posted: January 1, 2009
by Olberblogger
Today, we start a new year and in just three weeks a new, hopeful, historic presidential administration takes over the White House. These definitely mark times of change and a perfect opportunity for Countdown to ring in the new as well.
Truthfully, OlberBlogging lacks any knowledge if Keith Olbermann, the Countdown staff or MSNBC made any New Year’s Resolutions for our favorite news program. So, we came up with a few of our own.
These resolutions, recommendations actually, propose some changes we’d love to see in Countdown (or MSNBC). Keith (and Rachel, if KO ignores us), Countdown, and MSNBC are more than welcome to “steal” any of these ideas — just give your OlberBlogging buddies a shout out!
Remember that these resolutions come from OlberBlogging and have no connection to Countdown, Keith or MSNBC.
Please feel free to add your own resolutions — personal or for Countdown — either in the comment section or privately through our “Contact Us” page. We’ll pass them along.
OlberBlogging’s Countdown New Year’s Resolutions 2009 :
(1) Find a new female(s) pundit
Rachel spun off into her own show. Margaret Carlson of Bloomberg provides good insight, but she lacks zing. Keith, time for you to discover your next protégé and add more yin for your yang. Look at HuffPo (not Arianna, please) or Daily KOS for some fresh possibilities.
(2) Add a GOP viewpoint
Sure, Uncle Pat Buchanan offers the conservative position in a way that appears as if he’s not nauseated to be on the same set as KO, but he also comments for other MSNBC shows. Countdown needs a fresh look into how the GOP perceives the Obama Administration, a Bush-era representative who hasn’t drunk the Cheney Kool-Aid. We recommend former Bush press secretary Scott McClellan whose memoir accused the Bush Administration of lying about our involvement in Iraq and other misdeeds.
(3) Bring in Luke Russert as a commentator on the “Obama Generation”
Luke Russert may just be starting his broadcast journalism career, but he’s displayed his chops during the political conventions. His generation heavily supported Obama’s campaign and they plan to hold the new president to his promises. Russert can comment on youth and politics, which cannot hurt those all important ratings demographics. Plus, MSNBC/NBC will be “growing its own” again, as with Rachel and Chuck Todd, by developing talent from within.
That said….
(4) Integrate more features of MSNBC.com into Countdown and other MSNBC-TV programming.
Did you know that MSNBC has its own editorial cartoonist? Yep, he’s my Tweet buddy Daryl Cargle and his daily web blog contains a cornucopia of political cartoons, his own and others from newspapers worldwide. Political cartooning could make a great new segment on Countdown. Maybe Daryl could provide a weekly review of how editorial cartoonists see current events or become a pundit in his own right. After all, editorial cartoons tend to be “illustrated” special comments.
In addition to Daryl, MSNBC.com runs blogs from several interesting writers who should contribute to Countdown and other MSNBC TV news programs. Will Femla, an MSNBC.com chat producer, who writes Clicked a blog about on-line citizen journalism. Since the blogosphere increasingly becomes a news source, perhaps Will’s could spot political or social trends for Countdown. Other MSNBC.com blogs of note include Test Pattern by various MSNBC.com producers who look at entertainment and pop culture news; Cosmic Log, on science by MSNBC.com science editor Alan Boyle (did you even know MSNBC.com also had a science editor?); and Bob Sullivan’s Red Tape Chronicles which uncovers consumer fraud and internet scams. Interesting stuff that MSNBC fails to use productively.
And speaking of failing to use resources….
(5) Improve incorporation of new technology with Countdown programming
As we write this, the last posted Countdown News Hole blog carries an expired shelf date of Friday, Dec. 19, 2008 with the “latest” Countdown video on the web site as well as ITunes a stale December 23, 2008 broadcast — one with a substitute host to boot!
The ability to view Countdown on the web or download the latest video (or audio) podcast on ITunes allows viewers worldwide — as well as let’s those without cable or whose cable provider doesn’t provide MSNBC — access to Countdown and Keith Olbermann When your Olberblogger spent the summer at a university research internship, those podcasts became lifelines and the only means for me to get my daily Keith fix.
