Ronn Torossian of 5WPR reports: fellow TV personalities and presences Keith Olbermann and David Letterman step up to show support for the recently dethroned and discredited news anchor Brian Williams.

1. Olbermann and Letterman Support Williams

2. Less than a month ago, prevailing opinion both in and out
of the media said Brian Williams was done. Now, Ronn
Torossian reports, at least two prominent media names are
calling for Williams to be back on the job. Keith Olbermann
and David Letterman are certainly no strangers to
controversy, so perhaps that’s why their recent Late Night
exchange fully supported the embattled Williams.

3. In case you have been nowhere near any news publication
or broadcast media of any kind over the past month or so,
NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams was suspended for
six months after it was determined he exaggerated a story
regarding his experience while an embedded journalist in
Iraq. Williams said a chopper he was on took fire. It did not
though a nearby helo was in danger, it’s clear from
eyewitnesses that Williams’ bird was in little – or at least
much less – danger and never took fire with him aboard. In
the wake of the high profile suspension, NBC has launched
an internal investigation into the issue, in addition to some
other “suspect” accounts attributed to Williams.

4. Letterman, who had been scheduled to have Williams on his
show before the scandal, included Olbermann when he
called Williams “a mutual friend.”
Olbermann replied that he believed there was more to the
Williams story than had been reported and that he would,
“…like to think it’s fixable, and I’d like to see him back on
the air.”

5. Both Letterman and Olbermann agreed that things would
be better for all involved parties if the issue were resolved,
soon, and amicably. Olbermann might be the best person
to speak on this subject. A firebrand just about everywhere
he has been, Olbermann used to work for NBC before
transitioning over to ESPN. Recently, ESPN took him off the
air after he tweeted a series of what some have called
“combative” messages on social media.

6. According to a CNN report, Olbermann said Williams
deserved credit for covering Iraq and Katrina and that these
overstatements and exaggerations should not denigrate his
other work. Letterman agreed, saying he hoped the issue
could be “overcome.”

7. Overcoming issues would be a good step in the right
direction for once-proud NBC. The network is currently
floundering across the board and has been for several years
now. It could use a boost of positive PR and, along with it,
renewed trust and dedication from its viewers.