Cannes: Deadline Crashes Palais Forum With Costa Gavras, … 
Yahoo Announces $1.1B Tumblr Deal With Vow “Not To … 
Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio In Talks To Join ‘X … 
Cannes: Latest Theft Affects China Film Group VP 
UPDATE: Yahoo Board OKs $1.1B Deal To Acquire Tumblr … 
‘Epic’ Toon Begins $14.5M Overseas Rollout 
Cannes: Sony Classics Wins Stateside Rights To Asghar … 
‘Fast & Furious 6′ Breaks Records In … 
Specialty Box Office: ‘Frances Ha’ Triumphs As … 
‘Saturday Night Live’ Season Finale Posts … 
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ $164.5M Global: Lower … 
Cannes: Backup Media, Memento Bring Heat To Fest Helmer Jim … 
Cannes: Sundance Selects Acquires Dardenne Brothers’ … 
Cannes: Wrekin Hill Acquires U.S. On Gabriele … 
Bill Hader’s ‘SNL’ Stefon Farewell: Video 
Cannes: The Weinstein Co. Books ‘Suite … 
BBC Confirms ‘Doctor Who’ Season 8 
Finally, Cannes Dealing! Radius-TWC Nabs Director’s … 
Hammond On Cannes: Wet Fest’s Official Competition … 
‘Vampire Academy’ Adds ‘Modern … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Shark Tank’ Finale Up, … 
Keith Olbermann has sued Current TV over his firing from the cable network as anticipated, outlining a litany of complaints about actions taken by Current almost immediately after Olbermann came aboard after leaving MSNBC. The suit, which you can read here, claims Current partners Joel Hyatt and Al Gore undermined Olbermann and ignored his suggestions and concerns about Current.
Among several claims, Olbermann’s suit alleges breach of contract plus breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Olbermann asserts that Current was beset by technical problems caused by inadequate equipment resulting in failures of news feeds and graphics during broadcasts. Eight months into operations, the suit says, lights continued to fail during live broadcasts. Additionally, Olbermann says his name and likeness were used to promote products, companies or other third parties without his approval or consultation. Olbermann also claims in the suit that the marketing and personnel resources to promote his show were inadequate. Regarding Current’s charges of unauthorized absences and other alleged contractual breaches by Olbermann, the suit contends that the absences were authorized or did not involve contractual obligations.
Loading ...
As expected – in the meantime, KO needs to find something to do so he is not a professional “victim” in the media everywhere. There are so many important issues going on in the world now he needs to step back and do something other than be a litigant in this case.
Are you going to hire him? Didn’t think so.
If only there was some way they could both lose.
Don’t worry they both lost big time.
Sounds like he got a raw deal and though he is a big personality/ego, the show production was way sub par. For a guy making 50 mil over 5 years, they sure could have put more than 250K into fixing the lights, sheesh.
Sues within days of telling David Letterman, ““I screwed up, I screwed up really big on this.”
Current TV rests its case.
He said that he screwed up by ever taking a job at Current, because they didn’t have the infrastructure for him. Not that he screwed up once he go there.
That statement to Letterman was not in any way an apology – he said he screwed up for thinking he would be a good fit with Current, and for signing the contract. (Do you really think he would say anything that would incriminate himself, the day after announcing he was going to sue Current?) As for his show’s production being ‘sub par,’ is this really grounds for a suit? And who said Current didn’t ‘put more than 250K into fixing the lights.’ I bet they have bills and receipts that tell a different story. I can guarantee you two things. 1) Olbermann is not blameless in this, by a long shot. 2) Current doesn’t come off smelling good, either (but since Current isn’t relevant, who really cares?). Olbermann, however, remains a bombastic egomaniac, whose moment of relevance is long over. But what will he do for attention when no one will hire him? Maybe Rachel Maddow (who owes her MSNBC boost to him) will take pity on him and have him do a segment on her show. Then again, I think Maddow is much too smart for that.
Keith and Current were partners according to contract language. Now I don’t know anything about how lighting costs, but I can assure you that good lighting costs more than $250K. Maybe around $500K for decent lighting. And then there is the sound. The sound can’t pick up the rain and make it sound like it is coming out of a old house that just happens to house Current’s studios. I’ll bet that Keith heard ALGORE fuming about costs during a recent taping.
At the end of the day, Good lighting, sound, and a good set, are all one-time costs. That goes double for the teleprompter, which Keith said broke. After you include the guests, these are costs that Current should have covered.