Yet, I often find the feed outdated. And, while ITunes allows me to download the podcast on my IPhone, it cannot play it (more an IPhone glitch, I suppose) but IPhone is the future of mobile access, so Countdown needs to work on the glitch, too.
In addition, several news anchors post their own Facebook pages (not fan pages) or participate in Twitter or other on-line discussions with fans. KO’s Daily KOS posts show that he’d probably blow up Twitter or Facebook servers if he posted there, but Countdown producers may want to investigate the technology for future applications — and keep the website up to date!!!
(6) Continue to air less “Keeping Tabs” but use more “comictators”
Creative use of the “#1 story” as a way for skilled comics to satirize the politics helps give Countdown its unique take on the news. The regular “comictators” — McHale, Tompkins, Finnegan — are great, but when one of the greats such as John Cleese, the late George Carlin, Mort Sahl, or Lewis Black, appear with Keith, that show becomes especially memorable.
If you do air “celebrity news,” strive to do so with snark and satire, but a focus on more pop cultural trends may be more appropriate than the latest Britney gossip!
(7) Name a permanent substitute host
Now that Rachel and David Shuster have their own programs, Keith needs a host of their caliber to substitute for him. We love Alison Stewart — she has the right poise, attitude, wit and sparkle that keeps the show lively when KO is away.
Now, some 2009 resolutions for MSNBC:
(7) Develop a new sports program featuring Dan Patrick
We don’t know the specifics of his NBC or current radio contracts, but NBC possesses a great opportunity to have a weekly, or daily, sports news program on MSNBC with Dan Patrick as host. Sports news can be a hot topic and Dan would bring a Countdown-style (i.e. SportsCenter-style) shine to such a program. That would add some variety to the MSNBC nightly (or weekend ) line-up and limit the need for repeats of its prime time news programs. While we realize the need for later West Coast feeds of Countdown, Rachel, et al, the news often smells by then.
And occasional visit by KO can re-ignite the SportsCenter and The Dan Patrick Show radio pairing magic that Football Night In America seriously lacks.
(8) Get rid of the weird documentaries — PLEASE!
While the Lock-up, Dateline murder and transsexual documentaries may be cheap to produce, they give a tabloid ambience to the rest of MSNBC programming, especially the news shows. Find some other, more appropriate, news documentary programming to air instead, even if you must dust off historical news documentaries as filler. At least, To Catch a Predator was fun to watch and eye-opening for parents.
That’s OlberBlogging’s Countdown 2009 New Year’s Resolutions. Please provide your own ideas — or your own resolutions — in our comment section.
Heck yes! Luke Russert! I just did a quick round on YouTube, and I’m impressed with him. Bring him in on the Countdown commentator roll. We need some more young blood on there.
I agree with 7 too. The girls seem to be on par with our man Keith Allison has done some Countdown in the past(I’ve seen her on O.O) and I like her and Tamron that was on just before the holidays ain’t bad either.
On 5, Just follow Rachel’s lead.
And I know MSNBC is part owned by MicroSoft but pleace make your site work with browsers such as Opera (you know the video bit in the middle).
As for interaction with KO well sure FB is one route but I have a feeling he just might not be that kind of person. He seems to give nods to his fans in subtle ways.
On the lack of updates: Has there been NEW Countdown shows since the 23rd? I see Rachel has had a show on the 30th and 31st(my iTunes)
I love MSNBC for allowing me to veiw their news cast via iTunes. I’ve begun watching Nightly News again. it makes for a better coverage of the US news. (which is needed to fully grasp the news over here) Thanks, Domo arrigato. Takk, grazie.
Other than that. more of the same!
Yep, no NEW Countdowns since Dec. 23…but they could have put up one of their specials such as the Dec. 22 Favorite People of the year until a new one appears, rather having a non-KO telecast on-line.
Yes, we’re glad you join us from Norway!!
Norway keeps coming up in my life as of late. My husband is flying into Oslo tomorrow for a week for business. I contemplated going for a minute, but as I am more of a beach goddess than a snow princess I thought I’d be better off just “pining for the fjords with my Norwegian Blue” so to speak. Anyway… Yes to Allison as permanent KO fill-in and an emphatic YES to ditching the “Doc Block” which is one of the most repulsive shows ever broadcast. The commercials alone give me the hebe jeebees (sp?). I like Uncle Pat and vote to keep him on or maybe have Mary Matalin on some time. I don’t really care for McClellan – something just doesn’t add up with him. Great resolutions!
