David Shuster Suspended Indefinitely (from MSNBC)

[brooklynite]

Source: TV Newser

Just In: MSNBC's David Shuster has been suspended from MSNBC "indefinitely" according to a spokesperson.

The action was taken this morning by MSNBC president Phil Griffin after it was revealed that Shuster had taken part in a pilot for CNN.

Shuster's MSNBC contract expires in December. Over the weekend, an MSNBC executive told TVNewser's Gail Shister, anything less than a suspension "sends a message from management that this is OK."

Read more: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/david_shuster_suspended_indefinitely_157460.asp?c=rss

---

If his contract is up this year, and he's not committed to a renewal or or a CNN pickup, I don't see what the issue is if he does it on his own time.

[HereSince1628]

1. Corporations expect sacrifice and loyalty from their slaves

Everyone in the radio and television business does these things, but...

He EMBARRASSED his OVERLORD!!!

That cannot be allowed. An example must be made or the empire is endangered.

[jberryhill]

27. ...or it could be as simple as a non-compete contract, which he freely signed /nt

[No Elephants]

34. Where does it say he signed a noncompete? Making a pilot is not competing, unless and until the

pilot is aired.

Making a pilot to see if he can get hired when his contract expires is SOP.

[jberryhill]

49. It really depends on what his contract says

In response to your question "Where does it say he signed a noncompete?" I'm guessing you expect a news story to be a complete brief on every situation. I don't, but I do know that non-compete clauses of all kinds are included in contracts for a variety of on-air talent. Whether what he did is in violation of that clause is going to depend on what it says, which we don't know.

I like him a lot, and would like to see him with his own show, but raising a dispute between him and his current employer as if it were some sort of 13th Amendment issue is absurd.

You call him a "slave".... Um, what do you think his current paycheck looks like? You think it resembles yours?

[Steerpike]

115. Non compete clauses

are ubiquitous for talent contracts in broadcasting. I don't know anyone who does not have one. In fact, the more popular and successfull you are, the more likely your non compete clause will be less encompassing.

[Demeter]

2. Neither a Dead Girl or a Live Boy in his bed...

not even a breach of ethics! Self-promotion is the law in performing arts. What a bunch of corporate hypocrits.

[Subdivisions]

64. . n/t

[Bette Noir]

3. Ooops. I can see why he'd want to change networks, though.

MSNBC kept giving him shows, and then taking them back. He might have been tired of being used as a fill-in, only to be bumped when bigger celebrities have become available.

Anyway, it's never good politics on the job to be seen looking for work elsewhere.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

77. why is it best though to not quit a job before having another one lined up?

[Ian David]

78. Plus they made him stop posting to Twitter. n/t

[MidwestRick]

4. I won't miss his...

over enunciation of every word he speaks when on camera. Just something about that really bothers me.

-MR

[ooglymoogly]

72. Yeah Fux is much better ain't it?

Why is the word twit affixed to my mind?

[MidwestRick]

80. Possibly

you are thinking of yourself?

[ooglymoogly]

83. Naw...thats not it....

Its....Its...I don't know...its something connected to a loss of brain function.....if that ever existed...lets just call it intuitive.

[truedelphi]

88. Hey oogly m -

Glad to see you are still here. I thought for a while that they had made you oogly-on to some other place.

:hi:

[ooglymoogly]

101. Hi, delphi....nope still sit'n in the same ol' leather recliner.

raz'n hell, with my dog laying across my shoulders keeping watch....making sure nobody jumps out of the monitor and bites my head off. How is the ol' Oracle?

[truedelphi]

112. First real day of sun after many days of clouds and rain

Been outside building my rock walls, as the darn lavender refuses to stay confined.

Life at the moment is truly grand. I envy your doggie, as my three bosses refuse to let anything but other felines live here.

And last week, the youngest of them chased off the local bobcat (Not a cougar - a bobcat, if you know what I mean.)

[underseasurveyor]

87. So speaking clearly is now a negative?

Yes the world of illiterate mumblings that's giving rise to our beloved Idiocracy is really less bothersome:eyes:

[MidwestRick]

89. No

but his over annunciating is irritating.

