Lawrence O'Donnell Update: MSNBC is Finally Negotiating Due to Intense Fan Pressure

[flamingdem]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/5/19/1664309/-Lawrence-O-Donnell-Update-MSNBC-is-Finally-Negotiating-Due-to-Intense-Fan-Pressure

Oh, and Andy Lack's email is: [e-mail] so drop him a line! Or you can call 212.664.4444 to #KeepLawrence #LastWord

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The soap opera drama surrounding Lawrence O'Donnell's contract negotiations with MSNBC is heating up. In a good way. Last week an article on the Huffington Post revealed that MSNBC was not actively negotiating to re-sign O'Donnell whose contract expires in June. That news startled his fans and the media world at large.

O'Donnell is a core part of the team that is currently burning up cable news. MSNBC's ratings are reaching record highs. For the past three weeks they have even bested Fox News in the critical 25-54 year old advertising demographic. That was considered unthinkable a few weeks ago. The brightest star in the network's universe is Rachel Maddow, whose ratings have soared in sync with her stellar reporting on Donald Trump. O'Donnell has nearly matched her success and beaten Fox News perennial, Sean Hannity, on some nights.

Insider speculation has pointed to NBC News chief Andy Lack as the obstacle to O'Donnell's renewal. Since his ascension, Lack has steered MSNBC to a decidedly more conservative slant. He hired Greta Van Susteren from Fox News. Also dinosaur conservative George Will. He gave former George W. Bush communications director, Nicolle Wallace, her own show. And he's giving Hugh Hewitt one on the weekend. Why he thinks that any conservative viewers are going to tune in to MSNBC is a complete mystery. They have been trained for years to regard the network as something just this side of Satanic. Van Susteren's show is already a dismal failure that brings down the programs that follow it.

Lack's programming moves are disconcerting for several reasons. They make no sense from a business perspective. It is ridiculous to upend a schedule that is showing such success and is still growing. It alienates the core audience that is the foundation of that success. But there is also talk that Lack's motivation is to suck up to Donald Trump. Considering Trump's record low standing in the polls, that may be the dumbest reason of all to upset a winning formula.

[JI7]

1. One good thing about tim Russert

He left these shows alone. As long as they did ok with ratings he let olbermann and others do their show as they wanted.

[shenmue]

2. Yeah

[KT2000]

3. thanks for posting email

Lost it and could not find it again so much appreciated. Sent Lack my thoughts on the matter.

[flamingdem]

9. He must be getting a flood of criticism

haha trumphumping does not make him Mr. Popular

[leanforward]

4. Count me in for Lawrence.

Been watching Lawrence for years now. His replacement, seems to me would be like Andy Lack is shooting him selfself in the foot. I (we) watch MSNBC for news on a positive side. This new NBC dude (or dud) needs to keep in mind where the popular vote went.

Lawrence is part of a 3 hour watch of 3 people who are democrats. We don't care for dRumpf.

As you can tell from my logo, I am a loyal citizen/american/patriot in opposition to pRezident dRumpf and any GOP lemming.

Think about the money, he is not invested in russia, they are invested in him. After dRumpf's bankruptcies, why do US lending institutions avoid him? Based on 120 days in office, he's moving us to bankruptcy.

pRezident dRumpf CANNOT manage anything.

I don't care for anyone who lets the russians use them for any reason. To include silence, as opposed to speaking out against the russians.

The man is not doing us any good.

[flamingdem]

13. I hope Lack is now viewed as a trumphumper

and he goes down with the ship!

[NoMoreRepugs]

5. Andy Lack reminds me of the Disney execs who

wanted to can Johnny Depp as Capt Jack Sparrow. Just because you are the 'man' at the top does not make u the smartest guy in the room.

[flamingdem]

10. Exactly

[still_one]

6. I hope Lawrence is looking around, because I sure wouldn't be trusting MSNBC under Lack

[flamingdem]

11. Good point, but where can he go and have editorial freedom?

Cnn doesn't have anyone like that on the left side

[still_one]

14. I don't know, but I do believe as long as Lack is there, at the earliest chance he will

revisit it

[BigmanPigman]

7. I have passed the word onto friends and family. No one believed me.

It makes no sense as far as money and ratings. Lack is a hack (and an ass and a tRump ass kisser). Everyone should spread the word and petition, email and phone more than once.

[zentrum]

8. Andy sure Lacks. nt

[flamingdem]

12. A true Lackey

[zentrum]

21. And lackluster too.

[Honeycombe8]

15. It just didn't make sense not to renew a show with such high ratings. Who does that? nt

[liberal from boston]

16. Lawrence

Wonderful News!! Thank you flamingdem for posting this. Important that we continue to call, email, tweet our support for Lawrence until the contract is signed.

[flamingdem]

17. It's true, only the numbers are saving our lineup

I would be depressed with Brian Williams on after Rachel. I think that's what Lack wants to do

[Mme. Defarge]

18. I signed s petition awhile back

and just called the number you provided and gave the operator my message of support for The Last Word.

[flamingdem]

19. Great, am glad they take calls at all hours

and might make yet another one.

[Cha]

20. Yeah, really good news!

Link to tweet

[Amaryllis]

22. More places to call /email:

This is from another thread this past week:

Yesterday called Comcast and was told to send email here:
[e-mail]
Told that the decision is NBCs and Comcast has no say; the people answering the phones have been told to tell people to email that address. The guy was very nice and said "Get your friends to send emails - the more they get, the better." Sounded like he wanted to keep Lawrence.

Just now called NBC corporate HQ in New York.
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY - 10112
[phone]

Operator will switch you to a menu; push 7 to leave comments on O'Donnell show.

I called back to ask if there were any other ways to reach the decision makers and he said this is what the customer service reps have been told is the only place to leave feedback. He said they are getting a lot of calls.

Thread from yesterday on this has a few other places:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029067036

[e-mail]

Andrew Lack who is a friend of Trump (supposedly the decision maker)

[e-mail]