I was about to nix the idea of Scott McClellan and see that 2LabPuppers has beat me to it.
So, allow me to concur, although the idea of Mary Matalin makes my skin crawl. (How about Bayh Buchanan, and then she and her brother could disagree with each other!)
If a more conservative voice were to be added to Countdown on a regular basis (And I am not all that sure that it is necessary. Why a need to “balance” truth with idiocy?), I believe that we need to get away from the idea that the far right somehow represents the Republican party and have someone much more representative of the thinking of the average “Intelligent” Republican voter (So, NOT Joe the Plumber); preferably, someone who will actually discuss issues from a different perspective rather than bellowing right wing talking points.
Also, it would probably be good to get someone who is not at imminent risk of indictment, severely narrowing the field.
Which leads me to think of Christopher Buckley.
The idea of Ron Paul to discuss the Libertarian angle also has a certain appeal.
Keith does not suffer fools, so that really limits the field. (So, its a no to Sarah Palin and/or Karl Rove.)
Did everyone notice that in the Favorite People of 2008, there was one scene not from MSNBC?
There has to be a certain glee in including the moment from the FOX “news” Election Night coverage in which Rove has just declared that McCain has to win Ohio to immediately be told that Obama has taken Ohio, as Rove stands there, shrunken and momentarily mute.
To me, McClellan smells. It seems that he went along with things he clearly knew were illegal/immoral as long as he had a big fat position, and then that he turned, not from conscience but from greed.
I do not care so much for the liberal or conservative credentials of any of these people as long as they are intelligent, well reasoned, and engage in civil discourse.
Judith is right.
We&Countdown don’t need a Rep or a Dem POV.
What we need is people that can bring the facts and the truth.
And occationally maybe be entertained while learning (like banter and such).
Truth and Facts trumps viewpoints any day.
But we all appreciate a intelligent, involved and maybe even fun discussion about the news/politics/events etc.
We need to let go of left/right Liberal/conservative and start working on solving things.
And Keith is too savvy to let some talking point “bobble head” come on.
Thank you, Anneli.
(AHG, the perils of adding a has while proofing online and creating a blatant grammatical error in my previous post, sigh.)
I had a bit of a dust up with my sister a week or so ago. She was very annoyed with some of Obama’s cabinet appointments and wanted a lot of pay back against the Republicans.
It is my belief that whether we speak/write in terms of government or how the media operate, we have a chance here to finally act like adults and progress.
We have been living for so long in an environment in which whoever is on top takes advantage to block the agenda of the other side, not for real reasons but just because they can, and then the other side takes power and we get the wiping off of all previous ways of doing things and lording it over once again by the ins.
It would be nice to work towards consensus and to actually accomplish things that matter and will improve the world and the lives of everyone. It is not about who gets credit, it is about getting things done.
I do not want yet more squawking heads on tv. I want to be INFORMED about the issues and am fine with listening to different priorities or ways of getting things done.
Which is part of what makes Keith and Rachel miles above any competition which seems to thrive on sensationalism and the emotional splash of the moment.
*delurking for a second*
Yes, ditch the docs!! waste of time, waste of space [and seriously, that's what tru tv is for].
BTW: This blog rocks!!
*going back to lurking*
Welcome, Ash!
Thanks for posting!
And thanks for the compliment — we’re glad we rock!!
Please don’t lurk! Become part of our community. We like to know someone out there reads us!!
Okay! I’ll relent on Scott McClellan. Maybe he was just CYA with coming “out.”
But I love Judith Marie’s idea of Chris Buckley. In fact, I considered him but went with McClellan since he was on Countdown once. I like that Buckley had to resign from the New Republic, a conservative magazine that his dad founded because I believe he came out for Obama — but don’t quote me on that — he did something to piss of the neo-cons.
And, everyone’s right. I shouldn’t label “conservatives” as GOP members. Heck, the “South South” used to be totally Democratic. But, unfortunately, the GOP went to bed with both neo-cons and the religious right — so if the smell rubs off….