Rachel Maddow, Host Apparent: Analyst "At The Top" Of "Very Short List" For Next MSNBC Opening

New York Times:

For clues about who might be next to get a show on MSNBC, viewers need not have looked further than "Countdown" earlier this month. For eight nights beginning just before the Fourth of July, Rachel Maddow, the host of a program on Air America, the liberal talk-radio network, served as a substitute for the vacationing Keith Olbermann.

"At some point, I don't know when, she should have a show," said Phil Griffin, hours before he was promoted on Wednesday to president of MSNBC. "She's on the short list. It's a very short list. She's at the top."

At the moment every slot at night on MSNBC is taken, with David Gregory at 6 handing off to Chris Matthews at 7, and with Dan Abrams at 9 following Mr. Olbermann at 8. But some shuffling could be in the offing; Mr. Matthews's contract, for example, is up next year.

For her part, Ms. Maddow, who has been a ubiquitous presence as a political analyst on MSNBC this campaign season, said she is ready whenever the call should come. To hasten that process, she recently hired Mr. Olbermann's agent, Jean Sage.

"They know I would love to do it," Ms. Maddow, 35, said over a recent lunch below 30 Rockefeller Plaza. "I'm going to let them decide what they want to do about me. I'm saying yes every time they ask me to be on television."

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[Goldie9]

This is good news -- I'm not sure why MSNBC has a repeat show @ 7:00 of Chris Matthews? A little bit of Matthews goes a very long way and Rachel's show would be an excellent replacement for that time slot.

[pipandbaby]

I agree. I still don't get the Hardball repeat . Give Rachel the 7 pm slot!!

[robbor]

Rachel's tops!

[wayoutleft]

if she really wanted to roll the dice, she would build her own tv show on pacifica and feed video to progressive outlets like amy goodman does. that's no big money; but then she's in control and doesn't wind up gone like ashley banfield. she is very progressive and pro-obama (which i like) but she is not an objective news-gathering journalist like shuster or gregory.

[NotMcCain]

Objective? Gregory?

Those years are long gone.

[Pleidian]

She's awesome...­I hope they replace Chris Matthews with her, becuase that dude is not only mad as a Hatter, he constantly interrupts his guests.

[PAposter]

He calls it playing "Hardball", I call it rude and self-serving, but sometimes it's really good. Like when he "owned" that conservative radio guy, on the issue of appeasement. LOL!

[Pleidian]

I know. It's hit and miss.

[mamacat]

She has a lot of talent. Give her a chance, see how it works out. She is definitely better than a lot of the talking heads currently wasting air time.

[DogTown]

She is great on TV!

[jackstpaul]

Keith and Rachel back-to-back would be perfect. They're great together, too.

Anyone seem to think they have a special chemistry? Peas in a pod. Intellectually and politically they’re the smartest and most progressive and sanest and seem in agreement always—with my views, too. But more than just professionally. Not to suggest something going on or ever could be.

They’re sort of the media progressive QB of the football teem and head cheerleader of the moment (or of ever), like they naturally belong together as Prom King and Queen even if they don't realize it yet.

[GypsyRose]

No, not at all. Dump Keith to the am/afternoon slot (when I'll never see him) or better yet maybe a TV sitcom. His whole schtick has been nothing but ranting on O'Reilly on a daily basis not to mention his "other" rants. I can't watch him anymore; same old nonsense.

Give Rachel the 8 pm "Primetime" slot, no sweat. At least she's normal and isn't prone to fits.

Bye Keith, don't forget to keep your knees loose.

[incontempt]

I love rants;-) they are truely telling.

[Mort]

Of all the people on the air, Rachel deserves the best show in the best time slot. There isn't anyone that can hold a candle to her.

[masha2008]

agree get rid of

stupid mika
stuttering and unprepared andrea
joe demagogue

i'm ambivalent about gregory. he asks for asking's sake and really doesnt go deep.

and give rachel her own show. she is intelligent and always well prepared. watching her on countdown has been a delight.

[lvogt]

I got hooked on Rachel a while back listening during my morning commute. She's the smartest, best informed and easiest to listen to of anyone on TV or radio. OK, she sometimes sounds like mini-mouse when she get excited but that's... OK. She can really press her arguments without ever appearing strident or rude. She also comes across as a very down to earth person. I only watch Race For The White House when she's on. I hope she gets her own show.

[drd1044]

I found it very bizarre that the main photograph was of the back of her head and the second most prominent was her with an Olbermann mask. She is a pretty woman. I do not get that nor do i ever remember any pictorial coverage like this of anyone in the media anywhere.

[Thinkingclearly]

Also - I think that when they start rotating anchors for Meet the Press - she'd do an awesome job. She'd have to pull in a little - but I think she 'd be on top of it.

[Thinkingclearly]

Rachel needs to be appearing on the regular NBC shows - maybe get her on the Today show once in awhile making appearances - they need a sharp political show on the regular NBC - to counter Bill O'Reilly on al those TV sets that aren't getting cable or satellite. Love Chris, Keith, Dan Abrams is not so great - but different. I'd love to see her interviewing McCain or Obama (though both would run scared of her intellect). People need to hear what she's got to say.

What I really wish is that MSNBC would drop the endless lineup of prison shows.

[Zentomato]

So many positive comments about Dr Maddow here and I second everyone of them. She is brilliant (Rhodes Scholar, Oxford PhD) and delightful. Although Scarborough is painful to watch I don't think Rachel would be a good fit for a 3 hour long morning program and I say that meaning that Rachel is meant for better things. Better things like her own prime time show. David Gregory's show is way too repetitious of Countdown and the Chris Matthews show. Give Rachel a chance to shine on her own merits and let Mr Gregory attend to his business as a WH correspondent. Rachel you rock.

[doug108]

Sometimes Rachel seems like she's hanging on to the hood of a car at 70 miles an hour. It's endearing. Good luck to her.