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MADem

(135,425 posts)

37. No--the prison shows are CHEAP and they got HUGE ratings. I remember reading about this

Fri Mar 15, 2013, 06:09 PM

Mar 2013

back when they spent a fortune on getting IMUS to their studios. They went through a huge reorganization--they were ready to chuck the network entirely at one point because they had no money. Those prison shows were beating Faux, and all they required was a single guy to come in and roll the tape and punch buttons. The production costs--even accounting for crews that go out and grab a ton of B roll at this prison or that--were the essence of frugality. Lots of bang for VERY little buck--half of that prison stuff is repackaged, too. Some bozo already on payroll is forced to come in and loop the narration and do the intro/signoff, so no extra money spent there, either.

The fact that they are going towards more "live" TV with actual people sitting at desks who can cover breaking news and turn on a dime is a great step forward.

I'm sure they are also looking for a younger demo, and what's wrong with that? What I do think, though, is that they are walking and chewing gum at the same time. Good enough for me...

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Why I Find Big Ed's Demotion To Weekends Troubling [View all] stopbush Mar 2013 OP

Thanks. I agree. It is troubling. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #1

Please tell me if I'm wrong, woo me with science Mar 2013 #6

Ed got the "Cenk Uygur" special from Phil Griffin. n/t NOVA_Dem Mar 2013 #28

Thank you. woo me with science Mar 2013 #91

I hope what Ed said about it is true but . . . brush Mar 2013 #81

Right. That is another reason that I so strongly oppose the chained CPI. JDPriestly Mar 2013 #92

Same is true of us 40-somethings Fawke Em Mar 2013 #94

I really hope Ed was telling the truth on Wednesday when he said it was his idea. catbyte Mar 2013 #2

I think Ed was just being a classy guy, covering for MSNBC and, yes, stopbush Mar 2013 #7

That's what I'm afraid of. Chris Hayes is good but I love Ed. catbyte Mar 2013 #24

MANY people would give up that prime time slot . . . markpkessinger Mar 2013 #33

My wife went through chemo and radiation for breast cancer back in 2004. stopbush Mar 2013 #67

His wife has been seriouslly ill with cancer Floyd_Gondolli Mar 2013 #17

I did consider it. Ed has said his wife is doing remarkably well with her treatments. stopbush Mar 2013 #58

Your theory doesn't add up Floyd_Gondolli Mar 2013 #93

On the other hand, he announced on the air his wife had been cured Samantha Mar 2013 #78

I feel exactly the same way. forestpath Mar 2013 #3

It's not a "demotion." Didn't you hear him? MADem Mar 2013 #4

+1 Dawson Leery Mar 2013 #8

Sorry, but that all sounds like the typical cover story one puts out when they get shafted. stopbush Mar 2013 #9

Gee, it doesn't seem that way to me at all. He makes the same money, he works one hour less. MADem Mar 2013 #34

that you call him a liar is *really* *really* low. CreekDog Mar 2013 #46

I frequently wondered if he was overloaded ... DuckBurp Mar 2013 #10

I wondered the same but how does one hour less air time + traveling snappyturtle Mar 2013 #39

I thought MSNBC suspended him. Rex Mar 2013 #5

They did a while back. This is something else. stopbush Mar 2013 #12

He suspended himself--he called Laura Ingraham a bad word and he apologized and asked to MADem Mar 2013 #43

Chris's show doesn't depend on whether you believe in his liberalism Enrique Mar 2013 #11

Amy Goodman isn't on MSNBC, so I don't see that she's relevant to this topic. stopbush Mar 2013 #64

I think he was being honest, but that is just me nadinbrzezinski Mar 2013 #13

His Schedule Was A Backbreaker... KharmaTrain Mar 2013 #14

I think you're likely to be right. House of Roberts Mar 2013 #40

So why didn't they move Lawrence O'Donnell up to the 8:00 prime time slot? Samantha Mar 2013 #63

Sorry...No Grand Conspriacy Here... KharmaTrain Mar 2013 #74

Olbermann's lawyer negotiated with MSNBC for months - he wanted out Samantha Mar 2013 #76

They Also Make Sure Olbermann Was On The Shelf... KharmaTrain Mar 2013 #77

Cheers back at you, but here's this: Olbermann decided he wanted to leave before the Samantha Mar 2013 #88

I am so looking forward to... Mike Nelson Mar 2013 #15

I think he's a blowhad and won't miss him. He's the O'Rielly of MSNBC. TransitJohn Mar 2013 #16

I wouldn't be as harsh on Ed, but basically I agree with you. MH1 Mar 2013 #86

Sort of an absurd premise Floyd_Gondolli Mar 2013 #18

Those guys don't have to change planes to get to work, either. Ed did. NT MADem Mar 2013 #36

