Rachel Maddow gets her own show on MSNBC
By John Amato Monday Aug 18, 2008 6:00pm
Just in time for the closing rush of the presidential election, MSNBC is shaking up its prime-time programming lineup, removing the long-time host -- and one-time general manager of the network - Dan Abrams from his 9 p.m. program and replacing him with Rachel Maddow, who has emerged as a favored political commentator for the all-news cable channel.
The moves, which were confirmed by MSNBC executives Tuesday, are expected to be finalized by Wednesday, with Mr. Abrams's last program on Thursday. After MSNBC's extensive coverage of the two political conventions during the next two weeks, Ms. Maddow will begin her program on Sept. 8.
MSNBC is highlighting the date, 9/8/08, connecting it to the start of the Olympics on 8/8/08, as a way to signal what the network's president, Phil Griffin, said "will be the final leg of the political race this year." He added, "We making that Rachel's debut."
It's finally a done deal. The rumors have been flying around for a while now. I can't tell you how happy I am for my friend. She's been doing great work at MSNBC for a long time now and deserved her shot.
She will rock. Make sure you tune in....
Login or Register to post comments.
That is great news!!! Rachel's dreamy...
That is music to my ears! Congrats to Rachel!
Excellent!
I am ecstatic!! I have been waiting for this and new it was eventually going to happen!!!
It's really the best news I've heard in many days... Congratulations MSNBC.
baby jesus loves Rachel
Bout damn time !!! Congrats Rachel - much deserved. Now go get 'em !
The Lord blessed America by giving Rachel her own show, praise Jesus!
This is great. I first heard her when she would fill in for Al Franken on his radio show. Usually I'm not a fan of guest hosts but she was always entertaining and interesting. Judging from the clips of her I see on the site from the cable shows, she definitely knows how to argue against insanely biased walls of ignorance (3 or 4 conservatives on the panel versus one Rachel Maddow), so I know the clips you'll pull from her own show will rock.
My bet is she will hang onto her identity and integrity. I hope she lasts.
Godd for Rachel and us!
Too bad about Abrams, though. He deserves his own show, as does Schuster, imo. Time to open up slots for these guys. Do we need to be subjected to Scarborough, Tweety and Gregory?
Alright!!! Go get 'em Rachel!
I'm sure she will be great, she's one of the smartest political analysts around.
It's about time MSNBC!!!
I'm happy for Rachel, and for us, but I hope Dan Abrams gets a good gig. He's taken some very principled stands lately and has shown great courage and intelligence.
Congratulations to Rachel. We need more sane voices to even out the crazy occupying the cable television networks, and this is a fantastic choice.
This is good news.
I might have to go out and buy a tv.
Very good.
She has definitely earned it. Glad to see we finally got a liberal in the "liberal" media.
"Has anyone ever heard of... Rachel...Maddow?"
Anonymous Source @ 9:
I first heard Rachel when she was on Unfiltered with Check D and Liz Winstead. I'm glad to see her career take off like this.
I *heart* Rachel. Does this mean her stint on Air America will end ? Hope not !
Rachel's got her own show: After 66 years I may have to begin to believe that there is a god.
woo hoo - an early b-day present for me!!! :D
@Idealistic - she said she'd stay on at AA.
Keep Abrams - ditch Gregory.
I love Rachel,but it's a shame Abrams is gone
Fantastic News. Hope she is able to keep her Air America gig. Agree, get rid of David Gregory. Maybe him and Karl Rove can work on the dance stylings.
Bill'O is going to be pissed, the falafel will be sleeping alone tonight!
Most excellent news for us all. Congratulations, Rachel, you are outstanding. Dan Abrams has been doing a great job as well.
Great news. Rachel is one of the best speakers and thinkers on TV and radio. She is always able to cut through the corporate crap and give effective opinion on any topic. Congrats Rachel and kudos MSNBC for hiring someone who can make a positive contribution to media news.
Amazing. Great development. KO and the RMS. Hope she can bring Kent Jones on with her -- 'Now, with Kent Jones -- Now.' Vigilance!!!
"Rudders to the port side!" cried the captain of lost ship MSNBC.
"This storm is gonna be stronger than we expected."
Excellent news for Rachel. But I liked Dan Abrams (so sue me). I hope Dan is doing well out of this.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I don't have cable and her radio show will surely be gone.
You political rockstar, you :) Brava! Bravisima! Way to go!!!