[Tarheel_Dem]

104. Shouldn't that be "enunciating"? Why do I get the feeling you don't care..

much for that ed-u-ma-ca-tion stuff? "Is our children learnin'?" There...does that sound better? :shrug:

[inna]

90. He sounds as if he spits out every word. I'd be afraid to sit next to him,

because he sounds almost like he splatters saliva all over. I dunno, maybe he doesn't, but that's the kind of feeling I get when I hear him talk. :shrug:

[Name removed]

105. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pattmarty]

5. Schuster is a great independent reporter. Back in oh 2002 or so............

...........when he was "just" a reporter I could not tell if he was liberal or not. I believe he has great integrity and is a good, honest reporter. Didn't know he was liberal until he started "filling in" on the different shows. Just goes to show exactly how "liberal" MSNBC is. Be a shame to lose him.

[ooglymoogly]

84. +1 nt

[Pab Sungenis]

6. It's standard in broadcasting.

Doing work on another show, even unpaid work on an unsold pilot, is considered "work" and if you have an exclusive contract, it's forbidden.

Let me put it another way. Let's say you're a chef at restaurant "A" and have a contract through December. Restaurant "B" approaches you, saying they want to hire you when you're a free agent. In the meantime, however, could you work on some cool new recipes to bring with you in January? And give us copies of the menu you will prepare when you come on board so we can tell people what you're going to do for us?

Do you HONESTLY think restaurant "A" would have no problem with you doing that? On the contrary. If you want to jump ship when your contract is up, fine, but you can't lay the groundwork for that jump before you take it. That's what David Shuster did. He broke his contract by working for another company while he was under contract to NBC.

[No Elephants]

35. No It's like the owner of Restaurant B saying "Can you pretend to cook while I watch to see how

you look and sound while you're cooking?"

I don't think auditioning for another job that will begin only after your current contract ends violates your contract, unless the contract expressly forbids making a pilot; and we don't know what his contract says or doesn't say.

Since none of us has a clue what his contract says, you are leaping to conclusions when you say he violated his contract.

[Pab Sungenis]

70. Making a pilot is a lot more than "auditioning."

It's used by a network to line up advertisers long before it hits the air.

[quakerboy]

106. A point of contention

you are right that none of us knows what his contract says. However, when was the last time you heard of one of these contracts being written to favor the freedoms of the employee? Save for perhaps a few of the really big names who write their own contracts, I don't think you will find any.

[me b zola]

66. David was negotiating his labor contract

You don't wait until your current contract is up before you seek to sign again. MSNBC was probably not offering fair market value for David's talents, and an offer from a competitor brings new life, or closure, to contract negotiations.

[Pab Sungenis]

71. Negotiation is fine

but actual production on a pilot is NOT.

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Seems like a bunch of high-profile jumps

MSNBC surprised about Shuster (who they have shafted over and over) and CNN losing Amanpour to ABC. I bet CNN picks Shuster up. Only thing is, there's a bigger ego-filled group over there than MSNBC (not counting NBC's "contributers" like Schmuck Todd and Mrs. Goldspan)!

[No Elephants]

37. Todd and Greenspan both have their own shows. I hope someone picks up Shuster, esp.

a right leaning station like CNN. MSNBC has humiliated Shuster time and again, for no good reason that I can discern--including releasing this story.

[benlurkin]

8. David Schuster suspended indefinatelyt from MSNBC

Source: TVnewser

David Shuster Suspended Indefinitely
By Chris Ariens on Apr 06, 2010 09:26 AM


Just In: MSNBC's David Shuster has been suspended from MSNBC "indefinitely" according to a spokesperson.

The action was taken this morning by MSNBC president Phil Griffin after it was revealed that Shuster had taken part in a pilot for CNN.

Shuster's MSNBC contract expires in December. Over the weekend, an MSNBC executive told TVNewser's Gail Shister, anything less than a suspension "sends a message from management that this is OK."


Read more: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/david_shuster_suspended_indefinitely_157460.asp?c=rss

---

Sorry if this is a dupe post

[jaxx]

9. They should have gotten rid of Dylan Radical instead.

He licks the pubs, where Shuster smacked them.

