Multiple media and network television sources confirmed to me Thursday that Keith Olbermann will not appear on NBC’s Football Night In America Sunday evening NFL broadcasts this season.All in all, this is a good move for NBC. There is no doubt that Keith Olbermann and Dan Patrick were wildly popular and successful hosting SportsCenter together, and to an extent, NBC tried to re-create that past magic. There was just one problem with that line of thinking: Today's not the past, and we don't need to relive it. Repeating the same jokes over and over they coined a decade ago does not make for good television. Olbermann drew nothing but criticism, and when NBC brought in Dan Patrick to complement Olbermann on highlights only to tone down the highlights like they did last year, Olbermann became expendable for FNIA. It looks like NBC is finally taking steps to getting the too many cooks out of the kitchen. And that, my friends, is a good thing.
Some members of the FNIA cast and crew were made aware of the news Tuesday at a preseason production meeting in New York City. Afterwards, the cast and crew adjourned to Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees-Blue Jays game.
I’m told that NBC News officials requested the move, citing Olbermann’s weekday commitment to MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann. During the 2009 NFL season, Olbermann periodically did not appear on Friday editions of Countdown.
Network television sources confirmed to me that Olbermann’s departure from FNIA was not due to any conflict with cast or production crew members. I was also given no indication that Olbermann’s politics had anything to do with the move.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Keith Olbermann Dropped From Football Night In America
I guess we should be renaming today the day of sports media demotions? First, the announcement came that Pam Ward will be relegated to working with Danny Kanell on the afternoon ESPNU game. And now the announcement that Football Night In America kitchen has lost one of its way too many cooks. Per this report from Sports by Brooks, you can say goodbye to Keith Olbermann on FNIA!
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FNIA is a mess not really because of Olbermann but, as you said, too many cooks in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteNFL Primetime was the best highlights show ever.
@ SSR: Absolutely. There were too many cooks in the kitchen and because this took away from his weekday MSNBC show, he took the fall.
ReplyDeleteI loved NFL Primetime. Nothing will ever beat the duo of Chris Berman and Tom Jackson doing highlights.
I agree Primetime was the best show, but the new one blows (Especially since its on at 4 o'clock).
ReplyDelete@ Anon: Agreed. It is nowhere close to the same level as the original.
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