Rachel Maddow Replacing Dan Abrams On MSNBC Effective Immediately

Read about Dan Abrams' new media strategy firm here.

Update: Keith Olbermann had Rachel Maddow on "Countdown" Tuesday night to celebrate and discuss the news. In the clip, Rachel said that the show will discuss politics and weird news � like stories on the Iraqi national soccer team and domestic crimes committed by naked men � and that she will remain on Air America.

Watch below:

Original Post: Rachel Maddow will replace Dan Abrams as host of the 9PM hour on MSNBC, the New York Times' Bill Carter reports. Just last month in a Times article by Jacques Steinberg, MSNBC president Phil Griffin declared Maddow "at the top" of a "very short list" for those who should have their own show, though at the time he said he "[didn't] know when" that would be. As Carter reports, the final stretch of the 2008 election season will be Maddow's debut as the host of her own MSNBC show:

Just in time for the closing rush of the presidential election, MSNBC is shaking up its prime-time programming lineup, removing the long-time host -- and one-time general manager of the network -- Dan Abrams from his 9 p.m. program and replacing him with Rachel Maddow, who has emerged as a favored political commentator for the all-news cable channel.

The moves, which were confirmed by MSNBC executives Tuesday, are expected to be finalized by Wednesday, with Mr. Abrams's last program on Thursday. After MSNBC's extensive coverage of the two political conventions during the next two weeks, Ms. Maddow will begin her program on Sept. 8.

MSNBC is highlighting the date, 9/8/08, connecting it to the start of the Olympics on 8/8/08, as a way to signal what the network's president, Phil Griffin, said "will be the final leg of the political race this year." He added, "We making that Rachel's debut."

Mr. Abrams, who is well liked at MSNBC, is expected to remain at both that network and at NBC News, where he is the chief legal correspondent. He will also serve as an anchor during some of MSNBC's daytime coverage, as well as a substitute host on NBC's "Today" show, Mr. Griffin said.

The last broadcast of Abrams' "Verdict" will air Thursday.

Abrams, the network's former General Manager, told the Times that he understood the decision.

"Putting my general manager's hat back on, considering where the network is right now, it is actually the right call," he said.

Almost immediately, Keith Olbermann took to DailyKos to celebrate the news, brag about his involvement in the decision � "Yes, I had something to do with it," he wrote � and remind readers that though Maddow's rise at the network was quick ("less than five months between first paid appearance and own show"), his was quicker ("I believe I still hold the MSNBC record: I came back to guest host for three days in 2003 and 39 days later I had a contract to do the 8 PM show.").

Comments

[YunekFlava]

Please hurry.

[mexicanamerican1948]

More of Air America the better, at we will know its a 100% left network. The public will have the option to tune in msnbc or not. If they succeed or fail , it will not be because liberals did not have a chance. Progressives or liberals now cannot complain of not getting "the message out" People will accept it in the market place or not. We will see.

[AnnaList]

Good for Rachel! She is very smart, insightful, and will be a real asset to MSNBC.

[amyeom]

Nothing against Dan, but America NEEDS Rachel Maddow. Her and Olbermann are heads and shoulders above the rest. PLEASE don't put that goofy celeb gossip the second-half of the show like Abrams did, Rachel!!

[TonyVa]

While I agree with Rachel on a lot of issues, I don't think she'll last very long in this spot.

She has a radio face and a newspaper voice. I LIKE her, but I can only take her in small

doses.

[KOBISKING]

FUNNY!

[PurplePhase]

You might have it backwards. That might be one reason why Rachel will succeed.

Viewers are tired of the perky barbie doll anchorettes who spend more time on their appearance than on journalism. CBS learned that the hard way.

[handyallen1]

cbs learned thats a laugh

[glesslib]

Spoken like a true chauvinist. Of course, a woman shouldn't be on TV if she is smart, clever, well-read. She should be there because she's a bimbette. I watch some of the ladies who read the news on the various cable outlets and hope, for their sakes, that no one ever asks them what most of the stories mean. And they do have the faces and voices for TV.

[avance]

In fact the voices of most of the women on cable are metallic, and their narrational styles are a repudiation of everything that a successful voice-over talent knows to be true. An exception is Michelle Kosinski (MSNBC and NBC). Her voice is low and throaty, her speech natural in pacing and intonation, and her command of language and the requirements of the assignment masterful. An example on the broadcast networks would be Kate Snow (ABC). Elizabeth Vargas (ABC) approaches that high standard.

