Tammy Haddad Out As Chris Matthews EP

We hear that "Hardball" exec producer Tammy Haddad is officially out thanks to Chris Matthews becoming the lowest-rated host on MSNBC primetime. Matthews — a front-and-center face at MSNBC and certainly a go-to pundit on all things political, including election coverage in November and chosen as to moderate one of MSNBC's two kickoff presidential debates in April, along with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams — has seen his ratings clock in consistently below Keith Olbermann — who is getting a network try-out this Sunday — and even Dan Abrams, who stepped in for Joe Scarborough amidst some changes to the show, yet still manages to consistently beat Matthews' ratings. Only Tucker Carlson , who is on at 4 and 6 pm, has lower ratings on the network.

Haddad, who has been with "Hardball" since 2004, caught, er, heck from Matthews last month when he unwittingly dropped an "s-bomb" on the air when he didn't know he was being broadcast. Rumor had it that Matthews wanted Haddad out after the episode, but there was no fallout, at least not then.

Last July, Haddad was named Vice President, Washington, for MSNBC, and MSNBC General Manager Abrams had this to say about her: "'Hardball' is the smartest political program on cable, and one of the reasons it is so good, is Tammy Haddad. She is one of the most tenacious, driven and energetic producers out there — she takes tremendous pride in her work for the network and for Chris Matthews and we are thrilled to have her on our team."

From the same press release:

"Tammy has been my friend for over twenty years," said Chris Matthews. "She is a big-time winner who delivers on her grand ideas."

Haddad has a long and storied career of success in cable news, including pioneering "Larry King Live" for CNN, being part of the team to take NBC's "Today Show" to number one, and was called "the most influential woman behind the TV news camera in Washington" last year by U.S. News' Paul Bedard. That she will land on her feet is a foregone conclusion; for Matthews, an old face at a network with new stars rising, things may not be so easily predicted.

We hear that MSNBC will be making the announcement shortly; email queries to the network have not yet been returned.

Update: Confirmed by TVNewser, which has more.

Clarification from MSNBC: "Tammy remains MSNBC's VP, Washington and will continue to oversee all of our political coverage, including super Tuesdays, primary coverage, debates and the College Tour."

Comments

[JimLarkin]

so ron christie is in line to replace matthews??? nah christie needs to replace tony snow. nobody beats the gop drum as faithfully as that cross -eyed,light in the ballys phaetonic foe of gay marriage (wink wink)

[beachbabe]

LOL, Rapturehelper!

"one Imus away from exploding all over the screen."

Hahahahahaahhahahah

OMG, I cannot stand Tweety or Carlson, but you know for sure that they will both end up over at FOX, which will treat their arrival as some kind of friggin triumph.

[equipoise]

I think it's awfully suspicious that Chris remains such a force on MSNBC and yet he's never had high ratings. He seems to have some unjustified clout there at MSNBC. Also seems clear to me that he's not so keen on, and perhaps resentful of, Keith Olbermann's well-deserved success. That sure is like comparing apples to oranges. Anyway, there was a time when I enjoyed Chris; however, he's now become a caricature of himself, and I know this because there are many outrageous clips from his show played on liberal radio talk shows. So, yeah, firing Haddad seems off the wall.

[Desiderata]

I noticed in the afterdebate both CW and Olberman hosted that, long into the analysis, Keith shows up and then quickly vanished.

Seems Matthews needed all the oxygen in the room.

[hydenorhare]

MSNBC has been trying for the far left niche audience and they've succeeded.

That's why they're in the ratings crapper.

[Wilbur]

MSNBC = More Salacious Nutty Brand (of) Conservatism. THAT is why they may be in the crapper! If it weren't for Olbermann's show, they'd be nothing.

Wilbur

[raker]

This is media trivia at a sub-atomic level. Utterly meaningless to anyone except the irrelevant Chris Matthews and his staff.

[KingofChing]

Howard Fineman said, on Imus in the Morning, that NBC keeps Chris Matthews, in line, on his Sunday morning show. When Matthews heard this, he kept Howard Fineman off the Hardball show for about a month. Don Imus told Chris Matthews, on Imus in the Morning, that nobody watches MSNBC or any of the shows, including the Chris Matthews show, on MSNBC. Since, they fired Imus and cancelled his, highly rated, morning show the network has gone to hell.

