MSNBC to move Keith out of primetime?

[Shopaholic]

So says TVNewser.com:http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/

Rita Cosby To Host Prime Crime On MSNBC; Time Slot TBA; Premiere Set For Summer

Announcement expected this afternoon...

Don't believe everything you read on Drudge, chapter 149. Yes, Rita Cosby is coming to MSNBC: The press release will come out later today. But the announcement won't mention a time slot, because MSNBC's new primetime lineup has not been finalized. Drudge's assertation that Rita was coming to 10pm is false, three sources said this afternoon.

MSNBC's primetime amounts to a big question mark at this point. The most logical lineup sounds like this: Hardball at 7, Tucker Carlson at 8, "Crime At Nine" with Cosby (and Dan Abrams??) at 9, Joe Scarborough at 10, and Countdown with Keith Olbermann at 11 (on tape). "It will all be clear in June," an insider said this afternoon...

> First MSNBC nabs Carlson from CNN, then it lures Cosby from FNC. Are the two outside hires an admission that MSNBC doesn't develop talent the way NBC expected it would?Rita Cosby To Host Prime Crime On MSNBC; Time Slot TBA; Premiere Set For Summer
Announcement expected this afternoon...

[crispini]

1. Well, THAT would suck. :(

Should we barrage them with emails?

[Shopaholic]

2. I think we should, yes.

I mean, they are basically talking about showing a news program on tape which totally sucks! Not only that, they are hiring the rejects of the other cable news networks now! Who the heck is running this network? Note that Scarborough stays in prime--I guess they like CNN have decided that the best way to compete with Faux is by turning themselves into Faux-Lite. :shrug:

[crispini]

6. Let's do it.

Who's the best person to address them to? Also, maybe we should send some actual snail mail. Even though it's just a rumor, I think we should get out our activist muscle and try to nip this in the bud. (Or is this premature? Well, even if it is a bit premature, it surely wouldn't HURT, especially if we were polite about it, right?)

Let's pick one address for emails, one address for snail mails, and draft up a sample letter.

Then we can start a campaign -- a couple of posts in GD or GDP, or post in threads about KO we see, or put it in our sigs, or something. Also we could start an "official" thread that people can come and kick when they have sent in email or snail mail.

Do you think we could get some of the QT crew to chime in? How about other blogs and so on?

Here's a sample letter which people should change to suit:
==========================

Dear XXXXXX:

It has recently come to my attention, via the internet, that MSNBC might be considering moving "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" out of prime time. If this is true, I respectfully request that you reconsider. "Countdown" is one of the most well-done and interesting news shows on cable news today, not to mention the funniest. Also, doesn't the fact that "Countdown" has, of late, gotten the highest ratings on MSNBC merit consideration? Please support the show and allow Keith's brand of journalism mixed with humor a chance to catch on.

sincerely,
XXXXX

[crispini]

9. Another thought.

I think we should start an "official" Write MSNBC about Countdown thread, and I don't think it should be here, I think it should be in GD or somewhere which is really high traffic. That thread should have:

- email addy
- snail mail addy
- sample letter
- link to TV Newser story.

Anything else? Thoughts?

[gkhouston]

3. Tucker has already bombed on two other networks while

Keith's ratings in the 8pm time slot are occasionally the best numbers MSNBC gets during primetime. :wtf:

Is it just me or does this sound like the "give 'em the shitty office and hope they'll leave" treatment? Or is Tucker blowing somebody? (Ooh, that was a visual I so did not need.)

[Shopaholic]

4. Probably both.

I'm just outraged that Scarborough gets to keep his primetime slot. I'm on pins and needles waiting to see what the official new line-up is going to be. TVNewser says the official announcement will come later on this afternoon.

[SharonRB]

5. Keep us updated if you find anything out, Shop

Speaking of blowing, this would really blow for all of us. 11 p.m. is just a no-go for me, most nights. On tape, no less?!?!?!? WTF!

[Shopaholic]

8. And he'd have to compete against the Daily Show!

Is no one thinking over there at MSNBC?????

[crispini]

7. Yeah, but isn't that just the official annoucement for

Rita Cosby coming on board? Not the full lineup? That's the way I'm reading it anyway? In which case, now is the time to bitch.

[Shopaholic]

10. Here are the addresses to complain to:

Via e-mail:
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

By snail mail:
MSNBC TV
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, N.J. 07094

Rick Kaplan is the head of MSNBC by the way. So far as I know, I don't think they've named a replacement yet for the person in charge of the primetime line-up.

[Shopaholic]

11. Official Announcement from MSNBC:

Cosby's show will not air officially until 4th Quarter (translation: October 2005).

RITA COSBY TO JOIN MSNBC AS ANCHOR AND SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SECAUCUS, NJ – May 13, 2005 – Rita Cosby will join MSNBC, it was announced today by Rick Kaplan, President of MSNBC. Cosby will start with the network in June and will anchor a daily evening program. In addition, she will serve as a special correspondent. Cosby's program is in development and will debut in the fourth quarter.
"Rita is a tireless and talented journalist and we are thrilled to welcome her to MSNBC," said Kaplan. "She continually manages to secure the most sought after interviews and handles them brilliantly. Rita will play a prominent role at MSNBC as an anchor and special correspondent. We are looking forward to starting development of her new program."

"Being asked to anchor a daily evening show is a tremendous opportunity for me," said Cosby. "I am anxious to get started and look forward to being an integral part of the MSNBC team."

[crispini]

13. Another thought --

even if she's not going to be on until October, we KNOW that MSNBC executives are in a flux stage and we KNOW that they're going to put Bowtie Boy on somewhere, so even if it's a bit premature, starting to nag them NOW might not hurt....