[Mr. Sparkle]

18. I dont know how you came to that conclusion.

I dont watch Dylan often because of the time of day he is on, but when I do he is usually going after the big corporations who think they own the system. He likes to pan those nutjub tea baggers and calls out fox noise for their incendiary rhetoric.

If there is anybody they should get rid of, it is morning redneck. I am surprised Fox didn't come in for him years ago.

[benlurkin]

20. He was on Fox before MSNBC

He was there for a few years.

[Mr. Sparkle]

21. On his wiki entry it said he started his media career in 2003 on MSNBC.

That was when MSNBC and CNN were going through their right wing phase. There is no mention of him working for Foxnews before.

[No Elephants]

65. Please see Reply #59.

[benlurkin]

95. Schuster was on Fox from '96 to '02

You need to read that Wiki page again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Shuster

[No Elephants]

59. If "he" refers to Shuster, yes, but I never heard one RW word or snark from

him while he was on MSNBC. I cannot say the same of anyone else there, except for KO, RM and ES. And, if you read his wiki, he has been left-leaning, even when he sat in for RW nerd Tucker Carlson. If "he" refers to Ratigan, he was on CNBC before he was on MSNBC. If you mean Scarborough, he was on radio before MASNBC.

[No Elephants]

40. When Ratigan was on at 9 a.m., he was totally RW. He moderated after they moved his show.

[NotThisTime]

97. This is him MODERATED? I've only heard him in the PM, he's a RW tool

[DJ13]

19. You dont watch Dylan, do you?

[wisteria]

24. I do and I don't like him. n/t

[jaxx]

26. I watch MSNBC so I watch him.

I don't like him, and I don't like what he has to say 90% of the time.

[wisteria]

22. Yeah, I am not thrilled with this guy. I am real sorry about Shyster.

I suppose he can't work anywhere till December.

[alfredo]

29. Dylan's thing is financial news. He really sticks it to

Wall Street and other corporate criminals. Sometimes he goes after bad actors on our side, and I'm fine with that.

[mystieus]

31. Amen.

[inna]

32. Dylan is great.

I wish he could take Shuster's slots.

[onpatrol98]

54. I like Dylan, too...

I like Dylan also. I think he goes after big business. So, if a democrat is seen propping up big business, he simply goes after him/her too. I have no problem with that. I was also generally annoyed with the way Shuster talk, something about his mouth...I don't know. I hope he lands well, but I won't miss him.

[pattmarty]

41. Are you fucking high?

[ChicagoSuz219]

109. I agree... & Joe & Mika, too! n/t

[melm00se]

10. not shocking

go off, shoot a pilot with the competition, get caught and you expect your employer to do what...exactly?

[harmonicon]

48. wouldn't that be normal/ok in almost any other job?

Shit, who hasn't had some sort of job interview while already employed? If you have a contract that's going to expire, I would only think it would be smart to start looking for other things.

[No Elephants]

55. Plenty of people in all fields, including broadcasting, look for a job while still employed.

As long as the pilot doesn't air, it doesn't compete with MSNBC.

MSNBC had it coming from Shuster. They've treated him shabbily.

[snappyturtle]

11. Oh goody....one of his replacements is Contessa Brewer.

Maybe taking part in the CNN pilot was Shuster's waving MSNBC goodbye. He beat them to the punch. Just an idea. It seems like the last couple of years Shuster is just a fill in like Mrs. Greenspan.

[inna]

33. Who's "Mrs. Greenspan?"

?

[radical noodle]

38. Andrea Mitchell

is married to Greenspan.

[inna]

76. Wow! I had no idea! Thank you! nt

[Justitia]

98. God, she is HORRIBLE. She is a lousy broadcaster on every technical level. They should dump her.

That's without even considering that she's relentlessly negative on every mention of the current administration.

[inna]

108. she's pretty horrible, but.... GASP! i just found out today that

not only does she represent the elites (as 99% of people on television do), but... she IS elites. Mrs. Greenspan, that is pretty much as elite as they come. Thank you, MSNBC. (sarcasm)


FUCK.

