|last=Keri|title='Tis the season to project stats|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=keri/070214|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=February 14, 2007|access-date=October 30, 2008|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105141523/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=keri%2F070214|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="mackris_lawsuit">{{cite news |title=Mackris' complaint v. O'Reilly, official document |publisher=[[TheSmokingGun.com]] |url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/funny/oreilly-hit-sex-harass-suit |date=October 13, 2004 |access-date=September 10, 2014 |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225065011/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/funny/oreilly-hit-sex-harass-suit |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="McCann2010">{{cite web| last =McCann| first =Ian| title =Keith Olbermann turns down invitation to Saturday's Dallas Tea Party anniversary rally| publisher =[[The Dallas Morning News]]| date =January 25, 2010| url =http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-teaparty_25met.ART.Central.Edition1.4bed0b9.html| access-date =February 25, 2010| archive-date =February 28, 2010| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100228130722/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-teaparty_25met.ART.Central.Edition1.4bed0b9.html| url-status =live}}</ref>

<ref name="meaculpa">{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2002/11/18/meaculpa_2/|title=ESPN:Mea culpa|work=[[Salon.com]]|author=Keith Olbermann|date=November 17, 2006|access-date=February 23, 2017|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223213339/http://www.salon.com/2002/11/18/meaculpa_2/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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<ref name="mediaite">{{cite news|url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/keith-olbermanns-father-theodore-olbermann-passes-away/|title=Keith Olbermann's Father, Theodore Olbermann, passes away at 81|last=Grant|first=Drew|date=March 13, 2010|publisher=Mediaite|access-date=March 14, 2010}}</ref>
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<ref name="mostinfluential">{{cite news|title = The most influential US liberals|publisher =The Daily Telegraph|date =March 11, 2007|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/uselection/nosplit/liberals61-80.xml|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071031195000/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/uselection/nosplit/liberals61-80.xml|url-status = dead|archive-date = October 31, 2007|access-date = December 15, 2007| location=London}}</ref>

<ref name=murdoch>{{cite news|title=Murdoch: Obama's a Rock Star |last=Peers |first=Martin |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/dnotebook/2008/05/29/murdoch-obamas-a-rock-star/ |date=May 29, 2008 |access-date=October 30, 2008 |work=The Wall Street Journal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207121945/https://blogs.wsj.com/dnotebook/2008/05/29/murdoch-obamas-a-rock-star/ |archive-date=December 7, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name="new show">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/06/07/136931640/keith-olbermann-the-countdown-to-his-new-show|title=Keith Olbermann: The 'Countdown' To His New Show|date=June 7, 2011|work=NPR|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-date=May 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526082013/https://www.npr.org/2011/06/07/136931640/keith-olbermann-the-countdown-to-his-new-show|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name=niche>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/11/arts/television/11keit.html|title=MSNBC's Star Carves Anti-Fox Niche|work=The New York Times|date=July 11, 2006|access-date=November 24, 2008|last=Carter|first=Bill|archive-date=March 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308150707/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/11/arts/television/11keit.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="not liberal">{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv/2006/12/12/Anchor-Olbermann-counts-on-commentary-to-boost-MSNBC-s-ratings/stories/200612120166|title=Anchor Olbermann counts on commentary to boost MSNBC's ratings|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=December 11, 2006|access-date=November 16, 2021|last=Carpenter|first=Mackenzie|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116194740/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv/2006/12/12/Anchor-Olbermann-counts-on-commentary-to-boost-MSNBC-s-ratings/stories/200612120166|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="NYT-suspend">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/us/06olbermann.html|title=Keith Olbermann of MSNBC Suspended Over Donations|last=Stelter|first=Brian|author2=Bill Carter|date=November 6, 2010|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 6, 2010|archive-date=August 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817113739/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/us/06olbermann.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="offbio">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna3080446|title=Keith Olbermann – Countdown with Keith Olbermann|work=NBC News|date=February 22, 2007|access-date=October 30, 2008|archive-date=July 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710132355/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3080446/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Olbermann1997">{{cite book|title=The Big Show|last=Olbermann|first=Keith|author2=Patrick, Dan|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=1997|isbn=0-671-00918-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/bigshowinsideesp00olbe/page/33 33]|url=https://archive.org/details/bigshowinsideesp00olbe/page/33 |quote=JANUARY 27, 1959: Keith Theodore Olbermann born in New York City, to startled and consistently head-shaking parents.}}</ref>