[crispini]

12. Feedback please?

I'm going to go post this in a new thread shortly, probably in GD. I'll wait a bit in case any of ya'll have some good suggestions.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As you may have already heard, there are rumors that MSNBC may be moving "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" out of its primetime lineup. See the article at:

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/rita_cosby_to_host_prime_crime_on_msnbc_time_slot_tba_premiere_set_for_summer_21519.asp

And the DU thread here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3651959

Since apparently the decision has not been made yet, if you are are fan of Countdown and/or Keith, now is the time to pipe up and make your voice heard! Please email AND snail mail to MSNBC! Email is great but snail mail is MUCH more effective as you know!

Email:
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

By snail mail:
MSNBC TV
One MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, N.J. 07094

Rick Kaplan is the head of MSNBC by the way. So far as I know, I don't think they've named a replacement yet for the person in charge of the primetime line-up.

Sample letter:

Dear XXXXXX:

It has recently come to my attention, via the internet, that MSNBC might be considering moving "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" out of prime time. If this is true, I respectfully request that you reconsider. "Countdown" is one of the most well-done and interesting news shows on cable news today, not to mention the funniest. Also, doesn't the fact that "Countdown" has, of late, gotten the highest ratings on MSNBC merit consideration? Please support the show and allow Keith's brand of journalism mixed with humor a chance to catch on.

sincerely,
XXXXX

If you are concerned, please take action and come back and kick this thread!

Also please forward this post as you like!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok what do you ladies think?

[Shopaholic]

14. That looks great Crispini!

Good job!

[Greylyn58]

15. I agree, we need to make our voices heard now

before it's too late. And I think what you have there is great. :)

[Berry Cool]

16. I missed this ruckus. Are we maybe worrying for nothing??

I have to say, I didn't see anything about this until now. I work in an office and I really don't have time during the day to go Web-surfing for fun, so I didn't find out about all the flap about this Cosby signing on until coming home.

Now that TVNewser is saying it looks as if the Cosby show will be at 11, are we safe? Or is that all just speculation too? Do we still need to campaign about this?

[Shopaholic]

17. I'm sending my e-mail and my snail mail in anyway. I think they are

possibly floating trial balloons and waiting to see what the reaction will be. It's interesting to note that the Cosby press release clearly states she will have a primetimeprogram on MSNBC. Last time I checked, 11pm was NOT primetime. This means that someone at MSNBC--either Scarborough or Keith would have to be bumped to let her have that primetime show and it darn well better not be Keith! Better safe than sorry!

[crispini]

21. Well, nice supportive letters never hurt, IMO.

Yeah, it may be early yet, but the thing is that NOW is the time to send supportive letters -- once they make up their mind, it's too late, ya know?!

Thread in GD:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3652464

Pass it on to your email lists too!

[Catchawave]

18. I give up....who is Rita Cosby ?

I've never heard of her? Another "newsbunny with a helmet head hairstyle" ? (....is my Imus viewership showing? heh).

I am a news junkie, so I may incorporate this into my 'Letter of Concern' to MSNBC. Of course, between you (generic) and me, not sure how our boy Keefie's going to take being replaced by a NEWSBUNNY. The worse that would happen, then, he would quit ! Acccck.

[Shopaholic]

19. Rita's worked for Faux for several years--she has a weekend show

on the network. I'm sure Imus will love having her on MSNBC. She's not anorexic by any means and he'll enjoy calling her all sorts of names. Here's her bio:

A three-time Emmy Award winner, Cosby most recently served as host of Fox News Channel’s “The Big Story Weekend Edition” and “Fox News Live with Rita Cosby.” She is known for her exclusive interviews with top newsmakers, including her historic back-to-back interviews with former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Cosby has also interviewed former Presidents Ford, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. Cosby also made headlines with her exclusive Michael Jackson interview. Additionally, Cosby was granted a rare, private meeting with Pope John Paul II after receiving an exclusive letter from Timothy McVeigh explaining why he carried out the Oklahoma City bombing.

“Rita is a tireless and talented journalist and we are thrilled to welcome her to MSNBC,” said Kaplan. “She continually manages to secure the most sought after interviews and handles them brilliantly. Rita will play a prominent role at MSNBC as an anchor and special correspondent. We are looking forward to starting development of her new program.”

“Being asked to anchor a daily evening show is a tremendous opportunity for me,” said Cosby. “I am anxious to get started and look forward to being an integral part of the MSNBC team.”

While at Fox News Channel, Cosby secured a host of exclusive interviews with world leaders including former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic from The Hague. Cosby was also the first journalist to report the identities of the Washington, DC area sniper suspects. She was the first journalist to see suspected terrorists held at Guantanamo and was also the first to interview former Iraqi POW Thomas Hamill, a contractor whose daring escape made headlines. Additional interviews include Mike Tyson, David Berkowitz (”The Son of Sam”) and flight attendant Anne Marie Smith, which led to a U.S. Attorney’s Office investigation of Representative Gary Condit. Prior to joining Fox News Channel, Cosby worked at WBTV, the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has received three Emmy Awards for investigative reporting, a Matrix Award and the National Foundation for Women Legislators’ Media Award for Excellence. She earned her bachelors degrees from the University of South Carolina, graduating with honors.

[Catchawave]

20. Thank you soooo much Shop.....

I'll keep an open mind...a move from Faux to MSNBC is a small step UP. I'm just sorry I haven't been a big weekend news junkie, nothing in your post joggled my memory, I still have no clue...OY.

[Berry Cool]

22. Well, I guess Faux is already slagging her, so how bad can she be?

They slag Keith too, and he used to work for their sports division. It seems to be their habit to slag anyone who leaves their employ.

I gather what you guys are saying is that having her on board will give Don Imus someone else to call "fat" besides Keith. :(