Ed Schultz Exits MSNBC, and Does So with Class

When I think of Ed Schultz, "class" isn't the first word that leaps to mind. He's not a host for all tastes, and frankly, he wasn't to mine. As a long-time listener of liberal talk radio, I have long been familiar with Schultz. Frankly, there aren't very many liberal hosts (belying the "liberal media" cliché), so he'd pop up quite a bit when lineups were shuffled, and such. The first time I'd heard him, I thought at first he was Rush Limbaugh. And Limbaugh is nearly (remember, I said nearly) the furthest thing from class I can imagine.

So, I can't call myself a fan of Shultz. I've watched his show occasionally, more this year than before because of my new time zone and my sabbatical for full-time work. But I've really never much cared for his style, though I appreciated what he stood for. Ed can be overly strident, and so can his fans, to the point of a bluster, which does not endear me. So, I met the news of MSNBC's cancellation of The Ed Show with little in the way of sorrow. But I have to say, Ed's parting shot to his network, and his viewers changed my mind a bit. Here, at a time when he could have dynamited his bridges, he instead went out in as classy a way as I've ever seen for a person in his position.
 

Now, I have to say, there is another bombastic figure on the news-scape; a man who loves the word "class," who has none: Donald Trump. Trump keeps misusing that word. I'm sure he really means "crass," and just has a bit of trouble with confusing them, like I do with "affect" and "effect." And whatever I think of Ed, I think it's a shame we're losing one more voice against the Trumps of the world. I swear, if anything happens to Rachel Maddow, John Oliver or Bill Maher, I'm going to lose it! I'm just relieved that Berkeley Breathed has come back, and hopeful about the looming return of one Stephen Colbert. . .

Big Shake Up at MSNBC

Ed Schultz, from source, PoliticsUSA

I've been a regular watcher of MSNBC since Countdown with Keith Olbermann first caught fire, back during the dog days of the George W. Bush administration. After a several years-long honeymoon from the media on Bush, finally someone was on the teevee telling it like it was! It was refreshing. He was pretty much the only one.

For all the talk of "liberal media bias," I wonder how many people remember the climate after 9/11 and on through the beginnings of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It was a time of "Freedom Fries," and Dixie Chicks boycotts. Bill Maher being cancelled for being politically incorrect on Politically Incorrect. If you criticized Dubya, you could be met with, "Why do you hate America?" Freedom, liberty, patriot. . .all of these words were appropriated and practically trademarked by the GOP.

So yeah, Olbermann--bombastic as he was--was like a beacon of sanity in the middle of a surreal, conservative alternate reality that we somehow got sucked into. Eventually, the more popular Olbermann got, the more his network, MSNBC, came to take on more of his flavor. Rachel Maddow went from appearing sporadically on other shows to appearing regularly on Keith's show, to guest hosting, to her own show. And when Olbermann was shown the door, Rachel carried on, becoming the face of the network. I still watch her show, as is evidenced by her regular appearance on my blog.

Occasionally, you'll see other MSNBC clips here, but not too often. As Maddow spun off from Olbermann, so too did The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. I like him, but he's not "must see" viewing for me. Likewise, All In with Chris Hayes spun off from Maddow.  Hayes is drier, wonkier. He's good, but again, not appointment viewing. With each generation of cloning, the shows (beyond

See? No "News" in the name.

Rachel) seemed to lose something. And then MSNBC seemed to make the mistake of trying to clone its evening shows all over the schedule. It became almost entirely a politics and news commentary channel.

Actually, there is very little wrong with that concept. Unlike FOX "News"--who they are often and unfairly considered the mirror counterpart--MSNBC doesn't have "news" in its name. It doesn't bill itself as "fair and balanced." Its slogans are "lean forward" and "the place for politics." So, their political leanings are completely fine, or ought to be. The weak spot was ratings, and I believe that's because it became very much stuck in a rut. There is a sameness across the day, with similar guests, similar styles, similar sets, colors, music, hosts. When most of the shows have such interchangeable parts, nothing is appointment viewing anymore.