Watching Rachel skewer conservatives is my favorite sport on TV.
What...a brilliant woman.
abarts @ 23:
Funny ... sometimes I hate Abrams (he was GM when Shuster got knocked down) ... but lately he has been great!
And what happened to Gregory?? Remember when he actually would challenge the President?
I think Gregory had a stern talking too... Gregory has gone down the rabbit hole...
YES!!! (punches the air) YES!! Move Abrams in and gregory out, would be so nice to see another sycophant bite the dust.
Rachel is one of the best minds on TV and radio. Great news!
Wow! Fantastic news!
Rachel, you deserve it.
ron @ 31:
if you have a DSL connection, you can probably find it all available, if you hunt.
Good for her, although I am quite let down that they are putting her in Dan's slot. I would have much rather seen Matthews get the boot. Abrams deserves our warmest thank yous and wishes for the future. He has been a lone voice in the media, even more so than Olbermann.
VIGILANCE!
Yeah, I like Abrams a lot. I think Governor Siegelman would not be out of jail had it not been for the attention brought to his cause by Dan Abrams. David Gregory - icky poo - he just is like a junior Chris Matthews without the Catholic overtones. Wish either David or Chris had left instead of Abrams. But,,,, there is still whatever is going on with Meet the Press. Who will take that over?
Much as I hate too see Abrams go, over the last week with his never ending saga on the Edwards affair, I was very disappointed in his work. Rachel will be a good voice to hear on the only channel I can really stand to watch for news/punditry.
Hurray that's outstandingly good news.
I too hope she will keep her Air America gig too.
"Reality Check with Rachel Maddow" - you heard it here first!
There is hope for America yet! Good tidings! Glad news! Cool beans!
Staying on Air America is great news too - I listen to her podcast via iTunes and it just soothes my soul better than good single malt - and that's saying something.
As a matter of fact I'm going to have a glass later to celebrate. The Good Doctor would approve, I think.
Oh, is BillO gonna be pissed - and not the fun way.
John,
Rachel's come a long way since the 5am to 7am slot on Air America.
I love Rachel she is so smart and a great communicator :). Now I will have two shows on MSNBC to Tivo (the other being my man Keith O.)
Way to go Rachel, keep it up :)
Wow, a voice of reason, rationality, and sanity cutting through all the bullshit. Jon Stewart, look out, you now have competition in presenting the real news and it is not meant to be funny.
i hope rachel can continue to be tough/outspoken...sometimes things change when things change.
*wild applause*
angryspittle @ 47:
And yet, it will be funny watching egos go *poof*.
I'm glad for her but since Comcast Cable has removed MSNBC from its basic cable line-up throughout most of the U.S., too many will not get to enjoy her wit and intelligence.
http://home.wickedlocal.com/2008/07/18/no-more-msnbc-for-comcast-proleta...
Rico @ 51:
tvchannelsfree
One example of a work-around
good. i only wish she was replacing that gregory dude instead of Abrams though. I really appreciated his work on the Gov. Siegelman case, for example. Didn't he have some faux pas a while back that this is pay back for?
All glory, laud, and honor!
Wow! Awesome news! Dan Abrams is a good journalist, but Maddow is stunning. Incredibly sharp, witty, and nice to look at!
Thank you thank you thank you!
I'm not the hugest fan of Abrams, but he has done some good things behind the desk. I agree with wombab@53 - Gregory needs to make like a horse's dick and hit the road.
It certainly good to see what one could call a liberal will soon be on the corporate airwaves. One wonders if Ms. Maddow, besides justifiably criticizing McCain, will also see fit to comment upon Obama's increasing swing to the right and his desire, not to remove, but rather to increase, more troops to Afghanistan, which will unfortunately only add more misery and suffering and death and destruction to the Afghani people.
ron @ 32:
No.she's keeping her radio show!
But now I'm going to hafta get cable!
A voice of REASON. I agree I would prefer to see someone else take a hike other than Abrams. Gregory always plays the horse race angle and I HATE that. Always trying to make the race look even. Dipshit. Cover the fucking issues.
They dumped Abrams but kept Matthews???
Love Rache, happy she's there, but couldn't we lose Matthews or Gregory instead?
I wish Rachel the best of luck i will be watching every night I just hope she stays true to who she is.
And they don't try to tone her down I love her style of verbal assault on the trolls.
