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

[PuddyKatz]

Dan Abrams was so cute. I'll miss seeing him on a regular basis. I just turned the sound off and gazed into his big brown eyes.

[funkalicious]

Too bad that photo of Rachel makes her look like she just made a wetn'juicy in her pants.
Good luck Rachel I hope you don't make a wetn'juicy in your pants.

[tandrmcdonald]

Note to MSNBC;
Great news about Rachel Maddow. I repeat what I said yesterday. Keep Abrams, lose Scarborough. Move Abrams into the morning time slot; ship Scarborough to a distant NBC affiliate, like Mars.
Abrams isn't Edward R. Murrow, no one is actually, but he's a good Newsie hang on to him.
Gramma Rose

[leonyc]

I feel that Morning Joe is the best morning program on TV. I watch it regularly. I predict that Maddow won't get higher ratings than Abrams. She is a bit obnoxious.

[Puddin]

omg I could not agree with you more...I can not stand Scarborough. When he talks I "mute" my TV.

[mssisyphus]

I really enjoyed Rachel when she first started as a guest commentator, it was really when she filled in for Keith Oberman that I realized how much I really do enjoy her.

I always enjoyed Dan, but am excited about Rachel having her own show. She is smart, funny and very engaging. She asks questions we all want to know and comes across as through she were very comfortable with herself and being in front of the camera.

P.S. I remember when she first showed up on T.V., she wore no makeup, she looks much prettier now that she has allowed just a little enhancement. Love the no jewelry rule as well, to me it says that she is comfortable in her own skin, no need for adornments. Good Luck Rachel, I look forward to watching your show!

[Ddorsey]

Abrams for Press Secretary?

[luckyt]

I thought the same thing this morning.

[Tyrione]

``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.''

------------------

In other words, Dan did a bang up job getting us in the black that one year and we need his expertise again to save this dying network.

[Shiba Inu149]

I like her, she's got spunk!

[GrannyForObama]

Rachel is terrific and I'm glad she has her own show. I'll certainly look forward to watching her program regularly. Dan Abrams has a brilliant legal mind. I loved the first part of his show but the second half that focused on celebrities, I thought, was getting pretty silly. I usually turned it off and felt that Dan was wasting his considerable talent and intelligence on some very superficial stuff. I'd love to see him as a regular feature on either Rachel or Keith or with his own show at 11 pm on MSNBC featuring some national news as well.

[whizkid]

Why not have Maddow and Abrams both?
One could replace Olbermann's regurgitated repeat at 10.

[jhw22]

I am sooooo excited! The only thing better, in my opinion, would be her working for Obama's administration.

Jennifer

[luckyt]

That too

[ccpostman]

I guess that two dollar voodoo doll worked!

[amg503]

I'm glad she's received her own show, she deserves it, but I wish she didn't have to offset Abrams. Why can't one of them have Countdown's re-airing slot. I know it'd be late (for those of you on the East Coast), but Verdict was a pretty good show. They should at LEAST have some other show pick up the "Winners & Losers" and "Why America Hates Washington" segments. Those are great.

[JLee]

"Bush League Justice" and "Beat the Press" are great, too. I certainly hope Abrams comes on regularly to report on this administration's perversions of justice.

[luckyt]

Should have replaced Abbot & Costello - Mika & Joe

[firelord5000]

Rachael is good in small doses, but seriously, her carrying a full show for longer then a week is gona be a snooze fest. Dan Abrams was terrific, a more fun version of AC. Oh well, can't hurt to give her a try.

[americanalien]

I beg to differ. Rachel has a commanding personality that will keep viewers tuned in. Remember this will be her own show, so she'll have a little room to stretch her legs and allow her true personality to shine like you've never seen. Like Mr. Olbermann, she has a loyal core of supporters that will be the bedrock of her audience. Dan Abrams did not enjoy this. The most successful pundits are the ones with notable personalities and I tell you one thing, Rachel has definitely got personality.

[Tommygun264]

Rachel already carries a three-hour show by herself on Air America Radio and it's one of the most popular shows on the network, thank you very much.

[Nonamnesiac]

Although i'm glad Rachel is getting her own show, I wish she replaced Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan rather than Dan Abrams. Dan Abrams isn't harmful -- he's irrelevant. Scarborough and Buchanan are harmful. Rachel replacing Scarborough and Buchanan would be getting rid of a problem and replacing it with a solution

[americanalien]

Don't worry, Mr. Abrams will re-assume his position as General Manager. I think he is most effective in that position.

[priestessja]

You took the words out of my mouth!
Soooo many times, as I switch from Morning Joe so I don't throw something at the TV, I've prayed that MSNBC would replace those two with Rachel. That slot needs a serious brain that doesn't just spew out the Repub talking points.

[girard1991]

Excellent!

[americanalien]

Bravo!