Inside MSNBC’s Impending Shakeup: Cancellations, Reboots and Chief Phil Griffin

[yortsed snacilbuper]

Amid the cable news network’s declining ratings, insiders tell TheWrap changes are coming soon and “everything is on the table”

link

[MohRokTah]

1. What's the over/under on them going Fox Lite and dumping all the liberals?

I bet Rachel is on the chopping block for pretty much a similar reason for them firing Phil Donahue.

[UTUSN]

5. I have zero idea about Rachel/chopping-block, but in today's temper she's less vulnerable than Phil

I would think that everybody else on the Lib side except Lawrence and Tweety would go first before Rachel. DONAHUE was thrown on the subway tracks by Tweety's power-sucking of the Shrub-CHEENEE machine, my witnessing:


How Tweety "Executed" DONAHUE on MSNBC. Tweety was on his book tour for another one of his "books" (large type, wide spaces between lines, blank half-pages). It was in the jingoistic hysteria in the run-up to the illegal Iraq attack. The book was about supposed "Americanism" -- an American Civ 101 ripoff about books and movies and cultural stuff that are essentially American (think, "The Great Gatsby&quot . So Phil welcomed him as a colleague and peer on Phil's show for the full hour to plug the book. From the moment he appeared, there was a strange, deadly snake look in Tweety's snake eyes. Phil was walking around the audience, apparently not sensing anything, while Tweety was motionless, following him only with his eyes. Phil brought up something or other questioning blind, kneejerk jingoism, and Tweety STRUCK! He started out with venom dripping, "You see, THIS is EXACTLY what's wrong with YOU Liberals: You are NEGATIVE about this country, you find NOTHING good about it," and on and on. It took awhile before Phil figured out what was happening. Later, Phil, devastated and spent, was sitting at the table with Tweety and, weaker and weaker, did some of his trademark shoulder shrugging and arm waving. Tweety delivered the coup de grace, "What's THIS (mimicking the movements)??!! What's with the --APE-- movements???!" Days or a week or two later, Phil's cancellation was announced and took effect.

[TheBlackAdder]

8. Mostly Baggers in the comment section of that link. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I catch Rachel in the early morning - since I'm up then

That's said -my disappointment with MSNBC started with them letting K.O. go - followed by Bashir.

There was a time - when K.O. was the only person telling us the truth about Iraq.

[eissa]

3. They can start by canceling

Lockup and Caught on Camera. What a waste for a news media outlet.

[cleanhippie]

34. To be fair, those shows are just dead-air filler.

They air on the weekends when there's no news. Unlike the others, they choose to air nonsense instead of keeping talking heads talking about nothing.

[a kennedy]

36. I know they are, but faux re-airs their programs, MSNBC should too.

Or at least some of them. I can't deal with Cris Matthews.....ugh....

[GeorgeGist]

41. To be fair, there is news on the weekend ...

it just not about US.

[cleanhippie]

54. Unless it's death and destruction, it ain't weekend news.

[eissa]

43. Pretty sure news happens on the weekend

I'm no fan of CNN, but I love Anthony Bourdain and watch his travel program religiously. Morgan Spurlock's "Inside Man" is also incredibly interesting. MSNBC should take note. They can keep Lockup if they want, but they don't have to run it ALL weekend long. Throw in some original programming, or repeats, as others have suggested.

Agree with other posters that Sharpton has to go and Farrow is just boring.

[Fred Sanders]

4. A truly populist, unabashedly socialist cable news channel would do very well at this moment.

Will the corporate leash holders let the dog run if there is money to be made, maybe MSNBC can rise above HLN? The current model is shit.

Can't even beat HLN anymore, remember that.

For money, anything is good.

[leftynyc]

22. It would fail inside a month

This country has no appetite for socialism despite what you think.

[Fred Sanders]

24. So it would last longer than the current version?

[leftynyc]

25. I have no idea what you're

talking about.

[Fred Sanders]

26. Ditto.

[HERVEPA]

28. Join the club.

[leftynyc]

30. Time to just scroll on by

I'll be missing nothing but bullshit.

[whathehell]

32. You may be wrong there..

The country IS beginning to have an appetite for populism, and studies show that when you take off the labels, e.g. "progressive", "socialist", etc.,

most people in this country actually support progressive ideas.

[leftynyc]

38. I completely agree

that it's time for populism and progressive policies have been popular for a long time - socialism (real socialism - not like those that think the ACA is socialism) has zero chance in this country. Too many people who have too much money (as opposed to a few people having piles of money - that leads to a revolution). You can scoff at the American Dream all you want but many Americans completely believe it. They're ALREADY convinced they pay too much in taxes.

[Vincardog]

52. socialism? Like The Interstate highway system? The GI BILL after WW2? How about Social Security? I

believe the country has a far larger appetite for socialism than you want to believe.

Public Schools?
Fire Departments?
Police Departments?

[leftynyc]

67. Don't misunderstand me

The rubes have no idea those things you mentioned are part of a socialist society. But to try and call it what it is would be madness and to have a TRUE socialist society (we're nowhere near to that) is impossible in a country that seems to value individuals over the whole. When the bankers have the most control over the government, socialism is not an option and thanks to citizens united, that's who controls our government.

