Keith Olbermann is a liar, a bully ... and worst of all -- he's just plain MEAN ... this according to Current TV.
The network has fired back at the "Countdown" host ... claiming his $70 million lawsuit is "false and malicious."
Current also says Olbermann was a crappy employee ... and got the chop due to "serial, material breaches of his contract, including the failure to show up at work, sabotaging the network and attacking Current and its executives."
A rep for the network added, "As the old adage says: 'When the law is on your side, you argue the law. When the facts are on your side, you argue the facts. When neither the law nor the facts are on your side, you pound the table.'"
He continues, "We will be happy to engage on the law and the facts in the appropriate forum. It is well established that over his professional career Mr. Olbermann has specialized in pounding the table."
The network concludes with one final shot ... "We hope Mr. Olbermann understands that when it comes to the legal process, he is actually required to show up."
Matt Lauer has signed a new, long-term deal with the "Today" show. He will become way richer than he already is, and we're told the next move will be to send Ann Curry packing.
"NCIS" star Pauley Perrette's ex-husband was busted by LAPD today for allegedly violating the restraining order she has against him ... TMZ has learned.
As we previously reported ... Francis "Coyote" Shivers showed up last week at a Hollywood restaurant where Pauley and her current fiance were having dinner.
Shivers claimed it was all just a coincidence. Apparently, police felt otherwise and arrested the actor today. He's currently being held on $100,000 bail.
Shivers' attorney Sandy Passman says, "There is no merit whatsoever in the latest allegations." He has a court date scheduled for April 23.
Theraflu is speaking ill of Kanye West's new tune, "Theraflu."
A company rep tells TMZ, "We in no way endorse or approve of the references or use of the image and likeness of Theraflu in this manner."
Kanye named the song after the cold medicine because he's so cold to his enemies they need a big dose.
As you probably know by now, the song reveals Kanye's love for his new GF, Kim Kardashian.
Theraflu reps did not say they would sue the singer, but their statement includes buzz words -- image and likeness -- that are often used in legal proceedings.
And this is priceless. In the statement, the Theraflu rep adds, "Theraflu is an over-the-counter product used to help relieve cold and flu symptoms that millions of consumers rely on."
Tyler Perry was confused, upset and a bit uncooperative when he was pulled over by two white cops in Atlanta this week ... this according to a person who saw the whole thing go down.
As we previously reported, Perry admits he made an illegal left turn as he left his studio ... but claims he was racially profiled by two "hostile" police officers ... who allegedly harassed the movie mogul during the traffic stop.
Malik Kadeem watched the entire incident unfold ... and called in to "TMZ Live" with the blow-by-blow ... saying Tyler upset one of the officers when he didn't immediately roll down his passenger window when asked to do so.
Kadeem also says the officers were "giving [Tyler] a hard time" during the stop ... until an African-American officer arrived to the scene, recognized Perry and defused the situation.
The ATL PD says it's still investigating the incident to see if the officers acted inappropriately.
Keith Olbermann has just sued Current TV ... claiming the network violated his contract, torpedoed his show ... and still owes him up to $70 million in unpaid compensation.
In the lawsuit, filed in L.A. and obtained by TMZ, Keith says, "After being enticed to leave MSNBC and come to Current with promise of editorial control, freedom from corporate influence and the professional support to produce a high-caliber political commentary show of the type his viewers have come to expect, Keith Olbermann was disheartened to discover Al Gore, Joel Hyatt and the management of Current are no more than dilettantes portraying entertainment industry executives."
Olbermann claims his "public termination" last week was "the latest in a series of increasingly erratic and unprofessional actions undertaken by Current's senior management."
Keith alleges Current was so dysfunctional and broke after the network's first 8 months on the air, Current "still couldn't manage to, literally, keep the lights on."
Olbermann is suing for breach of contract, sabotage and disparagement.
In the suit, Keith lists the following gripes with the network:
-- broadcasting ads containing Keith's image without his consent -- using guest hosts for "Countdown" without Keith's approval -- refusing to give Keith editorial control over special election coverage -- disclosing the confidential terms of his contract -- linking Keith's name and goodwill with corporate endorsements without his consent -- disparaging Keith publicly -- refusing Keith's request to stream segments from his show on his website -- refusing to invest resources in the show
The lawsuit also contains a reference to an email from Current TV President David Bohrman, in which Bohrman admits "the 33rd street studio [where Keith's show was filmed] is never going to be a professional facility. We are paying for a Porsche [the studio] and getting a Yugo [a notoriously crappy car]."
In his suit, Olbermann claims Current still owes him between $50 million and $70 million worth of cash and equity compensation.
After he was fired, Olbermann complained about how Current TV was being managed while he worked for the network -- telling David Letterman, Current was a "ragtag operation" that couldn't afford him.
