Logo

MSNBC Gives Long-Term Commitment to ‘Live with Dan Abrams,’ ‘Morning Joe’

Sep 24, 2007  •  Post A Comment

“Live with Dan Abrams” and “Morning Joe,” hosted by Joe Scarborough, have earned official status as shows on MSNBC’s channel lineup, effective immediately. Both shows have been operating without long-term commitments; Mr. Scarborough since May — shortly after the cancellation of Don Imus’ simulcast in the wake of the scandal caused by comments about the Rutgers women’s basketball team — and Mr. Abrams for the last three months.
When MSNBC moves from New Jersey into space across the Hudson at NBC News headquarters at Rockefeller Center, in mid-October, Mr. Abrams will officially turn over day-to day management of the cable channel to NBC News Senior VP Phil Griffin, who also will continue to oversee NBC’s “Today” show. Mr. Abrams was named general manager of MSNBC in June 2006.
New hire Shannon High-Bassalik will become managing editor of MSNBC in October, overseeing weekday and weekend live news programming and breaking news coverage. She will report to Mr. Griffin. She comes from CBS-owned WFOR/WBFS in Miami, where she spent eight years, most recently as news VP. Ms. High-Bassalik took the station’s news ranking from last place to first in the market.
“As MSNBC moves into 30 Rock and Dan moves to anchoring a primetime program, it’s the right time for me to assume a more direct role in the management of the network,” Mr. Griffin said in the announcement of the changes Monday. “Dan leaves the general manager role with the network in the best competitive position in six years, up 62 percent in the target demographic in the last 15 months, and will enable us to continue to grow our primetime audience as host of ‘Live with Dan Abrams.'”
“Live with Dan Abrams” covers a wide variety of legal issues in the news. For the month of September to date, Abrams has seen a 39 percent increase in the adults 25-54 demo and a 31 percent increase in total viewers over documentary programming in the timeslot a year ago. Mr. Abrams also will contribute to NBC News platforms on legal issues.
(Editor: Romanelli)

18 Comments

  1. Sounds like MSNBC is re-arranging the chairs on the Titatinic.
    It is going down faster then a bowling ball dropped from the top floor of 30 Rock.
    Morning Joe is a “Joke”. Dan Abrams is a Court reporter and Steve Capus is a control room engineer.
    When will they realized they let the big one get away? Too bad.
    Don Imus and Company will bury these wannabees in a New York Minute.
    Remember: There is only one Don Imus. And he is returning.

  2. Hey bruce msnbc will be just fine. But I wish in hell they would get rid of Joe..

  3. Now Abrams needs to get Rachel Maddow’s name on a contract and give her the remaining nighttime hour on MSNBC, actually she’s best suited for the hour right after Olbermann.
    She’s a star. I know that cable news types believe that you can’t be a woman on the news without blonde hair and a whole bunch of makeup, but Maddow is the future of news.
    She’s the smartest of the lot out there waiting for her chance at the big time.
    All my Rachel Maddow posts are at this link:
    http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/rachel_maddow/index.html

  4. Morning Joe is a Very Bad, poor substitute for Imus!
    Joe Scarborough is a NBC suck up, and very hard to watch.
    I see nothing worthwhile in any aspect of this crappy mess.
    That bleached blond “news person” is a pompous ass, as well.
    I truly hate this show.
    Dreadful TV!!!

  5. Shannon High-Bassalik took WFOR from last to first (very briefly) and back to last which is why she was fired.

  6. I can’t believe that MSNBC is making the female-bashing Scarborough the permanent host.
    But alas, here’s an idea for the show so Joe’s new female boss Shannon can rein in his misogyny. Let’s call it “Do taser Joe.” In this feature, Mika has a taser gun and zaps Joe whenever that ego-bloated jerk starts to cut her down (such as call her “Baby,” take smarmy swipes at her views/values/background, make digs at her family, interrupt her news/comments, refuse to let her ask questions of guests, or say anything about her looks. Being tased about every 5 minutes, 15 hours a week for a few months may be the only way to train Joe to be a professional media-person and less of a chauvinist pig.

  7. I’m glad Dan will be staying on, he has a natural way about him and I find his whole show entertaining. I’m also happy for MSNBC; their ratings have been climbing steadily during the all important prime-time slot and getting the right demographic for the advertisers.
    Way to go, Dan!

  8. I’m glad Dan will be staying on, he has a natural way about him and I find his whole show entertaining. I’m also happy for MSNBC; their ratings have been climbing steadily during the all important prime-time slot and getting the right demographic for the advertisers.
    Way to go, Dan!