<ref name=olbermannfactor>{{cite news|first=Alex|last=Koppelman|title=The Olbermann Factor|work=[[Salon.com]]|url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/09/11/olbermann/|date=September 11, 2006|access-date=November 10, 2006|archive-date=September 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916123332/http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/09/11/olbermann/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="olbermann_murrow">Keith Olbermann, Olbermann/Bloggermann, August 30, 2006, [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12131617 Feeling morally, intellectually confused?] . "Although I presumptuously use his sign-off each night, in feeble tribute, I have utterly no claim to the words of the exemplary journalist Edward R. Murrow."</ref>

<ref name="Olbermann Said to Be Going to Current TV">{{cite news|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/olbermann-said-to-be-going-to-current-tv/?partner=rss&emc=rss|title=Olbermann Said to Be Going to Current TV|date=February 7, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 8, 2011|first1=Bill|last1=Carter|first2=Brian|last2=Stelter|archive-date=February 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211104507/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/olbermann-said-to-be-going-to-current-tv/?partner=rss&emc=rss|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Olbermann suspension ending">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40062578|title=NBC: Olbermann suspension ending Tuesday|date=November 7, 2010|work=NBC News|access-date=November 7, 2010}}</ref>

<ref name=patrick>{{cite news|url = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-07-09-Patrick-leaving-ESPN_N.htm|title = Patrick to leave ESPN; next career move unknown|last = Cherner|first = Reid|work = [[USA Today]]|date = July 10, 2007|access-date = October 30, 2008|archive-date = October 9, 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081009032347/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-07-09-Patrick-leaving-ESPN_N.htm|url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="Protect America Act">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23184008|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for February 14, 2008|date=February 15, 2008|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=August 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190801142740/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23184008/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2004">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4945202|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for May 7, 2004|date=May 10, 2004|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417091213/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/4945202/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2004a">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5423058|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for July 9, 2004|date=July 12, 2004|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305085153/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5423058/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2011a">{{cite web|url=http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-07-13/entertainment/30030574_1_keith-olbermann-work-schedule-lesser-figures|title=''Rupert Murdoch Blackmailed Keith Olbermann''|date=July 13, 2011|publisher=[[Business Insider]]|work=The Wire|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515030952/http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-07-13/entertainment/30030574_1_keith-olbermann-work-schedule-lesser-figures|archive-date=May 15, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2005">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9827774|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for October 25, 2005|date=October 26, 2005|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305205924/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9827774/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2005a">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5745877|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for August 17, 2004|date=August 17, 2004|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305131029/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/5745877/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.c-span.org/video/?191247-1/qa-keith-olbermann|title=''Q&A'' for March 12, 2006|date=March 12, 2006|publisher=[[C-SPAN]]|work=[[Q & A (U.S. talk show)|Q&A]]|access-date=November 16, 2014|archive-date=November 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109001603/http://www.c-span.org/video/?191247-1/qa-keith-olbermann|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2006a">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=6116845 |title=O'Reilly, Olbermann: Polar Opposites of Campaign |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=July 11, 2006 |access-date=June 27, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20107912|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for August 2, 2007|date=August 3, 2007|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023115757/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20107912|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2007a">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19588942|title=Olbermann: Bush, Cheney should resign|publisher=NBC News|date=July 3, 2007|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-date=May 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504192637/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19588942/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25004673|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for June 5, 2008|date=June 5, 2008|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306111945/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25004673/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2008a">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25368154|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for June 24, 2008|date=June 25, 2008|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 21, 2019|archive-date=March 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310143720/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/25368154/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2008b">{{cite news|work=[[The Nation]]|date=November 10, 2008|url=http://www.thenation.com/issue/november-10-2008|title=November 10, 2008 Issue|access-date=July 13, 2010|archive-date=July 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717152858/http://www.thenation.com/issue/november-10-2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2008c">{{cite web|url=http://essence.typepad.com/news/2008/03/keith-olbermann.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321023440/http://essence.typepad.com/news/2008/03/keith-olbermann.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 21, 2008 |title=Keith Olbermann rips Sen. Clinton over Ferraro's comments |work=The Roland Report |publisher=[[Essence (magazine)|Essence]] |date=March 18, 2008 |access-date=November 24, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2008d">{{cite web|url=http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/05/keith-olbermann-blasts-hillary-000626.php|title=Keith Olbermann Blasts Hillary Clinton Assassination Comment|work=The Daily Voice|date=May 24, 2008|access-date=November 24, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208142938/http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/05/keith-olbermann-blasts-hillary-000626.php|archive-date=December 8, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

