All is not well in Tweety Land. The low ratings could not be more

[Democrat 4 Ever]

deserving. Caught this at Huff Po Apparently Tweety is looking to blame someone for HIM dropping a shit bomb on live TV last month. You can always depend on Tweety to look for someone to throw to the wolves.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/08/22/tammy-haddad-out-as-chris_n_61425.html

Tammy Haddad Out As Chris Matthews EP
Huffington Post | Rachel Sklar | August 22, 2007 11:55 AM

We hear that "Hardball" exec producer Tammy Haddad is officially out thanks to Chris Matthews becoming the lowest-rated host on MSNBC primetime. Matthews — a front-and-center face at MSNBC and certainly a go-to pundit on all things political, including election coverage in November and chosen as to moderate one of MSNBC's two kickoff presidential debates in April, along with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams — has seen his ratings clock in consistently below Keith Olbermann — who is getting a network try-out this Sunday — and even Dan Abrams, who stepped in for Joe Scarborough amidst some changes to the show, yet still manages to consistently beat Matthews' ratings. Only Tucker Carlson , who is on at 4 and 6 pm, has lower ratings on the network.

Haddad, who has been with "Hardball" since 2004, caught, er, heck from Matthews last month when he unwittingly dropped an "s-bomb" on the air when he didn't know he was being broadcast. Rumor had it that Matthews wanted Haddad out after the episode, but there was no fallout, at least not then.

Last July, Haddad was named Vice President, Washington, for MSNBC, and MSNBC General Manager Abrams had this to say about her: "'Hardball' is the smartest political program on cable, and one of the reasons it is so good, is Tammy Haddad. She is one of the most tenacious, driven and energetic producers out there — she takes tremendous pride in her work for the network and for Chris Matthews and we are thrilled to have her on our team."

From the same press release:

"Tammy has been my friend for over twenty years," said Chris Matthews. "She is a big-time winner who delivers on her grand ideas."

Haddad has a long and storied career of success in cable news, including pioneering "Larry King Live" for CNN, being part of the team to take NBC's "Today Show" to number one, and was called "the most influential woman behind the TV news camera in Washington" last year by U.S. News' Paul Bedard. That she will land on her feet is a foregone conclusion; for Matthews, an old face at a network with new stars rising, things may not be so easily predicted.

We hear that MSNBC will be making the announcement shortly; email queries to the network have not yet been returned.

[babylonsister]

1. Why do they think Tweets walks on water, pray tell? His ratings

are proving otherwise. Here's an idea; HIRE RACHEL MADDOW FOR THE HOUR!!!

[beberocks]

3. What a great idea! n/t

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Ooh! Totally seconded! She's 40+ IQ points above Tweety to begin with...

:thumbsup:

[Mabus]

12. and she doesn't care how Fred Thompson smells

or looks. I don't get to listen to her show as often as I would like but I usually get to see her on television. She did a great job on Washington Journal the other morning. She's smart, articulate and she's able to handle hypocritical morons with ease.

[Ian David]

19. My dog is 40+ IQ points above Tweety. n/t

[TheDebbieDee]

13. Better idea.........Hire Sam Seder!

I miss Sam in the mornings.

[Cooley Hurd]

27. Me too!

Lionel tries to be the master of irony, but falls FAR short of the TRUE master of irony... Jon Stewart!

[Lugnut]

30. Oh yeah

I'd definitely watch a Rachel Maddow show.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. I think Tweety's schizophrenia has more to do with his low ratings...

...than anything Haddad had to do with.

Memo to Tweety - People watch KO because he's TRUTHFUL, not a kiss-ass.:clue:

[Cha]

14. Like people who watched

tweety would be offended by the shit bomb? Whadda bout when he drools over bush and mitt the SHIT?

They need "chimp crossings" in DC, too.

[goclark]

5. Tweety is a disgrace to journalism and to viewers

He is terrible!

[napi21]

6. I didn't see the s bomb as being any problem at all! Chris's

problems are with his wishy washy opinions! One day he's agressively spitting on Michelle Milken (for witch we all cheered him) and the next day he's giving cudos to Tony Snow and some other Pub AH! Pick your side Chris! If you want to side with FOX and the RW, that's fine, it's YOUR decision, but the wavering is what's killing you!

[Ian David]

7. Oh, I'm so glad Dan Abrams is firing Tammy Haddad. I mean, after all....

Wasn't Tammy Haddad the only person in America who thought John Mark Karr actually killed Jonbennet, and then flew him all the way from Thailand to perpetrate an extremely obvious hoax?

Oh, wait.

