Interview: Rachel Maddow Discusses Her New MSNBC Television Show With ThinkProgress
Interview: Rachel Maddow Discusses Her New MSNBC Television Show With ThinkProgress
MSNBC recently announced that liberal Air America radio host Rachel Maddow will get her own television show. We interviewed Maddow in St. Paul yesterday to discuss how the show came about and what she hopes to accomplish with it:
What’s the mission of the show going to be?
The mission of the show is…it seems kinda obvious, which is that, in the eastern time zone, Keith Olbermann is on at 8 and then Keith Olbermann is on at 10. It’s repeated. And there’s an hour in between. And Keith has very high ratings. … The idea is, in between two hours of Keith, what can we do to hold on to as many of those viewers as possible and even to attract new ones. And they think I’m the person to do that. So that’s the mission — keep Keith’s numbers.
The strategic approach we are taking…is figure out a way to do television that allows you to be yourself — that allows your personality to come forward. … If I’m competing on any other grounds other than my personality and my quirks and my take on things, I’m not going to win.
Are you going to be the left’s version of Fox News?
I know very little about media. I don’t have a television. I have never watched more than three consecutive minutes of Fox News ever, ever. I’ve never even seen a single segment of a single Fox News program. So I don’t know all that much about what they do. [...]
I know that what MSNBC wants from me is for me to be myself, to be open about where I’m coming from, and to be entertaining and to have integrity. … So if people look at me…and they say ‘wow, she’s like O’Reilly but with even less hair,’ then you know, fine. Ok whatever. Other people’s opinion of what I do is less important to me than me feeling like it’s something I’m proud of and having fun doing.
Watch it:
More from the interview:
How did your show come about?
It’s a little bit of a mystery to me. … I don’t really know why they decided to give me this show. … In terms of why they like me? I don’t know. [...]
Ultimately this January in this primary season, MSNBC called and decided they wanted me to stop going on CNN place. And that meant that they asked me to do an exclusive contributor deal with them and then they started talking to me about TV.
How have blogs helped you do what you do?
Bloggers are aggregators of information, they are opinion columnists, and they are occasionally reporters. And that’s what you need in terms of putting together a television show or a radio show — left, right, or center. [...]
It’s not the New York Times opinion page. It’s not the Wall Street Journal opinion page, where people end up there for Lord knows what reason. It is in the blog world, you’re going to get more attention, you’re going to get more clicks, you’re going to rise to prominence if what you’re writing is provocative, interesting, or accurate. … So the fact that the blog world is very meritocratic is very helpful.
“I am a big fan of ThinkProgress,” Maddow told us. “Thank you for having me. I feel like I’ve hit the big time.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
I am just thrilled with this new show for Ms. Maddow.
Rachel, since you are a fan of this blog, I hope you are reading this! Welcome, you are just the best! I plan on watching your show every time I can. Best wishes to you!
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm“I am a big fan of ThinkProgress,” Maddow told us.
I am a fan of Rachel ( and thinkprogress ).
Rachel definitely rocked during the Democratic convention, I haven’t watched much of the Republican Convention, because the Republicans turn my stomach I can only take so much of them before I have to change channels.
Looks like the links issue is cleared now =)
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 pmAre you going to be the left’s version of Fox News?
There will never be a “Left” version of Faux!
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:53 pmEven more than my appreciation of Rachel’s progressive leanings, I appreciate that she always comes to the table armed with facts, not spin.
Rachel, you can count on me at a loyal viewer!
PEACE
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:55 pmWhat sets Rachel apart from others is that while her viewpoint is most definitely progressive, she’s not afraid to step away from the ‘accepted’ line and speak her own mind if she disagrees.
And, she will admit when she’s wrong.
A breath of fresh air in the staleness of punditocracy…
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:56 pmHaving Rachel on her own shoe will be a delight for me, now there will be 3 good hour’s of viewing between Keith, her and the Daley show….Wahoo….Blessings Rachel and hope you have a long career…
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:00 pmAs someone who listens to her everyday via podcast, I can say that I am thrilled to see her career trajectory take this turn upwards. No pundit is more deserving. Rachel is funny, well-informed, insightful and clever. I have always hoped her career would take her to a place where she could continue to say her views in her own inimitable way without having to try to be “neutral”. She’s a gift to Progressive Liberals and I, for one, thank her for her work. Go, Rachel!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:03 pmRachel Maddow may have been given a show to “keep Keith’s numbers”, but I suspect there will come a time when another talented person will be given their own show in the time slot next to Rachel’s, with the objective to “keep Rachel’s numbers”.
