Ed Schultz OUT at MSNBC?

[noel711]

Caught this tweet Sunday night:

Will Bunch‏@Will_Bunch Why would Ed Schultz be replaced on MSNBC, even if just time slot? Thought he's been fairly popular. Personal reasons?

A reference to this article at NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/12/business/media/msnbc-its-ratings-rising-gains-ground-on-fox-news.html?pagewanted=2&partner=rss&emc=rss

"Several MSNBC employees, who spoke about programming plans on the condition of anonymity, said the most likely candidate for a new show was the Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein, a frequent substitute for Ms. Maddow. Mr. Klein may start with a weekend time slot, but these people said the 8 p.m. weekday time slot held by Mr. Schultz was also a possibility.."

The twitter timeline I followed had some mis-steps, but according to the NYT, Ezra Klein is being considered
for Ed's prime time slot...

WHY would they ditch Ed after such a fiery lead up to the election?
Comcast now owns MSNBC... they are strongly anti-union.

I can't take this!! This makes no sense, now that MSNBC is eating into FOX's ratings...

[flamingdem]

1. If he wants to stay we should make sure he stays

we are their customers ..

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. They are short-sighted if they take Ed off

[bayareamike]

3. This is confusing, I'd like to learn more nt

[DURHAM D]

4. Ezra is a channel changer for me.

[flamingdem]

6. He's a snore and often pretty centrist n/t

[question everything]

11. I like Ezra. But him at the 3:00 PM time slot

or in the weekend instead of all those bondage videos.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

22. I prefer watching his gorgeous wife, Annie Lowery

I've seen her interviewed on the Rachel Maddow show and on Sharpton's show and she's really good. A Harvard grad, she's a reporter on economics for the New York Times. She's got charisma whereas Klein does tend to put you to sleep.



Better yet, give Joy Ann Reid a show. She's incredible.

[Angry Dragon]

5. They should get rid of Killer Joe

[chillfactor]

7. seems to me if they want to bring Ezra in....

MSNBC would be better off replacing one of Chris' time slot...i Love Ed....

[GoCubsGo]

8. Maybe Ed is leaving on his own.

His wife has ovarian cancer, and with that, maybe it's just too hard for him to do both the radio and TV shows.

[noel711]

12. Ed posted photos of Wendy in the studio with him on election day..

He said she's doing well, and is %100 behind him...

this all makes no sense..

[JI7]

9. Ezra Klein doesn't have the Appeal to have his own Show

he is ok as a guest but i really can't watch an entire show when he hosts.

[Horse with no Name]

13. I like Ezra in small doses

but he is way too wonky for an entire hour.

[ecstatic]

89. Yeah. There's no way the rumor about Ezra is true

He doesn't have the appearance, the delivery, or the depth necessary to capture an audience.

[Horse with no Name]

10. Maybe they plan on moving Ed to 7? n/t

[flamingdem]

15. OK this sounds more sane n/t

[JI7]

14. Chris Hayes should be considered for a regular weekday show before Ezra Klein

but there is nothing wrong with the current line up.

give Ezra Klein a weekend show before 5 weekdays .

[flamingdem]

16. I would love that

on the West Coast we never see him, it's 5am or something and they do not rerun

[Indpndnt]

24. Yes, Chris Hayes. Or Joy Reid!

She's my favorite. I love seeing her on any of the shows. Smart, articulate, funny, and doesn't talk over others - the last being a rare and very welcome trait at MSNBC these days.

[sarcasmo]

33. I agree, Chris Hayes deserves a regular weekly show.

[CTyankee]

52. Oh, me, too! I try to watch his entire show both on Sat. and Sun. but can't always...

Today's show was just phenomenal. He has the up and coming spokespersons for our side, not the old wheezebags on Morning Joe. Get rid of Rendell, Woodward, Barnicle and Brokaw, fer god's sake! I want to cry from utter boredom when they come on (I have to mute them)...

MSNBC should get with the program...

[sarcasmo]

80. He is one of the better guests on Bill Maher.

[Don C. Nuttin]

17. This is really disheartening.

I watch too much MSNBC, anyway.

[Chipper Chat]

18. Bring back Keith.

I know, I know - won't happen.

[Heather MC]

37. +1

Keith and Rachel are a knock out combination I miss him

[bahrbearian]

68. +2

[Sedona]

19. They should give him Mourning joe's spot

[ailsagirl]

57. 'Mourning Joe' LOL

Why not reduce the ridiculous number of hours his show hogs the airwaves (THREE hours daily--wtf?) and give Bashir a second airing, leaving one hour open. On second thought, get the hell RID of MJ altogether and add two more hours of Progressive programs. MJ has no redeeming qualities and it would fit in perfectly with the dolts over at Fox!

