Posted on 06/12/2002 8:08:08 AM PDT by stromsfriend
MSNBC to Debut New Talk Lineup Tue Jun 11, 8:05 AM ET
NEW YORK (AP) - MSNBC will debut its new prime-time talk lineup, with Phil Donahue, Chris Matthews, Jerry Nachman and Ashleigh Banfield, on the network's sixth anniversary, July 15.
The struggling cable news outfit is emulating Fox News Channel, which swept to the top of the cable news ratings with a shouting heads format in the evenings.
MSNBC labels its commentators "fiercely independent," and the showpiece is Donahue, the veteran talk show host making a return to television.
Nachman, the former New York Post editor hired as MSNBC's No. 2 executive, will have his own show at 7 p.m. ET, right before Donahue.
Matthews' "Hardball" will air at 9 p.m., followed by correspondent Banfield's "On Location," a news analysis show, at 10 p.m.
Left out is Alan Keyes ( news - web sites), the former presidential candidate whose low-rated talk show began earlier this year. MSNBC may move Keyes to the late afternoon, a spokeswoman said.
A one-hour news broadcast anchored by Brian Williams has been shifted to CNBC.
They bring in Alan Keyes at the 10pm hour. In attempt to be like Fox News and draw more conservative viewers, or anyone for that matter.
Then they announce themsleves as "America's News Network" and wrap themsleves in the flag in attempt to shame peoepl into watching their network.
Then they hire Jerry Nachman, a pompous fat a$$ to run the network (or reorder it I guess)
Then they ditch Alan and announce they're giving Nachman a show (what!!??) and bring in Phil Donahue!! Trying to be CNN.
They alienate liberals first, then belatedly scream patriotism and then alienate conservatives relegating a solid show (Making Sense) to the graveyard in the afternoon. I guess this continues the trend of stuipidity at MSNBC!
MSNBC: CNN+FNC = nothing
Hard to believe someone could think those two clauses belong in the same sentence!
But as I grew up I realized that a liberal with money is a contradiction of roots. Phil is contradiction of himself in so much as he touts the liberal lie to common folks while living the big business lifestyle. MSNBC will not be helped by this aging icon of a distance "Jimmy Carter era".
MSNBC = News For Dummies.
MSNBC blew it, if they were (really) looking to broaden their viewer base.
... to the pretentious eyewear ...
... to the improbable name ...
... "Ashleigh Banfield" takes "plastic news bimbette" to new levels.
For that matter, just about every "journalist" on MSNBC is too pretty for their own good.
What a bummer.
I hope FOX picks up this mind, Alan Keyes.
I think Keyes could do something
shorter in time each show,
like O'Reilly, but more of showlighting conservatism viewpoints.
Phil Donahue?!?!?! I remember Phil from his show in the early 80's when he wore a skirt while interviewing a dress-designer who advocated skirts and kilts as men's business attire.
Other than that, they're just trying to revitalize a dying Left.
I first watched Donahue in Dayton in the sixties (when he had folks like Christine Jorgensen (sp?) as guests). In the early years, I used to "root" for him, but then he became so predictable that watching him was a waste of electricity.
I was excited when he hit the "big time" and moved to Chicago. But, as he made a bigger name for himself his opinion of himself seemed to grow, too. He seemed to feel he knew all the right answers (or knew the "right" expert with all the right answers.) He regularly derided teachers and stay-at-home moms. If a reliable study showed it was better for newborns to have their mom stay home for a while, instead of immediately returning to work, he would only lament the guilt felt by the poor moms who "had to" go back to work, instead of discussing what the study itself showed.
He was dismissive of those he didn't agree with and he was protective of those whose views he supported. He only pretended to care about being open to other opinions.
It's sad, but I guess this is the way of the (liberal) world. I am so glad other opinions than his get aired now, too.
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