OLBERMANN And SCHIAVO Gab Put On Hold

(From The New York Daily News -- By Lloyd Grove)

Eccentric cable host KEITH OLBERMANN has come up in the world.

In August he was reamed out by MSNBC President RICK KAPLAN for his perhaps too graphic commentary about PETER JENNINGS' death.

But last week Olbermann was reamed out by a higher-ranking TV exec -- NBC NEWS President STEVE CAPUS -- over his long interview with famous widower MICHAEL SCHIAVO.

Capus scorched Olbermann for stepping on a carefully orchestrated MATT LAUER/TODAY show/DATELINE exclusive.

The Lauer package was pegged to Dutton's March 27th release of TERRI: THE TRUTH, Schiavo's tell-all about his late wife's short life, lingering death and accompanying media circus.

I hear Capus calmed down when Olbermann assured him he didn't know about the previous deal, because he landed his interview through direct contacts, not Dutton, and Schiavo never informed him.

Capus last week let Olbermann air highlights -- in which the newly remarried Schiavo tears up and slams Republicans and President Bush for interfering.

But MSNBC still didn't promote it outside the little-watched cable outlet.

It will air an Olbermann/Schiavo special only after Lauer does his thing.