[florida08]

39. lol

Andrea Mitchell

[EOTE]

42. I believe that would be Andrea Mitchell. NT

[Drops_not_Dope]

62. Andrea Bitchel

[benlurkin]

12. How bad does he want to commit career suicide?

He must want his own show to replace.......Campbell Brown, maybe?

CNN sucks in ratings. They come in 3rd every night and time slot. What the hell is he thinking?

[wisteria]

25. CNN is looking to revamp their image and up their ratings. n/t

[Bette Noir]

61. He might be thinking that changing networks is the only way to get his own show.

MSNBC has yanked the rug out from under him repeatedly.

Still, it was a bad move to get caught, especially this long before his contract expires.

He'd be an asset to CNN, which does need a leftward correction if it's sincere about being impartial.

[ooglymoogly]

85. Its not. nt

[Jennicut]

13. One of the few worth watching in the daytime.

Oh well, maybe he can come to CNN and make it suck less.

[blueworld]

14. I wonder if CNN ratted on him so they can pay him less if hired? n/t

[melm00se]

15. it's a small world

especially in the broadcasting world and he got noticed and 1 friend told another and then another and eventually it got back to his bosses

[pattmarty]

45. Conspiracy much?

[No Elephants]

60. Much stranger things have happened.

[pattmarty]

63. What's up, Elephants? Still startin' shit? Glad to see you're still..............

...........poundin' on that keyboard.

[No Elephants]

73. Starting shit? LOL. Glad to see you, too!

P.S. NO elephants!

[blueworld]

110. I'll have to waste electrons on the sarcasm tag for you younguns, I guess. n/t

[pattmarty]

111. I'm 63. Didn't seem like satire to me.

[blueworld]

113. It was. If you want to criticize,refine & improve me, you'll have to marry me

I don't come cheap & I don't care how nice she is, your mother can't live with us.

Attention Mods: We need a new emoticon! Something like the little cartoon dog who whines "Yes, m'love" every time his beast of a wife starts nagging & criticizing.

In the meantime I'll make sure all my posts are much clearer in future & will use the sarcasm tag if necessary. Good grief.

[pattmarty]

114. Forgot to take our vicodin, did we?

[blueworld]

116. You're a crabby old snark, aren't you? Need more fiber? n/t

[blueworld]

117. Oh yeah - I'm happy to add nasty folks like yourself to my ignore list. n/t

[democrank]

16. Truth-telling journalists should all be suspended.

They set a bad example for their memo-parroting colleagues.

[Mr. Sparkle]

17. Thats a shame, he is one of MSNBC's better presenters.

Although, what the hell was he thinking doing a pilot on CNN without asking/telling his bosses.

[No Elephants]

58. Pls. see Reply #55.

[wisteria]

23. CNN should buy out his contract and hire him. He is just the breath of fresh air needed at CNN.

He is smart and articulate and fun to watch when he is laying into some political pundits. I hate to see such a good talent go to waste for months and then get fired in December. MSNBC abused him, I don't blame him for looking around elsewhere.

[onehandle]

28. Sucko. MSNBC dicked him around but good.

I'd hate to see him go.

He should have the 7pm slot.

[inna]

30. He worked for FOX for 6 years???

Wow, no wonder I didn't like the guy instinctively. I find his intonation/diction very unpleasant too, it's as if he almost spits out words.

Can't say I'll miss the guy, even though I don't see what was so awful about doing a pilot for CNN. :shrug:

[vaberella]

56. No way. Do you remember Ferris Bueler's Day Off?!

And when Ferris' dad tried to impersonate Ferris' girlfriends dad?! Shuster sounds exactly like that. Like very pretentious. It's entertaining. And not all people from Fox are bad. I happen to like Shep Smith a great deal. I love Shuster, so I'd miss him on MSNBC, but I'll watch him on CNN no problem.

[No Elephants]

68. Maybe he was on FOX because he needed a job and TV broadcasting slots are not numerous?

Or, maybe he had a change of heart? I can't tell bc I watched FOX only one time in my life, for a few minutes when Massa was on Glen Beck. Please see Reply #59.

