Keith Olbermann’s final moments as an MSNBC anchor in 2011 foreshadowed the network’s fate that followed.
“Chris Hayes, filling in for Rachel Maddow on the Rachel Maddow show is next,” Olbermann said as he signed off with his patented toss of the scripts into the camera.
After quick stints for Lawrence O’Donnell and Ed Schultz in the 8 p.m. ET hour following Olbermann’s abrupt exit, the wonkish Hayes was slotted into the coveted timeslot in 2013 as network president Phil Griffin bet on smarts over sensational–nuance over nutty.
Two years later, Olbermann is now twice fired: from Current TV and ESPN, the latter his second departure from the worldwide leader.