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<ref name="Ref_2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29530231|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for March 4, 2009|date=March 5, 2009|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]}}</ref>
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<ref name="Ref_2009a">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32284299|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for August 3, 2009|date=August 4, 2009|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305172629/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32284299/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_2009b">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32552121|title=''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' for August 24, 2009|date=August 24, 2009|publisher=[[NBC News]]|work=[[Countdown with Keith Olbermann]]}}</ref>

<ref name="will use">{{cite journal | author = Frager, Ray | date = April 20, 2007 | title = For NBC, Olbermann Will Use His Political, ESPN Play Books | journal = [[The Baltimore Sun]] | url = http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-04-20/sports/0704200149_1_olbermann-football-night-night-in-america | access-date = February 1, 2017 | archive-date = February 2, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170202234211/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2007-04-20/sports/0704200149_1_olbermann-football-night-night-in-america | url-status = dead }} See also {{cite journal | author = Gold, Matea | date = February 19, 2009 | title = MSNBC Viewers Lobby For a Liberal Host | journal = [[The Los Angeles Times]] | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-feb-19-et-msnbc19-story.html | access-date = February 1, 2017 | archive-date = March 5, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305220422/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/19/entertainment/et-msnbc19 | url-status = live }} and {{cite news | author = Kurtz, Howard | date = April 1, 2009 | title = MSNBC Signs Liberal Radio Host Ed Schultz to Be Its 6 O'Clock Anchor | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/01/AR2009040104061.html | access-date = February 1, 2017 }} and {{cite news | author = Kurtz, Howard | date = September 1, 2008 | title = At MSNBC, A Liberal Supply Of Sharp Elbows | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083102263.html | access-date = February 1, 2017 | archive-date = August 25, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160825180628/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/31/AR2008083102263.html | url-status = live }}.</ref>

<ref name="Ref_d">[https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/01/sports/espn-s-hip-kid-brother.html ESPN's Hip Kid Brother] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306023820/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/01/sports/espn-s-hip-kid-brother.html |date=March 6, 2016 }} ''The New York Times''. October 1, 1993.</ref>

<ref name="Ref_e">{{citation |title=Keith Olbermann (Bio) |publisher=[[NBC Sports]] |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25918122/ |access-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125100958/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/25918122 |archive-date=January 25, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_f">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0646021/filmoseries#tt0138968|title=Keith Olbermann – Filmography by TV series|work=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb.com]]|access-date=July 13, 2010|archive-date=August 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814020259/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0646021/filmoseries#tt0138968|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_h">{{cite web|url=http://dir.salon.com/topics/keith_olbermann/index.html?ti=27 |title=Index of Olbermann's Salon columns |work=[[Salon.com]] |access-date=August 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929141406/http://dir.salon.com/topics/keith_olbermann/index.html?ti=27 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 }}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_i">[http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080903paul-harvey-birthday,0,5643317.story Good Happy Birthday to Paul Harvey, who turns 90 Thursday] – ''Chicago Tribune'', September 3, 2008  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914144705/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-080903paul-harvey-birthday%2C0%2C5643317.story |date=September 14, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_j">{{cite news |last=Hinckley |first=David |date=January 4, 2002 |title=He picks up Cosell torch |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2002/01/04/he-picks-up-cosell-torch-speaking-of-slot-to-olbermann/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |work=New York Daily News}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_k">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17168554|title=Keith Olbermann, NBC agree on 'second term'|work=NBC News|date=February 15, 2007|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042603/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17168554/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_l">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17168554|title=Remembering Tim Russert|work=NBC News|date=February 15, 2007|access-date=November 8, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306042603/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17168554/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_m">{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/2007-05-06-3981219478_x.htm|title=MSNBC's Olbermann seeks delicate balance|author-first1=David|author-last1=Bauder|work=USA Today|date=May 6, 2007}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_n">{{Cite web |date=2006-07-23 |title=Olbermann dons O'Reilly mask at TV meeting |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/olbermann-dons-oreilly-mask-tv-meeting-wbna13997412 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=TODAY.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_o">Kurtz, Howard. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121026123501/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-125183.html "A Gadfly With Buzz; MSNBC's Olbermann, Exercising the Right"] ''The Washington Post''. April 3, 2006</ref>

