David Shuster To Host 6PM Hour On MSNBC

When David Gregory was tapped for "Meet the Press," his 6PM slot on MSNBC became open. The New York Times' Brian Stelter reports that it will be filled by David Shuster, who has been substituting for Gregory and who became Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" fill-in when Rachel Maddow was granted her own show this summer:

MSNBC is replacing one David with another on its 6 p.m. program, "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."

The cable news channel, owned by NBC Universal, is expected to announce Monday that David Shuster, a Washington correspondent, will succeed David Gregory on the political program, people with knowledge of the move said Sunday night.

Mr. Gregory started anchoring the early evening hour, then named "Race for the White House," last March. Last week, after Mr. Gregory was named the new moderator of "Meet the Press," Mr. Shuster served as the substitute host.

"1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" covers the presidential transition and other topics. Last week, guests debated the need for a "car czar," discussed the arrest of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois, and questioned whether President Bush would be remembered as the "worst president in history."

Shuster is perhaps most well-known for his infamous comment that the Clinton campaign had "pimped out" Chelsea Clinton, a remark which got him suspended from the network and which led the Clinton campaign to send a blistering letter to NBC News President Steve Capus. Shuster also was embroiled in an on-air fight with Joe Scarborough during the Democratic National Convention (one of many instances of MSNBC anchor infighting during that time). Most recently, Shuster was the anchor who reported the Martin Eisenstadt hoax, which MSNBC was later forced to retract.

A collection of Shuster-related links below:
MSNBC Retracts Story Sourced By Hoax Martin Eisenstadt
Shuster, McCain Flack Battle Over Palin, First Amendment
David Shuster Labors To Trump Up A Clinton Gaffe
David Shuster: "I Was Thrown Under The Bus To Pay For The Sins Of The Father"
MSNBC Reporter Begrudgingly Apologizes For Chelsea "Pimp" Comment
David Shuster: Who Is MSNBC's "Pimped Out" Reporter?

Comments

[honeydiva]

Nope, he's been featured for three days and has p*ssed me off. MSNBC now is trying to be Fox lite. I wrote that slug and and i hope this program gets the axe quick.

[Softnsweet]

I am really getting p@issed off with MSNBC. I am sick of this Rick Warren thing and David Shuster needs to go back to reporting.

[ErinBerin84]

It always makes me laugh how blatantly the Huffington Post hates on MSNBC....there are many worthy targets, but while David has made a few mistakes in the past, he is a much better reporter than many during the election season. He gave both parties an equally tough time (the "in fight" with Scarborough was prompted when Shuster told Joe that he never asks tough questions about Iraq to McCain surrogates) and did a good job reporting for the Plame trial. Sadly, 1600 PA Ave is a pretty bad show and I wish they would just scrap it and let Shuster try a new format. Shuster does get a bit over-zealous (like with the Blago stuff this week), but he would do it with a Republican too I think. Gregory, not so much...Stretch's even handedness left his spirit a long time ago.

[honeydiva]

your post was very even handed. I was on his side for the clinton thing but now he's going overboard. my feelings are changing about him as a journalist. Hes becoming too snarky and pious. I think he's sniffing his own behind and getting high. I'm kinda sorry he's acting a fool I was rooting for that horrible program but now...NOT.

[rejoiceinit]

Wow, I totally forgot that DS was said the "pimped out" remark. I guess that's the reason Gregory got MTP over him--but I'd love to know what came up while they vetted Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell or Gwen Ifill? Clearly, the only reason David Gregory could have received this position is because of some hidden potential controversies with the other candidates­...because I know NBC execs couldn't be stupid enough to choose DG for ANY other reason.

[dmann32]

They should have kept Gregory in the field! He is just TOO boring!

[erincnyc]

The 6pm hour was only sleepy because of Gregory. Snoozefest is more like it. Now we shall have some real newsertainment!

[democratICnpround]

News flash to David Shuster - "You do NOT have to make EVERY story about PE Obama seem like there is a dark, sinister under-story not being told JUST TO KEEP US ALL IN SUSPENSE".
Before you Shusterites bludgeon me let me say I do think Shuster is a significant improvement over Gregory. He just needs to get comfortable with the fact that he is no longer a "News person" but rather just another talking head and it is OK to say an occasional positive comment about PE Obama.

[spyda]

Thank You MSNBC!! I have been writing for months for David Shuster to get his own show! GOOD LUCK

[AurigaRa]

good
I like Schuster and he is DEFINITELY more fair and balanced than Gregory

Loosen up a bit DS and bring some good guests on - NOT Pat Buchanan

[ManwithaParachute]

PLEASE keep DG on NBC and off of MSNBC.

[AlligatorShuz]

I like David Shuster better than David Gregory! I like Shuster style and personality he truly try to tell the entire story. Now this is someone who MSNBC should keep. They truly need to get rid of Contessa Brewer and Courtney Hasslett they have no clue and should never be infront of any camera...

[rcampbell]

David Shuster is a plenty good on air guy, but MSNBC simply doesn't need this show. I live in AZ. The MSNBC afternoon line up here is Hardball @ 3:00, then 1600 Penn Ave @ 4:00, a repeat of Hardball @5:00 and finally Countdown and Rachel Maddow at 6:00 and 7:00 respectively. With a trifecta of Matthews, Olbermann and Maddow, who needs yet another program going over the same stuff without their unique viewpoints? Gimme Chris, Keith and Rachel all in a row at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00. That lineup would take care of my news and opinion fix for the evening.

[JulieKay]

I really like David Shuster. It is too bad the author of this article only wrote about David's screw-ups rather than some of his great reporting.

[NotMcCain]

Yes, he's their best journalist--one of the best on -any- channel, period.

I hope MSNBC gives him the freedom it gives Matthews, Maddow and Olbermann. Shuster is a knowledgable and tenacious questioner who really seems to be interested in the subject, not the talking points.

He will be great. I hope he can build an audience.

[rejoiceinit]

He would have shined on MTP.

[AurigaRa]

Amen
He apologized , its over and done.

[Tulka2]

Shuster seems to me to have a real backbone. This is a slot i never watched before because of Gregory's smarmy self-agradizment. Shuster is a real journalist. Great good luck.

[imsosure]

I predict Gregory will screw up his new appointment an end up wishing he hadn't accepted the change, the peter principle exemplified.

[AurigaRa]

ratings will tank - Gregory stinks

Meanwhile I WILL start watching that time slot now that Gregory is gone and Schuster is in

[LeeCalif]

He'll be great.

Too bad I've given up cable ....... Oh well.