Editing Countdown with Keith Olbermann (section)

===MSNBC period===
''Countdown with Keith Olbermann'' began as a successor program to '''''Countdown: Iraq''''' with anchor [[Lester Holt]], which ran from October 2002<ref>https://www.nexttv.com/news/msnbc-counts-down-war-iraq-146784</ref> until March 31, 2003, anticipating and providing coverage for the [[Iraq War]]. ''Countdown: Iraq'' was broadcast at 8:00&nbsp;p.m. on weekday nights, having replaced a cancelled [[Donahue (MSNBC program)|talk show]] hosted by [[Phil Donahue]]. Olbermann, who left MSNBC in the late 1990s, returned to the network around this time and replaced Holt, becoming the permanent host for the renamed ''Countdown with Keith Olbermann''. The show did not feature political commentary in its first few years, simply recapping the news of the day in a "5-4-3-2-1" format as the title suggested.

''Countdown'' began to attract [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] and [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] viewers in 2005 when Olbermann began critiquing and satirizing [[conservative]] media commentators, specifically [[Fox News]] and its main primetime anchor [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]]. He criticized Fox and O'Reilly for purportedly deceiving their viewers in service to their alleged [[Fox News Channel controversies|right-wing biases]], frequently including the latter in ''Countdown''{{'s}} "Worst Person in the World" segment. O'Reilly, while not directly mentioning Olbermann, launched an online petition implicitly asking MSNBC to fire him,<ref>''Time'': [https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1884499_1884515_1884471,00.html Bill O'Reilly vs. Keith Olbermann], Top 10 TV Feuds. March 12, 2009.</ref> and, in conjunction with a call-in campaign organized by Mike Stark,<ref>CallingAllWingnuts.com: {{cite web |url=http://www.callingallwingnuts.com/2006/02/27/awwww-you-got-me-bill/ |title=Awwww... You Got Me, Bill |access-date=2006-04-04 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060404055320/http://www.callingallwingnuts.com/2006/02/27/awwww-you-got-me-bill/ |archive-date=April 4, 2006 }}. Archive accessed February 12, 2013.</ref> threatened Stark for mentioning Olbermann by name after phoning in to O'Reilly's [[The Radio Factor|radio show]].<ref>''The Radio Factor'', Bill O'Reilly, March 2, 2006.</ref> O'Reilly and other Fox personalities accused MSNBC of facilitating a [[liberal media bias]], in what Olbermann described as a [[attrition warfare|war of attrition]] intended to force him into silence.<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/olbermann-blasts-oreilly_n_96899.html Olbermann Blasts O'Reilly For Attacking GE: "You Are More Personally Responsible For The 4,000 Dead Americans In Iraq Than All of America's Corporations Put Together."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430023531/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/olbermann-blasts-oreilly_n_96899.html |date=2018-04-30 }}, ''The Huffington Post'', 23 April 2008.</ref>