That was Dan Abrams, General Manager of MSNBC, and host of a television show that ridicules how stupid the press is.

What giant balls Dan Abrams must have.

Small brain, big balls.

Now, I finally understand who the Jack Donaghy character (on 30 Rock) is based on.



It makes sense now. Jack Donaghy is Dan "Mark Karr" Abrams!

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Abrams has his shit-for-brains moments, but he's the guy keeping KO on the air...

...so I'll give him a pass for THAT small bit o'bravery.;)

[Ian David]

10. Yes, how brave of him to not fire the only guy whose ratings are going up.

It's not like they had to tell Keith, "Hey, try wearing this bow-tie we took from Tucker Carlson when his show started to go into the crapper."

Keith makes them money.

Keith gets them an audience.

It's not bravery, it's business.

[Cooley Hurd]

38. But, they're still beholden to the owner of MSNBC, GE...

...the same GE that's making oodles of $$$ as a defense contractor. The advertising revenue must be a pittance compared to the billions being made by GE as a defense contractor in a time of war.

[KoKo]

31. Get rid of Dan Abrams! Floyd's Son (Big DC Insider's ) is a FAILURE and

get rid of Haddad, too! Fire them all except Keith and then maybe...just maybe they might with some NEW Headliners who are TRUTHFUL get some ratings back.

[Donnachaidh]

9. Get rid of Tweety, Tucker and Abrams

I've got NO use for any of those stooges. Abrams would be more suited to Fox with his idiotic celebrity fawning. Tweety's due for a long rest and Tucker is wasting valuable oxygen.

Bring in Rachel Maddow for high ratings and intelligent talk. And Tom Hartmann to educate the masses.

[Ian David]

15. They should simulcast Rachel as a morning show.

The Rachel Maddow show is better for a morning show (simulcast on MSNBC) than Stephanie Miller would have been, for several reasons.

1) Rachel's show isn't as racy.
2) Rachel's show is "information-rich."

What I mean by "Information Rich," is that Rachel Maddow usually covers a broad range of topics in a short amount of time. That is what I (and many other people) need and want during short commutes, or in the few moments between the shower and heading for the door in the morning.

I hated the fact that every morning, during a ten-minute car ride, I had to list to "The Other Mark" talk about jazz music, during what little time I had available to listen to him. I wanted news, dammit.

However, I would love to see The Stephanie Miller Show broadcast in the evenings on MSNBC nightly at 9 PM, 10 PM, or 12 AM.

[Donnachaidh]

22. totally agree!

She'd be such a welcome morning show - as opposed to Joe (I wanna be a celebrity) Scarborough. He kept repeating that *seismic* talking point the other morning about the mine in Utah and I came close to throwing my shoes at his face. He's another dead weight at msnbc, and his talking points chorus wouldn't be missed. Not in my house anyway.

We desperately need *information rich* shows somewhere on the tube. Msnbc made the right move in pushing Keith O -- perhaps they will catch on that the public is starved for REAL information?

Yeah, I know I'm talking out of my ass. I can dream, can't I?

[krkaufman]

34. KO still has room for improvement.

We desperately need *information rich* shows somewhere on the tube. Msnbc made the right move in pushing Keith O -- perhaps they will catch on that the public is starved for REAL information?

Now if Keith would just dump the 'Keeping Tabs' segment, and get away from filling the last segment with fluff (e.g. American Idol). We can get that crap elsewhere.

[johnfunk]

35. But... but... but... Steph's hot in that purple sweater!

And imagine the whole family singing the "You're a lying sack o'crap" song together in the morning!

[Ian David]

36. But Stephanie had to tone-down and compromise her show to be simulcast on television.

I'd rather have Stephanie broadcast at night than have her change her show.

[monmouth]

21. Oh wow, now that is a brilliant idea. Really. Instant success....

[DeSwiss]

29. "Tucker is wasting valuable oxygen."

:rofl:

[donkeyotay]

39. Saw David Schuster sitting in for Tucker. Now that would be an improvement. nt

[stopbush]

11. David Shuster does an excellent job when he subs for Tweety.

Barnicle is an idiot.

They should give Hardball to Shuster and give Scarborough's old spot to Rachel Maddow. Imagine, 3 hours of progressive voices holding the media and the RW spin machine to task!

It's a surefire way to raise MSNBC's ratings. Fuck this "fair and balanced" shit - which except for KO, currently means right-wing or wishy-washy.

[Ian David]

16. MSNBC should hire Cafferty away from CNN and give him Tweety's time slot. n/t

[RamboLiberal]

32. That is a great idea

Then fire Tucker - if they still want Tweety give him Tucker's old time slot. Then get someone to host at 9PM that would compliment KO. Sam Seder, Rachel Maddow, Stephanie Miller - hell I'd even settle for Ed Schultz.

