Times scribe Bill Carter today hands MSNBC's Keith Olbermann a pretty damn fair profile, countering his ratings success with his ratings pitfalls and playing his spat with Bill O'Reilly against both networks. But far be it for the NYT to delve too deep into media scandal and intrigue — a realm we so graciously inhabit. Because for us, the only reason to keep Olbermann in our headlines has been to revisit his email scandal, wherein exchanges with a viewer-cum-sex-partner included rants about coworkers like Rita Cosby and ex-boss Rick Kaplan. So how does Carter treat the melee?
The references to personal demons and implosions touched on Mr. Olbermann’s résumé, which includes an array of positions over the last decade. At times he has been in public disputes with employers. More recently he landed in gossip columns after some nasty e-mail messages he sent were published. In one, he mocked the intelligence of the MSNBC host Rita Cosby; in others, he used vituperative language in responding to e-mail critics.
Mr. Olbermann apologized for the e-mail exchanges, saying he had been stupid and should have known better than to engage in such confrontations. He said he wouldn’t be e-mailing viewers again.
Won't be emailing with viewers again? Sounds like a couple steps backward from new MSNBC head Dan Abrams' call for more personal interaction with viewers, like including them in control room conversations during broadcasts. As for whether Keith will lay off Outlook's reply button, after the jump we've got a recent email exchange between Keith and a viewer about a certain set of leaked emails.
MSNBC’s Star Carves Anti-Fox Niche [Bill Carter, NYT]
Related: Keith Olbermann's Email Mistress Gets a Blog
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From: "Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)" Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To: "'Jackie M'"
Subject: RE: More e-mails?????
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 20:43:05 -0400
Many thanks.
—–Original Message—–
From: Jackie M
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 8:26 PM
To: Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)
Subject: RE: More e-mails?????
http://relevantortrue.blogspot.com/2006/06/we-report-you-decide.html
"Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)" wrote:
Thanks. I'd still like to know what the site is.
—–Original Message—–
From: Jackie M
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 7:20 PM
To: Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)
Subject: RE: More e-mails?????
Look–I wouldn't worry about it. I jumped the gun when I sent you an e-mail. The poster is someone who "knows" somebody who allegedly received e-mails from you–dirty e-mails. It's bullcrap!
"Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)" wrote:
Have you links to these sites?
—–Original Message—–
From: Jackie M
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 4:48 PM
To: Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)
Subject: RE: More e-mails?????
I read on some fan web sites someone warning that there were more emails and that they were worse then what's gotten out so far.
Please be careful–we need your voice of sanity and reason on television.
"Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)" wrote:
To what do you refer?
—–Original Message—–
From: Jackie M
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 4:29 PM
To: Olbermann, Keith (NBC Universal, MSNBC)
Subject: More e-mails?????
I hope it's not true.
We (your fans) have your back!
Jackie
10:03 PM
Editorial Director
He's lying. He emailed me back within the past week. I used to think he was the greatest thing in the media world, now I know him to be a liar of the highest order. And to lie to the NY Times? My God, he needs help.
I can't help but look at that picture and think… Dirty. Old. Man.
Keith Olbermann is a disgrace to the news media. I find it pathetic that a so called "journalist" cannot come up with anything better for his show than to repeatedly criticize Bill O'Reilly. O'Reilly is one of the better people in the news media, and Olbermann's outright ridiculous crusade against him is just another example of why the extreme left if the ruination of the media as we know it.
hello out there. has anyone noticed Ge n. Johnson, the *pimp for the defense dept., at the Tillman press conference was wearing "cammies"? I'm a viet nam vet, I thought, when these 4 star assholes were in D.C. , they are supposed to wear class A's. Maybe Frank Cuntz (sic) wants to create the illusion Washington is a war zone.
This guy needs a lot of therapy. Olbermann you don't add any value to your audience.
mr. oberman. youre disgusting american i cant stand you ! you will go to hell for yorre actiond you stupid your non american and you should live in arac you dont appreciate our country., if I could see you id knock your head off your dispicable trash get out of america mike s.
Thats funny ,anyone can make up a email jeeez.
Thank the heavens for kieth olbermann
and keeping it real on tv!
ZIM, I AGREE WITH YOU 100%, WHAT THE FUCK KEITH DOES IN HIS SPARE TIME IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS, BUT FOR HIM TO KEEP IT REAL LIKE NO ONE ELSE ON T.V. DOES AND BASHES THE MCBUSH ERA THE WAY HE DOES, IS ALRIGHT WITH ME, MCBUSH YOU ARE DISGUSTING!