MSNBC Lineup Changes: 'Ed Show' Moves To 8 PM, 'Last Word' Returns To 10 PM

MSNBC announced Wednesday that it is making a major change to its lineup.

Starting Monday, "The Ed Show" will be moved to the prime 8 PM slot. Lawrence O'Donnell's "The Last Word" will be moved to 10 PM, where it began before it was shifted to 8 PM following Keith Olbermann's departure from the network.

Rachel Maddow, the network's highest-rated host, will stay where she is at 9 PM.

In a statement, MSNBC president Phil Griffin said that the moves were intended to "strengthen the flow of our programming throughout the evening. As the name implies, 'The Last Word' belongs at the conclusion of our programming day, thoughtfully wrapping-up the day’s political dialogue. Ed’s passionate voice is a perfect kick off to primetime at 8 PM."

The move represents a definite promotion for Schultz, who will now go head-to-head with Bill O'Reilly and Anderson Cooper in the marquee cable news hour. It is the second time that Schultz has moved up the totem pole on MSNBC's lineup. He originally held the 6 PM hour currently hosted by Al Sharpton.

O'Donnell has recently had to endure a bout of unfavorable news coverage about his ratings. His return to 10 PM also means that he loses a full day of programming, since MSNBC does not air news programming at 10 on Fridays.

The move now means that the 8 PM hour has undergone three major changes in less than a year. O'Donnell's ascension to the slot was followed by Cooper's identical move from 10 to 8 in August. Now, Schultz will take on the challenge of the toughest slot in the business. It is a challenge that has felled many.

MSNBC's NEW LINEUP:

Comments

[TheNewsFix]

09:27 AM on 12/10/2011

Has MSNBC ever answered the question of WHY they don't air news programming on Friday nights at 10? I mean, it's the news programming, not the prison shows, for which MSNBC is known for and builds its brand around.

As a broadcast media programmer, this makes no sense at all.

[rainy128]

11:27 PM on 12/03/2011

I love them all on MSNBC straight shooters.

[rainy128]

11:23 PM on 12/03/2011

I like ED, Rachel , AL , they tell it like it is the whole truth . Fox net work is the saturday night live show especially hannity with dumb football and

[ssirksayeh]

06:31 AM on 11/08/2011

you people fing joking rite msnbc is saturdaynite live nothing serious on this station its one 24hr joke do u really think these clowns are fair u jokers blow my mind so easily decieved by klowns do u have brains i mean come on

[YahBetcha]

04:16 PM on 11/03/2011

I watch Keith Olbermann and record Anderson Cooper and then record the Last Word - since Ed Shultz is an immature hothead.

[sthomps2]

12:35 AM on 11/17/2011

Ed show is the best.....He is for the people and tells it like it is.....what show are you watching Keith O. has been long gone

[YahBetcha]

11:20 AM on 11/17/2011

Olbermann has his show on Current TV now - has had for 4 months! It is basically the same as it was on MSNBC. Check your listings - most of us get Current TV - it is owned by Al Gore and has some good programs on it.

[ozzy12450]

10:04 AM on 10/30/2011

Here is a short lesson on how to vote on T.V. line ups. Use the remote to turn the channel or turn the T.V. off.
Other than that this article was a waste of ink.

[AntiAlias]

03:19 PM on 10/28/2011

After watching for a week, I can say that I don't like this switch. The 10 o'clock hour competes with many dramas I like to watch, so I don't get to see Larry at all. And, Ed's show is hard for me to watch. It actually made me switch over and watch Olberman on Current twice this week. The arrangement of the line-up seemed uncoordinated. Bottom line is I'm not watching the MSNBC as much as I used to and I don't think that was the networks' intent.

[Berta Andara]

10:04 AM on 10/25/2011

if a rachel maddow is the highest rated show, then phil griffin should be out parking cars because he for sure has failed as the president of msnbc. only in a bad dream would anyone give a degenerate like al sharpton a tv show. where are the comcast executives to clean this place out and get real professionals to run an organization that the people might watch, which includes me. this is easy stuff. msnbc has failed because of content and presentation. it is uninformative, and most important, boring.
seeing this any other way is delusional.

[Glowbeanie]

01:39 PM on 11/02/2011

Delusional is what your comment and you sound like.

[Berta Andara]

08:43 PM on 10/24/2011

ed schultz at 8pm is perfect... nothing better than the people to see the true face of liberalism...

i have to once again wonder, is there anyone in nbc management that has a clue what they are doing.