Rock on Rachel
Congrats Rachel. Keep doing the good work you have been doing.
About freaking time.
abarts @ 23:
I second that
Replacing Abrams? Sorry, but Abrams was the first to focus on "Teflon John McCain", he drove the network's coverage of the Attorney General scandal, he's in a big time push and shove with Karl Rove (oh, will this news make Rove crow....)....Rachel Maddow, I like, but she won't do much for that time slot, if ratings are the problem. Now, who should get the boot? DAVID GREGORY. He's vacuous and lacks totally any charm, or drive, to go for the kill. I also wonder if this is some kind of Palace coup enginerred by Olberman...Anyway, good/bad decision.
Rachel is a good start. Now, MSNBC needs to move David Shuster's 4pm show into prime time... or just give Shuster hardball. He's done a hell of a job subbing for Matthews.
good for you Rachel!
Glad for Rachel and will look forward to seeing what direction she takes her show, asumming she is given some latitude. I must admit that I wasn't aware that Abrams was "on the bubble". I enjoyed his upbeat attitude and general openness, hope he lands in a good spot. Like many others I don't see the need for Gregory, he's taken the kool-aid, no bite in that dog anymore. But don't see the worth of Tweedy either.
Abrams taking the Sunday show? Surely deserves a shot.
GO RACHEL!!!! WOOT!!!!!!
Kudos to MSNBC. Abrams started out okay but went full tabloid of late, especially with the addition of Queen Bimbo Contessa Brewer. Rachel will never stoop that low.
Hallelujah!
Woo-Hoo!
Glad to see rachel get a show as she's been great when filling in for one keith olbermann but I am sad to see abrams go as I thought verdict was actually pretty good.
Am as delighted as can be about Rachel's new gig. It's made sweeter by her having said that she's going to continue to do her radio show as well. Couldn't get through on the call-in, although some who did recommended that Kent Jones be included. I would love it if she did that, and included the Pet Story segment (with the Monkey sound), as well. Graphics could definitely work on this format.
Rachel's Air America show has been consistently excellent. She's brilliant and articulate, and I expect that her following will increase exponentially with this added exposure.
Let's see... Rachel Maddow... audaciously smart, good with the pithy comments, beautiful (well, it IS TV, after all), stamps out conservative lies with humor, wit and MOUNTAINS of ACTUAL FACTS...
MSNBC... I congratulate you on the most intelligent decision you've ever made!
Bright woman, insightful commentaries, deep analyses. Congratulations, Rachel.
I think this is a great move being that she takes on the 8pm/9pm hour. I love Rachel and thinks she is the best in the biz, but I feared her having her own show would make MSNBC the leftist version of Fox News because of the lineup of KO, Rachel, and Chris who is center left. I think MSNBC has a formidable lineup, but David Gregory is the weak link right now because he's bland as hell and is doing a terrible job of impersonating Russert.
Matt @ 72:
I agree. I think at least the first 30 minutes of The Verdict was pretty good. I wouldn't mind seeing Abrams take over for Gregory on Race For the White House.
NBC just needs to put Gwen Ifill in as the long-term host of Meet The Press and they'll own the ratings heading into 2009.
Fantastic! Now can she win some back room battles to air some topics of real substance?
War, The Military Congressional Industrial Machine, Income Inequality, Real Energy Policy...
Or will they pay her enough to always toe the line?
Great news. Congrats to Rachel.
Congratulations Rachel.
You Rock!!!
I am very happy for her, but this will ruin my drive home. When she's on, I don't mind traffic jams.
Let me just say...FUCK IT! WE'LL DO IT LIVE!
Way to go, Rachel!
it's great having another rational and honest
voice on msnbc. goodluck to Rachel and
much success.
And Dan Abrams should replace Tweety. Three straight hours of reality....what a novel concept.
This is the most excellent news I've heard in a LONG time. Good on ya, Rachel. If anyone deserves this, it is you!
AWESOME! And it's about time. She really deserves this and will absolutely carve out her own well-defined space in the nothingness that is the existing corporate media.
She'll take off, just as KO did.
This is one (real) journalist who's voice they won't be able to own" ~~
*
Keith O. just said that he has breaking Rachel Maddow news, so it will be officially announced on Countdown tonight!
There is hope in the world!
Go Rachel!!
Absolutely excellent news.
WOW!
What a rational, sane bit of news. I thought I felt the earth turn right-side-up.
