More on Olbermann and NBC: Look for a "Worst Person in the NFL"

[DeepModem Mom]

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter: NBC calling up "Countdown" for Sunday
Wed Aug 22, 2007
By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Ever the baseball fan, Keith Olbermann likens "Countdown's" Sunday night appearance on NBC to the Triple-A pitcher given a spot start in the major leagues with the knowledge he'll go right back to the minors afterward. Olbermann, whose MSNBC show has made him a cult hero to some, said Wednesday that it's nothing more than a scheduling need on the big network that will bring "Countdown" to NBC at 7 p.m. EDT Sunday before "Sunday Night Football."

"I go into it with an assumption that this is a one-shot deal," Olbermann said. He said that if for some reason the show is successful in that slot, with little to no publicity or advertising, then that assumption might change, though he isn't thinking it's going to happen.

"Countdown" likely will get a wider exposure on NBC than it has on MSNBC, where it has run weeknights since it debuted in 2003. While the content of the show will be driven by the day's events and therefore not known until Sunday, Olbermann said there's nothing special planned other than to do the same type of show they always do. "There's not any effort to force stuff to happen . . . to tailor the news to fit what I want to say nor pull any punches," Olbermann said. The last segment, he said, would include "Football Night in America" co-hosts Bob Costas and Cris Collinsworth.

Even if "Countdown" doesn't get another start on the broadcast network, it won't be the end of Olbermann's involvement with NBC. He will have a key role with Costas and Collinsworth, Tiki Barber and Jerome Bettis on this season's "SNF" pregame show. Sunday's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers doesn't have too much of a pregame, but Olbermann will deliver a commentary during halftime. The topic? Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who this week said he will plead guilty to dogfighting and gambling charges....

Olbermann will be part of several segments on the regular-season pregame show, including doing with Costas what he said was a highlights rundown like those he used to do on ESPN's "SportsCenter" in the 1990s. He'll also have a "Countdown"-like segment at show's end and, borrowing another feature from his MSNBC program, he'll nominate a "Worst Person in the NFL."...

http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN2220815220070823

[DemReadingDU]

1. WooHoo, Keith!

:woohoo:

[Greeby]

2. I wouldn't have thought there was much competition right now

Know what I mean?

[Johonny]

5. yeah

Leonard Little killed someone. Pretty much hard to beat that.

[book_worm]

3. I'm happy about this, but also realize that his Sunday show will probably not be as

anti-Bush, outspokenly left wing as his cable show because it will be a wider audience. Still it will be better than most.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. He said in another interview that content will be determined in exactly the same way...

as on weeknights. And that NBC had said nothing about toning down content. Here's hoping!

[DeepModem Mom]

6. An after-work kick.