Why do so many "love" Rachel Maddow?

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60. But she doesn't do it alone.

She has what’s very likely a large support staff that includes researchers, bookers, writers, producers, and segment producers. Some of the best in the business, I’d guess. Not counting the publicists and promoters.

I’d guess she has clusters of people, each group working on a different story or angle. And she can demand pretty much anything for her show, considering her stature at that network by now. She left the one-man-band thing long ago, as she certainly deserved to.

She’s paid seven figures by now because she’s earned it, and she’s certainly worth it. But sheesh - even Johnny Carson didn’t work a one-day-per-week schedule - even toward the end of his tenure. I used to work at NBC, back in the day. The cavernous studios in Burbank had to have 40-50-foot ceilings (I’m guessing) and the entire wall of his studio was covered by a HUGE black & white likeness of him that extended from floor to ceiling. EVERYBODY, EVERYWHERE in that Burbank compound spoke of him in hushed tones. Cuz they all clearly understood that HE was the one pulling in the biggest numbers - of ratings, viewers, salary, and advertising dollars. He was King of Late Night, certainly King of NBC-Burbank, and he had a 30-year run. And the best big-name comedians and celebrities tried to dethrone him, to no avail. Joey Bishop, Dick Cavett, and more tried, and they all failed. He eventually started backing off after maybe 20 years or so, with a regular Monday night “Best of Carson” show in that late-night timeslot (which consisted of reruns of “The Tonight Show”). Rachel now gives us ONE night a week, after a ten-year run.

I’m sorry. Maybe I’m just spoiled. But in my opinion, Rachel Maddow is still young enough to give us at least a few more years of five-day weeks. I still wish she would. She closed down WAY too early. And the news these days is WAY too important to have to do without the brains and perspective of the network’s highest-profile marquee news name for four out of the five weeknights.