His wife has been near death...its not all about making the money HipChick Mar 2013 #19

I believe that he wanted to spend more KatyMan Mar 2013 #20

Ed has an opinion olddots Mar 2013 #21

Completely wrong way to look at this. MSNBC is getting weekend programming. DevonRex Mar 2013 #22

Why I find OPs like this a "rush to outrage" so troubling. grantcart Mar 2013 #23

That was July 2012 how did he sound in Nov 2012? NOVA_Dem Mar 2013 #26

If it doesn't (continue on)...life is good. My contract is just fine. MADem Mar 2013 #45

You forgot "We just had the best 4 months and I think it's going to continue on." NOVA_Dem Mar 2013 #50

Remember how excited DU was when KO left MSNBC? Now, he was going to be able to say stopbush Mar 2013 #61

Well, specifically, when Keith Olbermann left MSNBC, meaning literally that Friday night Samantha Mar 2013 #75

I have also thought that maybe Ed wanted to renegotiate his contract stopbush Mar 2013 #79

I think where we differ is that I tend to cut MSNBC less slack than you Samantha Mar 2013 #87

Yes--but he was saying that five months ago--before there was any discussion of going to MADem Mar 2013 #66

my computer didn't play the recording grantcart Mar 2013 #47

Well come back when you can hear the recording. NOVA_Dem Mar 2013 #48

your missing the point grantcart Mar 2013 #53

So nothing anyone posts would change your mind even Big Ed himself n/t. NOVA_Dem Mar 2013 #57

Still missing my point grantcart Mar 2013 #60

It wasn't "evidence" of anything save a snapshot in time last November. MADem Mar 2013 #68

Maybe I'm wrong grantcart but I seem to remember Ed with complete relief in his snappyturtle Mar 2013 #41

Ed didn't want to go anywhere. NOVA_Dem Mar 2013 #25

Agreed... onpatrol98 Mar 2013 #32

No--the prison shows are CHEAP and they got HUGE ratings. I remember reading about this MADem Mar 2013 #37

I love Chris Hayes. Give him 8PM and Ed 7PM... NOVA_Dem Mar 2013 #42

Message auto-removed JoCephus49 Mar 2013 #27

What I like about Ed... bathroommonkey76 Mar 2013 #29

Chris Matthews will be 68 this year though and doesn't seem to be any Raine Mar 2013 #30

Who are the people over 50 who are being given new shows on MSNBC of late? stopbush Mar 2013 #69

I believe he was being honest. meadowlark5 Mar 2013 #31

If you are over 55... 99Forever Mar 2013 #35

The funny thing is that Ed Schultz will always draw more people lunatica Mar 2013 #38

Yep...what you said+. nt snappyturtle Mar 2013 #44

hmm... onpatrol98 Mar 2013 #49

It'll be interesting to watch Chris, Rachel and Lawrence all in a row lunatica Mar 2013 #52

A lot of Keith's viewers did follow him to Current - they bragged about his numbers Samantha Mar 2013 #80

Whatever the real story is, we will never truly know SoCalDem Mar 2013 #51

Larry King was on CNN in prime time until he was 77, or roughly 20 years older than Ed is today. stopbush Mar 2013 #59

DURec! Well Written, well supported opinion. bvar22 Mar 2013 #54

Thanks. My first D vote was in 1972 for George McGovern, so I've been a D for 40 years as well. stopbush Mar 2013 #62

Big Ed is a populist in the best way... WCGreen Mar 2013 #55

I believe Ed spoke from his heart. Zen Democrat Mar 2013 #56

I was coming to this site this evening to post about discrimination in broadcasting due to age Samantha Mar 2013 #65

Thanks for your post. stopbush Mar 2013 #72

Do you know what I just thought about? Samantha Mar 2013 #73

I always find it suspicious when someone is getting great ratings and they get pushed out stopbush Mar 2013 #82

Here are the lowest common denominators in these situations Samantha Mar 2013 #85

I love Big Ed but at 37 I just relate better to Chris Hayes. Jennicut Mar 2013 #70

As much as i sympathize with the POV you put forth, alp227 Mar 2013 #71

Diane Sawyer (though she looks great) is no spring chicken--she used to work for NIXON! MADem Mar 2013 #84

Ed's reaction to being left out of a promo series ArizonaLib Mar 2013 #83

Ed said he doesn't want to work 7 days a week any more. Good for him! Coyotl Mar 2013 #89

Yeah, it had absolutely nothing to do with working two full-time jobs jeff47 Mar 2013 #90