Keith Olbermann Says His Exec. Producer “Got A Promotion” With New O’Donnell Job

by Steve Krakauer | 9:49 am, July 21st, 2010

» 29 comments

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann weighed in on the Monday announcement his longtime Executive Producer Izzy Povich was moving to Lawrence O’Donnell‘s future 10pmET show.

On Twitter last night, he responded to the “conspiracy theory” by saying the new job is a “PROMOTION” for Povich.

Olbermann tweeted:

My EP got a PROMOTION to a job that doesn’t exist on Countdown: Senior EP, developing show from scratch. Anybody saying otherwise is lying.

The release Monday did note the title of Senior EP, which presumably was higher than just EP. And as the show still doesn’t have a launch date, there will likely be a developmental role there. In the same release, MSNBC described Povich’s former Countdown job as overseeing “all editorial content for the show” – so its not clear how she could be doing any more on the new show once it launches. We’ve reached out to MSNBC for further clarification of the shuffling, and if there are any updates to Olbermann’s EP search.

Olbermann tweeted before “let’s nip in the bud the latest conspiracy theory being pushed tonight by Murdoch about my EP leaving for Lawrence’s new show.”

It appears he was referencing this Page Six item today:

We asked in May: “Which producer for a dorky cable anchor has been complaining to colleagues that she’s tired of his notoriously nasty behavior?” The answer came Monday when MSNBC announced that Izzy Povich, executive producer of “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” since 2004, had been named senior executive producer of Lawrence O’Donnell’s program, which debuts this fall at 10 p.m. Izzy, the daughter-in-law of Maury Povich and a mother of two, had no comment.

(According to a 2009 Broadcasting & Cable profile, Povich would be Maury’s niece-in-law.)

Olbermann implies others are “lying” if they categorize this move as anything other than a promotion. But even if that is true, it doesn’t make the Page Six item false. What led to this promotion is very much unclear – and whether Povich was looking for an exit because of “nasty behavior” at the show is not addressed. TVNewser reports another staffer at Countdown is leaving for MSNBC dayside.

• Side note – Olbermann and I had a little back and forth on Twitter Monday night, when I asked for his comment regarding this story. He didn’t want to address it directly at the time, but I’m glad to see he has now addressed the matter.

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Countdown, Izzy Povich, keith olbermann, Lawrence O'Donnell, msnbc, Page Six

tatboy

Nice back and forth. Looks like he’s (Olbermann) not going to a lot of effort to change anyone’s perception of him as a “nasty individual”.
JimBob

A move to “Night Janitor” for Izzy from BATHTUBBOY will qualify as a promotion!
BTW I am not a baseball fan but I did have an opportunity to go to Yankee Stadium with friends a couple years ago when visiting in NY. I was more interested in the History and Architecture of old Yankee Stadium than the stupid game.
While wandering around Olberdick was pointed out to me!
He is taller than I expected, but I was surprised he was a very odd shaped lardass. Very dorky geeky nerd type Shaped like a Pear. People were pointing him out to each other, but the reaction was usually like “who gives a shit” and/ or things like that
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

” I’m not out for a 2 week rabies treatment . Any liar who says that is a liar “.
JimBob

GOURD Gourd!! I couldn’t think of the damn word. I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE OLBY IS SHAPED LIKE A GOURD!
sarainitaly

obviously not having to work with Olbermann is a promotion!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Noland/1343446359 Dave Noland

Jeeeeeeeez Abrams is grinding and grinding that Axe. This is not news on any level. This is a snark report.
Moderate

I wonder how much of a pay cut she had to take to get away from Olbermann.
BowenIsland

Dave Noland said:
Jeeeeeeeez Abrams is grinding and grinding that Axe

Be Careful Who You Step On On Your Way Up, they will be there on your way down too.
sarainitaly

Dave Noland said:
Jeeeeeeeez Abrams is grinding and grinding that Axe. This is not news on any level. This is a snark report.

Mediaite covers the media. How is this NOT relevant to the site?
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Noland . Hope you’re okay . An insane foul-mouthed drunk has been using your screen name the last few days . You might want to change your password (and replace that picture of Slappey White that you’re using) .
BowenIsland

Apostrophe jones said:
Noland . Hope you’re okay . An insane foul-mouthed drunk has been using your screen name the last few days . You might want to change your password (and replace that picture of Slappey White that you’re using) .

Post of the day ! LOL
tatboy

Dave Noland said:
Jeeeeeeeez Abrams is grinding and grinding that Axe. This is not news on any level. This is a snark report.

