Jesse Ventura Show Off to Slow Start (194,000 viewers)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A56675-2003Oct...

"Jesse Ventura's America" isn't very crowded. The former Minnesota governor's MSNBC talk show debut was seen by a tiny audience of 194,000 people last weekend.

It badly trailed its cable news competition and scored fewer viewers than a rerun, taped profile of First Lady Laura Bush that MSNBC aired in the same Saturday evening time slot a week earlier, according to Nielsen Media Research figures released Tuesday.

Ventura had California Gov. Gray Davis and Arianna Huffington, a columnist and former candidate in California's recall election, as guests. He had a studio audience and ended his show by designating a "hero of the week" and "dork of the week."

"We're happy with the show's debut and the ratings are in line with live programming in that time period," said MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines, adding that the ratings don't necessarily mean Ventura's show is endangered.

During the same time slot, Fox News Channel's "Fox Report Saturday" was seen by 841,000 viewers and CNN's "Capital Gang" had 553,000, Nielsen said.

[elperromagico]

1. It's not bad for MSNBC

Scarborough Country pulls about 400,000 viewers, and I don't think any of their other shows are doing much better (except perhaps for Imus In The Morning, which is nothing more than televised radio). Remember... these guys cancelled their most popular program, Donahue. They seem to love the low-rated shows.

MSNBC's problem is that they don't seem to know what direction they want to go in. One of the few good things that can be said about Faux News is that they have had a set course from the beginning: Conservatism or Bust. MSNBC just seems to try whatever will gain ratings... and they fail at every turn.

[chadm]

3. When reporting the truth isn't an option...

it doesn't really matter which way you go, it will fail.

[zekeson]

2. So, who were the dork and hero of the week?

MSNBC had the "courage" to put him on - whatever that means, he's SUCH a wildman in his Jimi Hendrix T-shirt, but apparently his dork or hero selection wasn't wild enough or even thoughtful enough to merit web discussion.

And yes, he was my govenor, I feel entitled to bitch about him.

[MnFats]

4. the show is a joke, just like his term as governor.

give it three, maybe four weeks. he can't even read a teleprompter without screwing it up, and they had nine months to get him ready for this one show.

the only smart thing he's done was to get a 'play or pay' clause in his MSNBC contract. if they dump him, which they are sure to do, he still walks away with a couple million.


Gawd! when will this man fade into richly deserved obscurity?

[UTUSN]

7. What's Too Bad

is that a week or two ago he gave Tweety a tongue lashing over giving Ahhhnuld preferential treatment, along with the rest of the media. It was the "debate" when the cameras gave Ahhhnuld extra time after the event with a mini news conference. Tweety tried to shut VENTURA up and V wouldn't and said he was going to put DAVIS on his show for the full hour as "balance". The problem is, what we see here, that nobody saw it. I'm no VENTURA fan but at least his bravado had a good use, for what's left of his 15 minutes.

[Name removed]

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[MrsMatt]

9. you don't sound as if

you had to live with the consequences of his gubenatorial policies. Allow us Minnesotans a little bitterness regarding Jesse.

But, that said, he did galvanize many who were apathetic about voting - too bad they were sadly disillusioned at the end.

[proud patriot]

5. I enjoyed the show

I may not always agree with Jesse but I like his candor .

[MrsMatt]

6. "tiny audience of 194,000"

about equal to his support base at the end of his term (if you divide it by 100)

on edit : fixed typo