Al Gore -- the network's co-founder -- released a vague statement after firing Olbermann, claiming they let Keith go because he was disrespectful and disloyal to viewers.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West just wrapped up date #2 in NYC -- eating lunch at the swanky Serafina restaurant on the UES ... and it caused MAYHEM in the streets.
The pair just left the restaurant in a flash -- hopping straight into an idling car -- and they were swarmed by the biggest army of photographers we've seen in a long time.
The car then sped off -- taking the couple to the legendary toy store FAO Schwarz.
K & K have been romantically linked for years -- but TMZ broke the story this morning ... the pair is finally taking a stab at a public relationship, hitting up the movies last night for a real date.
Kim's worth an estimated $35 million ... Kanye an estimated $80 million -- so when a couple like that grabs lunch ... who pays?
Now that Kanye West and Kim Kardashian have gone public, everyone's wondering when they started doing ... y'know ... it? Maybe Kanye's ex, Amber Rose was right when she said K&K were ... y'know!
Plus, does Tyler Perry's racial profiling accusation hold water? We've got a witness to the whole scene ... you gotta hear his story before you judge. Also, Lindsay Lohan told us she was hitting the town for dinner -- NOT clubbing. Well, we got video, and umm ... dinner at 1:45 AM, Linds??
Kim and Kanye weren't the only couple out in NYC last night ... Oprah Winfrey took time out from firing her staff and re-tooling her OWN network to go on a dinner date with longtime lover Stedman Graham.
Stedman even showed some PDA by holding O's waist as they arrived at renowned ABC Kitchen restaurant last night.
After all these years, their relationship is still looking Rosie rosy.
Tyler Perry presents ... a possibly racist incident with police in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Police Department says it's launched an internal investigation .... after Perry publicly accused two officers of racially profiling him during a traffic stop earlier this week.
Perry says he was leaving his ATL studio ... when he made a left turn from the right lane to ensure he wasn't being followed. Tyler explains, "It’s a safety precaution that my security team taught me."
But Tyler was pulled over by police for the illegal turn ... and claims he was harassed by two "hostile" white officers until a black cop arrived to the scene and recognized him.
On his Facebook page, Perry says the black cop "immediately took both officers to the back of my car and spoke to them in a hushed tone. After that, one of the officers stayed near his car while one came back, very apologetic. I said all of that to say this: do you see how quickly this could have turned for the worse?"
Tyler then wrote, "RACIAL PROFILING SHOULD BE A HATE CRIME INVESTIGATED BY THE FBI!!!"
For the record -- Tyler Perry did NOT get a ticket.
Reps for the ATL PD say it's looking into "whether any departmental policies or procedures were violated during the stop.”
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are dating ... for real ... TMZ has learned.
Sources tell us the relationship is "just starting." The two were photographed on their way out of a movie date to see "Hunger Games" in NYC last night (above).
Apparently, Kanye has been after Kim for a while -- he just released a new song, "Theraflu" ... in which he says he had feelings for the reality star while she was dating Kris Humphries.
"And I admit I fell in love with Kim ... 'Round the same time she fell in love with him ... That's cool, babygirl, do your thing ... Lucky I ain't had Jay drop him from the team."
Kanye is referring to Jay Z -- who owns the NJ Nets ... the team Humphries plays for.
11:45 AM PDT -- Kim and Kanye just hit up a fancy restaurant on the UES for date #2 -- we got footage.
10:28 AM PDT -- So .... just a few hours ago, Kim was seen leaving from the building where Kanye lives ... wearing the same clothes she rocked to the movies last night.
"That 70s Show" actress Lisa Robin Kelly insists she wasn't drunk or high when she posed for that wild-haired mug shot last weekend -- claiming all the accusations surrounding her arrest are "a bunch of made-up stuff."
Lisa appeared on "Good Morning America" today -- when she was asked point blank if she was on drugs at the time of her domestic violence arrest this weekend. Lisa responded, "Absolutely not. There is nothing that I was on or abusing at that time."
Lisa admits she has battled with alcohol abuse in the past -- but insists she is currently three months sober.
TMZ broke the story ... Lisa was arrested early Saturday morning on a felony charge of corporal injury upon a spouse -- after allegedly roughing up her ex-BF. Lisa insists she's innocent.
Matt Lauer has signed a new, long-term deal with the "Today" show. He will become way richer than he already is, and we're told the next move will be to send Ann Curry packing.
"NCIS" star Pauley Perrette's ex-husband was busted by LAPD today for allegedly violating the restraining order she has against him ... TMZ has learned.
The car then sped off -- taking the couple to the legendary toy store FAO Schwarz.
Kim and Kanye weren't the only couple out in NYC last night ... Oprah Winfrey took time out from firing her staff and re-tooling her OWN network to go on a dinner date with longtime lover Stedman Graham. 
