The return of the 'indefatigable' Keith Olbermann
The liberal pundit returned to MSNBC and apologized to his viewers — but not to the network that suspended him

The video: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann returned to his show, "Countdown," on Tuesday, after a two-night suspension for making political donations without the approval of his bosses. The liberal pundit began by poking fun at himself, thanking viewers for giving him support worthy of "Chilean miners," and denying his suspension was a publicity stunt. "If I had known this would happen," Olbermann joked, "I would have done this years ago." Olbermann concluded his show with an apology to viewers — but not the NBC executives who suspended him — and a jab at the inconsistency of campaign finance laws. "I gave, and you found out, and you judged me for good or for ill," he said. "If I had given money through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce you would have never, ever known."
The reactions: Last night's show was "standard Olbermania," says Avi Zenilman at New York, soaked with a "deluge of self-reference." The "main event" — his closing monologue — proved he is "still indefatigable" in the face of criticism. Indeed, Olbermann now has "more leverage than ever" at MSNBC, says Brian Lowry at Variety, given the unflinching support of his fans. The network ought to remember that their "mercurial host" has a "history of quitting jobs when he soured on them." Watch a clip from Olbermann's return here:
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Can Trump put his tariffs on stronger legal footing?
Today's Big Question Appeals court says 'emergency' tariffs are improper
-
Film reviews: The Roses, Splitsville, and Twinless
Feature A happy union devolves into domestic warfare, a couple's open marriage reaps chaos, and an unlikely friendship takes surprising turns
-
Thought-provoking podcasts you may have missed this summer
The Week Recommends Check out a true crime binger, a deep-dive into history and more