MSNBC anchorman Keith Olbermann, unloved by many, even at his own cable channel, has finally received a rave. SFGate.com's Tim Goodman has gone to bat in a big way for the curmudgeonly Olbermann,
writing in his column that the "Countdown" host has "always been a bit of a misunderstood visionary on television. Part journalist, part comic, equal parts dry, silly, skepical and angry, there
has been no traditional role for him and thus he has either been an outcast or a noble failure" for much of his on-air career. Citing the various problems that have beset TV news in recent
years--not the least of which is the unabated disaffection of young viewers--Goodman concludes that the "future is coming to a broadcast newscast near you--where it's been hiding on MSNBC in the
form of Keith Olbermann for years now, under the guise of a show called 'Countdown.'" Unfortunately, "Countdown"'s ratings have been lackluster, even by MSNBC standards, but its audience is
thought to be extremely loyal to host Olbermann, whose highly idiosyncratic style and liberal leanings make for a provocative nightly brew.
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