[Vincardog]

69. The rubes have no idea because no one is offering them a choice. Let a real socialist run Sanders

for example and see who is left standing after the debates.

[meaculpa2011]

47. Does anyone here watch LinkTV or FSTV?

If you're not satisfied with MSNBC there are alternatives.

[eissa]

55. Love those channels

Have seen some incredibly interesting documentaries and programs on both. Just finished watching Burning Bush, about the Czech rebellion against the Soviets, and it was fascinating.

[kentauros]

62. Every now and then I look at them.

But these days I watch Al Jazeera America. The presentation is superior to anything the other cable channels offer, and the quality is easily as good as The Guardian newspaper/site

[appalachiablue]

68. I watch both on Dish, FSTV for the excellent daily Thom Hartmann radio/TV program,

Mike Papantonio's 'Ring of Fire' & 'Democracy Now!' with Amy Goodman. FSTV also has alternative documentaries & films. Used to watch Link but no news commentary only films, mostly on global issues.
Lots have cut out cable; a recent survey here indicated that many Duers use Netflix, Amazon, other internet outlets & roku. I was surprised that FSTV wasn't ever brought up here, now I think the loss of cable & satellite is the reason. Some left news programs can be watched online, like TH, maybe Dem. Now, Ring of Fire, Stephanie Miller who's mostly comedy, maybe TYT, the Young Turks with Cenk Uygur. Through Dish there's also BBC, Al Jazeera, RT. Media is fractured now & cable TV service is declining.

[grasswire]

6. Morning Joe may end up in the evening slot.

ya never know.

I don't watch MSNBC any more, really.

[olddots]

7. reminds me of Air America

had the talent but somehow seemed to blow it all away .It is NBC /GE and whatever too big to care corporations own it this week .

[Ykcutnek]

9. Long overdue.

When I was watching MSNBC every single day, I was in denial about how much it sucked.

[jwirr]

10. Seems to me the they need to get rid of Griffin and Chris Matthews. They are the problem. If they

push Ed Shultz, Rachel and Lawrence O'Donnell out I am through.

[randome]

11. Cool user name. I mean 'eman resu looc'.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[yortsed snacilbuper]

14. LOL

Last edited Wed Feb 4, 2015, 02:27 PM - Edit history (1)

thguac em

[octoberlib]

12. Lock Up is lazy programming.

At least CNN has Tony Bourdain and you can learn something from his shows. They should show documentaries or something.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

46. Really. If they're looking for good cheap to produce:ratings ratio programming then repackage the...

...best segments from the news show interviews. They may make money on the prison crap but it has to be killing the overall brand.

[tularetom]

13. Forget it Jake it's Comcast

I never watch it anymore and even though I think Scarborough is an asshole, the one thing they could do to salvage a bit of dignity would be to fire that drooling loudmouthed buffoon Chris Matthews.

But I believe the whole thing is a setup to slide Baby Russert into some prominent role at the network. And when they do and the ratings take a shit, they'll give him a larger role. You don't need to be clairvoyant to see it coming.

Sharpton will survive however, Comcast owes him big time for endorsing their takeover of NBC.

[oldandhappy]

15. I can never watch in the daytime.

I do watch in the evening but with the clicker close by. Chris Matthews yells and interrupts too much so only have the sound on if it is a story I want to see specifically. Appreciate Chris Hayes and Rachel but again, scan for specific stories. Do really like Laurence. Still like PBS. Never up in time for the weekend shows. I am in the Pacific time zone. Seems to me that MSNBC has been leaning right! Maybe they are trying to catch the middle. Thank you for the post. I did not know there was a shakeup coming, smile.

[appalachiablue]

16. I've long thought Ed Shultz should be repeated or moved to a better pm slot, 7-9.

Joy Reid is very bright, might do well in the evening, same for MHP (Melissa Harris-Perry) who now has a panel show on Sat. am. If they put Joe S. on pm, that's no go. Mike Papantonio & Cenk Ugher would be way too progressive for corp. news unfortunately.

[Paladin]

17. If they lose Rachel, they lose me.

On the other hand, they can lose Chris Matthews this afternoon, for all I care. Let the loud-mouthed twit write and market his books full-time, that seems to make him almost as happy as constantly interrupting his guests.

[RoverSuswade]

18. Please M$NBC - no "Evening Joe"

It would push me to cancel cable - maybe a good thing.

[stopbush]

19. Is it a surprise to anyone that viewership of a news channel with a liberal slant

would fall off once election season is over?

Unlike conservatives, liberals don't need to hear how awful the opposition is on a daily basis. Faux will always thrive because haters gotta hate every day. It's what the live for.

Liberals gear up for a battle and pretty much disappear once the battle is over, especially when liberals fared so poorly last November.

