Keith Olbermann Slams Current: 'Those People Have No Idea What They're Doing'
The ousted anchorman continues taking swipes at his former employer, saying: "Their executives can’t come off as if they failed. Their PR people are dumping on me."
Days after getting fired from Current TV, Keith Olbermann remains on the defense in an effort to explain his exit and clear up his diva-anchor reputation.
In an interview with the New York Post, the embattled newsman lambasted Al Gore's cable channel for poor quality and judgment, among other gripes.
"No surprise I’m off their air now. I thought it might happen earlier. There were 83 strikes against it. Those people have no idea what they’re doing. With large amounts of money and people at stake, my idea was Hold On," Olbermann told the newspaper.
"Twenty-five friends, with me for years, came with me to Current. They needed job security. I love everyone, and with so much wrong with the operation I worried we’d be canceled. I did all I could to make it work. I’m hurt I let them down."
VIDEO: Olbermann Says He 'Screwed Up'
Olbermann, famous for his internal office dramas, was axed by Current last week, after which he threatened legal action against the network. Gore and co-founder Joel Hyatt announced the news on Friday, and replaced Olbermann's Countdown with the Eliot Spitzer-fronted Viewpoint.
"Well, up to last Thursday I got my money," Olbermann said Tuesday on CBS' Late Show. "The nice judge will decide whether or not I get more of my money. But quite seriously, you know, in that situation, what you’re thinking is, 'Oh, Lord, this is probably going to hit the water at some point,' but what do you do? You have – you could bail out and say, 'I’m getting out of this immediately,' and trust me, I was thinking about that as early as like last July."
He added: "We’d been on the air about 10 days and they fired the guy who knew what he was doing who I worked for and I went, 'Uh-oh'."
Olbermann told the Post that, contrary to reports, he was game for covering major events during the presidential race, and that the truth would eventually "shake out in a lawsuit."
"Listen, I need 24 hours nonstop talking to get truths out. I don’t know Current’s new strategy. Their executives can’t come off as if they failed. Their PR people are dumping on me. I contacted Al Gore, whose response was I must deal with Current’s executives," he said.
THR's Daily Must Feeds
-
Emma Roberts Joins 'American Horror Story: Coven'
-
The Lesson Zach Braff Taught Woody Allen
-
Jessica Chastain & Zachary Quinto: 'All is Lost' Cannes Premiere
-
Ken Jeong's 'Hangover' Pay: $5 Million
-
Teen Choice Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed
-
Robert Redford Wows At Cannes Film Festival With 'All Is Lost'
-
Mitch Hurwitz Explains His 'Arrested Development' Rules
-
Metallica’s Lars Ulrich on the Band’s New Movie
What's Hot in TV
- MOST SHARED
- MOST POPULAR
- 1
'Arrested Development' Stars' Surprising Salaries Revealed (Exclusive)
- 2
Nebraska: Cannes Review
- 3
Joe Francis Apologizes for 'Appalling' Interview With The Hollywood Reporter
- 4
Box Office Report: 'The Hangover Part III' Opens to $3.1 Million Wednesday Night
- 5
From Flappers to Rappers: 'The Great Gatsby' Music Supervisor Breaks Down the Film's Soundtrack
- 6
Convicted Girls Gone Wild Mogul Joe Francis Breaks Silence: 'Retarded' Jury 'Should Be Shot Dead'
- 7
Netflix's Ted Sarandos Reveals His 'Phase 2' for Hollywood
- 8
Cannes: Psy Impersonator Tricks Festival Organizers, Partygoers
- 9
TV Upfronts: Little Buzz, Lots of Upheaval
- 10
Benedict Cumberbatch Showers in Deleted 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Scene (Video)


