When Left Is Right: How Rachel Maddow Became A Star

"Can you believe that sellout, Barack Obama?" says Rachel Maddow, looking around the room. "Let's hit him from the left!" It's 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, and the six-foot-tall Maddow, wearing her trademark baggy 501 jeans and thick-soled sneakers, has just burst into her staff meeting in a small office at 50 Rockefeller Plaza, home of MSNBC. Her team of political junkies, mostly in their 20s and 30s, perk up, laugh and start talking about how Obama is looking at hiring former Clinton staffers. "Yes!" Maddow responds, beaming. "He's already triangulating, the bastard." It's the day after the election, and Maddow has had two hours of "drunk sleep." Just a few minutes before, her intense executive producer, Bill Wolff, was giving the staff a pep talk, and a warning: don't get too cynical too soon. They may be feeling "tired and cranky" because they were up late working and drinking, but "the country is still aglow," he says. "Holy s---, Barack Obama is president of the United States. People are almost universally feeling quite proud and quite moved by it and I don't think we want to be too fast to speed away from that." When Maddow arrives, she energizes the room. She flops to the floor, alternately lying on her back, throwing a small foam basketball in the air and kneeling to scribble in a notebook. Her ideas are all tough-minded: Who will be in the new cabinet? Who are the Republican bosses now? How will Bush handle his "lameduckitude"?

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Housewife]

I preferred Rachel in smaller doses. She spends way too much time in Nervous Nellie mode for me to watch her for a whole hour. Way too intense.

[maxfax]

She's a cutie patootie, go Rachel!

[BenHur]

Strangely the thought of seeing her together with Lindsey Lohan kinda does it for me, just as long as she doesn't put her on the show.

[bonbk]

My husband and I really like Rachel.

She's smart, funny, interesting, down to earth, and a genuinely nice person.
Air America was taken off the air for low ratings in Philadelphia (??!!??) so I'm glad I get to hear her opinions and interviews, and laugh with her. I don't agree with everything, and wouldn't it be boring if I did.....

[nikto]

RACHEL MADDOW is the best thing on TV.

Period.

End of story.

[TheBlackCat]

I enjoy Rachel and watch her show pretty regularly. After what we have seen on the right, however, I am very wary of too much pomp and privilage being awarded to pundits, even those I agree with. I'm not saying that Rachel in any way resembles Hannity or Rush, Coulter or Savage or the like. I just would hate to see the left go down the same road the right has, fixate on a popular pundit and defer to their OPINIONS as if they were FACTS.

[BOin08]

Let's not confuse KO or RM with journalism. Keith a campus joke- all the fluff of Howard Stern, but without the midget strippers. At least Rachel can start an interview without the leading questions like "Don't you think..." or "Shouldn't we.."

[Bitsko]

Anyone who's professed hobby is bartending is all right with me! Hic.

[BBackSoon]

Why? Because she is smart, well informed and has a killer satirical side.

I for one have had to get back to work around the house after 6 or 8 weeks of pre-election paralysis and can"t devote the two hours a night to the TV. I watch both Keith and Rachel but find that if forced to choose I pick Rachel. Does this put me in the running for Worst Person?

[FastMovingCloud]

Not at all. I think KO would pick Rachel, too.

[pinellas]

Nice article - lotsa 'inside' & background info for us fans - & I've been a Maddow fan since she debuted on Air America's Unfiltered (it wasn't solely 'her' show, tho - she was a co-host w/ Lizz Winstead & Chuck D)
I'm glad she's such a dork - I'm a dork too - & proud of it!
Dorkism is so cool = )

[walkthewalk]

Imagine. A TV star who isn't driven by ego. Rachel is the best because, even if you don't always agree with her, you know she's coming from a thoughtful, authentic position.

[Bosoxfan]

I enjoy the show, you're clever,witty and quite perky.....however, we are on the verge of doing what the press normally does to a new star, and that's the overkill with feeding frenzy. Also,please stop rubbing our faces in the fact that you're gay. Pardon the pun.

[helenwheels]

I've never seen her even hint that she's gay on her show. Don't other celebs base their interviews on their significant others or kids? and, what pun?

[Bosoxfan]

Ask one of your homegirls.

[LeaveArtieAlone]

Boso do you want to date Rach? :-)

Would you ask the media to stop talking about her partner if she were hetero. They were informing us of her life, her being in a relationship would NATURALLY be a part of the article gay or hetero!

[Bosoxfan]

Sure, I'd love to date her. She could get a new jumpsuit with some nice new black hightop sneakers and a crew cut. We could go paintball shooting.

[zenlikejen]

WTF? Yeah, sure...as soon as you stop rubbing OUR faces in your "ignorance".

[Bosoxfan]

WTF? Does that mean what I think it does? That's kind of nasty and personal, don't you think? I thought you were all perky? No?

[Adebukola]

Rachel I enjoy your show because of the respect you have for your guests, even when it is Patrick Buchanan.

[NMO14]

Hey Rachel...I have a lot of bones to pick with Obama, even if I voted for him...but complaining about choosing the Clinton crew he has, except for Rahm or Summers, is not one of them.

That being said, you were a lukewarm host of Air America...always preferred Randi or Mike Malloy before both lost their minds.

[OC4Obama4Pres]

Sounds like a former Clintonite to me..

[Kiba]

Rachel is amazing. She has a unique combination of intelligence, fearlessness, humor and charm.

[Dr Independents Day]

Love Rachel, but like Keith more. He is wicked like me, and Rachel is so nice.