I don’t know why, but today MSNBC told Keith Olbermann that today’s show was his last, as they were ending his contract.  Their press release on the matter says they wish him well in the future, but does not explain why the show was simply cut off.  No ratings numbers, no “difference of opinion” comments, nothing.  It must be difficult to come into work one morning and be told “this is it, after the show clean out your desk”.

MSNBC’s notice included this disclaimer, which immediately makes one think this is exactly what happened:

Msnbc spokesman Jeremy Gaines would say only that the acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast, which received regulatory approval this week, had nothing to do with the decision.

I do know one thing about the time slot formerly occupied by Countdown…  I won’t be watching whatever they put in it’s place.  I’ll tune in for Rachel Maddow, but otherwise they’ve lost a viewer.

Hopefully some other network will snap Olbermann up.  If one does, I implore them not to put him on at the same time as Maddow.  That would just be mean.