So, MSNBC is shaking things up, and jettisoning some of their daytime programming. The old heave-ho to Now with Alex Witt, to The Cycle (the landing ground for a handful of guests from other shows) and The Ed Schultz Show. In their place will be an attempt at NBC-style "hard news." None of these things make me sad. Except that some of it will be hosted by Chuck Todd, who I think is kind of a tool, and one with a bit of a conservative bent. Joining him will be Brian Williams, on his road to redemption. So, cool, we may have some better place to turn for actual news then we've had lately.

This, I'd love to see, but I kinda doubt it.

Also, goodbye Ed Schultz, I won't miss you most of all. If you'd taken Rev. Al with you, it wouldn't make me sad either (someone please tell Al he actually has a working microphone?). I've never, never cared for Ed, and thought he was a bad fit from day one. So, that's my favorite part of this news. Now, they'll probably follow these changes with more. I wouldn't be surprised to see Chris Hayes at least moved if not cancelled. O'Donnell could see the same, I suppose. Rachel Maddow is likely going nowhere, unless they move her up an hour. And who knows about Lockup. I'll never figure out why they still air that so often.

All in all, change is inevitable in television programing, even if we can tend to get used to our old favorites. FOX "News" had an unusually stable roster for most of its existence, but has seen a few shakeups in recent years. CNN is still wont to cancel and move stuff around. So I say great. Hope it works, hope it makes things better. Just don't mess with my Rachel, mmm'kay?

[Excerpt]

 

MSNBC Is Canceling Ed Schultz And Giving His Show To Chuck Todd

 

MSNBC is expected to announce that they are canceling Ed Schultz and giving his timeslot to Meet The Press host Chuck Todd. Mediaite is reporting that The Ed Show along with two other programs will be canceled. . .

 

Read more at: PoliticsUSA

Ed Schultz Changes Mind, Now Opposes Keystone XL Pipeline

I listen to Ed Schultz most days at work, sort of by default. I like to listen to talk radio, but enjoy the left-wing variety. Which, if you didn't know, is a very scarce commodity. And since Tom Hartmann switched to a later hour (where he conflicts with Randi Rhodes), I'm pretty much stuck with Schultz.

I'm not a fan. I find him very knee-jerk, blustery, loud and rough around the edges. Sandwiched between Stephanie Miller and Rhodes, Schultz just comes off as sour. But I usually listen (when Ed deigns to be on for all or part of the show, which is less often than you'd think). And lately, he's been even more irritating, on several issues, but notably, on the Keystone XL pipeline.

Ed was all for it. He proudly announced his diversion from the "party line," and made it a centerpiece in his show. Over a period of a few weeks, Ed's been softening, and now he's apparently changed his mind. Which I think  is worth a bit of an attaboy. Most people in his position would hold fast, or just stop talking about it, moving on to the next controversy.

[Excerpt]

Keystone Supporter Ed Schultz Now Opposes The Pipeline, Tells President Obama To Go To Nebraska

 

Ed Schultz, host of MSNBC’s The Ed Show, has changed his mind and become the latest prominent opponent of approving the Keystone XL pipeline. Schultz had angered Keystone opponents by taking the State Department environmental analysis at face value, arguing that the oil is going to come out of Alberta anyways, and the pipeline could be better for the climate. The report left some key context out, and over the course of the last few weeks, Schultz has had a very public — and fascinating — process of coming to grips with the arguments against the pipeline. Climate Progress’ Joe Romm was a guest as this process started. . .

 

Read more at: Think Progress

"Rainbow House" Owner Takes on Westboro Baptist Church

You've probably seen that guy Aaron Jackson, who bought a house across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church, the hate group run by Rev. Fred Phelps. Jackson runs a charity, and in this case is focusing on anti-bullying, and helping at-risk kids. The charity's new Topeka, Kansas headquarters will be in that house, which Jackson had painted to resemble the gay pride rainbow flag.
It's only fair when you consider that Phelps regularly displays banners that say charming things like "God Hates America," and "God Hates Fags" for all the neighborhood to have to see.

