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

[VOTER]

Get rid of Scumborough and "Giggles" Mika.

Having Rachel on MSNBC 5 mornings a week would be FANTASTIC!

Also, she should be considered for Meet The Press.

[PAposter]

I love Rachel, but I don't think she should get the Meet-the-Press gig. However, I'm all over your suggestion for Mornings with Maddow, that would be a beautiful thing. Mika can get some senseless talk show type show and Joe can be a misguided political analyst, he seems to need a lot of time off these days, it might be better for him. Let's keep Willie in the morning, LOL!

[lee4]

I agree.

[TheRebel82]

DUMP that tool Gregory! Maddow is perfect for that slot!

[bikerdude]

I couldn't be happier to hear that. I have been a Maddow fan since I first heard her on Air America. I would love to see her take over the Gregory slot.

[Maezeppa]

GREAT! It's been obvious she's been auditioned for many months now.

Maddow is just too bright and too charismatic to languish on the radio hinterlands. Cream rises.

[ohmercy]

YAY Rachel!
Love her.

Get rid of Matthews.
Hell, I'd even get up early if she replaced morning Joe.

[marinemomof3]

I am in California­.....and I would too....3:0­0 am?? For Rachel....­??

Sure would.

Can't stand Scarbo, and Mika is a dunce!!!!

[coba]

she is ten times better then keith therefore she deserves the top spot

sensico.wordpress.com

[reliant1]

I'd like to see her get Dan Abrams time slot and the chance to make her own format.

She's great!!

The msnbc line up is weak - Scarborough has to go. I like opposing views but he just gets all red and glassy eyed and starts to screech, like Buchanan. Mika seems to be wilting - I'd like to see her have a chance on her own. Mitchell, Gregory...­yucky. Matthews is ok but he waffles too much.
Dan Abrams drools too much and screeches too. Smerkonish (sp?) is good too.

Rachel can be a star for them. They need to give her a good pm time slot and let her run with it.

[charley0008]

The Dr. that is Dr. Maddow, is one very bright human and a pleasure to listen too.
She never loses her cool, is thoughtful, articulate and has a great laugh!
You go girl!

[NotFooledByDistractions]

She deserves it - she did a fantastic job filling in for KO. I think she should have gotten the Morning Joe slot - Scarborough just blows. I only watch on the days he's out, he makes the show unwatchable. Minus Scarborough, it's actually a pretty good show. Who wants to start their morning with that whining? He's just too snivelingly partisian. Rachael would have been a better fit.

[lvogt]

Agreed

[Joeblue]

He should be facing murder charges for killing his girlfriend .

[kinnycut]

Rachel is totally awesome I hope she gets a show. The only time I watch David Gregory's show is when she is on it.

[hnations]

Ms. Maddow is all that is being said about her and more. I was amazed how well she did filling in for Olbermann on his 4th of July break (she was understandably quite nervous the first time she pinch hit). As much as I like Keith O., Rachel is both smarter (I didn't know she had a doctorate from Oxford!), better informed, and much less dogmatic. Only thing I don't get is that she's NOT a fan of Obama's? She certainly didn't seem to be fan of Hillary Clinton during the primary season....­...Only mistake I noticed during her run on Countdown was not correcting Olbermann when he said in his call-in that McCain had been captured and held by the Viet Cong, which was a silly mistake on his part.

[theHardTruthFairy]

It's bittersweet to (probably) lose her on Air America.
She was the only reason to listen/podcast after Sam Seder was given the boot.

I also think she has a lot to say outside of "Bush bashing."
Thankfully, the non-stop stream of Bush scandals will be ending soon and we'll need a different kind of pundit to fill the void. Hooray for Rachel!!!

[jeplanet]

GO RACHEL !!
Can't wait to see her new show.

[DesertLight]

It didn't take long for her to show her abilities.

And that was coming from a c0nservative.

[TroubleNYC]

Call me weird, but I'm probably the only non-religious heterosexual male that gets turned on by lesbians. But for some reason her intellect is so appealing that I want to have muchos niños with her.

[mikemedeiros]

I'm a straight atheist and although I wouldn't generalize to being turned on by lesbians, Rachel does it for me too. And she looks even cuter with her glasses on but you never see her wear them on TV. Smart, progressive and funny-give me some of that.

[CtJean]

Like I said before -

Hell, I'm a straight women - but she rocks!

Total package - can someone "turn gay"

[mojoman]

Rachel has it all going on. I find everything about her (TV persona) appealing. Smart, funny women do it for me. As a straight guy, I'd never discriminate against anyone because of their sexuality, but it is kind of funny to be attracted to a woman who's gay. Hot is hot I guess. If anyone at MSNBC has their heads screwed on, they should dump Abrams and get her a show.

[TroubleNYC]

Sorry, I meant I DONT get turned on by lesbians.

[booksnmore4you]

Chris Matthews is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I'd be fine if he were axed.

[springsm]

I would start with Joe, but I think a better time slot might be David Gregory's. Chris for sure...goo­dness.....­.wipe the slate clean...ge­t Rachel in there quick. She is really refreshing. Smart, brave, articulate, cute sense of humor and a quick one. I think she is also a "nice" person.

[lvogt]

They could expand earlier or later with a new show. Personally, Abrams is the week spot in the evening for me.