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

[Swift2]

The fundamental thing about Tweety is that he's a sexual psycho. I don't know exactly what it is, but his apparent attraction to manly men -- Bush and Thompson, for starters -- and his apparent certainty that Hillary is a she-monster and a scheming manipulator (female stereotype), his utter sexual panic at the Clinton blowjob, the Erin Burnett moment, and others, point to a very distrubed guy.

But his job is safe because he's Jack Welch's special boy, who was even allowed to move into Jack's neighborhood in Martha's Vineyard.

[SoFlaJet]

...and someone should inform Chris that Hillary is NOT yet the dem nominee, nor will we let the likes of him and Rove determine who will be..

[Opus007]

Good point. The last thing we need is the lame MSM- the stenogrphers of the Bush administration picking our candidates for us. Please- give some second tier candidates some air. George Stephanopulous told Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul that they couldn't get elected. Excuse me George- don't assume- remember Gary Hart?

[Weeza]

Matthews is to blame for his own ratings and demise. I emailed the show long ago and told him he should pack up and go over to "Faux News". He is a kiss ass to Bush, Boehmer and the rest of the corrupt GOP regime. I dont know why he pays to have guests on the air, he never lets anyone answer a question, He is a has been who has no credibility - no one pays attention to him anymore and no one cares to.

[iluvsam]

If he would just stop talking over his guests, he would be somewhat tolerable. Plus, I refuse to watch anyone who has Ann Coulter on their show and treats her as though she has something valuable to say. Hence, Hardball hasn't been watched by me for a while now.

[nomogen]

Replace Mathews with David Shuster and use David Gregory for inside washington punditry. Shuster can nail anyone any day... he is well read and detail oriented to shoot the fluff. I think they already have a team... Chris is getting worse and really shamelessly demeaning women on looks and not on the content of their analysis. He does a decent job in poking at Cheney's shady character but he lets the surrogates get away with anything. I have no problem if they want to call BS a BS from both sides. Some Dems that are regular at his show are also pathetic. Haddad is responsible with letting Chris be Chris. She might have been better with selection of new faces with interesting viewpoints to counter the shouting idiot. However, Mathews has a big ego and MSNBC believed that the low rating might have something to do with Haddad. I am sure, that's what Mathews suggested as a way to turn the program around. They will eventually get it; but not this time.

[Tennessean]

Chris Matthews lost viewers because he's nothing but a right-wing sycophant, and worse, his leering lecherous comments toward female professionals on his program are pathetic. But, come to think of it, it isn't just women he's lecherous about, it's George W. Bush. Matthews practically drooled over Bush swaggering across the deck of the carrier for his "mission accomplished" speech, too. Matthews is just a pathetic caricature. But, he can always get a job on Fox as the right-winger posing as a "Democrat." HAH!!

[Blutus]

Don't forget.

Chris is part of that vast liberal media
conspiracy!!!


Ha!!!

[Richandler]

MSNBC simply needs more people like Olbermann. His show is very truthful. The fluff at number 1 and 2 probably are the top stories people will talk about in general. I would love to see a new host take a spot from Chris who is a clear liberal with a cool set. By the way, I really dislike Dan Abrams show. It feels like watching Nancy Grace.

[mulegino]

Matthews as factual journalist is an oxymoron.
He really sank to Tartarean depths the other day when that moronic business reporter [is her name Erin Burnett?] said (this is a paraphrase) "If China tries to keep poison out of food, or lead out of toys, then prices would go up, so China is our friend because they don't do that." In other words, poison food is actually good for American consumers, because it keeps prices low.
Not only did Matthews not only question this, he started to flirt with her on camera.
He flirts with all his guests, male or female, though,as long as they're either rich or in power.
Matthews is a sycophant of the first order; his style could be called, "Beltway-insider-ass kissing-chic".

[hydenorhare]

Matthews doesn't really need guests since he answers his own questions.

[kms34786]

I have to say I watched Chris Matthews. I didn't necessarily always like it, but I watched. But I threw in the towel when he allowed Ann Coulter on again, and then arranged for Elizabeth Edwards to phone in and attack her.