Just a thought.

[PufPuf23]

20. I have no TV post 2010 and don't radio and liked Rachel and Keith at MSNBC

before killing satelite TV dish (and live in an area without cellphones nor TV reception, my internet is $91.46 per month satelite or else long distance landline telephone).

TV news is really ugly compared to the 60s and 70s networks and even then news was filtered more now.

[jonthebru]

49. well then, that settles it.

[PufPuf23]

55. I think I enjoy your humor.

My perspective is not universal but was often from a catsbird seat.

Wish was younger and more optimistic. regret idealistic decisions but would make the same decisions. I have devolved from saving the world to managing my health and existence each day.

[Chunk]

21. Sip E Cupp can cohost

[Indpndnt]

26. Keep hiding behind that sofa. You've got to come out sometime!

[Comrade_McKenzie]

32. If she just sits there and looks pretty, fine. nt

[ailsagirl]

59. She is a simpering, cocky, know-it-all and I can't stand her

Last edited Fri Nov 16, 2012, 10:43 AM - Edit history (1)

That's all.

[ProfessorGAC]

71. When She Was On Maher. . .

. . . i found her punchable. I usually get that feeling when i see John Fund, but she flipped that switch the other night.
GAC

[HappyMe]

77. Saints preserve us!

[DianaForRussFeingold]

23. I love The Ed Show

[RepublicansRZombies]

25. obviously he was too popular and successful so he has to go

Why does everyone keep acting like Fox is our only problem?

The entire corporate media has been lying, they are all corrupt.

[ProudProgressiveNow]

27. "The Anti-Fox Gains Ground"

Bottom of the Article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/12/business/media/msnbc-its-ratings-rising-gains-ground-on-fox-news.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&

[KharmaTrain]

28. From A Fairly Reliable Source...

...who works in radio and knows Ed. He's had a rough couple months with his wife, Wendy's cancer. He's had to do a lot of traveling from near Fargo (where his home is) and Minneapolis and then New York. He does not only the nightly show but his daily 3 hour radio show as well and it's been wearing on him. It's especially difficult to do his TV show while he's away so much and I'm sure this was part of any decision that's being made. This person intimates this is more Ed's idea than MSNBC...

[underthematrix]

30. This makes more sense because he truly loves his wife

I love me some Ed and hopes he can at least do something on MSNBC once a week.

[We People]

84. Hope he'll stay on progressive radio as long as it's still around, which may not be that much longer

with all the talk of Clear Channel replacing much of it with other programming

I'd hate for Ed to be off TV AND talk radio - what a loss for us that would be.

[underthematrix]

29. I think Ed may need to take a break to be with wife.

[HappyMe]

78. This is kind of what I'm thinking.

He may want a leave of absence or something to be with her.

[sarcasmo]

31. Did Ruppert by NBC?

[MrMickeysMom]

34. Aside from Rachel's show, I hardly go to MSNBC since Current TV took off.

When I say, "took off", I mean took off for those who can get it.

Maybe Ed Shultz should talk to Mr. Gore.

[SoapBox]

38. Agreed...

I do like to try to get to Cenk's show and LOVE Gov. Granholm! After her speech at the DNC Convention, I loves her even more!!

[MrMickeysMom]

69. Agreed...

She inspires a lot of progressive goals. I can't help but think that they ARE building a progressive network. Everything is 5 star.

[DreWId]

76. Current online?

Is there any where to catch Current's broadcasts online? Our cable company doesn't even list Current as an option in any package.

[MrMickeysMom]

85. While you keep calling to get it in your listing...

(and, please keep doing that), you could try this - http://current.com/shows/

[AlGoreRhythms]

35. I thought they would give Rachel 8 p.m. before Ezra.

Don't get me wrong, he's fine, but he wouldn't last long at 8.

[SoapBox]

36. I love Ed!

I have him on every night, while I make dinner (it airs for us at 5PM Pacific).

He has that "fire in the belly" that so many of the milk-toast types don't...I love it...gets me fired up.

Ezra? Oh please. B.O.R.I.N.G....and Chris? Not much better.

IF this is true, WTF MSNBC? Leave it alone...this is what pisses me off so much about these "cable channels", in that they just change the line ups, programs and times willy-nilly. And then they wonder why we stop watching their channels.

I will await the proof.

[Shankapotomus]

39. Ezra Klein is dry and academic

His whole approach screams Sunday morning roundtable discussion. An 8pm prime time slot for him would be a disaster. It's a highly competitive time slot and you need someone who is animated and exciting and can draw viewers in.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

41. I'd like to see somethig different - maybe Stephanie Miller, Janeane Garofalo

or another political satirist. Throughout the day we see one similar show after another on MSNBC, covering the same stories and often with the same Michael Steele, David Corn, or Ed Rendell as guests. I think some political humor could bring in ratings. There aren't too many Jon Stewarts out there but I'd like to see the network try to groom someone with that kind of show in mind or a roundtable Bill Maher style show with both serious discussion and laughs. Olbermann used to mix very serious discussion with uproariously funny segments goofing on conservatives and I miss that on MSNBC.

