MSNBC Reportedly Talking to Former Fox News Anchor Shepard Smith

[Judi Lynn]

By Zachary PetrizzoJan 13th, 2020, 8:10 pm

MSNBC executives are toying with the possibility of bringing on board former Fox News host Shepard Smith, according to a new report from The Daily Beast this evening.

Smith, who left Fox News this past October, has been being courted by MSNBC President Phil Griffin on taking a job at the network after his non-compete clause in his Fox News agreement expires. Now the cable network is floating the idea of moving around spots, to give Smith a primetime spot, in turn boosting ratings at MSNBC.

“It’s unclear what slot he would take, but we’d want him in primetime,” a source familiar with matters at MSNBC told The Daily Beast.

“We are well aware [Jeff] Zucker [president of CNN] is also pursuing him, as are a number of the networks,” the source continued.

More:
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/msnbc-reportedly-talking-to-former-fox-news-anchor-shepard-smith/

[dewsgirl]

1. Please let him replace Chuck Todd.🙏🤞

[hlthe2b]

3. Oh, yes. Definitely.

[blm]

6. My first thought

[Different Drummer]

9. I was thinking that before I read your post.

DD

[Jamastiene]

21. THIS

OMG, yes.

[maxsolomon]

2. Oh, joy. Balance those awful Librulz Rachel and Lawrence!

Megan Kelly 2.0. Just say no, Phil Griffin.

[hlthe2b]

4. 'Not so sure about that. I think he's waiting to be unleashed from any semblance of Fox party line

Some here cautioned the same about Nicolle Wallace. Now she's one of the most popular on MSNBC--and on DU.

[dewsgirl]

7. Definitely this.

[Flaleftist]

18. I vaguely recall some of Shep's reporting during the aftermath of Katrina.

I think you may be right.

[Blue_true]

13. He is no Megan Kelly. He was all over Trump's ass from Day 1.

He is likely to be more of a virulent never Trumper. His staff also does decent research, he could open Trump up like a can.

[tblue37]

14. Smith is not an idiot rightwinger. nt

[maxsolomon]

23. But he is a Conservative.

And I've heard enough from them.

[Indykatie]

29. Can You Point to Any Evidence That He's Conservative?

He's not to the left of Bernie but that doesn't make one a conservative. I'm sure we have Democrats with similar leanings and I don't view them as Conservatives.

[maxsolomon]

31. He worked at Fox

that's just Circumstantial. I guess. Maybe he's a "Classic Liberal".

[alphafemale]

5. I remember him being the first anchor to absolutely lose his shit over the response to Katrina.

Which was actually a non-existent response.

[Jamastiene]

22. That is what I remember most.

He's not all bad, even if he was at Faux forever and a day. He showed a very compassionate side during Katrina.

[Fla Dem]

8. Wasn't that the whole reason NBC hired Megan Kelly, to boost ratings?

Paid her $15 to 20 million a year thinking FOX viewers would follow her to NBC. But was a complete failure. So now they think Shepard Smith will also bring in FOX News viewers. I don’t think so.

Omg, I just read the article. They’re thinking of giving Katy Tur, Ali Velshi’s 3 pm slot. She has got to be the worse newscaster on msnbc. She constantly stumbles over her words and her inflections sound so phony. Agh.

[TeamPooka]

10. MSNBC chasing conservative TV viewers again

MSNBC chasing conservative TV viewers again

[tblue37]

15. Rightwingers hate Shep Smith. He is a good journalist. nt

[TeamPooka]

16. I didn't say they were smart about it. NBC hired Megyn Kelly too.

[tblue37]

17. Smith is a good guy and a good journalist. Kelly is neither. nt

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. Dump Tweety, please!

Since Nicole is taking Todd’s slot, Shep would be a natural for Tweety’s slot.

[Stinky The Clown]

24. Yes! THIS!!!! Dump Matthews.

[Baked Potato]

12. Hmmm, he could pull some viewers over with him...

Not a bad thing.

[StrictlyRockers]

19. I won't mind if Shep Smith winds up on MSNBC.

He's ok.

Megyn Kelly was a terrible fit at MSNBC!

Link to tweet

?s=20

[COLGATE4]

20. Smith is (was) the only honest reporter at

Fux News. He shone when he blasted Bush (and O'Reilly) for the horrible non-response to Katrina and has since been a voice of truth on an otherwise totally slanted network. They took him off prime time, either in response to his unwillingness to follow the party line or because of his sexual orientation - or both. In any event, he would be a catch for MSNBC.

]

[DeminPennswoods]

25. If primetime is defined as 8-11, who moves?

Hayes at 8, Maddow at 9, O'Donnell at 10. Chris Hayes would probably be the most likely to be moved of that group although O'Donnell only works M-Th.

If they consider Deadline:WH the start of their prime time lineup, I could see her maybe expanding backwards from 3-5 with Smith taking the 5-6 slot. Or perhaps Melber moving to 5 and Smith at 6. Or Melber and Matthews both move back an hour and Smith takes the 7PM slot. Moving Wallace's start to 3PM and moving Todd to 9AM then allows Ali Velshi to have just one show at 1PM since Stephanie Ruhle is moving over to NBC.

[Gothmog]

26. Please get rid of Chuckie Todd

[Mike 03]

27. I'm okay with this. I just hope they don't get rid of Ali Velshi. nt

[Horizens]

28. Fine By Me

Smith is a first rate reporter and would be an excellent addition to any news organization.

[ooky]

30. I will watch Shep Smith, unlike Chuck Todd.

That's an improvement from my perspective.