MSNBC can make all the changes they want to, but the fact is that ratings are going to be low until we hit 2016 and the next election looms. That said, I don't think that Griffin's move to the youthful host model has paid any dividends whatsoever. Most of these hosts quickly moved to the middle of the liberal view. You don't hear any of them carrying on with a liberal equivalent of conservatives like O'Lielly or Handjobity. None of them have been effective advocates for liberalism as have been the oldsters: O'Donnell, Schultz and even Matthews, on occasion.

[Vinca]

20. There is one reason MSNBC can't compete with Fox in ratings:

Fox is free and you have to pay extra to get MSNBC.

[brooklynite]

21. What does that mean?

I pay the same cable package for both.

[Vinca]

44. In many areas it's exactly as I said. Fox is included in the standard package, MSNBC isn't.

I wasn't aware of it until the last election when someone pointed it out to me as a reason the dim bulbs vote for the GOP.

[Calista241]

56. MSNBC is in every basic cable option available here in Atlanta.

Comcast, Directv, Dish, Charter, and AT&T.

[Ruby the Liberal]

51. Here they have CNN & Fox or CNN & Fox & MSNBC

and a host of other channels.

CNN is mid 20s, Fox is low 40s, and MSNBC is 80. I don't know if the channel positions mean anything to packages, but I do remember some years ago, MSNBC wanted a lower number and the reasoning stated was so that they could be in the basic packages. Comcast denied them.

[madinmaryland]

60. Hmmm. On Time Warner here, Cnn-1350; Faux-1353; M$NBC-1354.

All in HD.

I've had MSNBC in HD for several years, going back to when I had Verizon in MD several years ago.

[Ruby the Liberal]

61. HD isn't an option on the lower package

I never did have access to CurrentTV, even though I have always had MSNBC. I think it was in the 120s or something.

[madinmaryland]

63. They are all on the SD channels.

CurrentTV is now Al Jazeera, correct??? That is channel 1376(HD)/376(SD).

[Ruby the Liberal]

64. Yes - and I still can't get it

It is in the listing, but I get an on screen error.

[madinmaryland]

65. Al Jazeera? On a slightly different subject...

I am now in SW Ohio, just outside Boner's district, and our daughter brought home her date after dinner and a movie. Her boyfriend seemed very mesmerized by MSNBC (Tweety is on). I think he may have been surprised that there are actually progressives in Ohio. We'll try to get feedback later from our daughter.

[Ruby the Liberal]

66. Good for her!

Sounds like yall are in a rather red area now.

[TSIAS]

23. I haven't noticed that

FOX and MSNBC both come with the basic cable package with AT&T. I wish there was a way to block FOX but for now it's there on channel 1210.

[JaneyVee]

31. Some cable providers don't include it.

At least that's how it used to be.

[yeoman6987]

33. The reason that MSNBC is failing and Fox News is thriving is

Because Fox News caters to their audience. MSNBC does not cater to liberals which has been a mistake. Will they learn???? Who knows.

[cleanhippie]

35. Actual "news" isn't profitable.

Catering to the "left" will only produce a left-wing version of Fox News.

Until someone decides that actual News should be placed above profits, this is what we get.

[JaneyVee]

37. I can solve all of msnbc's ratings problem and turn it into a ratings bonanza.

Hey Phil, call me.

[Ninga]

39. No No and more No !!!

Buried deep in the article was the naming of the "new" and upcoming stars -

Little Lukie Russert ! Right there in the article. no no and NO!

[valerief]

50. Oy vey. Prison is better than Little Lukie. Prison is better than any of MSNBC's right wing asshats.

And I never watch Prison.

[appalachiablue]

57. Luke Russert has been around at least 5 years. I don't know that his style and association

with his well known father are enough to pull in more needed ratings. Maybe 'more prison' programming as another Duer wrote, or a couple of the Kardashians. Another bright MSNBC person is Alex Wagner as I saw last year on Bill Maher. She was sharp on the issues and more to the left than on her daytime show. Maybe Van Jones from CNN's Crossfire. Katty Kay, Brit. journalist for BBC and one of the big three is also more liberal. That's IF Liberal/Left is what they go for, rather than more Right.

[Manifest Destiny]

40. I quit watching MSNBC when they got rid of Keith Obermann

He was the best the had.

[Manifest Destiny]

45. I loved his spirit.

I think that Phil Griffin is a real snake and did Keith and his audience wrong.

[appalachiablue]

48. Why bump up Russert for a full hour when they already have Steve Kornacki, Chris Hayes & to the

right Chuck Todd? All are similar in age & not much different in style or approach except Hayes who's the most left.

[JHB]

53. To the tune of "Tradition"...

Connectioooooons, connections, conNECTions!

Todd and Kornacki didn't look adorable in their footie pajamas when padding into cocktail parties to kiss daddie goodnight.

[valerief]

49. I guess some of that Koch Bros money wants MSNBC primetime. nt

[Gothmog]

58. Bring back Keith

One solution would be for Griffin to eat some crow and bring back Keith

[Teutonic Samuel]

59. Get rid of Sharpton and Schultz

They're unwatchanle. Chris Hayes, meanwhile, should be retoted back to "Up" on the weekends. He and that show were a good fit. And I STILL think Donahue should have a prime-time slot; MSNBC owes him big!