Now I'm no Ann Coulter fan, she's huckster as far as I am concerned, but to participate in sand bagging her is inappropriate for a "objective" reporter of politics.

Anyway he drew my wrath by have Coulter on, then setting her up for which he lost me as a nightly and Sunday viewer.

[Opus007]

First of all- Ann Coulter knew there was going to be call ins live. Why would you feel sorry for someone like that hate monger anyway? If her point of view was so valid- shouldn't she be able to field live calls? She considers herself the supreme authority -calling 9/11 widows "harpies", Jon Edwards a faggot and exploiting the death of Edwards son! I think she is more than capable of defending herself. The saddest thing is that she sells ANY books- that there is a market for her hatred. Having her on Hardball was really a bad programming decision.

[Wilbur]

I'd be interested to know how many of Coulter-geist's books are bought "in bundles" by right-wing foundations in order to artificially boost her books on the "Best Sellers" list.

Wilbur

[THISTLE]

Why this slobbering moron is even on the air,
is astonishing? Who the hell could stand
watching this idiot? He can't even pronounce
the names of the people who go on that show.
Recently, he called, Fred Thompson, "Fred Allen"
This moron has been trying to get on FOX for
years. And the other idiot is that puke,
Tucker Carlson - why and who would watch these
idiots. Delighted to hear that Keith's ratings
are soaring, he is the most intelligent,
person on television. Keith will not be
muzzled, and finally someone came forward and
refused to dumb it down - and that is Keith.
His "special comments" are brilliant and his
candor, honesty, brains and passion are
wonderful to see and hear. And as far as
Matthews & Carlson - they need to be kicked to
the curb!

[Richard729]

Thistle, well said. You don't mince words and you described Matthews & Carlson perfectly. The only thing I don't like about Countdown is when they bring in some airhead subs who would be better off spouting their nonsense on Entertainment Tonight. But, Keith -- he's the man.

[thgy]

She is pictured with that dumb lady with the annoying voice. She was producer for Hardball? She is a looser, who in their right minds would admit to any affiliation to those two?

[Noelle]

I think everyone is being a little unfair to Chris. He can be very annoying and say stupid things and I am also sick of all the Clinton gushing, however, he does have his good moments.

Nobody wanted to touch the Valerie Plame story before Patrick Fitzgerald got involved. Hardball covered it everyday relentlessly. Everyday going after the vice presidents office. He has gone after Dick Cheney and Scooter Libby so many times that the vice president's office called Tim Russert and tried to get him taken off the air.

He has also stated many times that he is "terrified" Cheney is going to get us in another war with Iran and how devistating that would be for our country and that he needs to be stopped. The rest of the MSM is pushing for the war.

I know he has alot of bad qualities but I also know that he can not stand Dick Cheney and doesn't go out of his way to hide it.

[jae1227]

He has his moments that are good. He seems like a smart person and on Ring of Fire he had some good incite.

[imusintheevening]

That was before he was off the air when he was sick or something - because he no loger has very many good moments.

[Richard729]

There's good reason to understand why Keith Olbermann's Countdown beat Chris Matthews and Hardball. Mostly, Matthews rudely interrupts guest commentators and allows shouting matches to get out of control. Another reason is Matthews' undisguised hatred for Hillary Clinton. He buys into any negative publicity about her and seems to revel in promoting the Karl Rove smear that Hillary Clinton is a "fatally flawed candidate."

Matthews not only needs a lesson in good manners, i.e., let his guests speak separately without overriding them with his strident, combative style, but he needs a friendlier forum like Fox News to spout his anti-liberal screeds.

Occasionally, Matthews, to his credit, throws tough questions at some of the politicians who appear on his show as guests.
But, I think if he keeps up his trash talk against Hillary Clinton he should just fess up to it and get a nice cushy job on Fox News Network where he will be right at home.

Clearly, the Republicans want her as the Democratic Party Presidential nominee so we know Karl Rove will be concocting even more lies and character smears against her between now and November 2008.

Fox News will be ecstatic if they can get Chris Matthews to join in the hate-fest that Rove has planned against Hillary Clinton. At least there, the Republican faithful will never abandon their hostility and animosity to all things Democrat so he should find a good home there. As always, I have better, more informative things, to watch -- like Countdown.