Talking Head Primetime Invades Daytime: Chapter 9
Just a few minutes ago MSNBC had another one of those interviews that probably looked interesting on paper but should have been killed before it aired. It was David Shuster and Andrew Breitbart shouting at each other for about five minutes. The interview began and immediately went south when Breitbart brought up Shuster’s tweets. From there it was lots of crosstalk and accusations and not much in the way of news. This was followed by Shuster interviewing Media Matters Representative Eric Boehlert about ACORN and O’Keefe and Breitbart.
This would be fine if this segment aired during Countdown or Maddow or The Ed Show. But it aired during the supposedly straight news portion of MSNBC Dayside. I can’t even recall the last time I saw either Breitbart or Boehlert on the air during Dayside, that’s how rare their appearances were.
Phil Griffin said that MSNBC would be returning to a more news oriented focus on dayside. It appears Griffin still has his work cut out for him. This was a travesty. No. Travesty is the wrong word. Joke is.
January 28, 2010 at 12:57 pm
This resembles one of Hannity’s interviews with a liberal or Democratic guest. Tendentiousness times ten.
Which is fine if you’re a hack commentator but not so good if you’re supposed to be a impartial journalist.
It really does look like Griffin has lost control over there.
January 28, 2010 at 1:21 pm
As I understand it, Shuster followed this act up by having Media Matters’ Eric Boehlert – a firece Breitbart critic – on and conducted a softball interview with him.
Man, he must have some pictures of Griffin doing something shocking in Tijuana to keep pulling this act.
January 28, 2010 at 3:49 pm
-resembles one of Hannity’s (AKA “hack commentator”) interviews-
Exactly, but not at all surprising on MSNBC.
January 28, 2010 at 7:56 pm
stevemg – good point about Griffin.
He needs to nip this in the bud. Last week it was Scarborough airing out dirty laundry in public on twitter and now this.