Clooney’s Clown
by John Nolte
As a kid, I wanted to be James Bond. Sneaking into villainous volcano lairs in-between hayloft romps with the likes of Pussy Galore is very appealing to a twelve-year old … and a forty-two year old. For a lucky few, that glamorous life may be somewhat of a reality but as someone intimidated by both violence and pretty girls, the life of a super spy was not to be. However, had the world been my toy box, had the power and influence to shape my environment to my liking been available to me, right now I’d be slugging it out with faceless henchmen on a nuclear sub.
Good thing for me that’s not reality. Because if it were, I’d be a fool unaware the whole world was laughing at the effort that went into my self-important delusion.
Which brings me to Keith Olbermann.
The best way to understand Olbermann is to suffer through George Clooney’s sterile and pretentious docudrama, “Good Night, and Good Luck” (2005). David Strathairn plays real-life CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow and the film dramatizes Murrow’s confrontation with Hollywood’s favorite cliché whipping boy, Senator Joseph McCarthy. (I know, can you believe Clooney went after Joe McCarthy? Until Sean Penn stood up for gay marriage in front of all those people at the Oscars, it was the single bravest thing ever.)
Not only is Clooney’s film a tired exercise in liberal wish-fulfillment (a black and white “Frost/Nixon”), it’s a dishonest one that tells half the truth and carries a fascist streak down its back a mile wide. Clooney’s theme is a simple but frightening one. He’s telling the media that their job is not to present the facts, not to present both sides of an issue, but to present “the truth.” This all sounds lofty until you realize whose truth he’s talking about, and as we saw during the 2008 presidential election, most of the media took this to heart.
I’m lucky the world is not at my disposal to fulfill a childish James Bond fantasy, unfortunately for Olbermann, MSNBC was at his disposal. I can’t track down when Olbermann started poaching Murrow’s “Good night, and good luck” sign off, it might have been before the film came out, but if you watch Clooney’s fascist little screed followed by a couple “Countdown” episodes, it’s all too obvious – from the camera angles, self-righteous indignation, and use of Bill O’Reilly in place of McCarthy – that MSNBC is Olbermann’s toy box to fulfill his dream of becoming George Clooney’s idea of Murrow.
If I could wish anything on Olbermann it would be the power of self-awareness. Once the embarrassment hit, he’d never leave the house again.
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142 Comments
Good Night and Good Luck made my teeth ache. And wasn't Clooney in love with the cigarette smoke?
I have taken to calling it the Pravda media. Now though as the economy craters around us and the DOW edges towards 5000 territory I think that's not enough. They continue to pitch softballs to such a sickening degree I think even Pravda would be insulted by being compared to them. They're starting to become the Baghdad Bob Media. "Please ignore the cratering economy, everything is fine, and if its not its all Bush's fault."
Just picture Olbermann as the Iowa Hawk did, e.g. portraying Kitty Carlisle
The media died the day the narrative became the driving force and facts became inconvenient trivialities. Narratives can be warped, shaped, corrupted, polluted, smothered, and twisted. Facts are facts. The real truth is, Clooney was telling many in the media and on the left and excuse to do what they've secretly wanted to do.
God, Olberman is a wussy.
And a snob.
" I can't work in Bristol, it's yucky."
Please. I used top think he and Dan Patrick were pretty damned funny on Sportscenter until I saw him on the Daily Show when Craig Kilborn was hosting.
Man, was he NOT funny. And he came off as a pompous ass.
I'd love to give you an "Amen!" but I have never seen Olbermann's show. And don't plan to. I see enough of him spread around the interwebs to make me want to hurl. Thanks for your sacrifice.
Oh, and he ruined The Dan Patrick Show……..gawd, what a douche.
Olberman is CNBC's less funny and less masculine version of Rachel Maddow. I'm crimping somebody here, but can't remember who.
Elevating a sports commentator was arrogant enough. Where exactly do they take their political training ? Fox came up with Brit Hume and Bill O'Reilly, both with years of experience in news. Roger Ailes ( and his boss) is the genius there.
