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

[Easterling]

Matthews every utterance betrays him as a Neo-Conned/PNAC/Christianist-Terrorist/Reagonomic/Anti-American Pro-NAU sock puppet. I'm hoping that Mr. Matthews ends up where he belongs. Unemployed and penniless. What a blathering partisan idiot. A total embarassment to his race ... the human race.

[Denemator]

That loud mouth right wing hack, who never lets his guests finish a sentence, is the only one to blame for the low ratings.

[VTYNDALL]

tHE NICE THING ABOUT hARDBALL IS NO ONE WATCHES A SHOW WHERE THE HOST ASK THE QUESTION AND GIVES THE ANSWER. i BET HIS HOME IS FILLED WITH MIRRORS.

[xrayman]

Matthews should leave MSNBC and become Giuliani's press adviser. His show has pretty much become a wing of Giuliani's campaign.

[Denemator]

couldn't agree more

[Maxx61]

Matthews was once entertaining. Over the past two years, I've seen him spiral down to the point where his show has more in common with a cocktail party than serious political discourse.
How can it be called "Hardball" when everytime a leading conservative is pontificating the party line without opposition, Matthews can literally be seen sitting on one of their knees, looking up with admiring eyes blathering "gee, then what happened GrandPa Delay?"

[Denemator]

Hear hear.

[Erdgeist]

I am not surprised. The show seems stuck somewhere back in the 90s before the Blogs dominated. Some of the morons Chris has on are old Clinton haters. His program just got stale. It needs to acknowledge that the Blogs, increasingly, are dictating prime-time.

[hjo4]

Hey Matthews I suggest you order some boxes and write the "I wanna spend time with my family" speech.You'll be out the door soon.Do us a favor take that pompous ass Dan Abrams with you.

[Purple Girl]

That need to put Chris on Ridalyn- he never gives his guest a chance to answer the questions. Easy Tiger -Shut up so we can listen. Love Keith because when he decides to have a monologue, it's not in the middle of someones else thoughts (Keith also is far more intellegent(ible) during his rants)

[Opus007]

I seem to remember that Ann Coulter, Tony Snow and Tom Delay seemed to have free reign.

[NancyinBalto]

I'd love to see MSNBC put Aaron Brown back on the air. The network could use another journalist with integrity (like Olbermann). Matthews and Tucker are horrible.

[hiflyer]

First off...Haddad has been around the block, so to speak, so getting booted off Hardball is probably pr speak for she wanted to go but Chris has his ego and no one quits...grin. Secondly Tweety has been hot/cold over the last year and lately horrible as others have distinctly pointed out. The only thing keeping Countdown from blowing out the competition and making big sponsor bucks is the lead-in shows...Hardball at 5...Tucker at 6 both poor rated...and to make it worse a repeat of the 5pm Hardball at 7. The solution is Countdown at 6 with Abrams at 7 and stay news until then....the proof will be the Sunday test of Countdown which will give enough leverage to make some moves... Tweety had been courted by CBS this past winter...he talked about it during his Nathans interview....CBS has enough problems with Couric...Tweety would not be a help. Tucker just needs to go away...and take Pat B with him. Let Tweety have the 8 and go against Billo and the new CNN prog...maybe that will force some spine into the program....rerun Countdown at 9.

[digitalcommando]

some of keith olbermann's "special comments" are the finest commentaries on contemporary american telivision! they're brainy, gutsy and pertinent.

[Blutus]

This will date me but he reminds
me at times of Ed Murrow.

[pagangrandma]

Absolutely the best commentaries anywhere,also love "the worst persons in the world" segments

[mediamarv]

Confirmed, he's afraid of women with brains.!!

LOL

[clumberfeet]

Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboy head coach 1989 - 1993.
"When you are doing badly don't resign, fire somebody.

[bigfated]

Has this bag of wind ever allowed a guest to complete a sentence? Even when he asks a question---he blabbers all over them. What a loser! How can the same network hire a loser like Matthews---and hang onto a guy like Olbermann....one of the best out there!

[DonB]

Looks like Tammy Haddad is the fall guy.

Nobody can help Chris Matthews. He is beyond help. The guy is despicable. I can't stand his face on my TV screen. I want to wipe the spit off my TV screen.