You've come a long way baby.
OMG!!!
Finally!!! I am soooo in love with that woman's mind!!!
Seriously!
I don't care if she may be into women, I am STILL in love with her..
So real, so straight on, so RACHEL!!
(Rachel, if you're reading this.... I'm serious... you're dreamy! .... call me!)
Great news for her. She deserves it. Any bets as to how long before the traitors in the republican side start talking about her - or for that matter - the idiots on Fox so called News.
'Bout time. Rachel is not only the one guest host I was never disappointed to see fill in for Olbermann, but often preferred her over him.
Good move.
gonzalez @ 93:
FOX would be on it already nut Billo is off in favor of canned McCain bio right now.
WooHoo!!!
Sweet. But I still ain't gonna pay for cable...
The audience for TV news is overwhelmingly male. If Maddow is going to attract and hold the massive 25-54 male demographic advertisers covet, she better soften that butch look and project a more feminine appearance. Most men don't want to watch a broad who looks like Madge the plumber who moonlights as a security guard.
Now if only Dan Abrams could take Barney Rubble's place...uh, David Gregory's place.
They replaced her for Dan Abrams as they want to keep it "fair and balanced" just like their cousins on the other side of the hades.
Dear MSNBC,
you don't make it fair and balanced by including sycophants and apologists who try to make things appear balanced. If the truth is that the left is on the up and up, then let it be told. Tell your anchors to tell the truth and your ratings shall rise. No more games ! Get rid of "Stretch" and put Abrams back.
Rachel has been my go-to girl for a long time. I remember listening to her on the radio here in Northampton Ma when she had a local morning show and telling my two (then younger) daughters - listen to her - she's going places.
My daughters are teens now and I'll continue to point them in Rachel's direction. Couldn't happen to a finer, smarter, more deeply human person...
For those who don't have cable, you can do like I do and watch online. I watch Countdown every night. It is available about an hour after the show airs. Now we will add Rachel's show.
This is just fantastic. She is a voice of reason. Congrats!
Brad @ 52:
Cool link. Thanks.
AWESOME!!!!!!!
About damn time.
................ YES for Rachel ....................
my sympathies for anyone still dealing with Comcast as they profoundly suck
Rachel is on Countdown right now.
She doesn't have a name for the show yet. Suggestions?
Big E @ 106:
Yes...Comcast is one of the worst corporate whores in the world....
A right wingnut fiesta in their board room....and an agenda that can't be mistaken...why anyone who is 'progressive/liberal' would choose (note...the word choice as in IF YOU HAVE ONE..this is intended for you) to give them money and not to DirecTV or Dish...is beyond me...
Excellent....Just heard it on COuntDown.
Awesome, I've been calling for this...since Gregory fell into the slot in 6pm...
Excellent decision MSNBC!!
Congrats Rachel!
About time....
Now...watch the right wingnuts go crazy...oh...too late
If the tube's a rockin don't come a knockin! Man...the Scarbot beeyatch didn't get canned? MAN! Fiddly sticks and glory be! Congrats Rachel!!!!!! I hope it's downloadable to itunes like Mr. Olbermann.
The collective IQ of the on air TeeVee hosts will have gone up several points by September 9.
YEEEAAAHHH RACHEL!!! Please excuse the "shouting' This is a bit of great news of a news person!
I hope it's called the Buchanan-Free Hour with Rachel Maddow, and that she never, never, never, never, never has that boogyman on her show.
Hooray! I'm gay for Rachel!
One of the brightest talens in the business gets "her shot"!!
Go Rachel!
Can't wait!
Smart and beautiful. I love her smile.
Replace Matthews with Abrams. Matthews is a twit. Abrams has more substance.
It took them long enough! I love Rachel I think will do a wonderful job and the KO lead in should be very good for her. Glad she's not leaving Air America, too. I wonder if she'll have Kent Jones on her new show on the 'teevee' machine. That would be right a colossal wrong made by Mark Green over @ AAR. Mazel Tov Rachel
Truth delivered with a grin. I love her laugh especially when she uses it to demolish some particularly obtuse bit of right wing punditry. About time.
HOOOORAAAAH! I want to SCREEEAAAMMM from the rooftops!!!!!!!!!
You go girlfriend!!!!
I like Rachel but she won't last until the end of the year. Give Dan a second chance and keep Rachel as guest host as needed.