NEWESFLASH!!! Mediaite was launched and is dedicated to report on the MEDIA!!! Hence the name Mediaite. Olbermann & MSNBC are members of the media. This is a media story. Does that clear thing up for you?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Noland/1343446359 Dave Noland

Apostrophe jones said:
Noland . Hope you’re okay . An insane foul-mouthed drunk has been using your screen name the last few days . You might want to change your password (and replace that picture of Slappey White that you’re using) .

Racist says what?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Noland/1343446359 Dave Noland

tatboy said:
NEWESFLASH!!! Mediaite was launched and is dedicated to report on the MEDIA!!! Hence the name Mediaite. Olbermann & MSNBC are members of the media. This is a media story. Does that clear thing up for you?

A producer changes Jobs? Ground breaking news. Sorry I couldn’t hear with the axe grinding behind me.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Noland/1343446359 Dave Noland

BowenIsland said:
Post of the day ! LOL

BowenIsland is the douche of the day
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Noland/1343446359 Dave Noland

sarainitaly said:
Mediaite covers the media. How is this NOT relevant to the site?

Yes it’s media but its personnel change. Who gives a shit other than right leaning snarkles?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Noland/1343446359 Dave Noland

Apostrophe jones said:
Noland . Hope you’re okay . An insane foul-mouthed drunk has been using your screen name the last few days . You might want to change your password (and replace that picture of Slappey White that you’re using) .

Look Barnaby Jones we can hear your racist thoughts.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Noland/1343446359 Dave Noland

I guess this is a headline over the fact that FOx and Andrew brightbitch smeared a good hard working woman. I can see how this trumps that. Good grief
lazzzlo

Everyone has a title in business for what I’ve always assumed is a flowchart method of responsibility.

I’m not involved in the media which seemingly does operate more on a contractor level with different “conflicting” levels of responsibility…http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/red_face_redstone_2iQKsttajeS0EeX4NSynPL

So an Executive Producer is not the same thing as a Senior Executive Producer.

What does an “Executive Producer” do for a show that a Senior “Executive Producer” avoids/doesn’t do?

Actually, that is a serious question. What is the difference between an “EP” and a “SEP”?

It’s much more blunt where I work in a regional unit of a national company.
sarainitaly

Dave Noland said:
I guess this is a headline over the fact that FOx and Andrew brightbitch smeared a good hard working woman. I can see how this trumps that. Good grief

I think Mediaite has given more than enough coverage to the Sherrod story. They add new content constantly. If you don’t like this story, leave, and go to a different story. There are plenty to choose from.
ImNotBlue

Dave Noland says:
July 21, 2010 at 12:24 pm

Dave is a perfect representation of “Ackerman’s Law” (a phrase I just coined, in reference to the Journolist scandal).

When confronted with a story that is “uncomfortable” for the left, just call someone (it doesn’t matter who) a racist. This will distract and “infuriate” the opposition.

“Ackerman’s Law”

We all knew they were doing it… now we have a name for it!
http://apostrophejones.com Apostrophe jones

Noland impersonator : Slappey White is a great man . I’ve watched Slappey White . I’ve laughed at Slappey White’s comedy . …You ,sir are no Slappey White . Now , Take down his picture and get away from Noland’s computer . …
In fact , get off the Internet . Go outside and play . Now …Scat !
timzank

Dave Noland said:
I guess this is a headline over the fact that FOx and Andrew brightbitch smeared a good hard working woman. I can see how this trumps that. Good grief

So you must be a die hard fan of “Chicken & Waffles” Keith, eh? Wow, liberals have such strange bedfellows, what with Keith feeling the way he does about persons of color.
notsofast

KO, anytime someone gets the opportunity to not work for your sorry ass that is a promotion.
kit9

Keith conveniently ignores the fact that his producer leaving his show because she had had enough of Keith was first published, not by evil Murdoch but a cable industry publication. I do love that he’s so obsessed with any and all press about himself. You know he’s spending his whole, ahem, ‘vacation’(ie, too embarrassed by recent public humiliations to face the camera everyday)glued to his computer, chasing down every word said about himself and pecking out lame responses on his Twitter account. Love it! As Tucker said, he’s a sad man in elastic band jeans.
OxyCon

Can you think of two more obnoxious, unstable, ready to explode at any minute asshats to work for than Olbermann and O’Donnell?

Izzy Povich must be a saint.
http://none pyrope

Dave Noland said:
I guess this is a headline over the fact that FOx and Andrew brightbitch smeared a good hard working woman. I can see how this trumps that. Good grief

You are so full of shit your eyes are brown.
http://none pyrope

Maybe I should have said if you were offered both vanilla and chocolate, you still wouldn’t be happy.
shootfromthehip

Love your new avatar, OxyCon. It just about sums up all right-leaning commenters on this board.

Crybabies.