NBC Chief Jeff Zucker On Charlie Rose: Fox Business Sucks, Morning Joe MSNBC's "Most Underestimated Program"

Remember that NBC U (GE) -News Corp. (NWS) war? The one being waged across multiple networks and TV personalities? It's still on! Charlie Rose threw NBC U chief Jeff Zucker some red meat on PBS Tuesday night when he asked about the competition between CNBC and Fox Business Network.

Zucker: "It has focused us and made us better. Really, at this point, Fox Business Network is not in any way a threat to CNBC. It's not even, frankly, in the same universe with us."

Meanwhile, Zucker says, MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, who represents the network's attempt to lure Fox News viewers, is tearing things up: "Morning Joe" is "probably the most underestimated program on that network." Take that!

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Witchitalineman]

Has Zucker ever watched Morning Joe? I am surprised this guy in such a high position keeps his job.

[lee4]

I stopped watching lame Morning Joe with pompus ass Scarborough and annoying, spandex Mika.
I go to C-Span, Washington Journal in the AM.

[pithymaxim]

I'm telling you, Joe Scarborough is a veritable Einstein of Politics...

[formlessness]

Joe Scarborough and his beady, hateful little eyes make me sick. I loathe that program.

[darthdarcy]

It's been good lately Morning Joe that is since, Joe's not been on and we get Mica Brzenski instead..running things..but I still much prefer C-span Journal from 7:00-10:00 Am..

[cnick]

He's got to be kidding, Morning Joe is only barely watchable when Morning Joe himself isn't on. Joe Scarborough is definitely a cause of channel change and mute buttons.

[engineer68]

That must make Hardball and Olbermann overestimated. Chris and KO two big suck-ups.

[PatCroft]

I think Zucker and his board should be made to watch all the shallow crap he produces and then perhaps things could change for the better. Networks used to be thought provoking and entertaining and now the best thing about the TV is its OFF switch.

[LNinIllinois]

The only thing that is underestimated about Joe Scarborough is just how repugnant he can be at any given moment. Couple that with Mika's schtick and I tuned out about 3 months ago. But, then I am definitely not in the demographic that Zucker is aiming for.

[bob5701]

I started watching Morning Joe again last week when Joe S. was off, good show without him. To bad he's coming back.

[rjean]

there is n othing good about morning joe....

mika and the rest of the ilk are almost as bad as blabberman and chrissy.............almost

[marinemomof3]

I am with you on that one. Now if we can get him to take care of the new baby that would be great!

When the show first started Mica was not that bad. Now and over the last few months, she is very very difficult to take. There are way too many times she acts and speaks like a real AIR HEAD!

I also see a sexual strain between the two of them.......

I turn into CSpan instead

[Hagrid]

Morning Joe (Geeow, as he pronounces it) is too hard to take. Crossfire in the wee hours and a shrill Mika, does not help much either.


Zucker should go back to the drawing board. . . .

Maybe let Dr. Rachel Maddow have the slot, she is cool, calm and intelligent. Maddow can be a contender and a real ratings champ.
Opposite Steve (Flaming Gay) Doocey and Fox and Fiends, Maddow would win the timeslot.

[PKSSK]

Now it make sense. Morning Joe is trying to capture Fox viewers, which confirms why I have stopped watching. It's sad, because there was a brief period when Mika and Joe were civil in their discussions of issues and Joe seemed to take a more moderate educated stance that I found enlightening and informative. Now, it seems Joe and Mika are required to play a certain role that I perceive to be very disingenuous and insulting to the viewer. It's sad, maybe if MSNBC would allow Mika and Joe to be themselves, like Olbermann and Maddow, they would have higher ratings.

[apoyo]

The whole 3 hours of Morning Joe is "News You Can't Use."

[uheardme]

I wonder if that blind item in the Post this week was refering to Jeff and Mika B.

That would explain why she's on TV in the first place. She is an airhead who talks to much. She has to be highly managed because despite having a brilliant father, she can't form an independent and well-reasoned questions for guests. Plus she interrupts which is rude and annoying.

Tamryn Hall or Contessa Brewer should be in the chair as a co-host or Rachel Maddow should host the show by herself.

[Stew118]

Morning Joke is right- the guy analyzes politics at a 6th grade level. Never thought I would say I miss Don Imus but at least he wasn't clearly the biggest idiot on his show. I still watch it though b/c they have good guests and I like to know what the enemy is thinking... lol

[truthyguy]

The Redneck Scarborough is unwatchable. His personal agenda is so up front it kills any meaningful discussion. Especially when he cuts someone off because they are saying something with which he disagrees, and then gives his conclusory slanted view before dismissing the guest. If this is what Zucker thinks is news, the stockholders need to be voting for a new CEO and Zucker should find another aspect of entertainment - perhaps producing Red Carpet events as news.

[VOTER]

Well they certainly do have the "enemy" on much of the time.

giggle, giggle, giggle...*(Mica!)

[Hagrid]

hee hee heee.

idiot

[lovethesinner]

Morning Joe, today, is mischaracterising the news. They said Hagee endorsed McCain without mentioning that McCain SOUGHT OUT his endorsement, and is pretending he didn't know what he was all about. (Harold Ford isn't bringing it up either which is interesting).

ODDLY ENOUGH, Pat Buchanan is MAKING (up) NEWS by saying that JOE LIEBERMAN is probably responsible for PUTTING TOGETHER THE ENDORSEMENT FOR McCAIN since Hagee is so close to the JEWISH COMMUNITY. (I can't wait for the announcement that Joe Lieberman is going to be McCain's running mate.)

Joe Scarborough who first coined the McCain campaign motto "LESS JOBS and MORE WARS" did inspire a website, though. So, maybe the show is underestimated:

http://therealmccain.com/