Phil Donahue. Dan Rather, Young Turks, Ed Schultz or Thom Hartmann to MSNBC?

[Pryderi]

[valerief]

1. Hartmann, all the way!!!!! Phil and Dan can sub for him sometimes. nt

[snowbear]

8. I'd have to agree!

.
.

Thom would do a stellar job! ..They all would, but yeah.. Thom with Phil and Dan as fill-ins!

[kingpin8399]

40. TYT or Ed Shultz!!

thom hartmann knows his stuff, but he doesnt seem like a tv personality, just isnt the TV type. im glad randi rhodes isnt an option, she is the WORST.

[ihavenobias]

41. Exactly. I think most people are voting with who'd they'd like to see as opposed to

who would get ratings.

IMO, TYT would accomplish both (as would some of the other choices). But I really do love Thom Hartmann (on radio).

[TheDebbieDee]

2. I can't decide. All of those guys spell "WIN"!

[Thrill]

3. The Young Turks

[PassingFair]

13. I voted for Tom... but I LOVE Cenk.

Can we have them BOTH?

:bounce:

[ihavenobias]

16. TYT, and here's why. (BONUS: Video of Donahue in studio with Cenk)

A lot of young people were engaged this last election cycle. I'm not sure that another old white guy (even if that person is as intelligent and awesome as Hartmann or Donahue) is the way to go.

I think we need to appeal to a younger audience, and KEEP the fired up youth, well, fired up. And hey, a Turkish American who came here when he was 8 and worked his way up (as did his father) to prestigious schools including law school? I think that's pretty appealing.

That's in addition to a funny, unique and animated approach.

PS---Here is a video of Phil Donahue in-studio with Cenk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdCKfyWJAqY

[FatDave]

47. While I don't necessarily disagree with you...

...I would like to point out that young people don't necessarily automatically relate to young people and shut out older people. They relate to people who share their ideals. And I think Hartmann shares a lot of the ideals of the young people who supported Obama so strongly.

[ihavenobias]

48. While I don't necessarily disagree with you either...

I would point out that it's not Thom's ideas I have a problem with. I LOVE Thom's ideas, even more than I do Cenk's most of the time.

But there are two components to a tv job: substance and style.

Hartmann clearly tops the list in substance, but he's SO dry. That doesn't stop me from listening to his show which I LOVE, but it *does* stop a lot of people (even many progressives I know) from listening. They just get bored, and that's with radio.

TV is much more fast paced with many more short attention spans. Thom would be Brilliant on C-SPAN or PBS, and he IS brilliant in short bursts as a pundit on the other cable networks including MSNBC. But do you honestly think his long tangents on history (while fascinating to nerds like us) will appeal to a broad audience?

IMO, Cenk is hands down more entertaining to a younger audience AND they share most of his ideas. The 63 million views and counting in an 18th month period on youtube is plenty proof of that.

PS---And again, it'd be nice to have some diversity.

[20score]

55. In a perfect world, my friend, we would have all of the above on television. Plus Amy Goodman.

And Stephanie Miller.

[FatDave]

66. I understand where you're coming from about TV presence.

I'm a fan of Mythbusters. I don't know if you've seen it, but the two main guys on the show are Adam and Jamie. Jamie's super-smart, can build all manner of wacky contraptions, but is all business. There are fungi who think the guy's low key. Adam, on the other hand, is constantly clowning for the camera and usually hurting himself. In short, Jamie brings a lot of substance, but couldn't carry the show by himself.

Thom Hartmann is like Jamie. Lotta substance, but he might not be able to carry the show by himself. But give him a good partner to balance him out, and it might be great. Hell, even if he had a nightly "Mr. Hartmann's History Lesson" segment would be good.

Now if Mythbusters would just make some new damn episodes already....

[ihavenobias]

86. Yeah, I've watched the show before.

Mr. Hartmann's History Lession I could get behind, but I'm not sure that's what they have in mind.

:)

[genna]

98. The difference between listening to Cenk and Hartmann is the

difference between playing Nintendo and watching paint dry. There is no comparison in terms of style, animation, and vigor.

I don't necessarily write someone off because they bore me, but I'd rather listen to get CSPAN depth with Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow's sense of humor.

[Touchdown]

4. Rather has an excellent show on HDNet already.

Investigative reports, and documentaries. Much better than him sitting at a desk, listening to some Heritage Foundation idiot filibuster.

[navarth]

5. you of course have forgotten to mention

The Young Turks, Laura Flanders.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. Didn't Donahue's show do well on MSNBC only to be yanked because he didn't support the war?

