Lawrence O'Donnell To Host MSNBC 10PM Show

Lawrence O'Donnell will host the 10PM hour on MSNBC, the network announced Tuesday.

O'Donnell will develop a show to round-out the network's primetime lineup; currently, a repeat of the 8PM show, "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," airs in the 10PM timeslot, after "The Rachel Maddow Show."

"Lawrence O'Donnell is an incredible talent, who our audience has gotten to know throughout the years, most recently as Keith Olbermann's principal guest host on 'Countdown,'" MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in the announcement. "It's great to have another anchor of his caliber on the network," said Griffin. "This makes us a bigger and better network."

"I've had a part-time job at MSNBC for 14 years," O'Donnell, who has been an MSNBC political analyst since the network launched in 1996, added. "Now that the network and I have gotten to know each other, I'm thrilled to be going full time."

MSNBC put its search for a 10PM host on indefinite hold in March 2009. At that time, Griffin told the Associated Press:

"We're not going to mess with it until we see where it levels off. It places the burden, if we are going to put a show there, (for it) to be a big show because the repeat of `Countdown' is doing so well."

In an interview with Variety in April, O'Donnell said that he considered MSNBC a "hobby, no matter how many hours of the day I spend here."

He also pointed out the difference between cable news ratings and the ratings on network TV shows, such as "West Wing," which he produced and wrote:

At MSNBC, people treat with great seriousness ratings fluctuations roughly equal to "the number of people who would go to the bathroom during a 'West Wing' episode," as O'Donnell wryly puts it.

The new O'Donnell show will bump back the "Countdown" repeat to 11PM; Maddow will repeat at midnight, and O'Donnell will repeat at 1AM.

O'Donnell also contributes to the Huffington Post.

Comments

[matt hunnicutt]

08:51 PM on 07/06/2010

when? how would they not say when the first episode is?

[jdcapshew]

09:00 PM on 06/28/2010

Great news, O'Donnell is brilliant.

[marbiol]

10:28 PM on 06/19/2010

good thing greta her new contract! I give Mr. O'donnell 2-3 months to put her behind cnn! Putting O'donnell on as the producer/director & on-screen talent of the audio version of the "West Wing" is a stroke of genius. I just hope he gets Martin Sheen on as the POTUS in the very first episode. Obviously, they are going to have to recast sheen's daughters--since both women are now 2 old to pull it off!! Greta's toast!

[llivinginthemoment]

11:35 PM on 06/18/2010

Larry O'Donnell is the best person on cable-- with the sole exception of Rachel Maddow. He doesn't get all ideological like Ed, doesn't have any thrills going up his leg like Chris Matthews, and most of important, unlike Keith Olberman he realizes that the show is not about him. Smart move by MSNBC.

http://www.conservativeblogwatch.com/2010/06/16/meredith-jessup-lawrence-odonnell-to-join-msnbcs-primetime-lineup/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/16/AR2006041601027.html

[candyc]

08:28 AM on 06/19/2010

A very fair observation

[Okieborn]

06:15 PM on 06/20/2010

Great Comment !

[ConservatismIsRight]

10:50 PM on 06/18/2010

Another Show on MSNBC no one will watch. hahahaha

[liveordie]

01:25 PM on 06/19/2010

at least the "one" you mention is better than the zero fans you have.

[Matuskaze Kid]

06:13 PM on 06/19/2010

Don't let your "fans" go to your head.

[jbrantow]

11:45 PM on 06/28/2010

It's about quality not quanity. The masses who watch fox "news" are unable to think for themselves so settle for lies and propaganda to guide their thoughts instead of thinking for themselves. I'll take quality anytime over ignorant misinformation.

[lmpub]

09:45 PM on 06/18/2010

I was one of those people who thought the West Wing was a great TV show. As a former Republican (strong emphasis on "former") I was always impressed on how smart and tough progressive issues were framed and discussed. Obviously L O'D was a big force behind that and he has been bringing that to MSNBC for sometime now (enjoy watching he and Joe S. debate on Morning Joe). I think he will do well with his own show. Best of luck.

[BMS]

09:16 PM on 06/18/2010

Yes!!!!!!!!

I'll be watching. I hope they let him be himself.

[THORGODOFTHUNDER]

09:11 PM on 06/18/2010

I told my wife many months ago that he deserves his own show. Yay! And congratulations Lawrence.

[bcarb]

08:52 PM on 06/18/2010

Fantastic. I'll watch.

[HDR]

06:56 PM on 06/18/2010

I hope the producers give him the chance to build up a following by being himself.

[msmPostcom]

06:41 PM on 06/18/2010

MSNBC is all Whites all Nights (STILL). MSNBC - Minorities Suppressors no Blacks or Colored political Anchors.

CNBC - no blacks
NBC - no blacks

Appears to be Woolworth discrimination in 2010 style.

I know they are aware of my postings, but are afraid to respond to them. WHY?

Main Street Media Post..

[HDR]

06:55 PM on 06/18/2010

Your sheets are ready.

[Fretslayer]

07:26 PM on 06/18/2010

HA!

Well done good sir!
Well done.

[rhodapenmark]

07:12 PM on 06/18/2010

Because they regard bean-counters as fools. Because they know that hiring somebody because he or she is black is simply reverse Jim Crow. Because your posts seethe with self-importance.

[hang319]

04:44 PM on 06/18/2010

Lest we forget, where is my David Shuster??!!

[liveordie]

01:27 PM on 06/19/2010

Let us know when you find out. A big loss.

[GwenElle]

04:03 PM on 06/18/2010

I still remember fondly Lawrence O'Donnell's total annihilation of Pat Buchanan last year during the controversy surrounding President Obama's commencement address at Notre Dame. Buchanan hasn't been the same since. Pat's still trying to find what's left of his gonads. Here's the clip. It's just under 8 minutes and worth every minute of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdykMM1W7I4

[hang319]

04:53 PM on 06/18/2010

That was fun to watch, again.

[IslandGyal]

10:45 AM on 06/20/2010

There's an interview O'Donnell did with a hypocrite (republican) congressman. I can't remember what state he was from, but he thought he would be able to pedal his BS like on FAUX news and don't get challenged. He was soooooooooooooo wrong.

[Corpsman Up]

03:16 PM on 06/18/2010

Did they give him this job based on how he was able to elevate olbermann's ratings when olbermann was gone?

[liveordie]

01:33 PM on 06/19/2010

snark, snark.

[esalter]

03:05 PM on 06/18/2010

Well I guess i'm next. They'll give anybody a show rather tahn try and keep David shuster. The one piece of advice I would Lawrence is don't act at all like you did when filling in for Keith. That sucked!