  9. Agree with you about Rachel Maddow…what a wealth of information. Don’t have to agree with her to find her extremely interesting and intelligent.
    Morning Joe is awful. Feel bad for Willie Geist…he is not comfortable on that show. I laugh every time I see Joe’s commercial…as in “The Republicans don’t own me. The Democrats don’t own me.” Whoever told him they would want to own him? Never assume, Joe. You aren’t that important.

  10. Agree with you about Rachel Maddow…what a wealth of information. Don’t have to agree with her to find her extremely interesting and intelligent.
    Morning Joe is awful. Feel bad for Willie Geist…he is not comfortable on that show. I laugh every time I see Joe’s commercial…as in “The Republicans don’t own me. The Democrats don’t own me.” Whoever told him they would want to own him? Never assume, Joe. You aren’t that important.

  11. Morning Joe is about the worst programming I’ve seen. He’s a sexist, ego maniac who thrives on hearing himself speak. Mica does not complement his irrational rants. He really carries the water for Republicans. I’m sick of him and wish that MSNBC would replace him

  12. MSNBC’s Morning Joe is about the worst TV show ever. Is this the best those guys can to do to replace Don Imus? Imus and his crew were great, not to mention the good work he did for the Imus Ranch for sick children. Joe S. and that bleached blond cutesy sidekick Mika do absolutely nothing except trying to outdo each other. It is a terrible show. Get Imus back, please.

  13. No one is watching Morning Joe, He sucks. And america knows.

  14. Although I have been watching Morning Joe for a few months, I am now feeling compelled to write a few things about it. (By the way I switched from Fox and Friends for a change of pace)
    1. Wille Geist has a lot of nerve ridiculing Pres. Bush and anyone else for that matter when is biggest contributin to the show is “News you can’t use” We know he’s a Yankee fan but calling the Mets fans obnoxious is a bit ridiculous coming from him. Man did he find himself a racket or what? Who’s in charge of hiring there? I need a job.
    2. Mike Bredynski(sp?) has more class than Joe and Will put together. When Joe was away on personal business she handled the show with class, fairness and dignity. Without Joe constantly interjecting his overbearing thoughts every second or so she really does have a lot of important things to say.
    3. Joe Scarborough needs to grow up. His stupid comments like Hillary Clinton being his girlfriend is so out of touch with what he should be saying and really isn’t the least bit funny. He interupts Mika all the time and never ceases to poke fun at guests on his show whose opinions or commentary he probably doesn’t understand.
    I think it’s time to change the channel again.

  15. Harsh criticism of poor Joe. Personally I quite like the show. The reason I came in here today was to find out what happened to the show today the 12th of Aug.It wasn’t on this morning and I miss it!!! Bring him back. I think he and Mika are a good mix, a little edgy.

  16. This Joe program is not good even though I feel that Mika makes it more acceptable to me. She is not “stunningly superficial” which is the most accurate discription of Joe that I heard this morning from Mika’s father. My biggest grip with his program is that it continues to be “too white establishment”. This program needs some “color”in the worst way. This is 2008 Joe and the south did not win the war-he still has a race problem in my estimation. He is alittle worst than Imus b/c Imus did let you know his feeling.

  17. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING MSNBC @ 6AM SINCE THE BEGINNING OF IMUS,I BET HE IS ONE SORRY DUDE FOR FALLEN FOR THAT TRAP,IF HE WOULD HAVE JUST SIT TIGHT KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT AND RODE OUT THE STORM HE WOULD STILL BE THERE,AFTER ALL ONLY BLACK MEN CAN TALK TO THEIR WOMEN LIKE THAT,HOW DARE A WHITE BOY TRY IT.I WATCHED ALL THE PEEPS THAT MSNBC MARCHED PASS US LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT, THEY DID HIT A COUPLE I THOUGHT WERE PRETTY GOOD
    BUT THEY FINALLY SETTLE ON RED NOSE JOE.HE MUST HAVE FOUND A GOOD DRINKING PARTNER THERE, CAUSE YOU CAN’T MISS A HANGOVER IN THE MORNING DAZE ALONG WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL BRIGHT RED NOSE.LUCKY THAT HE IS ON LESS THEN HALF THE TIME,BECAUSE THE SHOW DOES HAVE THREE WELL SCHOOLED PROS THAT CARRY THE SHOW WITHOUT R.N.J. WITH MIKA, WILLY, AND PAT. WITH THE LATER PAT BUCHANAN POSSIBLY AND PROBABLY THE BEST POLITICAL ANNALIST ON TV TODAY.DO THESE THREE AND THE FOLLERS OF THE STATION A FAVOR AND GET R.N.J. A GIG IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

  18. Have you noticed that when Joe stretches the truth to fit his ideology (blowing it out his A–) , he wipes his nose with the back of his hand?

Leave a Reply to KC Cancel Reply

Email (will not be published)