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Chris Hayes to Get Prime Time MSNBC Show

Image from source, Talking Points Memo

It didn't take long for MSNBC to replace Ed Shultz, whose show is moving to weekends. Chris Hayes, host of Up on weekend mornings, will be hosting the 8:00 pm Eastern block. Hayes has also been a frequent contributor to many MSNBC programs, and is Editor-at-Large of The Nation magazine. He began appearing on the network on The Rachel Maddow Show, often guest hosting, much the same way as Maddow had on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

As I said previously (on this suddenly-top-heavy-with-MSNBC-posts blog), I'm not a huge fan of Ed Schultz, though I wish him well. I am much more of a fan of Chris Hayes, who I find to be very thoughtful, well-spoken and wicked smart. He just needs to calm down the gestures and the bounciness.

[Excerpt]

Chris Hayes ‘Looking Forward’ To Primetime Slot On MSNBC

MSNBC announced Thursday that Chris Hayes will take over the network's 8 p.m. ET primetime slot. “I am thrilled to be joining Rachel and Lawrence in primetime,” Hayes said in a release. “I've absolutely loved hosting UP on the weekends and I'm looking forward to thinking through the news five nights a week. . .”

Read more at: Talking Points Memo

The Ed Show Moves to Weekends on MSNBC

I've been something of a fan* of MSNBC since Countdown with Keith Olbermann switched gears and started speaking out against the Iraq War. Already a fan of Rachel Maddow, I was happy to add her program to my schedule, and when Olbermann left, I stuck with her, and occasionally some of their other programming. I've enjoyed the other personalities like Ezra Klein, Chris Hayes, Ari Melber (sigh), Melissa Harris-Perry and several others, including the occasional Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Last Call with Lawrence O'Donnell episodes. But I'm not a huge fan of Ed Schultz.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It's not that I particularly dislike him, and I'll acknowledge that he's done a lot for liberal causes. But I find his program to be the least newsy of the MSNBC programs I ever watch, and have never become a fan of Ed's style. Still, I wish him well on the weekend startup, and I hope his wife is getting better from her illness.

[Excerpt]

The Ed Show moves to weekend evenings on MSNBC this spring

MSNBC’s “The Ed Show,” hosted by Ed Schultz, will move to weekend evenings next month. The announcement was made by Ed Schultz on his broadcast this evening. “The Ed Show” will air live on MSNBC from 5-7 pm on Saturdays and Sundays beginning in April. More details of Ed’s new weekend program will be announced in the coming weeks. . .

Read more at: NBCNews




*I should note, that when I say "fan," I'm not a superfan, like many FOX "News" enthusiasts. While I am no doubt an unabashed fan of Rachel Maddow, I have no particular affection for big corporations like Comcast or GE. I'm grateful that MSNBC provides an outlet for Maddow, and by extension several other smarties I'm fond of. It ends there. M'mkay? M'mkay.

Thom Hartmann: Why is FOX "News" Supporting the Christian "Taliban"?

I've abandoned Thom Hartmann since his radio show changed time slots, and went up against The Randi Rhodes Show. Sorry, Thom, I love you. But Randi is my radio goddess. And thanks a lot for leaving me with "Big Eddie."* Anyway, I thought I'd share a bit of Hartmann's stuff, since he really is one of the better radio hosts from the liberal side. And here, he's asking a damned good question.

*I'm really not intending to diss Ed Schultz. He's fine at what he does, and really does seem to care about the causes he covers. I just enjoyed Thom's style more.

MSNBC Shuffles Lineup

Big Ed Schultz. Yeah, I'm not a fan.

I can't remember exactly when I started watching MSNBC. It was some time in George W. Bush's second term, maybe a little earlier, and Countdown with Keith Olbermann was just about the only show on television challenging the official word from the White House. The Karl Rove Alternate Reality Machine was in full swing, and the frustration from people like me was indescribable. Olbermann spoke to us, when nobody else--outside of comedy shows like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Real Time with Bill Maher and Saturday Night Live--would do it. So, I became a regular watcher.

By the time Countdown spawned The Rachel Maddow Show, I was really hooked, since was already a long-time fan of hers. But the problem was, this put a two-hour daily hole in my life, something that occasionally irks The Other Half. We thought we had the answer when Olbermann left MSNBC. But I quickly got hooked on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell. I like O'Donnell quite a bit. But he's only appointment viewing by firtue of his time slot.

