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MSNBC Is Clearing Out a Slot in Prime Time (And Leaving It Empty!)
The New York Times ^ | November 26, 2003 | Jim Rutenberg

Posted on 11/26/2003 9:45:17 PM PST by Timesink

November 26, 2003

MSNBC Is Clearing Out a Slot in Prime Time

By JIM RUTENBERG

MSNBC is reshuffling its lineup again to clear the way for a star, so far unidentified, it hopes to introduce in prime time in the coming weeks, according to a memorandum made available yesterday.

Erik Sorenson, the president of MSNBC, said in the memorandum to his staff that he was moving "The Abrams Report" to 6 p.m.. from 9 p.m. weekdays. It had been at the later hour since major combat in Iraq ended but that time slot was supposed to be a temporary berth. The program remained there, however, when MSNBC determined in the summer that another talk show - which was to have the former governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura, as its host - was not suited for prime time.

"Buchanan & Press," the 6 p.m. political talk show with the liberal-conservative pairing of Bill Press and Patrick J. Buchanan as its hosts, will be canceled.

Mr. Sorenson said that he was making the changes in part because the demands of prime time were too intense for Mr. Abrams, who also has to report for other NBC News programs like "Today."

Mr. Sorenson also said that the network would fill Mr. Abrams's 9 p.m. time slot with an unidentified host; the program will have Bruce Perlmutter as its producer. Mr. Perlmutter had been the producer of "Connie Chung Tonight," which CNN canceled earlier this spring; he joined MSNBC in late summer.

Ms. Chung's name was one of several circulating among network executives as a possible host for MSNBC at 9 p.m. Other potential contenders were said by people at the network to be Lisa Ling, a former co-host of the "The View," and Deborah Norville, a former co-host of "Today," who is the host of "Inside Edition."

Jeremy Gaines, a network spokesman, had no comment.

Mr. Sorenson said in the memo that Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Press would continue to contribute to the network.

Executives said that Tamara Haddad, who had been the executive in charge of the program, would probably continue to work for the network in some significant capacity.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abramsreport; billpress; bruceperlmutter; buchananandpress; conniechung; danabrams; deborahnorville; eriksorenson; jesseventura; lisaling; msdnc; msnbc; msnbcschadenfreude; nbc; nbcnews; patbuchanan; pmsnbc; schadenfreude; tamarahaddad; theabramsreport; today; todayshow
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To: MadelineZapeezda
turning to CNN, heaven help me, to hear news

I would rather go NEWSLESS than listen to CNN's propoganda!! The internet and FR will suffice just nicely!

21 posted on 11/27/2003 7:36:27 AM PST by PISANO (God Bless our Troops........They will not TIRE - They will not FALTER - They will not FAIL!!!!!)
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To: zygoat
Dennis Miller is slated for CNBC...however a cross-over might be possible.
22 posted on 11/27/2003 7:40:43 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: MadelineZapeezda
Fox is the most over-rated news channel on television. It has one decent program, and only one hour that can really aspire to the name "news", and that is led by Brit Hume.
23 posted on 11/27/2003 8:04:08 AM PST by gaspar
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To: Sapper26
Maybe they could do a public service and let e-mail spammers use the hour to hawk their wares. Maybe it would cut down on the amount of garbage I have to dump from my mailbox.

Besides, a solid hour of ads for penis enlargement, Viagra and Nigerian scams would still outdraw the rest of MSNBC's shows.

24 posted on 11/27/2003 8:13:20 AM PST by CFC__VRWC (AIDS, abortion, euthanasia - don't liberals just kill ya?)
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To: MadelineZapeezda
LOL... I was alluding to the previous Keyes show on MSNBC... they cancelled him for Donahue... LOL Keyes had better ratings than any MSNBC show in that time slot since.
25 posted on 11/27/2003 8:23:25 AM PST by Bob Eimiller (Kennedy..Kerry..Leahy...Pelosi..Kucinich.."Catholics" who Promote Partial Birth Abortion.)
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To: Timesink
They should sign up a few retired Senators for a news talk hour. Fred Thompson, Phil Grahm, Zell Miller, etc. Just gab away on one topic a day.

Start with the Bill of Rights, one item per night (or week).

Genuinely put forth the idea of educating the American people about their government.

I know sincere education would be a desperate move (< /sarcasm>), but with PSMBC's ratings and holes in their program schedule, they might want to try something really radical (for just one hour a day).

26 posted on 11/27/2003 8:34:23 AM PST by spald
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To: gaspar
Fox is the most over-rated news channel on television. It has one decent program, and only one hour that can really aspire to the name "news", and that is led by Brit Hume.

AMEN, you got that right.

27 posted on 11/27/2003 9:18:15 AM PST by BobbyK (The Truth Is Out There.)
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To: Timesink
Could it be the "Coulter & Ingraham" show I've been praying for?
28 posted on 11/27/2003 1:34:35 PM PST by mansion (Voting for the "lesser of two evils" is still voting for evil...)
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To: Timesink
The AmishDude show. The time is ripe.

Of course, I'd get better audience numbers on public access.

29 posted on 11/27/2003 1:41:58 PM PST by AmishDude
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