[LibsRHilarious]

Odormann has eight viewers. When does he get the axe?

[Wilbur]

Forget to takeyour meds? There, there now.

Wilbur

[SadAmerican]

MSNBC is really at the very bottom of the pile of all networks. In the past, I wouldn't miss Hardball; now I absolutely won't watch it. Tucker is the very worst, with Chris Matthews and Morning Joe following closely behind. ( I liked Joe on his evening show, but he is "awful" on the morning show. He acts like a smart ass know it all.)
The ONLY show I watch is Olberman; however I must make an exception, because I have been watching Barnicle this week. (Keep him on !!!)
What a good show he puts on. He is fair to what he believes, and to what his guests believe.
With Chris, he ALWAYS agrees with whomever, he is currently interviewing. He's all over the place. Very distracting.
But, let's put the blame where it rightly belongs, with his female producer. Right??

[JoePenn]

Good for her. She should get away from the greasy, slippery scumbag tweety matthews.

I can't stand his program since he interrupts and talksover everyone, throwing the conversation and 'I just know you're with me and if you're not, then you're wrong' attitude.

He's as ga-ga over georgie bush as karl the closeter and peggy noonan and her 'inoon, inane,' whatever, scribblings from some drug-induced sounding straight jacket.

[Garee]

It is sad to watch someone destroy themselves on tv. CM is about my age and I've watched him for years. He does relate to many things I recall from time gone by and it use to give credence to his observations. But in the recent past he has beocme a "ranter"; he interrupts, raves on about nothing, and seems to be out of control. If his EP hasn't been able to reel him in, then she and HE need to go.
I enjoy the gentleman from Boston who subs for him. He knows ow to listen and show respec for all his visitors.

[LORISNJ]

How Tucker still has a show is beyond me. MSNBC will never beat CNN & Fox News if they stick to that same old lineup.

Tucker is a moron and Chris is a slobbering fool. Keith is the only one smart enough to avoid the 2 and 3 person panels that spend all the time talking over each other. When did that become a good segment?

How about a Arianna Huffington Hour with sidekick Steve Young?

[ForRichardorPoorer]

keep her and dump him....

buy him for what he's worth and sell him for what he think's he worth.....


we would be rich, rich, rich

[VOTER]

Chris Matthews is like John McCain, a Bush kissin fool.

Matthews just can't control himself when it comes to

lovin the GOP while at the same time declaring himself

to be a somewhat moderate liberal. LOL The only time Chris

gets going is when the word draft comes up. He is

afraid for his son. Smart man but not an honest one.

I never forgot Matthews playing up the Swift Boat Liars.

MSNBC has tanked except for Keith O..

Morning Joe is awful and should be pulled asap.

Tucker, like Joe, should have NEVER been given a show.

Abrams is failing at his job.

Turned on Hardball and Chris M. is on vacation.

Looks like Chris hid from today's news story.....­.

no balls!

[RecklessAbandonArteest]

I don't know that Abrams is failing. I think he has to work with what he has, warts and all.

He can't just go in and fire everyone and come up with new shows in six months.

I think he and MSNBC are listening. Look at the changes they are making.

They are trying out Schuster. [good move].

Kieth remains intact in his time slot.

They sheetcanned Tucker to only one show.

They are trying out Abrams as GM.

And who knows what is going on behind the scenes.

I think it's a matter of months before we read about Matthews and Tucker [and their entourages including Pat Buchanan, Ron Christie] signing with Fox.

[VOTER]

Schuster is really very good and should have his own show.

But there is no excuse for Morning Joe! NONE.

[nurseattorney]

I was a pretty regular Hardball listener until that awful Ann Coulter episode. I mean, why in the world would anyone give that woman time on the airways? I've had my ups and downs with Chris, but that was the final down. And then he tried to use the episode to hype up some big to-do between Elizabeth Edwards and the she-devil. It was clear that the Coulter episode was just an attempt to goose up sagging ratings.

A couple of times I've watched Hardball when Barnicle is the host. Tonight he actually confronted Ari Fleishner about how the new pro-war ads are another attempt to convince America that Iraqi's blew up the WTC. I doubt Chris would have been as direct. Everyone once in a while you just need to call a liar a liar.

[emerger]

It was the embracing of Ann Coulter that did it for me. Now I pass by any MSNBC broadcast. The hell with them.