Keith Olbermann Announces Tonight is “Last Edition” of Countdown

I just watched Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and he just announced this was the “Last Edition” of Countdown. A beacon of light in the media world, an illuminator of what really is, and a commentator on issues that have mattered to many of us, he was a hero, in many ways, to me.

I am a bit in shock.

Here is a quote from an article in the Daily Kos.

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Keith Olbermann Announces Tonight is “Last Edition” of Countdown

by Ubiquitous A
Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 06:05:36 PM PST

Just before the end of tonght’s edition of MSNBC’s Countdown, Keith Olbermann dropped a bombshell saying that tonight’s edition would be the last one of Countdown.

This is the last edition of MSNBC’s Countdown after 8 years. Keith Olbermann has just announced at the very end of tonight’s show that Countdown is ending….tonight.

He hasn’t given a specific reason, but it sounds like he had some notice as he was obviously able to prepare thank yous to his audience for their efforts of donations ranging from free clinics, transplant patients in Arizona, the Kentucky family that lost their home, and others.

One quote was, “This may be the only show where the host was more in awe of his audience than vice-versa.”

He talked a little about how he started with MSNBC, as a fill-in for another person.

He talked about how his audience was so supportive during the ordeal of his father’s failing health, and how his father would watch the show, even from the hospital.

I’m adding more details as they are made available.

For now, I’m a bit in shock….and more than a bit sad.