Who advertises what to a retromingent audience of restless leg syndrome depressives ?
Libs claim they just had a problem with McCarthy's "tactics" – yet they employed them when they had a chance with "Political Correctness." Read "None Dare Call it Treason." It is a SUPPRESSED BOOK.
All the while O'Reilly bit*h slaps him around in the ratings. By a few million, A NIGHT! MSNBC is relevant inside the beltway, New York and L.A. Perhaps not even in L.A. because it comes on at daybreak, or noon, whatever.
Is there a bigger Douchebag than Olbermann? He was the guy in highschool who could quote baseball stats for the last hundred years, but threw like a girl. Basically, he is Olgivie from the Bad News Bears.
Take about 42 or 43 minutes of a pompous, self important blowhard, mix in some lefty sycophants agreeing at his witty repartee' , add his obnoxious "Worst People Ever" segment, always a double barrel blast at conservatives, and you've wasted an hour (including commercials, which I'm shocked they can sell at more than a buck 50 per spot) and that pretty much wraps it up. If his crap show fell down in a forest would anybody hear it? Uhhh, no.
I think about twelve people total watch Olbermann anymore. He's become a sad caricature. I'm surprised he's still got a show.
http://the100mostannoyingthings.blogspot.com/
Oh gawd…………
Poor Kitty.
If you wait around long enough he'll remind you that he went to, (clear throat) Brown University. La te fing da.
I've often said, more people watch other poeple cut their toe nails than watch MSNBC…
Keith Olberdork! Who cares what that idiot has to say, except maybe his Mom and Dad, and the 3 other people that watch his show. This blistering intellect that helped usher in the Magnificent ”O” should have his, (you add the noun) cut off! This Meddling Marxist is one of the a$$holes in the 4th estate, that threw rose peddles at the feet of the Immaculate One for two years, while publicly servicing, “Himself” dutifully, knee pads always at the ready. I barf on Olberdork, yuk!
"Libs claim they just had a problem with McCarthy's 'tactics' – yet they employed them when they had a chance with 'Political Correctness.' Read 'None Dare Call it Treason.' It is a SUPPRESSED BOOK. "
Read William F. Buckley's "Up from Liberalism," too. It documents the shockingly McCarthyite tactics of the liberals who went after the McCarthyites. They have no moral highground. And yet, you'll only ever hear about McCarthy being out of line. Never mind all the millions of reputations and careers damaged by government witch-hunts. For instance, why the heck is the Senate investigating Major League Baseball? They have no jurisdiction!
I call it the enemedia.
Olbermann comes off as a d-bag because he's mad that Rachel Maddow's "third leg" is bigger than his. Seriously, she makes Geanine Garafalo look like a beauty queen.
Isn't the right beating up on Olbermann pretty much the same as Clooney beating up on McCarthy?
There's no coincidence in the fact that Olbermann's ego is running MSNBC and the fact that his numerous departures from other networks were heated and unpleasant. As one of his ex co-workers at ESPN, Mike Soltys, put it, "He didn’t burn bridges here—he napalmed them.”
Olberman is what you get when you give Bill Maher a crack pipe, a dozen bags, and a Zippo.
I love the analogy, but I couldn't stand the film.
Olberman comes off as being as big of a windbag as we can expect. He doesn't just tell the "truth". He lectures people on the proper way of thinking. He actually tells people to listen to certain people that look out for their best interests, yet he is more of a schill for the agenda he promotes. I love how he cuts down the dissenters, and labels those that oppose his viewpoint. It is amazing that what he spouts passes for reporting.
I find it appalling that he even uses the NBC Sunday Night Football stage to spread his hatred.
Not yet. Hopefully it will be.
But O'Reilly get ratings because I think he has a running competition with himself each nght to see how many blonde's he can get on his show…not that I mind seeing Megyn Kelly get all riled up about a legal issue.
No, there is not.
Outstanding.
Were you going for a combo of enemy and media, or enema and media?
Because they are a pain in the arse to be sure.
If Air America can still be on the air, anything is possible.