<ref name="Ref_p">{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/26/olbermann-blogging-regula_n_83411.html|title=Olbermann Blogging Regularly at DailyKos|publisher=Huffington Post|access-date=October 2, 2008|first=Max|last=Follmer|date=January 26, 2008|archive-date=January 31, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131124001/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/26/olbermann-blogging-regula_n_83411.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_q">[http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1157 Announcing the 2009 Baseball Prospectus Annual] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090127035504/http://baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1157 |date=January 27, 2009 }}. Goldman. January 21, 2009.</ref>

<ref name="Ref_r">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/keitholbermann/|title=Keith Olbermann Archive|work=Sports Collectors Digest|access-date=February 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211190552/http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/keitholbermann|archive-date=February 11, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

<ref name="Ref_s">{{cite web|url=http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/foundation/1.05.php|title=Honorary Board|access-date=October 14, 2008|publisher=[[Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080416015201/http://www.multiplemyeloma.org/foundation/1.05.php |archive-date = April 16, 2008}}</ref>

<ref name=replaced>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090800008.html|title=MSNBC Drops Olbermann, Matthews as News Anchors|newspaper=The Washington Post|last=Kurtz|first=Howard|date=September 8, 2008|access-date=October 30, 2008|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214002033/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090800008.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="roasts">{{cite web| last =Simpson| first =Jake| title =Olbermann Roasts 'Ex Nude Model' Brown| publisher =[[The Atlantic]]| date =January 20, 2010| url =http://atlanticwire.theatlantic.com/features/view/feature/Olbermann-Roasts-Ex-Nude-Model-Brown-618| access-date =January 22, 2010| archive-date =February 8, 2010| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100208222942/http://atlanticwire.theatlantic.com/features/view/feature/Olbermann-Roasts-Ex-Nude-Model-Brown-618| url-status =dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Rodrick">{{cite web|last=Rodrick|first=Stephen|url=http://nymag.com/news/features/30338/|title=Limbaugh for Lefties|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=April 16, 2007|access-date=October 30, 2008|archive-date=February 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208112323/http://nymag.com/news/features/30338/|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Rosenberg2008">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-comment7-2008jun07,0,834902.story|title=Is Olbermann's snide act on MSNBC the future of TV news?|last=Rosenberg|first=Howard|date=June 7, 2008|access-date=October 30, 2008|work=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|archive-date=October 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016141027/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-comment7-2008jun07,0,834902.story|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Sandomir2002">{{cite news|url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9800E1DB1030F930A35752C0A9649C8B63|title = PLUS: RADIO/TV SPORTS; Olbermann to Do Radio Commentaries|last = Sandomir|first = Richard|date = January 3, 2002|access-date = October 30, 2008|work = New York Times|archive-date = July 6, 2024|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240706005535/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/03/sports/plus-radio-tv-sports-olbermann-to-do-radio-commentaries.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

<ref name="scorchedbridges">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Hiestand |title=Despite scorched bridges, Olbermann rejoins ESPN |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/2005-06-13-olbermann-espn_x.htm |date=June 13, 2005 |access-date=October 30, 2008 |archive-date=October 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022140338/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2005-06-13-olbermann-espn_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Shain2010">{{cite news | url=http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/olbermann_dropped_by_snf_GQBPwqzMz9oLafV2szQ1jP | work=New York Post | title=Keith Olbermann dropped by 'Sunday Night Football' | first=Michael | last=Shain | date=August 9, 2010 | access-date=August 11, 2010 | archive-date=August 14, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814151755/http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/olbermann_dropped_by_snf_GQBPwqzMz9oLafV2szQ1jP | url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Shea2010">{{cite news|last=Shea|first=Danny|title=Keith Olbermann Apologizes For Scott Brown Comment: 'I Have Been A Little Over The Top Lately'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/23/keith-olbermann-apologize_n_434129.html|publisher=Huffington Post|date=January 23, 2010|access-date=July 13, 2010|archive-date=July 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706005536/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/keith-olbermann-apologize_n_434129|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="show time">{{cite news |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/09/keith-olbermann-current-tv-show-time_n_821089.html |title=Keith Olbermann Current TV Show Time: 8 PM ET |publisher=HuffingtonPost |date=February 9, 2011 |access-date=February 9, 2011 |first=Jack |last=Mirkinson |archive-date=February 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210072333/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/09/keith-olbermann-current-tv-show-time_n_821089.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Solo">{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=David A. |date=1997-10-05 |title=Can Keith Fly Solo? |url=https://www.newsweek.com/can-keith-fly-solo-174076 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="Steinberg1997">{{cite book|title=Kinderculture: The Corporate Construction of Childhood|last=Steinberg|first=Shirley|author2=Kincheloe, Joe|publisher=[[Westview Press]]|year=1997|isbn=0-8133-2310-X|page=[https://archive.org/details/kinderculturecor0000unse/page/205 205]|url=https://archive.org/details/kinderculturecor0000unse/page/205}}</ref>