My regular routine was to set the DVR for both shows, exercise after I got home from work, and then catch up with both, sans commercials. On most days, I still finished at about 7pm. But we're getting toward the early evenings now, and I'll have to switch to the gym, rather than walking outside. I'll be home later. I was already wondering if I needed to adjust my viewing habits. And then I found out that MSNBC made the decision for me. They're switching The Last Word and The Ed Show in the lineup. I'm not a fan of Ed's. And Lawrence is now on at 8:00pm, prime time. So, except for the odd exception, I'll be down to 1 hour of cable news again. That's probably a good thing, for me (and The Other Half). I'm not sure what MSNBC is thinking, though.

[Excerpt]


MSNBC shakes up primetime

 MSNBC has reshuffled its primetime lineup, with only Rachel Maddow staying in place at 9 p.m. Ed Schultz's "The Ed Show," which was moved to 10 o'clock from 6 p.m. earlier this year, will now start at 8, with Lawrence O'Donnell's "The Last Word" back in its original spot at 10. . .

Read more at: Variety

Notable Quotable: Randi Rhodes on Ed Schultz's Suspension

Fun fact: I actually 'shopped this picture myself, and
Randi now has it on her website, which is cool!

"Ed Schultz has been suspended for a week from MSNBC for calling Laura Ingraham a slut. Really, Ed? There are so many more accurate things you could call Laura Ingraham. Ed apologized for the comments. He said calling Laura Ingraham a slut was 'vile and inappropriate.' It would have been better (and probably more accurate) if he had just called Laura Ingraham 'vile and inappropriate' in the first place."

Source: Randi Rhodes

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Called Tina Fey a Slut!

Okay, okay. Technically, Andrea Mitchell called Liz Lemon a slut on 30 Rock on Thursday night's rerun. But, if the word is so offensive, how was that allowed? She's an employee of MSNBC, right? As is Ed Schultz, who was suspended for a week for calling Laura Ingraham a slut. Does Liz Lemon being a fictional character make it okay?  Because, I assure you "Laura Ingraham" on the radio is a fictional creation too. No way anybody's like that in real life. I hope.

[Excerpt]


WATCH: Andrea Mitchell Calls Liz Lemon “Slut” During 30 Rock Cameo

. . . But the funniest bit came when he threw to NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell, who walked on camera just in time to call Lemon “slut. . .”
 


Read more at: Mediaite

Big Ed Schultz Suspended by MSNBC for Calling Laura Ingraham a "Slut"

Big Ed Out. Photo from source, Raw Story

Really? Okay, where is the line? You can call the President (deep breath): Marxist, Maoist, statist, communist, socialist, racist, Islamic, pro-terrorist and anti-American, and still keep your job on cable "news." You can say awful things about the first lady, Hillary Clinton, Madeline Albright (yeah, I remember), Janet Reno, and on and on.
I'll concede that "slut" is probably automatically out-of-bounds (though Dan Aykroyd used it on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update referring to Jane Curtin in 1978). But if he'd said bimbo, would he have gotten away with it? I suspect so. Harpie? Shrew? Harlot? Skank? Where is the line?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure that Keith Olbermann is having a good belly laugh over this. Not only is he familiar with getting suspended by MSNBC, he used to date Laura Ingraham.

[Excerpt]

MSNBC host Ed Schultz apologizes for ‘right-wing slut’ remark

The liberal host of MSNBC’s The Ed Show and The Ed Schultz Show radio program was suspended without pay for one week by MSNBC because of sexist comments he made about a conservative radio host.



“President Obama is going to be visiting Joplin, Missouri on Sunday but you know what they’re talking about, like this right-wing slut, what’s her name?” Schultz asked on his radio program. “Laura Ingraham? Yeah, she’s a talk slut. . .”

Read more at: Raw Story

Will MSNBC Regret Dumping Olbermann?

Images from source, Business Insider (and who
picked the unflattering Maddow shot?)