[20score]

56. Yes, his show was the highest rated on MSNBC at the time.

[ihavenobias]

61. Phil actuallly joined Cenk to discuss the MSNBC fall-out (Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6-HuG20B_Y&eurl=|Phil Donahue on TYT...Tells the Aftermath of MSNBC>

[Window]

75. Thanks Tom. I hadn't seen that video before...very interesting.

Peace:thumbsup:

[helderheid]

7. Other - all 3 roundtable discussion.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. I might have voted Hartman if not for his moronic herbal viagra ad.

Hard to picture Donahue lowering himself that way.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. Delete

[mucifer]

11. why can't we get some racial diversity in the lineup?

I'd like Frangela. www.frangela.com
They are hilarious and politically astute.

[ihavenobias]

20. Cenk is Turkish American (came here when he was 8). Oh, and his name is "Cenk".

:)

[Pryderi]

12. I added the Young Turks.

[mucifer]

14. that helps. It's definately one of my pet peeves.

[lib2DaBone]

15. I love Young Turks... but Hartman knows his stuff inside and out...

[ihavenobias]

18. He does and he's the main reason I renewed to Air America. But...

I'm not sure his incredibly informative, dry approach will work on TV.

Again, before anyone tries to blast me for saying that, reread the part about how I renewed my Air America membership just for him!

He's BRILLIANT. I honestly think he's THE most well informed talk show host in the country. But I also think that Cenk is much more *entertaining*, and I think he'd appeal to a younger, less wonkish demographic.

That's important because A LOT of young(er) people were engaged this last election. We need to reach out to them, appeal to them and keep them engaged. Another old white guy (I'm white BTW) may not be the best way to do that IMO, as much as I love that old white guy. :)

PS---Here's Donahue in studio with Cenk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdCKfyWJAqY

And here's Maddow with Cenk on Meet The Bloggers: http://meetthebloggers.org/show_080108.php

Finally, here's Cenk on CNN-HN defending Gen. Wesley Clark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcXJ_UOn2-g

[ecstatic]

17. Donahue has personality...so I voted for him :) nt

[Pryderi]

19. I would've put Mike Malloy and Randi Rhodes, but they're both kinda

Limbaugh-like on the liberal side.

[MarjorieG]

21. Rather and Hartmann know their stuff, but Donahue more unsubstantiated, emotional appeal.

We need reasoned arguments to make our case to erase the entrenched GOP line and imbalance towards the numbers of GOP guests on shows. All could be discredited if pointed out properly.

[Pryderi]

22. Um...I hate to beg, but could I get some "recs" for this thread? n/t

[ihavenobias]

23. Done, to the greatest. n/t

[Pryderi]

24. Thanks! I hope every DUer votes. :) n/t

[eleny]

25. I have so much respect for Thom, but Cenk will bring in the ratings, imo

From what I've seen on YouTube, the camera likes Cenk. He thinks fast, can be humorous or very serious, knows his stuff and conducts interviews very well.

But whoever it is, I'm delighted that MSNBC wants to add to the lineup.

[ihavenobias]

29. Exactly. Over 63 million views on youtube in just 18 months! That=A LOT of younger viewers

That's exactly what we need to keep progressive ideals thriving. Plus he'd add some much needed diversity to the lineup (in more ways than one).

[camera obscura]

26. Rather would be able to get high profile guests & bring new viewers to the channel.

He's my pick.

[ihavenobias]

28. I like Dan, but honestly I think they can ALL bring high profile guests!

Considering Cenk has had Alan Greenspan and Ted Kennedy on the show (in addition to so many others), he still has my vote.

But yes, Dan is good, no question. :)

[Norrin Radd]

27. Eugene Robinson.

I tried to email my suggestion to MSNBC, but it got bounced back. Anyone have a more recent list of email addys?

Or I'd be happy with Sam Seder and Marc Maron, and or Marc's former radio partner Mark Riley.

[Seldona]

30. The Young Turks all the way.

:)

[itsrobert]

31. Stephanie Miller?

why not?

[jenmito]

33. I love her. She's funny.

[Snarkoleptic]

35. I believe that both Stephanie and Thom post at DU.

Anyone know their screennames?

[jenmito]

36. Really? I'll try to find out. n/t

[Lochloosa]

73. Here is Thom's. He has only 3 posts under that name. Maybe he has another one.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=197528

[ihavenobias]

39. How well would the fark jokes, laughter and other goofy jingles and sound effects translate to tv?

I'm not saying anything, I'm just sayin'.