[PollyTics]

While you agree with Rachel on most issues, you don't think she will last because she's not a replica of a Faux Noise news reader? Perhaps you need to reassess your own views on the fairer sex both in looks and in smarts.

Rachel is a brilliant commentator and I look forward to hearing her show, both on the radio AS WELL as the boob tube. Now if only we can encourage the networks to take heed and give us more of what we actually want.

[as if]

Are you serious? Rachel is HOT and has a great voice!

[asmir]

BTW..She is a lesbian..full blooded and I'm proud of her!!!!!!!!! She has brains and alot of class...and no topic is too big for her!!!!!!!!!

[MikePS65]

Geez. Why the overjoyed declaration about her sexual preferences? It'd be like someone saying, "Keith Olbermann is a full-blooded heterosexual male, and I'm proud of him!!!!!!" A little weird, isn't it?

[PollyTics]

It's not weird in the least. There are hardly any outed lesbians in main stream media today. Straight men are hardly news these days or any days in the past, so a lesbian with her own show today IS news and is something of which we all should be proud.

She's a glorious choice; a woman who is smarter than most, with a passion for politics and news; a clear cut star in the making!

[DogTown]

Dan Abrams is great. They keep naming Dan's shows with stupid names. I think that they should have kept Abrams and added Rachel Maddow too.

[BuddyLove65]

I think they are all bought and paid for. They make six figures and work for GE and they are looking out for our intrests? I don't think so. She's a "fox" alright talking to plump dumb chickens...

[unmutual]

This will be huge ratings success like her Air America show(s).

[BrandoLives]

Good for her...and I don't care what anyone says, she's foxy as hell.

[bilbe3526]

I tried to watch Abrams on this show as well as his previous outings. But too often his show comes across as a juvenile shouting match. Rachel is a sharp, witty, rather loquacious person, but she
is informative and not abrupt or outrageous with comic book whiz, bang, boom flashes, and guests who are, for the most part, obnoxious and downright silly, at times. Maybe Abrams got his template
from Chris Matthews (who should be replaced too because of his hysterical slobbering frantic rude interviewing style). Abrams is likeable, though; I just wish his approach was less bizarre and more
serious. He looks like a perky-faced kid who says, "Hey! How ya doin'! I'm here. At last!"
Keith O. is the real goods: combination of intelligence, insight, sharp analysis, and great sense of
sagacious humor. The best to Dan. Rachel, I'll be watching to see what gimmicks you present!
Bill Browne

[noamjunior]

although Abrams was excellent , his show's format spouted that faux objectivity where intelligent opinion and commentary was countered by con-man nonsense from Pat Buchanan

[hayleyfell]

FINALLY! I've been wondering when she was going to get her own show on MSNBC for months now. I couldn't be happier for her.

[thinklib]

Horrible haircut.

That alone is going to scare away viewers.

Who wants to look at that?

[editorjuno]

I do -- and with that kind of wit, insight, knowledge, and erudition, she could show up in a Parris Island buzzcut and/or Dolly Parton's wig and I'd still tune in every night!

[thinklib]

The few. The proud. The Rachel Maddow viewers.

[MatanP]

Ya know, you have such a deep and profound point - it is all about the hair, isn't it? Very insightful.

[thinklib]

Insightful?

We're talking about television.

[smokepole]

I love the “Scarborough is dangerous” lines for her to replace him. How petty and immature is that? The party of inclusion, diversity, and tolerance one again shows its ugly face. I guess the only valid opinion is the one that coincides with the party dogma.

[editorjuno]

It isn't Scarborough's ideology or party affiliation that's so objectionable -- it's his smug, shallow "I'm an insider and you're not" hubris. Moreover, Dr. Maddow is not a doctrinaire, party line Dem -- she is a skeptical, devoutly independent liberal, and that's a huge part of her appeal as a commentator.

[kaseyken]

I sure agree with the smug part - and would add condescending and bullying in words, tone and body language. Not that he has anything to say - he's like a 'one trick pony'. I don't know how Mika and Willie put up with him. I turn the show off unless he's absent . And the show is GREAT without him! Everyone including the guests relaxes when he's not there, and it's more entertaining and informative. At least Dan wasn't a verbal bully. How is it that Joe S. keeps his job when a major on-air focus of his is to keep track of who he has to apologize to? IWhat are we in third grade? It is not 'cute' behavior - it's embarrassing to witness as guest or viewer. He does not deserve a host position.