Countdown Devotes Number One Story To Used Sarah Palin Jokes

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by Joe Coscarelli | 8:59 am, November 21st, 2009

» 15 comments

Maybe Friday was an exceptionally slow news day. In fact, in a week of all Twilight, Oprah, and Going Rogue, real news did seem to cease. But does that really give Countdown — with Lawrence O’Donnell sitting in for Olbermann — license to forgo their headline story altogether in favor of a highlight reel replaying all of the Sarah Palin jokes from across television this week? Is no one on the Countdown writing staff funny?

“We take our passion for needling Sarah Palin quite seriously,” said O’Donnell.

And so in the number one story of the night, he introduced “Rogue Wave,” and proceeded to cycle through clips from the spot-on Stephen Colbert, newly unfunny Conan O’Brien, old foe David Letterman and… Craig Ferguson? That’s who we’re going to let roast Palin after a week down the book press rabbit hole? He makes Jimmy Kimmel look like Lenny Bruce.

But to chastise Countdown‘s joke selection is nitpicking; to wonder about their choice to run the segment at all is required. If the show’s talent and writers are on Palin-overload (valid) why not just skip Going Rogue altogether on Friday’s show? That’s too easy — we’ll just run old jokes instead! Judge for yourself in the clip below:

Countdown Lawrence O'Donnell, Countdown Sarah Palin, David Letterman Sarah Palin, Going Rogue, Katie Couric Sarah Palin, keith olbermann, Keith Olbermann Sarah Palin, Lawrence O'Donnell, Oprah Leaving Her show, Sarah Palin Going Rogue, Stephen Colbert Sarah Palin, Twilight: New Moon

Jim R

I don’t know, I think I’d rather hear what the comedians have to say; although I second your idea of wishing they’d skipped Palin altogether and reported on something meaningful.
TfT

The pictures of Andrea Mitchell trying to get to Sarah Palin and being blocked by the cops are funnier, and clearly more current. Not that current events mean anything to MSNBC.
ImNotBlue

Ah, the “fun” things you can do when nobody takes your show seriously… and, more importantly, nobody’s watching…
shootfromthehip

Actually quite a few people are watching. It’s a fallacy that Keith doesn’t get ratings, Sure he is not getting Hannity numbers, but MSNBC is quite happy with the million or so viewers Keith pulls in nightly.

And a lot of people take Countdown seriously. Soryy, “I’m Not Blue,” just the truth.
ImNotBlue

shootfromthehip says:
November 21, 2009 at 11:58 am
Actually quite a few people are watching.

Quite a very few.

It’s a fallacy that Keith doesn’t get ratings,

Or statistics…

Sure he is not getting Hannity numbers,

Or anyone else in FNC’s primetime lineup.

but MSNBC is quite happy with the million or so viewers Keith pulls in nightly.

Well, MSNBC should be… as a network, they’re pulling in much less. But then again, being proud of the one thing that sucks, only because everything else REALLY sucks… isn’t much to be proud of.

And a lot of people take Countdown seriously.

Which is a shame, really. If they knew how much of it were bold-faced lies (look it up, I’m tired of giving a new and exciting examples every day) I wonder if they’d still watch… odds are yes, but that’s because they WANT to believe… the truth is inconsequential.

Soryy, “I’m Not Blue,” just the truth.

Or spin… depending on which kind of “truth” you believe. The “truth” that is factually correct, or the “truth” that is correct from you political view point.
Fidoohki

There are three kinds of truth, left wing truth, right wing truth, and the real truth..which mostly lies in
the middle.
Puter Boi

I think the strangest aspect of all of this is O’Donnell’s sheer hatred of not only Palin, but of anyone who doesn’t fall into line. The ferocity of his attacks….the way his face turns red is symptomatic of a far more serious problem.

I have never understood the hatred that politics engenders in some. It’s not anything to which I can relate. This country has been through far more trying times than the time in which we find ourselves now. Folks should chill.
Ted

ImNotBlue – Fox “news” understands the country is full of dumb asses, and therefore the high number of viewers. I’m guessing you watch Fox “News”…a lot.
http://glassbead.info Magister

Dude, if you rag on Ferguson, you’ve never watched Ferguson.

And though you were trying to be facetious, Craig Ferguson’s style is actually closer (than anyone currently on television’s) to Lenny Bruce. You really should watch him sometime.
hkyplayer

Ted you are right, this country is full of very dumb ass people..
Prime Example is all the video and audio out there of interviews of the common person on the street who voted for Obama,
When you hear most of them talk, you wonder “what the F#%@” these people actually vote… That is why Groups like SEIU and Acorn bussed people into vote…You can see when someone are asked where is this stimulus money coming from and their answer is from “Obama’s stash”!!!!
This is your Olbermann viewers…. This is the one who expects free stuff.. and rather depend on the government then themselves. Olbermann found a niche and he is getting rich by these stupid viewers.
So Ted your right! Just wrong direction…
ingenieux

Busing people in from *where*, hkyplayer? It’s clear from your “dumb ass” remarks, not only have you never voted, but you haven’t a clue when it comes to current events (or events in general, for that matter). And your dumb ass logic – how Olbermann expects freebies as he raises/donates money for many charities – shows you’re also probably not even in high school yet. Stay in school!
Pat Doherty

Craig Ferguson is very funny.
Ted

hkyplyer – no, I am exactly in the right direction. You are exactly the kind of dumb ass I’m talking about. Thanks for letting the world know what an idiot you are.
Fidoohki

All I am going to say is that if you don’t like Olbermann’s show.. don’t watch.To each their own.
ImNotBlue

Ted says:
November 21, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Can you make me a list, Ted, of the folks who aren’t “dumbasses,” but who don’t agree with you politically. You see, the point of this activity would be to show you that your definition of “dumbass,” is everyone who doesn’t see things YOUR way. That makes you an egomaniac… someone so consumed with yourself, that you think the only way to be, is YOUR way.

I’m really glad you have such good self esteem, and think so highly of yourself… it’s a shame nobody else does.

ingenieux says:
November 21, 2009 at 3:18 pm

Wow… you really made up a lot in that post. Is that how you do all your “research,” just make stuff up, and hope it’s true?