It's a Maddow Maddow Maddow Maddow world!

[NYCGirl]

Boy, this article sure says how I feel about Dr. Maddow!

http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/?last_story=/mwt/broadsheet/2008/08/19/maddow/

Huzzah huzzah and glory be! Today is a day of great jubilation and celebration here at Broadsheet!

In one of the most feverishly anticipated announcements in the history of the modern liberal media. (Yes, Virginia, there is a modern liberal media, and that's one of the things we're drinking to today!) "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann today revealed, writing at Daily Kos, that Air America radio host, MSNBC commentator and regular "Countdown" guest host Rachel Maddow is getting her own show! Starting Sept. 8! At 9 p.m. ET every night!

Yes, it seems to be true, though according to Olbermann's blog post, the announcement won't be signed, sealed and official until Wednesday.

Funny fandom momentarily aside, this is thrilling news. Think about it: In the United States, in 2008, brains and liberalism (in a woman, no less!) have just been rewarded. Promoted. Given their own show. I recently profiled Maddow for the Nation and noted how remarkable it is that this season's political punditry sensation "isn't a glossy matinee idol or a smooth-talking partisan hack but a PhD Rhodes scholar lesbian policy wonk who started as a prison AIDS activist." How do you like them apples, Ann Coulter?

It's surprising that Broadsheet has never dedicated a "Girl Crush" entry to Maddow, but I can pretty much assure all of you that there are probably several of them in our immediate future.

In the meantime, everyone raise an icy cold, gently muddled cocktail (Maddow is also an accomplished mixologist) to a new, female face of political coverage.

[mucifer]

1. Wooo and Hoooo!!!!!!

[Booster]

2. Huzzah huzzah and glory be, indeed.

[napi21]

3. TERRIFIC!!!!! I really like Rachel! She's smart, and really quick on her feet!

I can't wait until Sept. 8th! KO and RM back to back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mucifer]

4. what show is she replacing?

[XOKCowboy]

5. Dan Abrams..

His show has been good but Rachel deserves her own show and hurray for MSNBC for giving her one.

[calimary]

6. Very proud to be the 5th rec!

Dang! I LOVE her work! She's a breath of fresh air, and she's One Of Us!

And she doesn't look like some inflatable doll, either!!!

Even better, I like it ANYTIME one of OURS is elevated to greater prominence and given a bigger, higher pulpit from which to speak. ANYTIME there is greater and more prominent exposure given to a liberal/progressive/Democratic figure, that's a win for all of us - not just within the movement, either. More people will get to see her, for longer, and more consistently, over a wider audience universe, than before. AND, I believe, 9 eastern time means she's up against Larry King. And heaven knows we could ALL use a viable, refreshing, and very appealing alternative to that old, superficial, minimally-relevant fossil. He's positively cadaverous!

It also means they noticed the numbers and are reacting accordingly. She's done VERY well in the ratings when she's been filling in for Keith. More than held her own.

It also means MSNBC must be of a mind to expand upon its image as a left-of-center cable network. Maybe they're planning to make a more overt PR push to stake out their territory, and enhance their brand, as an anti-Fox. Let CNN take the ALLEGED middle-ground. Maybe they're staking a claim on the under-served left-of-center demos. I hope so. It would be VERY shrewd counter-programming. Very welcome and much-needed niche programming, too. We constitute a HUGE audience whose needs, interests, and priorities just aren't being served. They thus will have TWO SOLIDLY left-of-center hosts in prime time. Back-to-back, too, if I'm not mistaken. That sends a pretty clear signal.

It's ABOUT FRICKIN' TIME!!!!

[Prophet 451]

7. Fantastic news!

Long overdue as well. Am I right in thinking that her show will be directly after Keith's? And now that Rachael's getting her own show, who's going to cover for Keith?

Perhaps MSNBC is seriously trying to develop a liberal slant to capitalise on the market segment neglected by the other networks. Who else could they hire? Bill Moyers maybe, to do an ultra-serious "newsshow of record"?

[travelingtypist]

8. Girl Crush indeed.

I'm a girl and I'm not gay and I think Rachel is just the bomb. She's gorgeous. And I love that she wears those birth-control glasses, or that's what we called them when I was in the Army. Those black frames are military issue all the way.

You go, girl.

[NYCGirl]

9. Yep, I'm a straight girl who has a girl crush on Rachel, too. NT