According to the New York Times, Chris Hayes will be replacing Ed Schultz as the 8PM lead-in to Rachel Maddow’s program on MSNBC.
This means he’ll be up against the Papa Bear of cable news talk shows: Bill O’Reilly. The question is what this will mean for the quality of Hayes’ cable news work. Up with Chris Hayes is a legitimate reason to get up early on the weekend. I like nothing better than frying up my eggs and preparing my coffee while watching two hours of actual thoughtful discussion with actual writers and thinkers that are worthwhile.
I have always suspected that part of what made the program so great was that so few people watched it. With such a small audience in such an uncompetetive time slot, Hayes was able to, you know, do actual cable news. He was basically the Conan O’Brian of weekend political talk shows. And remember what happened to Conan when he got promoted?
I really, really, REALLY hope that this new spotlight gives Hayes the resources to do even better work, elevating the discussion for more people, and introducing a less partisan voice to MSNBC’s nightly line-up. I also really, really, REALLY don’t think that’s what’s going to happen, and am sincerely saddened because of it.
[UPDATE 1] – A friend passed this along. Up with Chris Hayes is one of the more diverse Sunday morning shows by a long shot.
I’m worried that the need to produce new material every weekday will water down his quality. Running a nightly news show has to be insanely tough.Report
I fear the same thing, but suspect he’ll still be a lot better than almost anybody else. But I will miss his weekend shows.Report
Yeah, this is a big deal. Having a day versus a week to digest the news, consider all viewpoints, and get relevant guests makes a huge difference. I doubt that *all* of the other newscasters set out to make thoughtless shows, but just that the BREAKING NEWS/INSTANT REACTION format significantly limits the how thoughtful they can be.Report
Considering his shows are two hours and quite frankly, I feel a lot of times the discussions get cut off just when they’re getting good, I can easily see him expanding his current two-hour show to five one-hour shows without too much bloat and typical partisan warfare.Report
Ed Show was a waste of space. I watch Rachel Maddow and have to endure the last bit of Ed Show before she starts. Ed wasn’t mean enough to be a Billo and not quite crazy enough to beat Rush Limbaugh though he sure as hell tried. Putting that wizened grifter Maxine Waters on all the time just annoyed me. And will someone please, please put Rev. Al out to pasture? He just burns my bacon.
MSNBC needs to get smarter or meaner or both. It’s like a Symphony for Single Cymbal.Report