In 2006, Olbermann started delivering occasional "Special Comments" in which he has expressed sharp criticisms of members of the [[George W. Bush administration]], including then-Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and President [[George W. Bush]]. While further Special Comments were directed at members of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], Olbermann occasionally targeted [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] as well. Issues addressed in the Special Comments dealt with the Bush Administration's foreign and domestic policies, mainly the wars in Iraq and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]]. One of the Special Comments spoke out against the passage of [[California Proposition 8 (2008)|Proposition 8]] in California on November 4, 2008,<ref name="THENATIONPROP8">{{cite magazine |title=Olbermann on Prop 8: 'It's About the Human Heart' |url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081124/olbermannprop8_video |magazine=[[The Nation]] |date=November 11, 2008 |author=Landau, Erica |access-date=November 13, 2008 |archive-date=December 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228082933/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081124/olbermannprop8_video |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TVGUIDEPROP8">{{cite magazine |title=Keith Olbermann Inks New Deal, Lets Loose on California Gay Marriage Ban |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Keith-Olbermann-Contract-58418.aspx |magazine=[[TV Guide]] |date=November 11, 2008 |author=Bryant, Adam |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716000220/http://www.tvguide.com/news/keith-olbermann-contract-58418.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> for which he was awarded the 2009 [[GLAAD Media Awards|GLAAD Media Award]] for "Outstanding TV Journalism Segment".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/20thAnnual/MANYrecap.php |title=Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - Media Award recipients |publisher=[[Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation]] |access-date=2009-04-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401084614/http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/20thAnnual/MANYrecap.php |archive-date=April 1, 2009 }}</ref> Olbermann's Special Comments were compared to  [[Edward R. Murrow]]'s signature essays.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071008/kitman |title=Olbermann Rules! |access-date=2007-12-24 |first=Marvin |last=Kitman |publisher=[[The Nation]].com |archive-date=2007-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224161134/http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071008/kitman |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/12/MNGV9MB4681.DTL |title=Olbermann taps a well of discontent as the anti-O'Reilly |access-date=2008-02-13 |first=C.W. |last=Nevius |newspaper=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=November 12, 2006 |archive-date=2008-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216202940/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/12/MNGV9MB4681.DTL |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Boyer, Peter J., [https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/23/080623fa_fact_boyer?printable=true One Angry Man: Is Keith Olbermann changing TV news?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201202134/http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/23/080623fa_fact_boyer?printable=true |date=2014-02-01 }} In the ''New Yorker'', June 23, 2008.</ref>

On two occasions, guest hosts for ''Countdown'' proved popular enough to be given their own MSNBC shows, contributing to a widespread perception of MSNBC being a left-leaning network. In 2008, [[Air America Radio]] personality [[Rachel Maddow]] hosted ''Countdown'' in Olbermann's absence, leading to the debut of her own program, ''[[The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)|The Rachel Maddow Show]]''.<ref name="chief54">{{cite news |date=2008-06-14 |work=Kansas City Star |title=MSNBC's Chuck Todd and Rachel Maddow are young, geeky and hot |url=http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/columnists/aaron_barnhart/story/661526.html |first=Aaron |last=Barnhart |access-date=2008-07-10 |archive-date=2009-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418025151/http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/columnists/aaron_barnhart/story/661526.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2009, left-wing political analyst [[Lawrence O'Donnell]] hosted ''Countdown'' for an extended period, leading to the eventual launch of his show ''[[The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell|The Last Word]]''. Subsequent guest hosts included progressive radio hosts [[Cenk Uygur]] and [[Sam Seder]], Obama biographer [[Richard Wolffe]], journalist [[Christopher Hayes (journalist)|Chris Hayes]], and [[Democratic National Committee|DNC]] chairman [[Howard Dean]].

====Hiatus and first cancellation====
On October 28, 2010, five days before the [[United States elections, 2010|2010 U.S. elections]], Olbermann donated $2,400 each to three Democratic candidates for Congress: [[Kentucky]] Senate candidate [[Jack Conway (politician)|Jack Conway]] and [[Arizona]] Democratic Representatives [[Raul Grijalva]] and [[Gabby Giffords]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44734.html|title=Keith Olbermann suspended after donating to Democrats|author=Simmi Aujla|publisher=Politico|date=November 5, 2010|access-date=November 5, 2010|archive-date=November 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106123419/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/44734.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In response, MSNBC President [[Phil Griffin (presenter)|Phil Griffin]] suspended Olbermann indefinitely without pay on November 5 for violating a network policy regarding political contributions which required prior approval from management.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspended_n_779586.html?ref=tw|title=Keith Olbermann Suspended From MSNBC Indefinitely Without Pay|author=Danny Shea|work=Huffington Post|date=November 5, 2010|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207184421/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/keith-olbermann-suspended_n_779586.html?ref=tw|url-status=live}}</ref> An online petition calling for his reinstatement received over 250,000 signatures,<ref name="Olbermann suspension ending" /> and two days after the suspension began, Griffin announced that Olbermann would return to the air starting with the November 9 program.<ref name="Olbermann suspension ending">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40062578|title=NBC: Olbermann suspension ending Tuesday|date=7 November 2010|work=NBC News|access-date=7 November 2010}}</ref>