My prediction: yes. I did watch with curiosity, what Lawrence O'Donnell, Rachel Maddow and Ed Schultz would have to say about it. And Rachel will always have a place in my television viewing. But without the "tent pole" of Countdown with Keith Olbermann, which my DVR was set for nightly, followed by Rachel (I'd start at about 5:30, and zip through the commercials), will I still watch from 5-7? Probably not.

In fact, I've decided to put step 3 of my New Year's resolutions into effect in the next week or so: going to the gym after work (step 1 was quitting smoking, step 2 dieting. . .both underway). I should be able to get to the gym before 5, get home a little after 6, and be able to catch Rachel on the DVR. Or not. We'll see.

O'Donnell may be able to build a following, having shown some tenacity recently. But his reputation as a moderate may temper that. Big Ed is not for all tastes either. Rachel remains what she's always been, but her show has a weaker lead-in, and a weaker lead-out as well. MSNBC could do well to hope for a gigantic news story, hopefully one that does not come directly out of their own studios.

[Excerpt]

How Long Until MSNBC Regrets Dumping Keith Olbermann?



Now that the news of Keith Olbermann's stunning departure from MSNBC has sunk in, and the speculation as to why the departure occurred -- Keith's relationship with MSNBC had been deteriorating for a long while (true), Keith made Comcast nervous (also, true) -- is dying down, one wonders how significant the damage MSNBC has inflicted on itself is. . .


Read more at: Business Insider

Newsbusters Has No Sense of Humor

The people at Newsbusters.org are not known for their understanding of "dark" humor. Or humor at all. Or subtlety. Or sarcasm.  Or snark.  Stephanie Miller is a liberal talk show host, and her schtick is comedy (and if you didn't know, she's Barry Goldwater's running mate's daughter).  Comedy isn't always pretty, and yes, there are things said that can go over the line. But "bat day" at a ball park taken as a serious incitement to violence?   Loosen your girdles, and unbunchest thine panties, Newsbusters! 

[Excerpt]

Stephanie Miller Fantasizes Drunks With Baseball Bats Beating O'Reilly, Beck, Geraldo




What is it with liberals and their violent fantasies? The Journolist has given us a public radio producer imagining herself laughing with glee as Rush dies a painful death, while other members want their political enemies thrown through plate-glass windows. . .


Read more (if you can stop rolling your eyes long enough) at: Newsbusters.org

Ed Show's "Psycho Talk": Rush Limbaugh & Death Panels

Sigh. Death panels? Again? Really?  I don't watch The Ed Show much, but maybe I should start. I mean, who else has the nerve to call Rush Limbaugh The Drugster?

Progressive Talker Ed Schultz to Run for Senate?

Image from source, The Minnesota Independent

You never can tell if a potential candidate for high political office is or isn't going to actually run. Unless they definitively say they will, every other answer is usually a hedge. Even if they say in no uncertain terms that they will not run, they sometimes do anyway. So far, Big Ed Schultz, a liberal talk radio host, is being slightly less than coy, leaning more toward "won't run" than "will run." But after former Al Franken's finally victorious run for Senate, maybe Ed will find the lure too strong.

[Excerpt]

Can Ed Schultz follow Al Franken’s footsteps from radio to Senate?

Al Franken paved the way. Has progressive talk radio become the Democratic Party’s new farm league for the U.S. Senate? Maybe so, if the chatter about Ed Schultz running to replace North Dakota’s retiring Byron Dorgan turns out to be more than just talk. . .

Read more at: The Minnesota Independent

Tancredo Storms Off of The Ed Show

A lot of political pundits have made issue of the massive amount of pro-war "support-our-troops" Republicans who themselves have never served in the military. They're called "chickenhawks," and Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) is one of them. So when they start talking about veteran's benefits and the VA, they might not expect to be called on it. By a veteran! I'm not sure I remembered that Markos Moulitsas Zúñiga ("Kos" of DailyKos) was a veteran. I'm pretty sure Tancredo didn't!

"Radio Equalizer" Slam of Stephanie Miller is a Stretch

Image from Crooks and Liars

UPDATE 09/08/09:

I was delighted to hear the following blog post read by Stephanie Miller herself on the radio this morning! Thanks for deeming me worthy!!!