[Shankapotomus]

43. I agree

And overrule myself on a Klein weekend morning slot. Hayes and Harris-Perry have that covered. I don't see any serious spot for Klein as of yet. I would like to see Janeane Garofalo at Current Tv rather than msnbc, though. Something to breathe new life into that channel. But I imagine their financial troubles make holding onto the people they already have difficult enough.

Another option for msnbc is a 30 minute Headline News style show of just straight news reporting with no opinion.

[madrchsod]

40. i think he`s much better on the radio

he controls his radio show which he can not do on msnbc.

plus his wife is sick and he can do his radio show closer to home.

[StrayKat]

42. Not Ready for Prime Time

Every time I see Ezra filling in for Rachel I think he's being groomed for his own show, but he's not good TV material. I've never made it through a full episode when he has subbed.

Ed has been a good replacement for Olberman. I'm sorry if his reason for leaving is his wife's illness, but understand, and wish them both good health.

I would like to see another bold, energetic type fill the slot rather than a dry wonk.

If they have to give Ezra a show, he'd be a much better replacement for Cupp on The Cycle (yuk).

[madamesilverspurs]

44. They could dispense with Tweety's rerun

if they want to add someone to the schedule.

Just a thought.


-

[ConnorMarc]

45. If They're Even Thinking of Getting Rid of Big Ed They're Making A Very Bad Mistake

Ed is a ratings bringer...I often listen to his radio show and watch the TV show, although I don't Tivo it, nor always listen to the radio show.

Ezra Klein is guest host status. Period. He'll tank the network if he headlines 8pm...no offense, I love him like a brother.

I used to miss Keith, but once Ed was in the slot, I got used to it. I don't miss him anymore.

Looking back at what Keith did...he often went overboard.

Keith clearly has an ego problem, I don't like that...and I love Keith like a brother too, but much less than before.

This is why we have Current, since they put on Morning Bill, I have ran from Morning Joe like a bat of our hell, so I Tivo and watch Bill Press, Stephanie Miller, hence I don't always get to listen to Ed's radio show, cause I'm usually catching up w/Bill and Steph.

I TV Alex Wagner, Chris Matthews and Al Sharpton, I watch all those daily.

So two Current shows, and at least 3 msnbc shows, every day.

As msnbc falls, Current will rise...it's OK. Rachel would do Current well. NBC's in Big Corpa's hands, so I really don't care if the floor drops from under them.

Sorry.

[standingtall]

46. Ed is the best pundit on MSNBC

If they take him off the air they lost their minds.

[krawhitham]

47. Ed is the weak link in the lineup, well tweety is but they will not get rid of him

I can not stand Ed, his political leanings very based on where he can make money

I still remember far right conservative Big Ed, he could not beat limbaugh so he switched teams for the money

[chillfactor]

58. I LOVE ED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He fights for the middle-class worker like no on else on TV...............

[lbrtbell]

61. Ed's views changed, thanks to his wife Wendy

She's the one who opened his eyes to the plight of working people. It's so sad that she has cancer...if Ed does leave MSNBC, I'm sure her illness is the reason why.

[Raine]

63. So a conservative can never give up childish things, see the light, grow up

and fight for the average guy.

[krawhitham]

75. not as hard core as he was, he was just as bad a Rush

[JI7]

65. Ed has helped when it comes to White Working Class Men, we need more like him

he calls out the right wing and shows that it's people like Romney who were the problem and hurting the white working class(plus everyone else), not minorities, women , gays , liberals etc.

[kaiserhog]

48. I miss Olberman.

[TTUBatfan2008]

50. Bring back Keith

[fadedrose]

51. NO NO NO And Rachel has pointedly been calling him "my friend" for ages now....

[fadedrose]

53. I sent an email to comcast...

http://customer.comcast.com/contact-us/

[oswaldactedalone]

54. I like Big Ed

Hope he can stay in the evening lineup. Please no Ezra Klein. Boring.

[ffr]

56. Ed out? Someone's reading too much into that for sure.

It talks about making MSNBC more political and doing away with the popular, but muddy to that direction, prison shows. All it says is with regard to time slots, that there may be an opening, not that Ed Shultz is out. This is how rumors get started.

Besides, if MSNBC is turning liberal thinkers into TV watching drones like Faux is, why would they ruin a good thing?

