Guests generally appear on most broadcast and cable news shows for free. They do it for the exposure, to help them sell books or newspaper columns or to build reputations. But that’s not how it currently works over at Current TV.
Business Insider has the inside info:
Interesting tidbit form Keith Olbermann’s Q&A with Cindy Adams in today’s New York Post.
Here’s how Olbermann made sure his new Countdown on Current got good guests: he pays them.
Being a smaller network, any difficulty in getting A-1 guests?
“It was a concern considering we’re starting from scratch, so I decided to formalize guests. Pay them even if it’s not much money. Make law professors, nonpolitical people, contributors. We built this in a matter of weeks, but the baseline is we’ve formalized it so it wouldn’t be a problem.
Paying guests is unusual, but certainly not unheard of. We wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Olbermann has to pay viewers, too.
And there ain’t enough money in the world.
Source: Business Insider
This post was last modified on July 18, 2011
View Comments (36)
Olbermann you are a waste of space, go away!
Too bad there aren't a few rich Republicans who could get the lineup, then offer 'em more to stay off the damn show!
I find it hilarious that he can't even buy a rating.
And he would have to pay me to watch it, too.
What pisses me off is that CurrentTV is part of my channel lineup on Dish Network.
Make a Favorites list and omit Current, MSNBC, CNN, etc. That's what I do. Then you dont even have the instant of horror before you can click the remote.
I would, but I am a huge believer in the old, "if you don't like it, change the channel" saying. Besides, there are times when I will stop for a moment to see what Olby is saying out of curiosity. I like my media consumption uncencored, both news or entertainment. If you commit to that, the good comes with the bad.
I would have eliminated MSNBC, but I actually sometimes watch "To Catch a Predator." Not only do they help get some of those assholes off the street, but it's hilarious watching them try to talk their way out of it.
The perlcat version has them try to argue convincingly with fewer and fewer teeth.
I figure it's good enough to listen to them try to weasel out of it, knowing all the time that the cops are waiting in the bushes outside waiting for them. And Bubba is waiting in their future cell. He's such an understanding guy.
Paying guests is one thing, but when they start having to pay sponsors to advertise... And they're all from the Obama school of economics (really, a kindergarden) so they'd actually do it... It's just another "green" job.
Countdown tonight is brought to you by GE, GM and other defunct rent-seeking tools of the Obama economy!
..of course, and like all good donk business men, they plan on making it up in volume!
Remeber the Gong Show? They also paid a small fee to guests....Keith is todays Chuck Barris.....
"Our next guest on Countdown hails from Washington D.C, He is a community organizer, Lawyer and the smartest man in the world. He will explain Global Warming in 30 seconds, while calculating the next tax increases with one hand. and shooting apples off Republican's heads with a rocket launcher with the other hand! Lets have a big hand for Barrack Obama!"..(single hand clap-from Olivia)
Chuck Barris was just too cool for words. I was on the show, and was extremely proud to have been gonged by Jamie Farr. Of course, I was hoping J.P. Morgan would fall in love with me and take me home.
Yea chuck was cool, some of the guest were a weeee bit bizzare....So what was your act if I may ask?
My best buddy and I rode our bicycles in a wheelie in a very tight little circle, (that stage was deceptively small), and told stupid jokes.
I would love to see that on TV....Sounds like you had fun..Do you remember any of the jokes?
I'm thinking. It was LONG time ago, and we only got about thirty seconds before we were gonged.
My favorite act was the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. And I'm actually going to be seeing some of the original members in concert this Friday night in San Diego.
Oingo Boingo??? Sooooo jealous. Saw them at one of their Halloween shows @ Irvine Meadows years ago. It was GREAT!!
I am sure that many shows pay their guests a minimal fee, however those that don't are usually the shows that have high ratings and matter. Doberman has lost his mojo and he is less relevant than he was while at MSNBC. I am not surprised.
IHTM.com's headline: "Hilarious: Olbermann has to pay guests to appear on his low-rated TV show"
Of course, he has to pay: costs of detox and/or decontamination are going through the roof these days!
What's he doing in that picture? Looks like he's taking the same sort of dump that his ratings are.
It looks like he's getting ready to cry like a baby, which makes sense, because his producer just told him this is his only season with the network.
perlcat, that's just nasty, Rosie's probably gotta a bigger member of congress than Chrissy does!
But not bigger than Rachel's.
Maybe his producer told him that the guest fee included fellatio, his next guest was Rosie O'Donnell, and he has to be the one wearing the kneepads.
OUCH!
Yeah -- in that circumstance, I'd almost (but not quite) feel sorry for him -- if I could ever stop laughing.
Nah, it sounds like just about what he deserves. A fate worse than death.
how elso could olber(bearing)mann the liberal limbaugh get anyone to agree with him. must be tough doing a show where you never need to defend your opinion. being he graduated from cornells collage of agriculture it not surprising he can sling the BULLSHIT!!!!!!!