Check out Gail Shister's column in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Dan Abrams' monster spin on his decision-making at MSNBC thus far and be prepared to unstick your eyeballs from the top of your head ('cause they're gonna roll.) The way the former Abrams Report host's tenure as MSNBC general manager is going, I've got a new nickname for him: Rick Jr. Because Abrams is shaping up to be a Rick Kaplan mini-me...but big ol' Rick at least had some stage presence:
For a rookie, MSNBC's Dan Abrams throws major-league spin.
In his first move as general manager, Abrams last week canceled Rita Cosby's 10 p.m. talk show and bumped Tucker Carlson from 11 p.m. to 4 p.m., with an updated repeat at 6. The changes begin next Monday....
.....Instead of five hours' live face time a week, Cosby will appear several times weekly as primary anchor of the taped documentary series MSNBC Investigates, at 10 and 11 weeknights. She'll also head a four-person unit to produce Rita Cosby Specials.
Here's the spin: Cosby isn't losing a show, she's gaining a more important gig.
"This would be the ultimate offer for most TV correspondents," says Abrams, 40, formerly anchor of the legal-oriented Abrams Report at 4 and 6 p.m.
"... To us, documentary programming is not just essential, it is critical. Documentaries are our most important programs. We're going to repeat them throughout the weekend."
...There's another wrinkle in his new look that Abrams isn't eager to talk about. Minus Cosby: Live & Direct, MSNBC will feature an all-boy lineup - Carlson at 6; Chris Matthews at 7; Keith Olbermann at 8, and Joe Scarborough at 9.
Estrogen, anyone?
Cue more Abrams spin: "We're not missing a female in prime time if you define prime time only by being live... . To suggest we've removed our female anchor suggests that our documentary programming is not an absolutely crucial part of our schedule."
Moreover, this is not personal, Abrams insists....
And oh, the BS goes on and on...we'll see if Abrams takes a cue from the Master Blaster of Spin himself, CNN prez Jon Klein, when the new ratings come out, and tries to spin hideous numbers as actually a good thing. Unlike MSNBC's programming, THAT'll be some gripping newsertainment.
And oh, speaking of Olbermann? Word today that not only did the poor kid pay her own freight out here to see him, he didn't even buy her dinner first. Classy. (I know, I know....ALLEGEDLY!) I'm linking to Jossip because the blog's been deleted as of this afternoon...with only the words "We're Even!" left behind to mark its passing.
Home »
» MSNBC under Abrams: The MS stands for "More of the Same"