The film is dishonest, as well- Annie Moss was a communist sympathizer… FBI records are there, and people working on the film told ol' George about it. Of course, he wasn't interested in THAT… Olbermann, like Stevie Colbert craves the niche Billy O. carved out for himself, and the requisite $uccess he has achieved. Has anyone noticed how much he is starting to look like Groucho Marx? with apologies to Groucho?
Yeah, but so does olbermann – and he's more feminine than gagagalo too.
What is it like going though life thinking the way Olberman does? Damm
Only if olbermann had been dead for a decade or two, which he isn't- dang man, now you made me sad.
….and a bathtub. Never forget the bathtub.
Dan Patrick's always been the funnier one, Gary, all the way back to the days he was calling in to the Bob and Brian Show in Milwaukee, allegedly while wearing nothing but cowboy hat and boots.
Ah true, very true. They all seem to be PhD.s and lawyers…I like smoking HOT lawyer babes…and eyeglass wearing PhD.s….Yes Dear! …..No Dear, it's BREITBART not Vivid!!! …dang….can't a guy drift off to smart hot babeland once in a while?
I'd like to lock Olbermann and Clooney in a room with Norbert Sykes for five minutes…
You mean like when she flares her nostriles?
Olberman is a despicable piece of s… Total hate monger. Not funny, not clever, not smart. It really ticked me off when NBC (Nothing But Commies) put him on Sunday Night Football. I actually stopped watching their halftime show when they did that.
I have a T-shirt that has that "Hope" picture of Obama and underneath is the caption "DoucheBag". I only wish I had the same thing with Olbermann's mug on it. I love wearing the Obama shirt to Whole Foods. The looks I get from the "tolerant" left are priceless.
"Once the embarrassment hit, he’d never leave the house again."
Wait… I thought he broadcasted from his walk-in tub. OK then – what's with all the finger puppets and squeak toys?
Perhaps it takes the same amount of guts to do it… but we aren't pretending to be courageous for it. Clooney thinks he's revealing the unknown truth to captives of ignorance, while we are handing a pompous blowhard of a talking head his own ass in the blogosphere. Drawing the equivalence card betrays your political background, methinks.
I don't think so. An enema is very unpleasant but good for your health. The media has the first part but not the second.
yeah, I think that means she's getting a chubbie.
That's true. I wonder what genius they have cooking the books over there? The business plan reads as follows, I obtained one from their accountant. It reads: "Take several million $$$$, run through industrial shredder, put in trash bags, place by curb." "Repeat every quarter until $$$ runs out." "Please pay the cashier on the way out, here's your invoice." "Thank you, come again."
There was one worse. Anybody remember when Charles Grodin had his show? Just as he was enunciating the "high point" of one of his lefty screeds, the camera would switch to a stage left low-angle shot with Grodin looking down on all us peasants. For pretentious pomposity, Olbermann can't hold a candle to Grodin. Which reminds me–where is Charles Grodin these days? Have they found a network with even fewer viewers than MSNBC?
I used to love Olbermann and Patrick on the "Big Show" as they named their Sports Center together…they were damn funny and knowledgeble…However, after hearing Olberman's pompous ass on and off for the last few years on his tearibly irritating "Countdown", I really hate the douchebag…what a moron and looking back, I always liked Dan Patrick more…I love how O'reilly never dignifies Olberman's insults by not even mentioning his name but Bill often does take shots at NBC , Immelt anf their pathetic ratings which I do love…Back in the eighties, Knoblauch overthrew his Yankee first baseman and hit Olberman's mom in the head sitting in the front rows…haha, wish it was Clemens and Keith, not Chuck and his mom…=)
Actually either one works beautifully!
….and pre-game. I switch over to NFL network.
Plus the NBC pre and halftime shows are horrible. Even without Olberman they'd stink
I can't watch because they have about a dozen people talking about the game. How many has beens and never beens can they have? It should just be Colinsworth, Marino and The Bus.
Oh, BTW…Goodnight and Goodluck is AWFUL….God, Clooney is a POS , overrated actor who always has some damn agenda…I would not reccommend watching this trash unless you want to see just another Hollywood liberal themed joke….Taking on McCarthy, wow George, you're real brave and original too…loser!
