MSNBC hires Ed Schultz for 6 p.m. slot

[onehandle]

Source: Salon

Salon has learned that MSNBC has hired liberal radio host Ed Schultz, who calls himself the "most listened-to progressive radio talk show host in America," to anchor its 6 p.m. slot. The move will be officially revealed towards the end of Keith Olbermann's broadcast on Wednesday night, according to a source familiar with the announcement.

Speculation about Schultz joining the cable network had increased lately, and the New York Observer's Felix Gillette reported last month that an offer had been extended. Initial rumors had the host being considered for the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. hours, but MSNBC recently decided to stick with Olbermann reruns at 10.

The 6 p.m. slot is currently occupied by "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue," which is hosted by David Shuster. Schultz has filled in for him on more than one occasion. No details about what, if anything, Shuster would be doing next for MSNBC were immediately available.

Read more: http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2009/04/01/schultz/index.html

---

On edit: Keith says that David Shuster will be moving to the 3-5 pm slot on MSNBC. Glad they're keeping him!

[sarcasmo]

1. A kick and Nom for Big Eddy.

[VeraAgnes]

57. It's like one of us has got a good break!

I adore Big Ed!O8)

[SoCalDem]

2. being in the west, we get Tweety at 2PM, 1600 at 3, rerun of tweety at 4

keith at 5, rachel at 6, repeat of keith, then repeat of rachel..

I'd prefer:

tweety
shuster
ed
keith
rachel
then an hour of something new

[Politicalboi]

16. Me too

They have too many reruns. And I really hate it when Tweety says he's coming back live and after a half hour they go back to the rerun.

[Raine]

17. Yeah I sure get tired of the repeats

I was really hoping they would give him the 10:00 spot. :-(

[4_TN_TITANS]

100. I don't mind the repeats...

many times I catch something I didn't on the first time around. How does one get tired of Rach? I wish I could quit her. ;)

[Butch350]

18. SoCalDem - Breaking protocol here..

Love the cat picture. My rescued cat who showed up at my door step and adopted me
has totally destroyed my mini blinds by propelling herself off of the end table and thru the mini blinds
like superman through the window. I LOVE HER DEARLY.

[xxqqqzme]

79. Being in the west, I like the repeats because

5:00 & 6:00 are sometimes too early and I miss both broadcasts.

[PatSeg]

96. Same here

That was what I was hoping they would do. That rerun of Hardball at 4 is annoying, but it is 7pm on the East Coast, so I guess a lot of people miss the first airing of the show.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. That sucks

I want Shuster to stay **and** for Schultz to get a show

[Thrill]

4. Maybe Shuster goes to 10 to go against Anderson Cooper?

[Pirate Smile]

10. That is what I think they should do. Shuster would be great at 10.

[vssmith]

88. How about a Morning David show at 6 AM

[johnfunk]

28. Shuster STAYING, moving to 3-5PM EDT

Double the Shuster followed by Big Eddie.

I know there are a lot of people who are not keen on Ed, but he is exactly the sort of talent MSNBC needs to pull in more labor and midwest-western viewers. Beltway types, wonks and a working-family guy from the heartland -- now that's diversity.

[Carni]

50. Good! I really like Shuster nt

[paulsby]

62. i agree

i really like ed.

i;m in the minority here, in that i think olberman's schtick is boring, redundant and tired.

maddow otoh, r00ls like no other, and i think ed schultz will be a great addition to the lineup.

[Webster Green]

63. I like Big Eddie too..

I've listened to his radio show for years, and find it to be one of the more interesting shows on progressive radio.

I can't figure out why he is mercilessly trashed on DU every time his name comes up. :shrug:

[spiritual_gunfighter]

102. I think this may have something to do with it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BezRw4GCVs8

I am an Ed Schultz fan and listen to him everyday. I cant wait for his new show. I am just pointing out why I think some at DU don't like him. There was another video I was looking for on youtube of Eddie in a debate with Thom Hartmann and Mike Malloy that has been erased, of Eddie basically defending Bush's "war on terror" and getting booed by the audience. But I couldnt find it.

[DireStrike]

94. I feel the same way

Keith shouldn't have the primetime slot. I think his fieriness is fun up to a point, but having him so prominent gives righties the chance to point and say "BUH MSNBC IS SO LIHBUHRAL!!111" (They would do it anyway, but this makes their case more credible.) He doesn't elevate this discourse, but you can count on him to give you left-slanted news with all the outrage you think=people should be feeling.

He's political pornography. And not of the nailin' palin variety.


Rachel is brilliant, upbeat, and a much better face for progressive newscasting. You can tell she works all day to put out that one hour of show.

