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The show is notable for Olbermann's elaborate writing style, fast-paced delivery, historical and pop culture references, and signature witty interjections, which make ''Countdown'' more colorful than average newscasts. Olbermann interleaves serious news stories with humorous segments. The show is notable for Olbermann's elaborate writing style, fast-paced delivery, historical and pop culture references, and signature witty interjections, which make ''Countdown'' more colorful than average newscasts. Olbermann interleaves serious news stories with humorous segments.


===Pattern of a typical episode===
Most shows follow this pattern of stories:
* #5 story * #5 story
* ''commercial break'' * ''commercial break''
Line 18: Line 18:
* ''commercial break'' * ''commercial break''
* #1 story * #1 story

===Signature Style===


Each night, Olbermann signs off with "That's ''Countdown'', thanks for being part of it. Keep your knees loose. Good night and good luck," then crumples up his notes and throws them at the camera. Each night, Olbermann signs off with "That's ''Countdown'', thanks for being part of it. Keep your knees loose. Good night and good luck," then crumples up his notes and throws them at the camera.
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During the ] trial, Countdown presented renactments of the day's courtroom scenes simply entitled ]. These quirky scenes that represented events that Countdown was able to draw from that days' ] ]. Countdown employees handled the puppets while Keith himself recorded the ]. After the ] ended, it was announced that Puppet Theatre would be used for other events. During the ] trial, Countdown presented renactments of the day's courtroom scenes simply entitled ]. These quirky scenes that represented events that Countdown was able to draw from that days' ] ]. Countdown employees handled the puppets while Keith himself recorded the ]. After the ] ended, it was announced that Puppet Theatre would be used for other events.

===Guests===
Among the guest commentators that have appeared on the show are:
* ], ](discusses political events)
* ], ] ], former ], ](discusses political news.)
* ], ] for the '']''(appears to discusss political topics in ].)
* ], former ] ](discusses political news, mostly about ].
* ], '']'' contributor(discusses ].)
* ] ](ret.)(discusses ] news.)
* ], ] of '']''(discusses most bizarre entertainment news.)
* ], ] of '']''(discusses entertainment news.)
* ], ](discusses ] news)
* ], former ] profiler(discusses abduction stories.)

===Other===


While other MSNBC shows such as '']'', '']'' and '']'' consist mainly of opinion and analysis, ''Countdown'' is a nightly newscast, covering major national and international stories. Clips from NBC network news broadcasts are featured on a regular basis. Olbermann typically treats guests on the show courteously, eschewing the aggressive style of interrogation employed by some of his competitors and colleagues. While other MSNBC shows such as '']'', '']'' and '']'' consist mainly of opinion and analysis, ''Countdown'' is a nightly newscast, covering major national and international stories. Clips from NBC network news broadcasts are featured on a regular basis. Olbermann typically treats guests on the show courteously, eschewing the aggressive style of interrogation employed by some of his competitors and colleagues.

Revision as of 14:14, 31 July 2005

Countdown with Keith Olbermann is an hour-long nightly newscast on MSNBC which airs live at 8:00 PM Eastern time and reruns at midnight. The show, hosted by Keith Olbermann, debuted on March 31, 2003 and counts down the top news stories of the day with news reports and interviews with guests.

The show is notable for Olbermann's elaborate writing style, fast-paced delivery, historical and pop culture references, and signature witty interjections, which make Countdown more colorful than average newscasts. Olbermann interleaves serious news stories with humorous segments.

Pattern of a typical episode

  • #5 story
  • commercial break
  • #4 story
  • commercial break
  • Oddball (offbeat news stories and videos, named as a play on Hardball with Chris Matthews, which precedes Countdown)
  • Countdown's "Top 3 newsmakers of this day"
  • commercial break
  • #3 story
  • World's Worst Person Award (formerly the "Top 3 Soundbites of the Day")
  • commercial break
  • #2 story
  • "Keeping Tabs", celebrity and tabloid news
  • commercial break
  • #1 story

Signature Style

Each night, Olbermann signs off with "That's Countdown, thanks for being part of it. Keep your knees loose. Good night and good luck," then crumples up his notes and throws them at the camera.

On Fridays, the show previously featured "What Have We Learned?" in which Olbermann attempts to answer questions based on the stories he had reported over the past week. This has now been replaced with his top stories of the week, frequently repeats of Oddball clips.

During the Michael Jackson trial, Countdown presented renactments of the day's courtroom scenes simply entitled Michael Jackson Puppet Theatre. These quirky scenes that represented events that Countdown was able to draw from that days' courtroom summariess. Countdown employees handled the puppets while Keith himself recorded the voices. After the trial ended, it was announced that Puppet Theatre would be used for other events.

Guests

Among the guest commentators that have appeared on the show are:

Other

While other MSNBC shows such as Scarborough Country, The Abrams Report and Hardball with Chris Matthews consist mainly of opinion and analysis, Countdown is a nightly newscast, covering major national and international stories. Clips from NBC network news broadcasts are featured on a regular basis. Olbermann typically treats guests on the show courteously, eschewing the aggressive style of interrogation employed by some of his competitors and colleagues.

According to The Cornell Daily Sun, Olbermann has a staff of roughly 10 to 12 people who work on the show. They spend the morning looking for noteworthy or interesting stories. The group meets via conference call at 11:00 AM for a half-hour discussion to toss around possible subjects for the evening's show (many times pulling information from online sites like Fark.com). By 12:15, Olbermann receives a final list of story prospects, picks what he likes, and puts them in order. He emails the list back to the staff, and the writing process begins. He arrives at MSNBC's studios in Secaucus, New Jersey by 2PM and works on writing the show's material in his office until 7:30, when he goes to makeup, before going on air at 8 PM.

External links