Best of luck to you with your new show, Rachel — you can bet I’ll be watching.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:07 pmCongrats, Rachel, and best of luck with your new show.
By the way, isn’t it time Ed Schultz got some TV time?
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pmI like Rachel Maddow and will be watching, she was a good stand in for Keith. I realize balance is needed but with becks angry torrents and o’reilly’s lies, thank goodness for straight forward information from Keith and Rachel.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:10 pmNo rachel when you hit the big time this is what it looks like this in the land of Bu$h …..compliments of george on an earlier thread.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:11 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VileluuDGss
She sounds cool. I’ll check out the show. Good Luck, Rachel.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:19 pmI’m conflicted. I <3 Rachel Maddow, but I am generally annoyed with people that say ‘I don’t own a television’.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pmThe only problem that I have with this is that I can watch her on Monday nights. The Closer comes on at 9:00 EST and the season is almost over. Other than that, I’ll be watching.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm“Finding the occasional straw of truth awash in a great ocean of confusion and bamboozle requires intelligence, vigilance, dedication and courage. But if we don’t practice these tough habits of thought, we cannot hope to solve the truly serious problems that face us – and we risk becoming a nation of suckers, up for grabs by the next charlatan who comes along.”
-Carl Sagan
Give ‘em hell Rachel!
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm*I can’t watch her on Monday nights. Sheesh.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:22 pmBest of luck Rachel! Please don’t invite Pat Buchanan..there’s only so much of that man I can take.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:23 pmSmart funny fast on her feet these are a few of my favorite things about Rachel. When the dog bites there is a damn good chance it will be her Backbone to spare
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 pmIf Tucker Carlson had anything to do with Rachel’s opportunity at MSNBC, it’s got to be his single greatest accomplishment. I wonder if she’ll have him on?
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:30 pmI just hope she has as interesting regular segments as ‘Worst Person’ and ‘Bushed!’ and ‘Special Comment’.
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pmRachel Maddow is smart and articulate. Wish her the best.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pmMore people will be watching MSNBC…looks like Tucker’s time is over forever at MSNBC.
If Maddow is looking for show ideas, I’d love to see her take an issue and bring on people to ask uncomfortable questions, to really get an issue. Take vote suppression. It would be great TV to have on the same segment voters who lost their legal right to vote through vote suppression and someone like Rove or his acolytes to ask them, point blank, what makes it okay to deny Americans the right to vote? Is it a game?
The whole show would not have to be based on this approach, but it would be great to see someone bright like Maddow bring on people who have big stakes in an issue and get to the point. Going beyond blather…
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 pmOh, and another thing I like about Rachel is that she is kind and smart. She doesn’t take cheap shots at people just to be an ass. I like that.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:12 pmThe media is failing the American people big time during these conventions.
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:29 pmMajor television networks gave all the air time to interview people whom we know what their opinions of McCain and Sarah are.
I don’t want to hear what Thomspon, Lieberman, Giuliana,Senator Baily Hutchison and many other McCains friends and handlers say about him.
I want to hear what these people demonstrating in the streets are saying about McCain..they are the people,who pay most of the taxes.
It is sad that the media caters only for the elite.
A big change is needed in how the media operates.
deebaser Says:
…am generally annoyed with people that say ‘I don’t own a television’.
Actually, I think that’s why she’s so darn smart. :)
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:33 pmOne favor, Rachel, please, no Kent Jones!
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:51 pmRachel, may I propose as one of your first guests, the gravelly voiced Bobby Kennedy Jr, to discuss his voter fraud study of the 04 election, and the chances of it recurring in 08!
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:54 pmHey Rachel…
Congrats…Canadians love you as well. Please do us all a favor and take Sarah Palin out for a drink and ask her why Gays and Lesbians shouldn’t have any rights???? And please film the conversation so we can see first hand what an idiot Mrs.Palin is!!!
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:06 pmI luvs me some Rachel Maddow.
Now I really have to get my cable re-instated. :-)
(I own a teevee, but it’s just a DVD player)
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:02 pmThink Progress has always provided us with the truth. Congrats on your show and we thank YOU for just telling the truth. The truth will set us all…FREE.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:35 pmRachel Maddow is a breath of fresh air. She’s funny too.
September 4th, 2008 at 3:12 am