Never heard Ed schultz. I look forward to it.

Sad about Schuster. I like him. He's just a regular newscaster seeming guy, says what needs to be said.

[SoCalDem]

99. Yay..2 hours of new...maybe one less rerun of something:)

ANY network that claims to be a "news" venue should NEVER have reruns.. news is always happening:)

Why claim to be a 24-hr network, and then just show reruns?..

[Renew Deal]

107. That's a good slot for Shuster

And a lot less pressure than the prime-news hours.

[PatSeg]

97. Shuster is getting a two hour slot

before the first airing of Hardball. That time has been pretty boring with people like Contessa Brewer who has no business doing serious news.

[onehandle]

5. I wanted that too, but I wanted Ed in there for sure.

Hopefully Shuster will find a place.

[efhmc]

6. He is so not a liberal. Although compared to anyone on faux,

he is an anarchist.

[onehandle]

7. Yeah. That endless stream of liberals, sitting Democrats, and union leaders on his radio show...

...is just a ruse.

He must blackmail them to come on.

[Moochy]

33. By your account

He's guilty of being progressive by association. :yoiks:

Personally, I don't like his delivery style, but not everyone has my refined upper class taste in progressive radio hosts.... :sarcasm:

Maybe at MSNBC they can mic him properly so he'll stop SCREAMING REAL LOUD.

Kudos to Big Eddie and his fans!

[burning rain]

38. We may have similar tastes there, but remember...

a lot of people like "down-home." From what I've seen of him, he also seems good on class issues, and that's an area where American liberals have long been weak, so I think he can fill a gap.

[Moochy]

51. I'm sure he'll use his 'indoor voice' once on TV

I have really liked his CNN appearances, like with Stephanie Miller on Larry King show. I agree that he is good on the issues.

pro: Ed wont have to make audio infomercials for advertisers on MSNBC!
con: It's not The Sam Seder Show...
pro: It's not The Chuck Todd Show!

[defendandprotect]

42. Evidently, a few of us have made the mistake of not seeing "liberal" . . .

so I'm very encouraged at those here saying YES . . . "liberal" re Schultz!!!

Go Schultz!!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

8. I hope this is an April Fool's. I kind of like Schuster on 1600.

[SemperEadem]

68. No, it's for real. Olberman had him on his showing announcing it.

[satya]

13. I used to think so too until he was guest speaker at a Dems dinner, where he could really cut loose.

He seems to hold back on his radio show, I suppose so he will appeal to a broad range of folks. But when he's unfettered, he is a sight to behold. Very entertaining, funny, and very passionate. If he was faking that, he's one hell of an actor.

[defendandprotect]

44. That's good news . . .!!!

[Odin2005]

23. "Not a Liberal" my rear end. He's a good old-fashioned populist, the way we like them here in Fargo.

The claim that he is "not a liberal" has no factual basis, it's classist BS.

[defendandprotect]

40. Glad you said that cause in his earlier days on AAR, I thought he wasn't

very liberal in his positions -- took some strange stands which I can't recall right now.

May have even been on unions, but someone posting here is making the comment he is very

"pro-Union" . . . so I don't know.

Looks like the word went out after the election to Schultz and Coomsby/? cause Coomsby

was certainly weirdly NOT liberal! But, neither was AAR --- the "liberal" network --

very liberal!!!

[indimuse]

9. been praying for this...

for YEARS! KNR!!

[Peregrine Took]

11. I like Ed. He's good for labor and working people.

Look forward to seeing him in the new time slot.

[KoKo]

12. Sad...I thought Schuster was doing great in that spot...

It was the only thing I watched since I can view the best of Keith and Rachel here on DU via "You Tube."

That time slot with Schuster saved me from "CNN..the War Monger/Terra channel or the odious Stock Pumping CNBC with Cramer.. :-(

GE must be putting the "clamps down."

I like much about "Big Ed," but he won't do what Schuster was doing.

[Mike Daniels]

84. I always preferred Shuster's efforts at balance vs. the liberal echo chamber

of Keith and Rachel. Keith/Rachel: "Bush/Republicans/Obama, blah, blah, blah" Guest after Guest: "Ditto."

I would have preferred to see Ed at 10 p.m. and Shuster at 6 p.m. but I'm glad they found a place for Shuster somewhere.

[gabby garcia]

14. dang..

I love Shuster - Hypocrisy Watch rocks!
Though if he's on later at night thas cool with me - it's easier to watch late night after the little ones are snoozing.

gg

[Raine]

15. Taking Shuster's spot (???)

I don't like that. :-(

Edit: I like Shultz but I don't like that he's taking Shuster's spot, just give Shultz his own spot.

