Morning Joe is great today. Joe and Mika are not there. Katy Kay (sp?) and Donnie Deutsch are

[monmouth3]

doing a great job running the show with little or no snark, just discussing the news. What a pleasure it was to watch.

[ejpoeta]

1. it's sad when the only time a show is good is when the host(s) aren't there.

I haven't watched the show in a long time.... i don't have cable. But when I did watch this show it just got me all mad and anxious.

[House of Roberts]

2. I noticed the air was fresher than usual. Thomas Roberts is there too.

I keep one tuner of my DVR on MSNBC, so I swapped to it, and saw Joy Reid, then I rewound to the start of the show.

At the beginning, Nicolle Wallace was really trashing Ted Cruz, calling him 'intellectually dishonest', 'fearmongering', and 'lying to the voters'.

[monmouth3]

3. I kept it on far longer than usual. I could even tolerate Wallace who I sometimes think Joe

encourages to be less than intellectual...LOL..

[House of Roberts]

4. I normally have Bill Press on until it's time for Democracy Now.

And it's time for Democracy Now, now.

[CTyankee]

5. Joe is gone and poof! We have a whole line up of WOMEN commenting on the issues of the day!

It was a productive morning on the set of Morning Joe! Even Nicolle Wallace was a bit more measured and reasonable. I loved the respectful way they spoke to each other and the (mostly) good behavior of the male panelists. When the lineup is all men and just subservient Mika the place sometimes gets zoo-like and is unwatchable. Today was a breath of fresh air. Things got discussed rationally and calmly. Nobody started yelling and waving their arms...

[monmouth3]

6. There are many changes going on at MSNBC (Ed taking Tweety's slot). Hopefully MJ will see a change

in the near future...One can only hope.

[CTyankee]

7. It certainly would be more exciting. I honestly don't understand Joe's appeal. After the first

couple of times watching him spazz out on the set, it becomes old hat. Why relegate these excellent women commentators to the dead of August?

[Mike Daniels]

8. A discussion show works better when there's an actual discussion taking place

Hard to have an exchange of ideas when the host monopolizes the conversation or interrupts someone as soon as they start raising a point he doesn't agree with.

To be fair, the problem with the show is Joe and Joe alone. When Mika doesn't have to deal with Joe's interruptions and sophomoric frat-boy persona or play the female sidekick she improves immeasurably as well.