They actually have to buy their own airtime for lack of sponsors.
The ball hit his mom because Olberman can't catch. He's afraid of the ball.
I don't actually know if that's true or not, but since Olberman doesn't care about the truth why should I.
Well, I'm sure her third leg is bigger than his too.
I hear he does a show out of his basement, but no one has the heart to tell him the cameras aren't recording.
Good for a laugh. Ben Alleck showing Olbermann for the ass that he is in an SNL skit.
http://www.videosurf.com/video/saturday-night-liv...
Aww, did I hit a nerve? My comparison wasn't about how courageous people commenting were being, but how everyone is dog piling on the right's favorite media whipping boy. Yes, he may deserve it being the ass that he is. But as far as I can see, the left's demonization of McCarthy isn't much different than the right's demonization of Olbermann as far as kicking the easy target.
The movie was B-O-R-I-N-G!!! And it seemed like a long B&W cigarette commercial.
Can you believe this guy? Now, you've got me hot. He rails into conservatives, Rush, GW, CHEYNEY the devil like he's on stage at The Globe Theatre. The Bard is in the balcony. Really, this guy is should win clown of the year. This pretentous a$$ should've been reduced to intern status. I say throw him back to a no watt station in San Fran and let him rant until the cows come home or at least an aardvark!
As to Clooney's GN/GL – bleeeech, that stuff is shown on PBS every day.
typo, Affleck
So he's like Stuart Scott…ever hear how he messed up his eye?
I agree, but Olmberman was the poisonous cherry on top. He is one of the few human beings I cannot say anything good about, and I thought it was ridiculous NBC would add him. When not go exhume Hitler while we're at it.
I agree, but Olmberman was the poisonous cherry on top. He is one of the few human beings I cannot say anything good about, and I thought it was ridiculous NBC would add him. When no go exhume Hitler.
I agree, but Olmberman was the poisonous cherry on top. He is one of the few human beings I cannot say anything good about, and I thought it was ridiculous NBC would add him. When not go exhume Hitler.
Actually, i meant in the nineties and from what I hear, it's true but you might be right, could be urban lrgend …who knows, who cares…
Costas AND Olberman on a FOOTBALL show….um, no. Eesa no goo.
LOL. You missed your calling. You should be writing reviews here.
Yep. It's so weird that he added Olberman to the show. I TRIED to listen at first, but it was too painful so every week when Olbie came on I switched to something else.
I wonder why Patrick left ESPN? He said he wanted to broaden his horizons , but now he's doing another radio show.
For God's sake–not San Francisco. I'm already hiding under the bed. Have some mercy on us!
I stopped watching the half time show too – which sucks because I love Chris Collinsworth GO GATORS! But the very sound of his voice initiates my gag reflex. Hot wings are only fun going South. I get the feeling that none of the guys on the half show like that twit.
Gary, he is afraid of the ball because it hands lower than his bat.
Sorry Law, how 'bout Montpelier, Vermont?
I've got no problem with that.
I was convinced that I'd see a picture of noblama when I clicked this link.
At the desk there's only ONE ex-player (Collinsworth) and THREE anchors who think they know what they're talking about. It's MSNBC in a microcosm.
Rachel Maddow? I thought it was Peyton Manning.
No, the worst was when they brought in Dan Patrick to sit alongside Olbermann and run through the days highlights like they were back at ESPN. I bet Dan's agent said "They are waving a HUGE check at you Dan. You should do it."
So, he did it.
I used to see the ESPN guys out at a low rent bar in Plainville Ct – Kilborne was funny, Dan Patrick was nice, – but Olbermann was a complete douchebag. Some things never change.
Yeah, but this is Olberman, and MSNBC.
Currently, viewer fund appeals on the Billings, MT PBS station pull higher ratings than either.
And to be fair, Olberman wasn't too bad a sportscaster when he was on KCBS in L.A. (For that matter, neither was Bryant Gumbel in his KNBC days, afro and all.)