ORIGINAL POST 08/27/09:

This little clip just goes to show you how different people can hear the same thing, and come to completely different conclusions. The Stephanie Miller Show is a morning radio talk show, starring Stephanie Miller, Jim Ward and Chris LaVoie. The show is political in nature, but also revels in the supremely silly. Miller herself has referred to the format as "Senator. Fart joke. Senator." She is also the daughter of Barry Goldwater's running mate, Bill Miller (Republican). Stephanie is um. . .not a Republican.

The show takes a little getting used to, with its regular bits, celebrity voices, frivolity and sound effects. And to the untrained (or irony/humor/sarcasm-deficient) ear, a person might not pick up on every joke. For the clip below, you must know that: a) Miller has referred to Keith Olbermann as "one of my future husbands" for many years, b) Rachel Maddow is a radio host too, c) Ed Schultz is both a host and a colleague of Miller's, and d) Miller and crew hosted the MSNBC morning show for a few days after Don Imus got terminated.

Thus there is context to this clip, and the "MSNBC is the Vatican to a liberal" bit is a typical over the top throw-away line, intended to overstate things in the way a conservative might see it. How do I know this? I'm a regular listener, and this is often the case.

So to me--and any other regular listeners--the analysis of this clip on The Radio Equalizer (or Tranquilizer as I've seen it called elsewhere) is just silly. Note to Brian Maloney: Stephanie Miller does not worship at MSNBC. She doesn't really think that gay people "have the gay." And there really isn't a Senator named Squeezy McFeelpants.

[Excerpt]

OLBY-WORSHIP



Now, imagine for a moment the state-run media's reaction if a conservative were to equate the FOX News Channel studios with any major religious site or institution. The mere mention of "licking the chair" of a FOX host would bring months of ridicule. . .

Source: RadioEqualizer

Ed Schultz Nails Dick Cheney

I've never been a particularly big fan of Ed Schultz, but he got this one right. Dick Cheney comes out of his "undisclosed location" regularly these days to lambast President Obama for whatever he feels to be Obama's weaknesses. But, what gets lost in the shuffle is, the biggest terrorist hit on America happened on George W. Bush and Dick Cheney's watch. Plain and simple.

Ed Schultz's The ED Show Debuts on MSNBC

Cable news seems to program primarily for the east coast. I can tell whenever they give their schedule, or it is talked about in the press. For instance, Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The O'Reilly Factor are supposedly on during prime time, even though they come on at 5:00 pm in my time zone.

Oh, well. Anyway, liberal talker Ed Schultz started his new program on MSNBC today, much too early for me to watch live. And since I already watch Olbermann along with The Rachel Maddow Show most nights, three hours would be too much in any event. Still, I was curious to see how it went. If you are too, let's watch it together. . .

Liberal Talker Ed Schultz Gets MSNBC Show

Photo from source, Politico

Like stories in The National Enquirer, internet buzz--even when initially disputed--can turn out to be true. And like those stories, the details can be kind of fuzzy. Liberal radio host, Ed Schultz has been rumored for some time to be getting an MSNBC show. The rumors slotted Ed in after Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow Show, to give them a one-two-three liberal punch through prime time.

Well, Ed did get a show, named--what else--The Ed Show, but it will be on before Hardball. I've never been an Ed Schultz fan, preferring Randi Rhodes. With Randi (hopefully temporarily) away from radio, I guess it was too much to hope for that she might get a show. Randi is probably not TV-ready, but can you imagine the brains that would explode with her on TV every night? Mercy.

[Excerpt]

MSNBC gives Schultz the 6pm slot

MSNBC is adding another liberal voice to its evening line-up: The network has hired radio host Ed Schultz to take over the 6 p.m. spot currently held by David Shuster. On Monday, "The Ed Show" will premiere. A network source confirms the move, and it’s expected that Keith Olbermann will make an announcement toward the end of “Countdown” tonight—he gave a couple hints at the start of the show. (Schultz, on his website, mentioned appearing on "Countdown" later). . .

Read more at: Politico