;)

[MedfordTim]

54. She's a morning person - Cenk is a better fit

When she did the two week stint after the Imus affair, it went fairly well, but Steph can't be limited to an hour. I would GLADLY support her taking over the Morning Joe spot and let Joe go down to Orlando and get a job parking cars at Disneyworld.

[regnaD kciN]

62. Her show translated very well...

...the two (or was it three?) days she filled in on MSNBC after Imus got canned. All three of them (Steph, Chris, and Jim) have good "stage presence" for television. Of course, the fact that Steph is drop-dead gorgeous doesn't hurt matters. ;-)

[ihavenobias]

63. She's smart and she's attractive but I agree with MedfordTim (she's a morning person).

She may not like waking up at "stupid o'clock" or "insane o'clock" or whatever, but she fills that role well for many.

:)

[regnaD kciN]

59. Other -- another vote for Steph!

[jenmito]

32. I like Ed Schultz. Looks like most don't agree. n/t

[Alcibiades]

78. I like him, too

Tough choices here. I like them all.

[Snarkoleptic]

34. MSNBC could open up another slot by getting rid of Scarborough.

He's most certainly the turd in the punchbowl.

[FatDave]

50. I never understood why they keep him.

Why do they want to compete with Faux for the conservative morning audience when nobody's serving the left in that slot? Shit, put Dan Abrams on in the mornings. At least it'd give the liberals some morning news love.

[obiwan]

72. Agreed. Someone please flush the punchbowl.

[Sugarcoated]

37. Phil Donahue

I miss him and I miss his old old talk show. I don't know how far to the left a Democrat he is, but he expresses his views in a non-partisan seeming way. It would be great to see him asked back to MSNBC after the terrible way he was handled.

[ejbr]

38. Cenk! Cenk! He's our man!

If he can't do it, then it's a sham! RAH! RAH! TEAM!!! :bounce:

(though I'm sure the others are LOVELY choices..)

[grasswire]

42. how about a group?

Donahue in charge, Miller and Ronnie Reagan on the side, and Rather for special reports.

[pleah]

43. Damn, can't I vote for all of the above?

Wouldn't that be great if they each could have one night a week at that time slot?

[Hawkowl]

44. Hartman best on economy

Hartman's grasp of the economy and the Rethuglicans historical record on attacking the middle class would be priceless on televison every night.

[theFrankFactor]

45. Personally, Cenk's Sensibilities and Politics Echo My Own and...

Somewhat like Rachel adds a new color to the pallet, I think Cenk would too. I love all those people but considering the venue, I vote Cenk. When I saw him as a guest on cable he provided a fresh, un-kool-aid-ified, independent and strong voice for Progressives.

[20score]

46. I would have to go with Thom Hartmann. Smartest person on the radio.

[RazBerryBeret]

49. Love TYT...

and Cenk is incredibly entertaining..I think both sides could watch him and love it....

[mzmolly]

51. "All of the above"

:hi:

[Frank Booth]

52. I can't stand TYT.

Go Dan!!

[ihavenobias]

53. A very well reasoned, well thought out comment.

Oh wait...never mind.

;)

[Frank Booth]

69. You want a reason?

It sucks.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Frank Booth]

99. You're mighty protective of boring, self-promoting YouTube commentators.

[navarth]

101. pfft.

If you want to come around soaping windows, don't whine when I turn the hose on you.

You could have been decent, you weren't. End of subject.

[aaaaaa5a]

57. I voted for Ed Schultz....

I want a hard hitting liberal at 10pm. Not someone who may be more logical or ideologically correct but has less impact with viewing audiences.

[1776Forever]

82. I am so with you - Thom is great on radio - just cannot see him on TV.

Go Ed!

[aaaaaa5a]

58. I voted for Ed Schultz....

I want a hard hitting liberal at 10pm. Not someone who may be more logical or ideologically correct but has less impact with viewing audiences.

[OwnedByFerrets]

60. I LOVE Thom and respect him more than ANY other

radio person, but from what I've seen, he isn't right for television. He doesn't have the pizazz to pull it off.

[20score]

64. Now that I have given this some thought, as opposed to my knee-jerk - Amy Goodman would be my first

choice, followed by Thom Hartmann. Cenk and the rest on the list would be fantastic, but seeing real news back on television... well nothing comes close to having an informed public for moving the country in the right direction.

[Radical Activist]

65. None.

I don't want to have to watch some corporate news bullshit channel to hear/see progressive commentators. I don't like MSNBC and the less I tune in the better.

[navarth]

87. well, yeah but

how are we going to get the message out if we adopt that attitude? we need to reach the sheeple somehow don't we?

