Keith Olbermann/Rachel Maddow

Keith Olbermann/Rachel Maddow is a Pundit RPF pairing featuring the hosts of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show. It is primarily notable because it pairs a lesbian with a man, and thus has led to some degree of controversy within the fandom.
==Canon==
Rachel Maddow made frequent appearances on Countdown and guest hosted several times before getting her own show, a decision Keith Olbermann said he "had something to do with."Olbermann, Keith. Rachel Gets Her Own Show, published on 19 August 2008 at Daily Kos. (Accessed 6 September 2010.)
Their shows aired back-to-back, and most nights included a transitional conversation between the two hosts. These transitions, known as "tosses," were sometimes included in the official TRMS podcast, and fans archived many of them on YouTube.cursed_hyphen. Proceed to the squee., published 3 October 2008 at Maddow Kicks. (Accessed 7 September 2010.) 
Additionally, Maddow and Olbermann provided analysis for each other's showsAllocca, Kevin. Bush Calls Olbermann, Maddow 'Sick Puppies', published on 16 October 2009 at TVNewser. (Accessed 7 September 2010.) or co-anchored coverage of important political events.Davis, Ali. RachelWatch: President's Question Time, published on 1 February 2010 at AfterEllen. (Accessed 7 September 2010.) They have also occasionally interacted on Twitter.sarken. First Teleprompters and now Twitter, published 11 April 2010. (Accessed 15 November 2010.)@keitholbermann. Twitter status, published 17 September 2010. (Accessed 15 November 2010.)
==Controversy==
Because Maddow is a lesbian in a long-term relationship, the pairing has caused some debate and discussion,bessemerprocess. Rambling Rachel Meta (Genderswap, Slash [Boy and Girl, Feminism, K/R and some fic)], published on 27 January 2009. (Accessed 10 September 2010.)thenewhope. on real/fake news RPF and the concept of slashing a girl and a boy. together. without genderswap., published on 1 February 2009. (Accessed 10 September 2010.) most notably at Fandom Secrets on LiveJournal.melannen. Untitled comment, published on 3 September 2010 at Frimonday? Monfriday? It's like that. (Accessed 7 September 2010.)fscom. Untitled comment thread in [SECRET POST #881], published on 4 June 2009 at Fandom Secrets. (Accessed 7 September 2010.)fscom. Untitled comment thread in [SECRET POST #922], published on 15 July 2009 at Fandom Secrets. (Accessed 7 September 2010.) The original secret and the ensuing discussion briefly made Fandom Wank; however, the Fandom Wank entry was later deleted.
Shippers have defended the pairing based on chemistrykaraokegal. Untitled comment in [SECRET POST #881], published on 4 June 2009 at Fandom Secrets. (Accessed 10 September 2010.)Anonymous. Untitled comment in [SECRET POST #881], published on 5 June 2009 at Fandom Secrets. (Accessed 10 September 2010.) and an analogy to slash,gaslight_1975. Untitled comment in [SECRET POST #922], published on 16 July 2009 at Fandom Secrets. (Accessed 10 September 2010.) which often alters or ignores the sexual orientation of its subjects and puts two canonically heterosexual characters in a same-sex relationship. Those who oppose Olbermann/Maddow counter that pairing a lesbian with a man is heterosexist and not comparable to slash because it presumes a level of equality that does not exist between straight and gay people.lilacsigil. Untitled comment in [SECRET POST #881], published on 4 June 2009 at Fandom Secrets. (Accessed 10 September 2010.)Anonymous. Untitled comment in [SECRET POST #922], published on 15 July 2009 at Fandom Secrets. (Accessed 10 September 2010.)
==Notable Fanworks==
*Islands by newsitorloseit
**First story to use pairing: keith/rachel tag at Fake News Fanfiction
*Thirteen Ways Rachel Maddow (never) Had Lesbian Sex With Keith Olbermann by melannen
**Combination of meta, fanmix, and fanart that attempts to reconcile Maddow's sexual orientation with Olbermann's gender, partly through genderswap
==References==
Category:Het Pairings
Category:RPF Relationships
Category:Pundit RPF