Lawrence O’Donnell Thanks Keith Olbermann For ‘Inventing… Op-Ed TV’

video

by Frances Martel | 10:17 pm, January 24th, 2011

» 24 comments

The mood during the 8PM hour on MSNBC tonight– occupied by a show other than Countdown for the first time in eight years– was somber and respectful, as host Lawrence O’Donnell took some time to thank his predecessor Keith Olbermann for building the program before him, and for what he “invented and taught us to do: op-ed TV.”

O’Donnell took some time from The Last Word tonight to describe in detail his nervous the minutes before going on air to host Countdown for the first time as a substitute. “There was no way of occupying Keith’s anchor desk without seeming smaller, much smaller,” he relayed, noting that it was one of the first times he felt nervous– he felt many, many adjectives on television, but “never nervous.” He thanks the audience for not turning away from the program that night, and, individually, many of the staff members that kept the ship afloat while Olbermann was gone. Then he turned to the man himself– “consider what Keith invented and taught us to do: op-ed TV.”

O’Donnell then compared Countdown to two different forms of media to attempt to explain the magnitude of the show’s success in his eyes: the newspaper op-ed, and the fictional television series (specifically, The West Wing). Olbermann wrote “5 op-eds a week, each much longer than the standard 800 words,” he explained, laughing at how ludicrous the idea of asking a newspaper columnist to produce the same. Then he took to the time the show was on the air: “this is the only place in television where people are surprised if you leave after eight years.”

“We have no idea how he did it– none of us do,” O’Donnell admitted, noting Olbermann “took MSNBC to new heights,” and finally giving him thanks from both him and his mother for the platform, without which he would otherwise be watching “The Real Housewives Of Something.”

O’Donnell’s goodbye to Olbermann via MSNBC below:

Countdown, keith olbermann, Last Word, Lawrence O'Donnell, msnbc, op-ed

Color Me Badd

Lawrence was brilliant.
Big Eddie

Get the hook . Next week : The Donny Deutsch Goodtime Hour .
http://www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Westover/1496648721 Tony Westover

Hey, a socialist lying! You don’t see that too often.

Oh wait… that’s all they do. Yeah, I’m sure Olbermann invented the internet, too.
http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

Hey, someone tell Larry that he doesn’t have to kiss Olbermann’s rear end anymore!
treecutter

It would be more entertaining for the 28th ranked msnbc to just show Chris Matthews make an ass of himself hour after hour after hour after hour……..hell I’d watch.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

It is easy to write an op-ed if you just make things up. If you have to tell the truth it is hard.
clindhartsen

Lawrence’s words seemed fair and, to be honest, I’m hoping the show gets put out in podcast form, alike to Countdown, because it actually is a good show, a nice escape from screaming heads elsewhere to be honest, but not as dull as Parker|Spitzer commonly is.

Will he maintain a lead? I hope so, but who knows.
WCinWI

Instead of the Desperate Housewives of Something….Lawrence could watch Donny Deutsch’s new romance show.

http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/donny-deutsch-love-guru-is-set-to-take-your-calls_b13121

You can’t make this stuff up, people.
jess5691

He doesn’t know how Keith did it every night?

Step 1. Begin with transcript of article from Media Matters
Step 2. Change a few words, aided by a thesaurus.
Step 3. Add insults, especially toward your those beating you in the ratings.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-M-Chick/507482075 Daniel M. Chick

jess5691 said:
He doesn’t know how Keith did it every night?

Step 1. Begin with transcript of article from Media Matters
Step 2. Change a few words, aided by a thesaurus.
Step 3. Add insults, especially toward your those beating you in the ratings.

HOW DARE YOU, SIR?!
Paleoconservatarian

All Keith Olbermann pioneered was the metaphysical melding of Morton Downey Jr. with a poor Edward R. Murrow impersonation.
PoliticalPAW

A few “teabaggers” too many for Comcast

Question 4 @billmaher: how’s the “teabagger” slurs workin out? @keitholbermann http://tinyurl.com/4qhvctp @davidshuster http://tinyurl.com/4r5fzrg

Note to degenerates: do not share these vids at next ?? job interview
rocky road

O’Donnell felt smaller sitting in Olbermann’s chair because he was smaller. Olbermann turned into an obese, angry, mental case.
JamesA1102

gordonbloyershow said:
It is easy to write an op-ed if you just make things up.

You should know.
slickerwick

O’Donnell took some time from The Last Word tonight to describe in detail his nervous the minutes before going on air to host Countdown for the first time as a substitute.

Why, oh why can’t the reporters on this site proofread their articles before posting them? It would take all of 20 seconds. “… to detail his nervous…” what?
slickerwick

Paleoconservatarian said:
All Keith Olbermann pioneered was the metaphysical melding of Morton Downey Jr. with a poor Edward R. Murrow impersonation.

Now that was clever.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Treacher/542957672 Jim Treacher

So O’Donnell thinks being a tedious windbag is a good thing.
OxyCon

Sounds like O’Donnell spent his day on his knees sniffing and inhaling Olberdouche’s chair.

Also, will MessNBC change the inappropriately named “Last Word” before they shit-can O’Donnell?
OxyCon

rocky road said:
O’Donnell felt smaller sitting in Olbermann’s chair because he was smaller. Olbermann turned into an obese, angry, mental case.

I think O’Donnell wins the giant head competition though.
Yoda002

gordonbloyershow said:
It is easy to write an op-ed if you just make things up. If you have to tell the truth it is hard.

Oh! thats why Rush has such an easy time spewing out his nonsense on a daily basis.
http://gordonbloyershow.com gordonbloyershow

Yoda002 said:
Oh! thats why Rush has such an easy time spewing out his nonsense on a daily basis.

You can’t stand the truth. After all if you wanted truth you wouldn’t lie by using a phony name to attack people.
You are an expert at lying and hiding, aren’t you?
valkyrie101

Thanks Lawrence. That was excellent.
Probably NOT wrong

Whoa!!
OMG!
Never, but, NEVER watch that clip during
breakfast.
Did anyone notice if O’Donnell had BOTH hands on top of the
table the entire time?? I can’t bare to watch it again to find out!
I’m betting ole’ Larr’ had an uncontrollabe urge for a cigarette and a quick nap after that one.
I wonder if KO and Larr’ became engaged last night?
notsofast

KO showed how haters always lose.

Next up: O’Donnell and Sir Rachel Maddow.