<ref name="Stelter2009">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/business/media/01feud.html|title=Voices From Above Silence a Cable TV Feud|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 31, 2009|access-date=August 2, 2009|first=Brian|last=Stelter|archive-date=January 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117052038/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/business/media/01feud.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Suspended">{{cite news | first = David | last = Montgomery | title = MSNBC's Keith Olbermann suspended for contributing to 3 Democratic candidates | date = November 6, 2010 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110504496.html | newspaper = The Washington Post | access-date = November 6, 2010 | archive-date = November 18, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101118204905/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/05/AR2010110504496.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="tvnewsernov08">{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/olbermanns_deal_will_pay_30m_over_four_years_100173.asp?c=rss |title=Olbermann's Deal Will Pay $30M Over Four Years |publisher=MediaBistro |date=November 11, 2008 |access-date=November 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524064100/http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/olbermanns_deal_will_pay_30m_over_four_years_100173.asp?c=rss |archive-date=May 24, 2009 }}</ref>

<ref name="unveils">{{cite news |title=Current TV Unveils Name, Debut Date For New Keith Olbermann Show |url=http://i2.crtcdn1.net/images/ed/2011/04/26/833284.pdf |work=[[Current TV]] website |location=San Francisco, California |date=April 26, 2011 |access-date=May 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510084326/http://i2.crtcdn1.net/images/ed/2011/04/26/833284.pdf |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

<ref name="website launches">{{cite news | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/26/fok-news-channel-keith-olbermann-website_n_828631.html | title=FOK News Channel, Keith Olbermann Website, Launches | work=The Huffington Post | access-date=April 4, 2011 | date=February 26, 2011 | first=Jack | last=Mirkinson | archive-date=March 2, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302211840/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/26/fok-news-channel-keith-olbermann-website_n_828631.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="welcome_to_bloggermann">{{cite news |last=Olbermann |first=Keith |title=Welcome to Bloggerman |publisher=NBC News |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6243014 |date=October 13, 2004 |access-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-date=February 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226025236/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/6243014/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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<ref name=feud>{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2140168/|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|title=The Mouth vs. the Bully|last=Shafer|first=Jack|date=April 18, 2006|access-date=February 3, 2009}}</ref>
<ref name=shouting>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/14/AR2007011401124.html|last=Kurtz|first=Howard|title=Bill O'Reilly And NBC, Shouting to Make Themselves Seen?|date=January 15, 2007|access-date=February 3, 2009|work=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref>
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}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Keith Olbermann |b=no |n=no |q=Keith Olbermann |s=no |v=no |species=no |display=Keith Olbermann}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeAACGXB76rAOON6aaY72-Q Olbermann YouTube channel]
* {{Twitter|keitholbermann}}
* [http://keith-olbermann.dailykos.com/ Keith Olbermann's blog] on [[The Daily Kos]]
* [http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/ Baseball Nerd], Olbermann's [[Major League Baseball]] blog
* [http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/keith-olbermann/215513 Biography] at ''[[TV Guide]]''
* {{C-SPAN|1018637}}
** [http://www.c-span.org/video/?191247-1/qa-keith-olbermann C-SPAN ''Q&A'' interview with Olbermann, March 12, 2006]
* {{Charlie Rose view|6290}}
* {{IMDb name|646021|Keith Olbermann}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p071wbr5 ''Texting Keith Olbermann'']—A BBC radio series on BBC News anchor [[Ros Atkins]]' friendship with Olbermann

{{S-start}}
{{S-media}}
{{S-new|creation}}
{{S-ttl|title=Chief News Officer, [[Current TV]]|years=2011–2012}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Cenk Uygur]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{CNN personnel}}
{{Major League Baseball on NBC}}
{{Major League Baseball on Fox}}
{{Major League Baseball on TBS}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olbermann, Keith}}
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