On the January 21, 2011, episode of ''Countdown'', Olbermann abruptly announced that the show would be his final MSNBC broadcast.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/22/olbermann.msnbc/index.html?hpt=T2 Keith Olbermann signs off from MSNBC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109050529/http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/22/olbermann.msnbc/index.html?hpt=T2 |date=2012-11-09 }}, CNN.com, 22 January 2011</ref> Olbermann thanked viewers, producers, and technical staff for his show's eight-year success. However, he did not thank Griffin or [[NBC News]] president [[Steve Capus]]. Neither MSNBC nor Olbermann divulged the reason for his departure. Many liberal bloggers and commentators blamed the cable operator [[Comcast]] for Olbermann's firing, accusing the company of silencing the host for political purposes just days after Comcast acquired [[NBC Universal]] on January 18.<ref>[https://thehill.com/policy/technology/80423-critics-see-comcasts-hand-in-olbermann-departure-from-msnbc/ Critics see Comcast's hand in Olbermann departure from MSNBC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202235043/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/80423-critics-see-comcasts-hand-in-olbermann-departure-from-msnbc/ |date=2023-02-02 }}, ''The Hill'', 22 January 2011</ref><ref>[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/1/22/938047/-Olbermann-Fired-Because-of-Comcast-via-TMZStance-on-Net-Neutrality-To-Blame Olbermann Fired Because of Comcast via TMZ - Stance on Net Neutrality To Blame?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303211331/http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/1/22/938047/-Olbermann-Fired-Because-of-Comcast-via-TMZStance-on-Net-Neutrality-To-Blame |date=2011-03-03 }}, ''The Daily Kos'', 21 January 2011</ref> Statements from MSNBC and Comcast denied this allegation. Media critic [[Howard Kurtz]], former MSNBC anchor [[David Shuster]], and an anonymous NBC News executive<ref>[http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/olbermann-and-msnbc-a-failing-relationship/57702fa659d04dbe922568dc7e5e3a4a Olbermann and MSNBC: a failing relationship] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018164036/http://www.nola.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/olbermann-and-msnbc-a-failing-relationship/57702fa659d04dbe922568dc7e5e3a4a |date=2012-10-18 }}, Associated Press, 22 January 2011</ref> said that Olbermann's 2010 suspension was a more likely precipitating factor in ''Countdown''{{'s}} cancellation.

In subsequent interviews, Olbermann went into greater detail about the circumstances surrounding his exit from MSNBC. In an interview with ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' published on June 7, 2011, Olbermann said he had faced increasing opposition from network management after the  death of [[Tim Russert]] in June, 2008; Russert, the NBC Washington news bureau chief and moderator of ''[[Meet the Press]]'', had been Olbermann's  advocate and a peacemaker at the network. Olbermann further stated that "there were lots of people who were forced to choose sides" over his presence at MSNBC, including Maddow. Olbermann further claimed that he was not informed of his dismissal from MSNBC until less than a half-hour before his on-air farewell.<ref>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-olbermann-breaks-silence-msnbc-195404 Keith Olbermann Breaks Silence On MSNBC Exit; Could Earn $100M at Current TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124233427/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/keith-olbermann-breaks-silence-msnbc-195404 |date=2020-11-24 }}, ''The Hollywood Reporter'', 7 June 2011</ref>

However, Olbermann's 2012 breach-of-contract lawsuit against Current TV indicated that Olbermann had been moved to leave MSNBC by Current founders [[Al Gore]] and [[Joel Hyatt]]. The lawsuit alleged that Gore and Hyatt had attempted to court Olbermann, despite being informed that he had two years remaining on his MSNBC contract, and reached an agreement for him to join the network the same month as his departure from MSNBC, according to court documents acquired by [[Warner Bros.]]-owned [[TMZ]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/0405_Keith_Olbermann_plaintiff.pdf|title=Keith Olbermann plaintiff|website=Tmz.vo.llnwd.net|access-date=8 March 2022|archive-date=6 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206053642/http://tmz.vo.llnwd.net/o28/newsdesk/tmz_documents/0405_Keith_Olbermann_plaintiff.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>