But apparently, just as all clowns supposedly yearn to play Hamlet, all sportscasters with pretentsions think they can do political commentary.
Personally, if they'd both been cycled down to do telecasts of the WWF, all of us whould have been much better off. Including, most pointedly, the sportscasters in question.
Stepping on Olberman rhetorically is certainly a good thing, but I worry that the mere effort to scrape him off one's shoes lends him too much credibility, a thing he is sorely lacking.
OK. Sorry,Montpelier.
John, we all suffer from a certain lack of self-awareness. The fact that you can opine about the mile wide streak of fascism in Clooney's movie and still left the house today? Pretty much proves it.
Was he sitting next to Olberman and his mom ?
Could you please repost that in English?
You're welcome
LawhawkSF – Sorry, I don't feel sorry for Montpelier. I live in San Francisco too.
Gary – harley can't. If he had to speak in English, he'd have to think in it. And thinking? Well, if he did that, he'd have to think about leaving mom's house. (And he is soooo comfortable on her sofa in the basement. Why, next birthday she's promised him jammies without feet.)
What's amazing is that Olbermann is now locked in ratings war not with Bill O'Reilly but with Nancy Grace. I guess all the Lefties that were giving his ratings a boost in the election run-up have gone back to American Idol. Easy come, easy go.
But yes, his show is self-conciously modeled, not on the real Murrow, (who in cinemescopes looks like the kind of man who has really bad breath) but on Straitharn's suave and impeccable fantasy Murrow ( whose clothes the smell from his omni-present cigarette would not dare cling).
These movies about McCarthy and/or McCarthyism are so tiresome. Where's the drama? It's like watching a cult indoctrination film. If Hollywood wants to make a great movie about that era, they should read up on Whittaker Chambers. Chambers was apparently bi-sexual so there might even be some Oscar potential there.
I meant Kinescopes, not cinemascopes.
When I watch Olberman I can't help looking studiously at his eyebrows and wondering if they are real or are they matching hair pieces.
Spiderman jammies come without feet?
Hahahaha! No kidding Olbermann wouldn't leave his house again..well until his mom kicked him out. Isn't it true he stills lives with his Mommy? Didn't I hear that. AWESOME! I have single friends who would LOVE to date this man. NOT!
As a defender of McCarthy (how we could use him now), I nonetheless liked "Good Night…." It was a well-done – though revisionist and entirely untruthful – period piece. To me, it represents a dividing line of the truth/beauty dynamic – technically, it's beautiful, but that doesn't excuse it for being untruthful. Which begs the question – can something untruthful be beautiful – probably answered my own question.
Knobbie did clock the Olbermom behind first base during his bout with "the yips." Apparently she had to be carried out.
You hit the nail on the head. I swear I am getting sick and tired of hearing the word Narrative on any News Related Broadcast. How many times have I heard the phrase "Does not fit the Narrative". My God they are telling us to our face they pick and choose facts to fit thier particular story. News used to be the 5 W's Who, What, Where, When and Why. I submit that the latter Why should be dropped because it would take Honesty, something not on display these days, for the current crop of what passes for Journalists to figure out. Where is Jack Webb when you need him,"Just the Facts".
speaking of lack of self-awareness…
Ahh, Carolyn. Still talking smack about living in Mom's basement. The fact that I could fit your house inside mine three times and still have room for wine? That's just a bonus.
Rachel Maddow? I had never seen her before and just now googled her. Good grief, but she is quite the manly man. Certainly more manly than Olberdouche.
And boy is Olberjerk ever an easy target.
Even "just the facts" isn't enough, facts don't speak for themselves, they have to be interpreted. Fact: The stock market is below 7000. Liberals interpret this as a failure of capitalism. Conservatives see this as the market reacting in terror the whole-sale socialism happening in washington.
But you're right, it would still be better if they gave us just the facts as opposed to their interpertation of the facts.
Or why did the libs running my *sigh* home state of Ohio investigate Joe the Plumber? Because we dare not tolerate any one who speaks ill of our Dear Leader, Comrade President Obama.
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