Olbermann Suspends, May End 'Worst Person'

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann announced Monday night that he is dropping his "Worst Person in the World" segment during his cable show.

Claiming that he and his show have been maligned with charges of "equivalence" with Fox News — that they are both guilty of polarizing the political debate — he surprised viewers by saying he was suspending his "Worst Person" segment with an eye toward dropping the segment altogether.

The liberal host has long used the feature to skewer conservatives, most notably Fox News host Bill O'Reilly. Newsmax also has been identified in the segment several times.

Olbermann said the feature was misunderstood satire and suggested his move is a gesture of goodwill, and he hopes it will be reciprocated.

Critics no doubt will say the move comes on the heels of rumors that Fox's parent company, News Corp., and the owners of MSNBC, Comcast, and NBC, have quietly come to a modus vivendi agreement.

With Republicans set to take control of one or both houses of Congress, Olbermann's decision may please executives at Comcast and NBC Universal.