It appears that Keith Olbermann is coming full circle and returning to the network that he helped launch in 1993. Variety and the New York Times are reporting that ESPN will make an announcement to the world later today that K.O. will host an ESPN2 late night talk show. The premiere date has not been disclosed. Back in October 1993, Olbermann and Suzy Kolber were the first faces to be seen on ESPN2. 

The show will last one-hour and air nightly. According to Jim Andrew Miller in the Times, the show will be a mix of sports, pop culture and current events, however, politics will be left out.

Olbermann hasn't been seen on the ESPN airwaves since leaving in 1997. After moving away from Bristol, CT, Olbermann has worked at Fox Sports Net, MSNBC (twice), NBC Sports (twice) and Current. 

Olbermann's return to ESPN was paved earlier this year during a dinner with network president John Skipper. At the time, Skipper said there wasn't room for Keithy at ESPN, but didn't rule out a second gig there either. Well, it appears that ESPN does have room for him and unlike what author Tom Wolfe said, you can go home again. In this case, Olbermann returns to the airwaves that gave him some of his greatest on-air successes. While Olbermann won't be reunited with Dan Patrick on ESPN, he will help the Worldwide Leader stem some of the momentum that Fox Sports 1 has been riding as it prepares for its launch next month.

Keith's return to sports officially begins in October with his hosting of the MLB Wild Card games, League Division Series and National League Championship Series for TBS. The New York Times says Olbermann's commitment to ESPN2 will be for two years. 

So what seemed to be totally impossible is now seemingly becoming a reality, Keith Olbermann back on the networks of ESPN. Let's see if this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship or a monumental collapse like his second MSNBC stint. We'll find out together. 

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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