[Glowbeanie]

01:41 PM on 11/02/2011

It could never be worst than the FoxNews channel.

[ciarrai]

10:11 PM on 10/23/2011

Losing Lawrence O'Donnell at 8 is a thing that screws up our MSNBC viewing. O'Donnell is a very bright and brash host who loves to give people hell. Shoot, neither one of us can stay up until ten due to our early time for rising for work. Can we watch Lawrence some other way? BTW, Schultz is a fine guy, but his histrionics about this and that are a bit much. Overall, MSNBC lost a great deal of ummph when they decided that Al Sharpton was someone they wanted in their lineup. We regard him as an utter fraud and would not watch him if he were the last show on tv. What's Keith Olbermann doing? I heard his ratings are abysmal on the new network. How about Butthead Griffin calls him up and says come on back? Sounds pretty good right about now, no?

[AZDave2]

08:41 PM on 10/22/2011

I will follow both O'Donnell and Ed to their new slots. The lineup from Hardball straight through the new O'Donnell slot is not to be missed. Everything else for me gets taped. At one time O'Donnell said that he did not even want to do the Friday slot. Too bad because I would like to have him on for the fifth day. Even when I'm in the car I can follow both MSNBC and CNBC during the day through XM. I think I am more like alot of people than the ratings show.

[Kimberlee Sullivan]

07:41 PM on 10/22/2011

Goodbye Keith, your decision to position your show on a network that you could have chosen any other time you wanted, you chose to put your show against O'Donnel's, which IMO, proves that you are the pompous megalomaniac that I've previously defended you on, well apparently I was wrong, you really are the Left's "Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck!" So Long!! I will miss you, but I can't stand anyone who shares your personality type, not even Wagner!

Lawrence 'Donnell is a very well-mannered, caring, compassionate, entertaining , without acting like a court jester or denigrating someone else, He has my loyalty and out of my loyalty to him, I will make sure that you don't get any ratings from this house, and I will watch lawrence religiously!!

[BsMom2]

09:31 PM on 10/23/2011

LOL Do you really think Keith or anyone cares?

[Kimberlee Sullivan]

01:03 AM on 10/24/2011

No, because I think that Keith's overblown megalomaniacal personality puts him in the category of James Joyce oversized ego and misogyny! I don't really care if he cares, which I don't think that caring is a quality that he possess, but I appreciated his style and I will miss it!

BTW, I really don't care what you think either!!

[lucy88lucy]

03:54 PM on 10/22/2011

Ed and Larry both stink, Rachel is confused

[BsMom2]

09:33 PM on 10/23/2011

Last time I looked, it is America and we still can choose what we watch. So, you do not have to watch any of them. Why do you feel the need to come one this site and insult them? I do not go to conservative sites and fling insults. What is wrong with you people?

[beccajo]

10:39 AM on 12/02/2011

You need to set your TV on Fox News, and then all your troubles will be over. They will direct you how to live your life, how to vote, etc. That way you won't have to make any decisions of your own. Lawrence O'Donnell will make you THINK, and you really don't want that.

[norkas]

11:50 AM on 10/22/2011

those Republicans that do not watch the Ed Show or have an opinion thai it is one sided politically i suggest you turn your hearing aid on and listen carefully.

Ed has gone after Obama allot and it was totally justified in my opinion and many others. Ed cuts no slack for any Democrat and displays that with often very focused comments .

I do not always agree with ED and also not myself as well after i realize what i said is at times just wrong.

I like Keith allot because of content and he is real competition but Ed is getting better and evolving and is more about WE THE PEOPLE then a structured political party.

[Dean Sheldon]

11:14 AM on 10/22/2011

Used to watch MSNBC EVERY NIGHT. Have not watched a single minute since Olbermann left. Not one. TV is supposedly about ratings. So, when you get rid of your highest rated show, it reveals what the corporate media is really about & what it wants you to see, & not to see. Speaking of that, Olbermann has been doing a fantastic job covering the OWS protests. BTW Keith, you look healthier & ten years younger since going on Current. Obviously corp owned media is not only bogus, It's bad for you health!

[TFlint]

01:35 PM on 10/22/2011

Since you have not watched "a single minute" of MSNBC since Kieth left then you must admit that your opinions on MSNBC are totally worthless! How can you say they are only showing what they want you to see since you have not bothered to watch?