[valerief]

19. That's a great timeslot for him. I hope he woos away O'Reilly fans and

Rush fans. He's got that "man's man" appeal.

[gabby garcia]

20. that is a sexist thing to say.

and makes no sense at all!

[valerief]

29. It does make sense to some people. Hunting, fishing, etc. He talks about that stuff.

Oprah doesn't.

[gabby garcia]

32. are you comparing Shuster to Oprah?

cause now you are really being obtuse.

[valerief]

35. Who's talking about David? Are you bored or something? nt

[defendandprotect]

46. .... to compete with Rush Limbaugh's "man's man" presence . . . ???

[ms liberty]

52. I agree...n/t

[NBachers]

56. Well, you stepped into a tripwire mousetrap with that one valerief

[NorthCarolina]

21. I'm not sure I want to trade a Shuster for a Schultz

I kind of like Shuster at 6pm. They should have done Hardball 5-6pm, Ed Shultz 6-7pm, David Shuster 7-8pm, KO 8-9pm, Maddow 9-10pm, and Young Turk 10-11pm. Solid lineup from 5pm all the way till its time to turn on Comedy Central for 11-12....

[Tx4obama]

34. Shoulda done

Shultz 4pm (Hardballs first hour now), and kept the rest the same: Shuster 5pm, Hardball 6pm, KO 7pm, Maddow 8pm, and ADD TYT's Cenk at 9pm

As it is now, here in Texas after Maddow is over at 9pm we get repeats ;(

WE WANT CENK!!!

[high density]

22. Shuster gets 2 hours! 3-5 pm

Wow.

[RepublicanElephant]

24. msnbc is the most fair and balanced u.s. network. nt

[Odin2005]

25. YAY BIG EDDIE!!!

:woohoo:

[Doctor_J]

26. Wow. Just wow. We have our own Fox News

except that our people will hold the Dems' feet to the fire when they stray, instead of cheering while the ship heads into the iceberg.

[RepublicanElephant]

27. ...and ours will be fact-based. nt

[certainot]

30. talk radio is where the power is- too bad to lose him from radio

at least as far as the right wing goes- the audiences are huge and those 1000 stations blasting limbaugh and sons 24/7 do the groundwork enabling for much of the rest of the trad media-- fox TV is just a visual whipped cream on the lie turd pie RW talk radio bakes up every day with coordinated uncontested repetition- most fox fans go there to reinforce what they heard earlier on radio. hannity makes a lot more doing radio than TV.

for schultz it might be a promotion since prog radio has a much smaller audience thanks to the well protected RW monopoly but progressive radio must grow relative to RW radio or our democracy will continue to suffer and schultz was a pretty good transition radio voice.

[itsrobert]

45. He'll probably try to do both

Like Hannity does now and O'Reilly use to do.

[CatholicEdHead]

55. Along with his early mornning regional radio show for KFGO, Fargo

[jennied]

31. Now if we can get Cenk in there...

[DainBramaged]

36. FINALLY and avid Union supporter on the MSM I LOVE it.

Go Eddie, show them your stuff.

[defendandprotect]

37. Is Schultz leaving AAR -- ???

I listened to him for a few minutes today ---

I only heard a bit of it, but seems he thinks Gingrich becoming a Catholic

will "save" him in the eyes of Catholic fanatics who will see it as "god" forgiving

him for his various divorces -- and lies, presumably!

Really miss Randi and totally forget to tune into anything, either C-span Senate or

Hartmann . . . anyone.

Anyone have any Randi Rhodes news?

[Moochy]

39. Ed is not with AAR, but his show is on AAR affiliate stations

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

Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller are with the Jones Radio group.

[mwooldri]

74. Along with Thom Hartmann and Bill Press... but the Jones Radio Network name is dead.

Triton Media Group, who owned Dial Global (which came about due to various mergers) bought Jones Radio Networks. Everything then got consolidated under the Dial Global name.

All the above produce their own show; Dial Global distribute it.

I guess you could say they're the success of progressive talk radio - what Air America could have been.

Mark.

[onehandle]

41. He isn't on AAR. His show is along theirs in some markets and on XM.

He has not said otherwise, so I assume that his radio show goes on.

[burning rain]

43. This is good news!

Ed's good on working folks' / union issues, and that's an area where American lefties need a shot in the arm. Too many of the "socially liberal, fiscally conservative" types. Hold on to the social liberalism; dump the fiscal conservatism -- leave that to the GOP.

