Rachel Maddow Ratings: Beats Olbermann's "Countdown" To Be MSNBC's Top Show

The student has surpassed the master, at least for one night.

"The Rachel Maddow Show" was MSNBC's top-rated broadcast Tuesday night, unseating Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" as the network's top show.

Maddow drew 1.8 million total viewers compared to Olbermann's 1.6 million. Maddow also outdrew Olbermann in the advertiser-friendly 25-54 demographic, taking 25,000 more young adults than her lead-in "Countdown."

Full ratings numbers below (via TV By The Numbers):

8PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O'Reilly Factor- 3,060,000 viewers (731,000) (1,253,000)
Election Center-1,166,000 viewers (431,000) (576,000)
Countdown w/Keith Olbermann- 1,635,000 viewers (509,000) (771,000)
On the Money--207,000 viewers (65,000) (106,000)
Nancy Grace -1,166,000 viewers (412,000) (618,000)

9 PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity & Colmes-3,136,000 viewers (716,000) (1,375,000)
Larry King--1,710,000 viewers (496,000) (801,000)
Rachel Maddow Show-1,801,000 viewers (534,000) (872,000)
Business of Innovation--a scratch w/102,000 viewers (a scratch w/42,000) (59,000)
Glenn Beck- 656,000 viewers (211,000) (354,000)

10 PM P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
On the Record w/Greta--2,908,000 viewers (727,000) (1,367,000)
Anderson Cooper 360-1,828,000 viewers (647,000) (898,000)
Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann-1,127,000 viewers (412,000) (616,000)
Saving General Motors-187,000 viewers (93,000) (121,000)
Nancy Grace -717,000 viewers (373,000) (420,000)

Update: The hosts of Morning Joe congratulated Rachel Maddow on her ratings success Thursday morning. Joe Scarborough, who has sparred with Maddow in the past, had particularly kind words for her, saying:

TV folk are some of the craziest folk I know, as Krusty the Clown might say. But she is a good, good person. We probably don't agree on anything politically. But she's respectful of people, and it's great. File this under, one of those good people doing well."

Watch:

Comments

[dawlishgal]

The thing is that Olbermann is on twice, once at 8, (eastern time) and again at 10, so it would be proper to add the audiences of his two shows together. I used to watch at 8, but lately I have been watching at ten. IF they took off the 10 pm version, I would revert to watching at 8. I am sure that a lot of others would too.

[RStone]

I used to respect MSNBC when Chris Matthews had not fallen into blatant partisan politics. He also has blown his chances to run for office. Sad.

http://www.boppoll.com

10 people can add 600 bops per minute to McCain's number. The hire it gets, the worse he is doing in this poll.

[KNadine]

Don't be so sure Chris Matthews has blow his chances to run for office. John McCain & Sarah Palin proves daily that anyone - ANYONE can run for office.

[PBJoseph]

I assume you mean "the 'higher' it gets" ?

[UplandBob]

Show's how weak MSNBC is. Their ratings are horrible, the hosts are ridiculous.

[jenserlos]

Remember, MSNBC is not free on basic cable.

[sanywhere]

um, yes it is.

[sedum]

UpyoursBob,

and you're out of your alleged mind.

[DawnLA]

I want Rachel Maddow to interview Sarah Palin. For the entire hour. How great would that be?

[sedum]

Rachel had better do it soon. Palindrone will be extinct in a very short while.

[pirx]

My best palindrome to date.

Nil, a pot o' Palin.

[proudloudlib]

Oh, but so sexist! (That was sarcasm, trolls.)

[LAB11]

Rachel Maddow kicks a$$ and takes no prisoners! I'm loving it!!!!

[GeorgeP922]

Danny Shea, why am I not suprised to see your name stamped on the top there?

You seem to only put your name on articles that defame or devalue Keith, not sure what you have so against him.

[RealityBaseCamp]

GeorgeP922 asked:

"Danny Shea, why am I not suprised to see your name stamped on the top there?
You seem to only put your name on articles that defame or devalue Keith, not sure what you have so against him."

I noticed he was the one doing the same thing to Randi Rhodes after her suspension. There were no "updates" either, when facts emerged that completely negated the rumors he originally wrote.

[TreetopFlyer]

Hello? Did anyone else watch Tuesday's premier of 'House' @ 8 EST?

I wasn't sure about Rachel hosting at first, but now I'm convinced she's the best there is. I have no idea what Scarborough's problem is with truth, but then he quotes cartoon clowns, doesn't he?

And nobody does Edward R. Morrow better than Keith. My only criticism would be that he's a little too playful at times which tends to diminish his seriousness somewhat. I thought MSNBC's Democratic convention coverage was a real freak show - but then all the other cable presentations were side shows, as well.

[BertrandRussell]

Methinks no one at MSNBC is prouder of Rachel than is Keith.

[demdan07]

You're kidding - right? She had better watch her back - if she continues to do better than him, he just may kick his feet and hold his breath till the powers that be ( him ) let her go. But then, if we are lucky, she WILL continue doing better and they won't need him anymore. He will lose his hold on them, and then his ranting will blow up in his face as it has done in the past.

[Trill]

Grow up...demda­n07!

[EricWilliams]

Am I missing something here? Olbermann reaches close to 3 million viewers if you add his two airings. Nothing against Rachel -- it's great that her show is doing so well. But 5pm is too early for most West Coast working folk, so I'd assume there's a lot of left-coast viewership of Olbermann's replay at 7.

[charlygardel]

Love, love, love Rachel's show, and it is getting better every single day. But that first ep. was painful -- never, ever have Pat Buchanan on again. Rachel and Pat are great when they are at eachother's throats with someone serving as ref, but when Rachel needs to be deferential to him as a "guest" it just gives him license to be, well, to be Pat Buchanan.

With that said, one big, annoying problem remains: the set is incredibly noisy. First it was the people talking, and now for the past few days there has been a beeping as if she is on a loading dock with trucks backing up just a few feet away from her. C'mon, MSNBC! If she is the highest rated show you've got, wouldn't it be a good idea to move her out of the basement?

At the end of the day, Rachel's true beauty, and what sets her apart from the rest: show *knows* stuff. Is she the only one around who actually reads?

[Chillinout]

I agree. That first show was rather painful to watch. It wasn't as smooth as it could have been. Though it has improved by leaps and bounds since then.

[kidcharles]

Ditto on the noise. I actually e-mailed the show last night saying that the sound techs need to step up and fix that problem ASAP.

[Trill]

I totally agree chalygardel. Wondered where all of that noise was coming from? I kept looking outside.

[swift goat pet for truth]

About time. Rachel rocks.

MSNBC - WE TOLD YOU SO!!!

And good for Scarborough for being gracious.

[kappa08]

sex sells...JU­ST KIDDING!

[mercuryguy]

I love Rachel

[Bulbul]

What ?
Off with her head !
Keith says.....

[sammy50]

Joe, they put the kool-aid in your coffee.

[Sortaskibum]

It's so great to see someone conduct an interview without shouting at their guests and cutting them off. This is what scares McCain's campaign buddies. They can shout nonsense, but can't actually argue rational points.

[steve-annie]

That's why none of the Republican campaign's "pundits" or "advisers" will agree to appear on her show. She's so brilliant that she'd make chopped liver out of them, all the while smiling and being perfectly polite. I love that woman!