[jgraz]

67. Sam Seder

[proud2BlibKansan]

68. I have had a crush on Phil Donahue for 30 years

I got to meet him last year and still cherish the picture I took with him.

So Phil gets my vote.

[Change has come]

70. Thom Hartmann

That was easy!

[ttttttt]

71. GO Cenk!

IMHO I cant think of no one better suited for the role than Cenk Uygur at TYT! Not only does he know his stuff but hes also a great TV personality!
Go Cenk!

[Kira]

74. Donahue and Sam Seder!

[SoFlaJet]

76. They can't have back to back AAR personalities on

MSNBC will be called wacko leftists every day on a million radio shows and the same by every single RW talking head that shows up on every TV show. So even though I voted Hartman I will re-think my choice.

[SoFlaJet]

77. I heard Bill Maher

from my wife and when I Goggled it up it is from some site that "could harm my computer' so take it for what it's worth.

[Pryderi]

79. I think Donahue and Rather are too old to appeal to the target demographics...n/t

[SKKY]

80. I really like Cenk, A LOT. I'm just not sure he could hold a nationally televised audience.

TYT seems to be very focused in their target audience.

[1776Forever]

81. I think with Ed Schultz background from being on TV so much he is the best candidate here.

I think it is already in the works as he is moving to D.C. next week. He talked about this earlier and is friends with David Shuster. He made Twitty mad when he called Bush an idiot!

Go ED!!!!:applause: :woohoo: :applause:

[Beacool]

84. I don't care one way or another.

I don't watch that network.

:shrug:

[spooky3]

85. Why not ALL of them, on multiple networks?

Anderson Cooper could use some help on CNN and all of the "major networks" could benefit from at least commentary segments on their nightly news shows.

[Turborama]

88. Cenk, Kick and Rec'd to 20 n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

89. I sure miss Phil.

[AtomicKitten]

90. Thom Hartmann!!

[OnionPatch]

91. Hartmann!

He's smart and articulate. I love that he knows so much history. He makes a more convincing case in support of liberal ideals than anyone I've heard before.

[BuyingThyme]

92. Malloy.

[Captain Lance Bass]

93. Big Ed all the way

Hartman to loony left..will turn off any independent thinkers

Donahue, Rather to old


Big Ed is middle America and can hold his own

[ribrepin]

94. Bill Press or Ron Reagan

[kingpin8399]

95. you guys arent thinking this through, thom hartmann, bill press, ron reagan = BORING TV = NO RATINGS

[ihavenobias]

96. As I said in a previous comment, I think most people are choosing who *they* like rather than

who they like in conjunction with who they objectively think will actually do well and get ratings.

I LOVE Thom Hartmann (he's *the* most well informed talk show host on the planet IMO), but he's very dry, and I don't think that works well at all on TV outside of short bursts. And I think the new host should be someone who can engage a younger audience.

Even though he's not my first choice, I do think Ed Schultz would be good because he could reach the moderate Repubs, Dems and Indes, especially red-staters who enjoy huntin' and fishin', etc. That doesn't interest me in the slightest, but objectively speaking, I'm happy Ed is out there appealing to that audience.

[rcrush]

97. Please let Dan Rather keep doing Dan Rather Reports on HDNET

His HDNET show is fucking awesome. Best investigative reporting I've seen in a LONG time. Same for HDNET World Reports.

[Bjorn Against]

100. I would love to see Hartmann on there, but I am guessing we will get a right-winger

I hate to say it, and I would love to be proven wrong but my guess is they are going to give us a right-wing blowhard. MSNBC has never been a liberal network, they found out that Olbermann and Maddow can get them pretty good ratings so they give them airtime but the network is still owned by a major military contractor and I am sure that they want someone who represents the corporate views better.

[YanquiUXO]

102. I like Hartmann, but...

I think Cenk would be a perfect fit for MSNBC.

[bunkerbuster1]

103. MSNBC would NEVER permit Hartmann, sorry.

Too pro-union. the GE corporate overlords wouldn't let Hartmann bite the hand that feeds him, methinks.

[Occam Bandage]

104. Ana Marie Cox. nt

[a kennedy]

105. voted other......need an African American......like Warren Ballentine

we need people of color on MSNBC now!! dontcha think it's about time??? :patriot:

[ihavenobias]

106. I agree on diversity, which is another reason to like Cenk Uygur

He's got color *and* he's a Turkish American, so he and his family have the immigrant experience that makes this country great!

Plus, America is ready for it after electing someone with a "funny name".

:)