[Union Yes]

47. A Populist. About fucking time.

Think 'Murika is ready?

Go get em Ed!

Big fan of his radio show.

[onehandle]

82. Yep. This is a great thing for workers and the Unions that the GOP wants to destroy. nt

[Mr. Sparkle]

48. Congratulations Ed, welcome to the family!

I would have preferred Shuster to get one of Tweetys slots or even the 10 pm slot. 3 - 5 ins't too bad but he is up against Rick Sanchez whom i like.

with all of these Liberals on Tv, it feels like we are coming out of the dark ages. :party:

[felinetta]

49. This is great news! I think he will get a huge audience!

[CatholicEdHead]

53. Great News from Big Eddie!

North Dakota's national star!

[tilsammans]

54. Good news!

I hope he stays on the radio as well.

:applause:

[Twinguard]

58. hooray for Ed

[abq e streeter]

59. Very encouraging to see the enthusiasm /support for Big Eddie here

I thought he was not liked by a lot of Duers for , I don't know, not being doctrinaire enough or something. I personally like him a lot, even if I don't agree with him 100% of the time, and agree with others who think his blue-collar, midwest populism is a big plus .

[Patiod]

89. He's a little too "guy" for me, but that's a good thing

I'm a steroetypical chick in terms of not being football-obsessed (yes, I know there are exceptions like DU's own JulieRB, but most of us aren't). So when he starts with the fooball talk I mentally tune out.

Having said that, I don't think it hurts the Dem's image to have a guy's guy in the lineup. No one is going to be flinging the "elite Chardonnay-sipping liberal" ephithet at him.

Big Eddie reminds me of Democrats like my dad, guys who mow their lawn and like their beer and play poker and watch football, and are pro-Union and want to see "the little guy" get a break once in a while.

[abq e streeter]

95. exactly... I'm not a huntin'/fishin'/football guy either, but its good to have someone who is

as part of our side's public image

[lonestarnot]

60. Meh.

Not liberal enough! Bluedoggish.

[Webster Green]

64. Have you ever listened to him?

I love his show.

[lonestarnot]

65. Listened to him on Air America and he used to aggravate me at times.

[libodem]

61. Good, I like Ed

He was on an AM station around here for awhile. I liked him. He got right after Sarah Palin. He went right up to Alaska. Asked the regular folks about her. Stories to tell, ya betcha.

[rhett o rick]

66. I am disappointed. I would prefer Cenk Ugar. But too much to ask for MSM.

They'd rather go with good ole ed.

[bdamomma]

86. but there is that 10-11 slot still open for Cenk.

[Phoonzang]

67. Yay...Bizarro Rush Limbaugh.....

zzzzzzzzzz...

I wanted Cenk.

[K8-EEE]

73. LOL Bizarro from the Superman comics?

that's funny! Bizarro Rush Limbaugh!

[Captain Lance Bass]

69. Hope his rating kick Maddow to the curb

Big Ed rules

Maddow's heart and message are in the right place but her delivery? (yuck)

she is always giddy and trying to make everything into a inside joke

[AzNick]

70. Ed Schultz speaks to people like me

The first time I heard him on AAR, I knew right away he was talking to ME.

I am his demographics. Sometimes tempted by the conservatives, but it's Big Eddie's message that kept me on the right team.

He fills a gap, that's what some of you don't understand.

Most conservatives thing that democrat = "weenie liberal". He is a big dude, knocked at the door of the NFL, he is a hunter, drives a truck, the opposite of the image the conservatives have of the Dems.

I have a truck (although my wife drives it, I commute with the S60 -that's a Democrat's car), I ride dirt bikes, I shoot at the range for fun, I have a "support the troops" sign on my lawn, I do woodworking as a hobby and I am a larger frame, meat and potato kind of guy, and I am a proud registered democrat.

Guess what: if it was not for Ed, there would be no liberal talk radio guy for me to listen to.

[onehandle]

90. Ed is a rare bird who can carry the progressive message to those who "shower after work."

Many here don't get that.

[Citizen Seattle]

71. Big Eddie drives me nuts. Can't stand him. I flip off the radio at 12:07 when he comes on.

He follows Thom Hartmann here in Seattle and the difference in intellect and substance is
huge.
He rants and works himself up, most often taking a defensive posture from out of the blue. Huge ego couched in 'down home-ness'. He's a personality not a great intellect. Sorry, I'm really bummed about this. I'm hungry for substance over personality.

This is a time for nuance and deep learning for our country. Thom Hartmann should be sitting in that time slot.