[mstinamotorcity]

36. He is just taking

advantage of the free market.Been waiting on him to get his own show because we need to keep the truth in reporting the news not the lies and rhetoric.Get up off of David because he rocks.!!!!!!!:yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :hi:

[florida08]

43. well that's a shame

he was the only daytime MSNBC I watched. Have watched Ratigan a few times but when he compares democrats to republicans..suggesting they're as bad I switch the channel. Maybe he'll replace Wolf..lol

[orbitalman]

44. IS THERE A PLACE WE CAN REGISTER OUR DISPLEASURE? nt

[pattmarty]

47. Yeah, you just did.

[HipChick]

51. Email M$NBC...

[No Elephants]

69. Sure. Contact MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/ns/msnbc_tv

[craigmatic]

46. they ought to get rid of scarbourough while they're at it

[HipChick]

50. I just emailed M$NBC...

they have been trying muzzle David for some time now...they stopped him from Twittering..I won't be switching MSNBC till Ed rolls around...no one left worth watching until then

[vaberella]

52. This isn't the first time right?! He doesn't ever seem to care.

I'm sure he'll get a job somewhere else who'll appreciate him more and I have to agree with you. I don't know what his thing at CNN has to do with his contract with MSNBC which is not even renewed.

[Gman]

53. Good for Ed Schultz

[davidwparker]

57. I like the MSNBC shows from 4-5, 6-7, and 8-midnight, but with a contract

expiring in in 8 months, I could see where he wanted to try something different.

Was he to wait until the last month with no job offer and then get the hint he should go?

Good for David.

[PfcHammer]

67. Shister reporting on Shuster

:rofl:

[PCIntern]

75. Gail is a 27 year acquaintance of mine...

fascinating person...

[Little Star]

74. Bout time! Schuster does not make sure of his facts.

He is no Rachel Maddow!

[LaPera]

79. I like David Shuster, he's never been afraid to get in a lying republicans faces and challenge them,

and exposing the republicans constant lies...David Shuster will be missed.

[TheCowsCameHome]

81. Why would anyone go to CNN anyway?

[bamacrat]

82. I liked Shuster. He called teabaggers and pukes on their shit more than most on that network.

My favorite is of course ED, Rachel, then Keith but Shuster was number 4. That explains why Ed was in his slot today.

[Tx4obama]

86. MSNBC screwed up when they gave Ratigan one of Shuster's hours.

MSNBC gave Shuster two hours in the afternoon and then took one away and gave it to the 'hollering' Ratigan.
MSNBC needs to get rid of Ratigan and give Shuster his two hours back, NOW :)

[Justitia]

99. Amen!!! Ugh! I was so disgusted with this move. -eom

[Tx4obama]

91. Someone should start a 'Fire Ratigan and bring back Shuster' petition. n/t

[The_Casual_Observer]

92. Good wishes to David Shuster!

He'll do fine in any case. He's a great reporter.

[lobodons]

93. Perhaps it was Shuster and not Maddow

that is rumored to be running for Senate? Draft Shuster for Senate!!!!!!

[caseymoz]

94. About all companies do not tolerate a salaried employee working for a competitor.

And, no, not even in the employee's free time. That was clear in my employment contract, and I'm certain it was in his.

[inna]

96. Interestingly, when he got suspended for his "pimp out" comment,

it was only a *temporary* (not "indefinite") suspension.

[Justitia]

100. Bad, bad move MSNBC! Shuster is one of the greatest you've got! He's my favorite straight-up rep.

Now, I won't even bother tuning in until Ed.

MSNBC is about to seriously fuck up if they let David go.

By the way, I seriously miss his tweets - they were great.

Hang in there David, you have fantastic skills and that has not gone unnoticed by most of us.

[ooglymoogly]

102. +1 nt

[Tx4obama]

103. Tell MSNBC to bring back Shuster! Email: [e-mail] n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

107. I always hoped that MSNBC would try David in the 10 p.m. slot. But,

I guess that's not to be now. I never get to watch him unless he's filling in for Keith.