Also, Keith wanted to help with special election coverage, but didn’t get a chance to do so. Now whoever would deny one of their stars the shot at helping with election coverage? Over at MSNBC, Chris Matthews is an unquestioned star and he co-anchored recent coverage. At CNN Wolf Blitzer hosts the coverage, though he flunked out of Jeopardy, and election night coverage used to include Larry King who was there with guests all night long.
” since Current isn’t relevant, who really cares?” – 280 words indicate you do.
burrrbank – Your statement leads one to believe you’re from the Fox News (almost everything) and MSNBC (edited 911 call) schools of broadcasting. Just cherry pick the parts which support your statement/claim and ignore the context.
Hey, look how the media circus and airing everything about his employer worked out for Charlie Sheen – he’s got a new show in the making.
Does Keith O. have that much of a following???
Seems to me the only person who can control and intimidate Keith is David Letterman. Around him Keith is a subdued and chagrined figure. In other words the complete opposite! So if Keith wants a future in TV this might be his last hope. Not that it will happen.
Thing is I really liked and rooted for the guy. I even watched Current TV. His segments during OWS were fantastic. Then the lights went off and Keith started doing his show by candlelight (okay, lightbulb) and I just didn’t get the joke. It seemed to be, and turned out was, a very hostile solution. Honestly, I’m done with the guy. At least until he gets serious therapy.
The shoddiest production value? KO. Not smart, not funny. And smug to top it off.
Maybe Keith can get on at CNN.
After the disgraceful way Brooke Baldwin’s acted I’d love to see her get the boot. Either that or Piers Morgan. God knows he is the worst chump on the air right now.
Just goes to show what I’ve always said about this man..an absolute tool to the most…if he doesn’t get his way, he sues and then he wonders why people/networks or whomever can no longer deal with this fool’s actions and his ever-growing out-of-control ego. Hoping he loses his case and then nobody will hire him…maybe OWN but how desperate can they really be now to go that route? What a dick!
At least we know Oprah will spend the money.
the guys running current are a joke. gore included.
Current should hire Joy Behar who would bring some humor the the network and keep a liberal point of view. She got screwed by HLN and never said a peep. Total class act…
Someone please hire KO – we need our $1 million chandalier to rail against the 1%!!
Current will counter-sue Olbermann and this will be settled it will never go to trial because Keith won’t want to testify in front of a jury and Algore won’t want to testify. Keith will walk away with between 5 and 10 million. He will then be unemployable everywhere no way CNN would take a chance hiring this egomaniac blowhard.
The left-wing eating their own. Delicious!
Said the knucklehead without pot to piss in.
Never thought I would say this but I feel sorry for the guy. To me he’s a raving loon but how can you expect him to run a professional TV show when you can’t even do something as simple as keep the lights on for him?
If Current wants to boost ratings, they should broadcast this trial. It will be a laughfest!
Good move Keith, someone will pick you up in no time. I hear the “Food Network” is looking for someone to head their campaign coverage.
Don’t count him out yet. As he said on Letterman, he’s retained Conan’s lawyer. You remember that deal, right? Not sure if his past employment (let go from ESPN, NBC Sports, MSNBC and now Current TV) will make him persona non grata everywhere. Maybe HLN will take a chance? Certainly won’t be CNN, since they’re a down-the-middle network.
As for Current TV, I started watching their Super Tuesday coverage (figuring KO would be part of it), but had to switch after five minutes. They have terrible anchors, especially the unpronounceable Cenk.
CBS Sports. Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick. Please make it happen! Or, Hell, Olbermann and Craig Kilborne.
All these tools have egos, I get that, but Olby is a special piece of work, he is the poster boy for a limosine liberal. He promised 1 million viewers would follow him to the obscure Current channel. Never happened, of course.
Given that most channels previously dedicated to at least marginally educational programming are now repositories for more stupid reality shows (I’m looking at you History Channel, Discovery, Animal Planet, etc.), I enjoy Current for its dedication to documentary programming about serious topics. It should be commended in this day and age for not pandering to the lowest common denominator.
That said, the channel has extremely poor production values and generally comes off as pretty cheaply made. I don’t even like Olberman that much, but he may be telling the truth about the channel’s production woes. They were looking to make a splash and create an identity when they offered him all that money, but they got in over their heads with this guy. His IQ and his narcissism are on equal footing. He has steadily worked his way down the media ladder and will probably be hosting a regional radio show in a larger market within the year.