[K8-EEE]

72. agreed but he seems to reach people who aren't "west coast lib-ruls"

Face it us west-coasters are already liberal! But my dad's mid-West family started listening to and relating to Ed and they're like 3rd gen Repukes! And for some reason he reaches them. So I say,, good luck to him.

[Webster Green]

76. I love them both!

I listen to Thom and then Big Eddie daily, and love them both. :shrug:

[travelingtypist]

77. And Thom Hartmann is much easier on the eyes.

Not to be superficial or anything.

Swoon.

[travelingtypist]

75. Randi just must be spitting nails.

She hated Shultz, said he was a big faker.

It kind of gives me a warm fuzzy that Randi's sitting there off the air and one of her biggest rivals is now on the TeeVee.

[SeattleGirl]

80. Actually, Randi and Ed have made a kind of peace.

Happened during the Dem convention.

I like Randi and I like Ed, both.

I think there's room for a lot more liberals/progressives/un-Fundies on the airwaves, both radio and TV. We don't have to like them all. But it's good to have choices.

[travelingtypist]

81. Yes, choices, agreed.

Maybe I should've said "former rival" because I think I heard about the
convention rapprochement. You're probably right about that, too.

I'm just still pissed at Randi for accelerating the demise of NovaM and
putting my access to Malloy at risk. She might not have caused it, but
she contributed. Also, I imagine Shelly and Anita were sick to death of
Randi's "Oh, I put this show together in three days, aren't I fabulous?"
shtick. I know I was.

Sorry, end Randi rant.

[Norwood]

78. Woot! I love Big Eddy! Cant wait for it to start

[tpsbmam]

83. Not a big Ed fan.....

and also wanted Cenk, who has grown on me over the years (didn't like TYT when it first started on AAR but grew to really appreciated & respect Cenk). But listening to Ed on Olbermann's show, I changed my mind -- he may be the perfect person to put in that slot. He has the ability to draw in viewers that might not currently watch MSNBC. He does have the kind of "I'm just like you" appeal and, where I could see people finding Olbermann & Maddow as being "elitist," I think they may be more receptive to Schultz.

[Doctor_J]

87. He's not a liberal. He's a populist

I cannot believe that a pro-labor, pro-working-class, heartland-based populist is going to have his own show in Big Media. This is HUGH!

[bdamomma]

85. Shuster should take David Gregory place on MTP.

[SeattleGirl]

91. Now THAT is a great idea!

Gregory has his ass so far up the Republicon's asses, he's probably forgotten what daylight looks like.

[ellacott]

92. Shuster was my first choice.

He would have done a much better job than David Gregory.

[Doctor_J]

98. If Gregory would get axed, Mrs. Greenspin would be the only winger

with any significance there. I don't count Morning Intern Killer

[RedCloud]

93. Unions getting their voice heard? What's next? Organized Consumers?

[EJSTES2005]

101. Way to go Mr Schultz !!

Loved listening when I still had sirius. Was the only reason I renwed for as long as I did.

Congrats !!!!!!

[saiyanppl]

103. MSNBC HAS BALLS

ED SHULTZ SHOW IS A LIBERAL'S DREAM



he is boosting obama's policies


IT IS HIS RADIO SHOW ON TV



HE IS BLASTING CONSERVATIVES



MSNBC HAS BALLS

[sansf]

104. Ed critics beware

I watched yesterday's first segment - the one with Chris Dodd. I sent an email to the show saying that I thought the knee jerk response to Wells Fargo first quarter report of 3 billion 'profit' was irresponsible. Ed was giddy, and actually said that TARP could be working. Dodd was much more muted. I asked the show to do more homework.

I got an unsigned email response which read: "Up yours".

Juvenile.

[xxqqqzme]

105. And what was that bunch of RW nuts? The had way too much

face time and, typically, were blowing smoke up viewers asses. Again, if I wanted to listen to rw bowhards, I'd be watching fox noise. I noticed they were busy patting Ed on the back for having them on. Ed was busy congratulating himself for being so generous.

Yesterday was the first time I've seen his show, since it is on @ 3 in the afternoon on the left coast. I'll not be making an effort to watch again.

[Born Free]

106. Not too bad...

I have seen every show so far, and although I don't say it is good, it is not too bad. There are a few things I don't like but the first half hour is usually pretty good. He definitely is an optimistic individual at times. The listings on our Tivo still show 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, so I had to set up manual recordings for when the name changes, but I will be watch at least part of it on a regular basis. I bet I did not watch the entire Keith Oberman show for the first year, I always would watch the first two stories, may do the same with the Ed Show, just watch the OpEd and maybe his first guest, and stop when the panel of right wingers starts..