How glad the many millions of annabelles and lillians
Would be to capture me
But you had such persistence, you wore down my resistance
I fell and it was swell
Im your big and brave and handsome romeo
How I won you I shall never never know
Its not that youre attractive
But, oh, my heart grew active
When you came into view
Ive got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and night-time give me sigh
I never had the least notion that
I could fall with so much emotion
Could you coo, could you care
For a cunning cottage we could share
The world will pardon my mush
cause I have got a crush on you
Could you coo, could you care
For a cunning cottage
That we could share
The world will pardon my mush
cause I have got a crush, my baby, on you
Mister Anderson @ 77:
No kidding. That would kick-ass. Gregory is garbage.
*
Abrams should take Gregory's spot. Gregory has been a Bushie tool.
About time they recognize her talent
just in time for my birthday :D wonderful news! congratulations rachel!
I hope Rachel doesn't follow Olbermann's echo chamber format. Bring on some opposing view points, then make them confront reality.
Talking points are the refuge of shallow intellect. She is excellent at exposing them as such, one on one.
Shout it from the rooftops!!!! YEE HA!!! Finally!!! Love Rachael! And yes, she will still continue her show on Air America, as well.
But,I think, and hope that Dan Abrams will still have a show. Like him very much... getting rid of Tweety would be just fine with me.I hope they will still find a spot for Dan as well.
GO,RACH!!!!!
Dnurse
Dahgrostab'ph-r-i @ 19:
likewise
So Glad for her, but I LOVE DAN ABRAHMS' work!!! it is a real shame to lose him from the field, I sure hope he gets his own program somewhere.
congratulations Rachel! you bring sanity, intelligence, wit, compassion, humility and humor to the wingnut (fear and hate basesd dominated media!
abarts @ 23:
Totally agree! Dances-with-Rove needs to go to Fox where he belongs. But what about David Shuster? He deserves very big things. And Abrams has stood up lately, especially on Siegelman.
Joe Scar is gonna pop a blood vessel!
Yay!
Rachel will drive the wingnuts over the edge.
Facts are kryptonite to them.
Too bad that the recent affair between Dan and Contessa had to cancel his show. It was showing some signs of life after the recent format change.
Congratulations to Rachel Maddow!
Wow, I'm going to have to start watching cables. I wonder if there is a book "Cable Television for Dummys"?
First time for everything!
Congrats Rachel. I knew you'd get your own show eventually.
I can't say how thrilled I am over this. I just go all 'gobble-dee-goo rachel is so awesome!' all over the place. She deserves to shine and shine she will.
OMG - I will have to go back to watching TV now NOooooooooooooooooooooo
<3 <3 <3 you rachel!! Fight the good fight. and pls pls pls dont
get seduced. ty
Campy @ 128:
Thom Hartmann does on a weekly basis. Will Rachel fight NBC to bring him and proponents of the Right on to do just that, or is this just another lucrative career move?
Rachel's night time time slot following Keith is the BEST POSSIBLE for her. Good lead-in... and she'll find younger viewers who tune in later too.
The couple-hundred-over-sixty-retired-Repugs who still tune in to David Gregory in the mid-afternoon must have to buy a lot of weed spray and dental cream to keep him on the air. (I'm over 60 but I don't qualify in the "retired Repug" department.) I hate his smug smiley-smile when he drops his voice into that intimate "you-and-me" breathy send-to-break that he does with a wink and a nod. Like he's trying to talk my wealthy 82-year-old aunt into the bedroom.
Rachel keeps coming back as the smartest kid in the class... and she KNOWS IT... and it's OK because she's always tryin' to bring you along on her discovery.
Fantastic!!! I Love Rachel. Go get them.
Great news - love Rachel Maddow but I will really miss Dan Abrams. I agree with what has already been stated at least a dozen times, put Abrams in David Gregorys' slot - his show is a mess and he brings nothing to the progressive table that MSNBC is setting.
Her political smarts is such a turn on as well as her great looks.
What great news for MSNBC AND RACHEL and for AMERICA.
A fan for life. Go democrats and Obama !!
Canuknotusa @ 15:
Me too...make that a 72"
Cooool!!!! Go Rachel!!!
WooHoo! Great news!
I just hope she doesn't slip into the celebrity ego.
I'd like to see her keep it intellectual.
Thats where she shines.
Rachel Maddow is my hero!!!!
Login or Register to post comments.