Head of MSNBC on Maddow’s success: ‘She comes in every day and studies for eight hours.’
Head of MSNBC on Maddow’s success: ‘She comes in every day and studies for eight hours.’
Newsweek reports that, since Rachel Maddow’s show debuted on Sept. 8, “she has more than doubled the ratings of her predecessor, Dan Abrams, with 1.9 million average total viewers, and she’s beaten CNN’s Larry King 27 out of 44 nights among viewers 25 to 54.” MSNBC executives say the key to her success is her hard work:
For Maddow, the job never really stops. She regularly works 16-hour days, only eating once she has finished. She often has just one large meal at 2 a.m., purchased from street vendors. [Executive producer Bill] Wolff says she “simply wants to be excellent.” Phil Griffin, the head of MSNBC, attributes her success to a certain “magic,” and to her application: “She comes in every day and studies for eight hours. I think one of the biggest mistakes that people make when they come in to television and cable news, which is a really intense, competitive area, is to not work hard. This is not for the soft of heart. It’s intense.”
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Head of MSNBC on Maddow’s success: ‘She comes in every day and studies for eight hours.’»
- - Oh, so Rachel is as studious, engaged, curious and does her homework just like George Bush.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:57 amDamn, didn't see the "related posts."
Carrion....
November 24th, 2008 at 10:57 amI hope this ushers in a new trend in TV journalism. Perhaps this new Age of the Nerd will mean the end of the crony culture that got us mired in Iraq.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:58 amUsually if you look at any person who does an excellent job, you will find a person who works his/her a$$ off. And it always shows.
One of the things I commented on several times about both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is that both of them do their homework and work hard to be good at what they do. And it shows.
It's also easy to see how much homework, research, studying, and other work Dubya does on a regular basis.
I am glad that in Maddow, we have someone who "simply wants to be excellent". It would be nice if we had more in the media who do. And it would be especially good for our country if we had more in our government who do.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:59 amFor Maddow, the job never really stops. She regularly works 16-hour days, only eating once she has finished.
- - PFFFFT, no doubt the Fox anchors follow the same regimen.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:00 amshe “simply wants to be excellent.”
- - Or as about 46% of the electorate would say, she “simply wants to be elitist.”
November 24th, 2008 at 11:01 amRachel makes us all look good. She is an incredibly smart, eloquent and passionate spokesperson for progressives and liberals.
Thank you, Rachel!!
November 24th, 2008 at 11:02 amI so glad she's so assiduous in her duties.
Sorry it doesn't show up when she's tossing puff-ball questions to the likes of Mike Huckabee, out there pimping his book.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:05 amRachel, please take care of yourself. Health is a cumulative process that requires proper nutrition to fuel the system from the cells onward. A well nourished younger body necessarily precedes a healthy older body. We know that you do your homework but the article raises concerns about your nutrition.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:06 amI've met very few people who read or do research that are Conservative.
The more you know, the more you understand that reality most definitely has a liberal bias.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:09 amwhy bother studying the material. if you're joe scarborough you can lie with impunity.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:12 amSure wish I got MSNBC. As close as I can get is the Sunday edition of 'Hardball'; big whoop.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:13 amI have been so impressed with Maddow, and her hard work really shows. I just hope that she never has Arienna Huffington sub for her again. She's fine as a guest, but as a host....zzzzzz. Had to turn her off after about 20 minutes!
And tokin librul - do you EVER have anything positive to say?
November 24th, 2008 at 11:19 amZimzone Says: Sure wish I got MSNBC.
- - Don't have basic cable? Got a high-speed intertubes connection? Go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26318771/
November 24th, 2008 at 11:20 amNo "magic" here. She is just smart with her questioning and always gets that answer she is looking for. A truth when you maybe least expecting it.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:32 amRachel kicks a$$ and in such a gentle, humorous, intelligent way. She is fun to watch. I think she let Huckabible stew in his own bigot juices. I'm sure she could have ripped him a new one, if she decided it was the thing to do. I would pay to see that happen.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:36 amYour mother was right -- do your homework and study hard -- you'll be better off for it.
Too many hosts neglect their obligation to research the news before they provide their opinion on the air.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:36 amAnd tokin librul - do you EVER have anything positive to say?
Not until and unless I perceive any developments which are actually positive. I have pretty high standards: there's actually gotta be a change. E.g.: I am pretty positive about the potential for a REALLY green economy to provide a modicum of relief from the onslaught of climate change. But I am also incredibly pessimistic that anyone now in power to make such changes might actually do so.
Btw: I notice you didn't actually disagree with my assessment, only my tone?
November 24th, 2008 at 11:39 am#10 unbe says
The more you know, the more you understand that reality most definitely has a liberal bias.
And I would add that the reason why academia tends to be liberal (which causes some rightwingers to become apoplectic)is because the more you know; the more you read; the more you listen; the more you recognize that there is very little that is black and white -- nearly everything is multi-faceted.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:39 amMaybe it's just me, but if I'm paying someone to anchor a news show on my network, I kind of expect them to study...
Another example of how expectations from our media were so low during the Bush years...
Let's hope Maddow's study habits become the rule, rather than the notable exception.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:47 amWhen can we expect the Rush/Billo/Hannity mantra to start: "Intelligence has a liberal bias"
I watch and listen to Rachel Maddow and do so in awe. Its almost overwhelming how intelligent she is....PhD from Oxford no less. The interview I would love to see is a no-holds-barred interview by Rachel of Chimpy McFlightsuit. My fantasy is that Chimpy becomes a puddle of protoplasm after about 8 minutes of burrowing in by Rachel. If only.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:24 pmtokin librul Says:
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I so glad she’s so assiduous in her duties.
Sorry it doesn’t show up when she’s tossing puff-ball questions to the likes of Mike Huckabee, out there pimping his book.
just go away and STFU
November 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pmI've enjoyed her radio show quite a bit and like her MSNBC gig as well.
Though it's a personal complaint and others may see it differently, I could do without her "Just Enough" segment with Kent jones. It is every bit as annoying as when Keith Olbermann has Michael Musto on commenting about pop culture.
They can keep doing little fluff pieces here and there, just don't act as if we should care.
November 24th, 2008 at 12:54 pmimpeachcheneythenbush Says:
And tokin librul - do you EVER have anything positive to say?
Not that i ever saw him post.
He will probably be one of those old men yelling for kids to get off his lawn when he is old and gray.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:08 pmSo, she's prepared when she goes on the air. Somebody should tell Chris Matthews that's the way it's supposed to be done.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:17 pmI love Maddow.
OMG! She made me a secret closet lesbian!!! (JOKE)
She's definitely one sharp mind and very enjoyable to watch every night. It just wasn't the same wittiness when she took time off last week. Hope she doesn't do that for a while again.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:22 pmWill NBC have the balls to put her as the anchor of "Meet the Press" ???
New era requires new smart faces who will challange with thought provoking questions.
Well done Rachel, I enjoy your views and your show. What's not to like about the TRUTH!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 1:52 pmWhat a novel idea. A MSM person who is informed.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:42 pmOn top of the long days, lots of prep time, etc., Rachael has a PhD in Political Science. She is an incredible lady and I am so happy that she's enjoying lots of success on MSNBC. We've needed someone like Rachael on the air, representing the truth, for a long time.
THANK YOU RACHAEL!!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 2:51 pm