Keith Olbermann/24 Controversy

The Keith Olbermann 24 controversy concerns a January 2007 incident in which liberal Democrat political commentator Keith Olbermann attacked the popular FOX television series 24 with rather bizarre claims.

On the January 16, 2007 edition of Olbermann's show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, he launched into a tirade, accusing the widely acclaimed 24 of "fearmongering" and being "propaganda designed to keep people thinking about domestic terrorism to keep us scared". He suggested the show actually has a political agenda to aid the Republican Party, rhetorically asking, "is it a program-length commercial for one political party?" Olbermann even suggested in a subtle manner that the show should be taken off the air with the rhetorical question, "if the irrational right can claim that the news is fixed to try to alter people's minds or that networks should be boycotted for nudity or for immorality, shouldn't those same groups be saying 24 should be taken off of TV because it's naked brainwashing?"

All of this was in response to the January 15 broadcast of 24 in which a low-grade nuclear weapon is detoned in the Valencia community of Los Angeles by a terrorist group.

Interestingly, Olbermann never criticized other apocalyptic scenarios depicted in fiction such as that featured in the CBS television series Jericho, nor has he voiced concerns over the neutrality of other politically oriented shows like the liberal The West Wing and Commander in Chief.

24 stars Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland, son of Donald Sutherland, who is known for his left-wing politics. As is Kiefer Sutherland.