But MSNBC is becoming like Fox in at least one respect: in the length of time viewers tune in. MSNBC, citing Nielsen data, said the most loyal subset of its audience watched for 139 minutes a day, on average, versus 145 minutes a day for hard-core viewers of Fox News.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

60. Ezra Klein bores the hell out of me. MSNBC is in a constant state of musical chairs

with their hosts. I love Big Ed and could not listen to Klein on a daily basis. Schultz has attracted viewers
from fox. This sounds like a really stupid move.

[Raine]

62. I hope not. I LOVE ED, he's my favorite. nt

[mzmolly]

64. I hope they move Ed to one of Matthew's slots if

Ezra Klein gets a show. MSNBC would be very foolish to get rid of Ed.

[mzmolly]

66. UPDATE - MSNBC denies the story here:

“We’re very happy with the performance of our primetime lineup, which topped Fox News Channel three nights this week. There are no changes planned.”

http://www.mediaite.com/online/ny-times-reports-msnbcs-ed-schultz-may-lose-show-to-washington-posts-ezra-klein/

[DAMANgoldberg]

67. I honestly don't see why his program can't be done in Minneapolis...

Especially with the Political Season essentially over. Comcast owns ShopNBC, which is broadcast from the Twin Cities, but few watch it. You also have Michael Smerconish for that spot or 7P on the bench, any of the daysiders, Martin Bashir @ 8P. Here is one from left field: Dan Patrick of NBC Sports, and a liberal I might add, without the divaness of Keith.

[barbiegeek]

83. You're a Genius

[Helen Reddy]

70. My 3 cents.

Bashir on at Tweety's 7 o'clock slot. Leave Klein on as a guest(only). Finney on at Bashir's 4 slot.

Sometimes insomnia is good. Maddow- O'donnell, over and over again. Can't get enough of them.

[wishlist]

72. Ezra has zero political backbone or opinions, just a numbers guy

I haven't seen Ezra once since before the election. Before the election when he was asked his opinion he always made it clear he would not make any political comments, but strictly give factual number crunching info. Of course, we claim him as a progressive since Dems are the party of reality based number crunching and numbers are on our side when it comes to economics (tax cuts to wealthy don't create jobs or increase growth etc). I can't seem him as a host, just as a contributor of facts that tend to back Democratic policies.

Love Ed, will miss him greatly but sympathize with him if he has decided to leave.

[dembotoz]

73. ed has a common man quality about him that would be dreadful to loose

the rest of the line up seems way to --shall we say egg head?????

at times yes ed is annoying and could someone please tell him enough of the text polls....

and yes i would trade him--or anyone else in the lineup in a heartbeat for Keith.

i would hate to see ed go

[tarheelsunc]

74. I don't understand why they wouldn't put Ezra at 7PM

Hardball runs twice as it is.

[noel711]

79. If this 'change' is Ed's idea... let him tell us!

I wanna hear it from Ed.

If the travel/work schedule is too grueling,
then broadcast from Minneapolis.
But don't leave us Ed.

Ed plays it straight. Ed was the man out on the cold streets
of Madison during the Walker demonstrations.
Ed is the one who grabs those who are in the trenches,
the people doing the real work,
people with dirty hands.. not the soft hands of the Wall street slimes.

I wanna hear it from Ed.

BUT remember: Comcast bought MSNBC; they are very conservative.
Despite the soaring numbers at MSNBC, they could gut the whole operation.

[forestpath]

81. Ed is a passionate voice for unions and the working class. He is greatly needed. Watching

Ezra Klein is like watching paint dry, if that paint was kinda supercilious.

[barbiegeek]

82. Seriously, WTF. First Keith now ED--Bullshit

[Anthony McCarthy]

86. Ed Schultz might get me to watch

Ezra Klein, not so much.

It would be a huge mistake to drop Ed Schultz.

[ecstatic]

87. It's pretty clear that MSNBC doesn't care about profit or ratings

Their weekend programming is the first clue. The station is someone's pet project or tax shelter. They've fired a lot of great people for no reason (KO, David Shuster, Phil Donahue, and now Ed Shultz???) because it's just a game to whoever is in charge.

[GoCubsGo]

88. It's pretty clear the guy who wrote the article is full of shit.

Ed said as much on his radio show today. He isn't going anywhere.

[librechik]

90. Ed responded to this tweet by saying on his show this morning that as far as he knew,

he was staying at MSNBC and was scheduled for at least the next 2 weeks

(I guess he doesn't know about the policy of kicking folks out 10 minutes before the end of a broadcast--the last broadcast, as it turns out--like MSNBC did to Olbermann. )

[JI7]

91. and remember Phil Donohue during the BUsh Years , suddenly fired despite ratings being good

the year Bush started the war in Iraq.

[librechik]

92. yup--for daring to schedule guests who questioned Bush's war plans

disgusting