Rumors of Keith Olbermann‘s return to ESPN continue to swirl, even after the former cable news pundit struck a deal to work baseball coverage on TBS.
The New York Daily News reported Friday that Olbermann is in “very fluid” talks with ESPN to host a late night talk show on ESPN2. The news comes more than a month after Olbermann joined Turner Sports as a studio host for TBS’ Major League Baseball playoff coverage.
The talk show would be based out of New York City, rather than ESPN’s Bristol (CT) headquarters.
The possibility that Olbermann would return to ESPN once seemed far fetched, but has taken on steam in recent months. Olbermann, who has not had a regular television gig since his acrimonious departure from Current TV last year, had a much-publicized dinner with ESPN president John Skipper several months ago. While Skipper seemed dismissive of Olbermann in a March New York Times article, The Big Lead reported soon after that he not only “wanted” Olbermann, but was “very likely going to get him” (The Big Lead, 3/6).
Olbermann’s deal with Turner Sports is a “part-time gig” (Deadspin, 6/5), meaning he can pursue opportunities with other networks. While the New York Daily News noted that it would be “unusual for Turner to allow Olbermann to work for ESPN,” it should be pointed out that his role on TBS may not even last past this year — Olbermann is only under contract through the 2013 postseason, though the deal includes an option for 2014.
ESPN has pursued the possibility of a late night talk show for years, starting with the failure of Jay Mohr‘s “Mohr Sports” in the early 2000s. The network reportedly sought comedian Seth Meyers to host a late night show before he was named the new host of “Late Night” on NBC. Skipper reportedly said at an ESPN upfront presentation in May that the network was “interested in the late night spot,” but there was “nothing imminent” (The Big Lead, 5/14).
(Fri. news from The New York Daily News via Awful Announcing, with additional info from The Big Lead [1], [2], Deadspin, The New York Times)
