In broadcasting, one of the cardinal rules for air personalities on TV and radio is never get a subsitute that’s better than you. It makes you look expendable; it’s reportedly one of the reasons that Hugh Hewitt hasn’t had the Northern Alliance back to fill in for him in four years.
Not that any of us are lucky enough to have Keith Olbermann figure that out after nearly a month off:
But a strange thing happened in the first quarter of 2010 – the 8pmET landmark show Countdown fared better without regular host Keith Olbermann than with him.
Olbermann was out all but one day during March before returning Monday due to the illness and death of his father. During that month, with Lawrence O’Donnell serving as the fill-in anchor, Countdown averaged 262,000 in the demo and 1,052,000 in total viewers. In January, the program averaged 1,000 more in the demo but 49,000 less in total viewers. In February, the program had 255,00 in the demo and 963,000 in total viewers. The year-to-year difference was also least in March than January or February. Overall though, the show is down 42% in the demo and 26% in total viewers year-to-year in the quarter.
In related news, Steny Hoyer demanded that House Republicans repudate allegations that Tea Partiers are scaring Olbie’s viewers away.
I do think that the health care legislation may have had something to do with it.
But, think how Sunday Night Football ratings would go up if Keith took a month off!
There is only so much stupid the American people can tolerate (excepting the far left), and Olbermann’s ratings are Exhibit A of this principle.
It’s entirely possible that the Tea Partiers have scared 2 of the 3 viewers that are Olbie’s audience. Sadly for Keith it appears that the 3rd viewer has recently passed on.
Hard to tell when they have passed on when most of his audiences’ brain functions ceased to exist years ago.
Good point Ben.