I can't figure why the hell someone hasn't figured out the RW blowhards are played out and it is time to counter with fresh progressive voices!

[graywarrior]

17. I wonder if the ratings rise when Mike Barnicle hosts.

I'd rather watch him, although sometimes I'd like to slap his face.

[RamboLiberal]

33. I took a quick look at TVNewser

and they seem comparable to when Tweety's on. IMHO Tweety is getting really jealous of KO!

[Mabus]

18. Ha!

He's so obnoxious that it isn't hard to believe that his ratings are tanking. It's also reassuring to know that the only person who is more obnoxious (Tucker) has even lower ratings. Speaking of Tucker, the HuffPo piece is incorrect about the times that Tucker is shown. His earlier hour was taken away from him and he now only broadcasts one live show between the original "Hardball" showing and the second one. Which, by the way, always struck me as being stupid. Why show Tucker, Chris, repeat Tucker's show and then repeat Chris' show? Why those two hours of repeats so early in the day? I'm sure it lost them a lot of viewers.

[UTUSN]

20. K&R #1 for whatever coming announcement is. Btw it's incredible that the s-bomb

is credited for bringing Tweety down. He has done so many reprimandable (in the employment sense) things. Oh, like triggering a gun incident during the Kathleen WILLEY days.

A look back:


How Tweety "Executed" DONAHUE on MSNBC.

Tweety was on his book tour for another one of his "books" (large type, wide spaces between lines, blank half-pages). It was in the jingoistic hysteria in the run-up to the illegal Iraq attack. The book was about supposed "Americanism" --an American Civ 101 ripoff about books and movies and cultural stuff that are essentially American (think, "The Great Gatsby"). So Phil welcomed him as a colleague and peer on Phil's show for the full hour to plug the book. From the moment he appeared, there was a strange, deadly snake look in Tweety's snake eyes. Phil was walking around, apparently not sensing anything, while Tweety was motionless, following him only with his eyes. Phil brought up something or other questioning blind jingoism, and Tweety STRUCK! He started out with venom dripping, "You see THIS is EXACTLY what's wrong with you Liberals: You are NEGATIVE about this country, you find NOTHING good about it," and on and on. It took awhile before Phil figured out what was happening. Later, Phil was sitting at the table with Tweety and, weaker and weaker, did some of his trademark shoulder shrugging and arm waving. Tweety delivered the coup de grace, "What's THIS (mimicking the movements)??!! What's with the --APE-- movements???" Days or a week or two later, Phil's cancellation was announced and took effect.


How Tweety "Triggered" a Gun Incident (re: Kathleen WILLEY).

At the height of the FAKE impeachment, Ms WILLEY claimed that a mystery jogger had threatened her or her cat or somebody. Several months later, there was gossip that the jogger had been identified. Tweety hosted her and it appeared they had discussed the identity off camera. He tried mightily to get her to say the name on the air, which she wouldn't do. Finally, he himself blurted it out, "Was it Name/Surname?" She would not confirm it. Within days there was a bizarre incident, with the mentally disabled brother of Pat and Bay BUCHANAN going with a gun to the house of the supposed jogger, where there were only some foreign exchange students present. Later it was determined that the person Tweety named on the air had NOTHING to do with the supposed jogger incident.

[Bozita]

23. I'm sick of Tweety's RW guests spouting the daily talking points

It's totally predictable. Same old faces. Same old bullshit.

Tweety says he's been against the Iraq war from the beginning. Maybe he was, but he never showed it to his viewers until '04.

Too little, too late.

[Z_I_Peevey]

24. The only reason I'm even aware that Tweets is still on TV

is that my Tivo picks up the last couple of minutes of his crapfest every night when it records Countdown.

Here's to the eventual retirement of that slobberin' fool.

[sallyseven]

25. Matthews is a chauvinist.

Women are to be used and abused just like he does to Hillery. He just doesn't respect women except the he /she Ann Coulter. He likes her. She is better off out of there than to be stuck in his orbit. I think tucker has to go too. How about Rachel Maddow in for tucker and Allison Stewart for Matthews. Sounds like a plan.

[Gold Metal Flake]

26. Replace him with Dr. Racheal Maddow

Simple.

[ThomWV]

28. Dam Right!

She is an outstanding woman and a clear voice of reason. I would welcome an hour with her every evening.

[Vinca]

37. Tweety would fare a whole lot better if he let his guests speak.

He asks a question and the guest starts to respond and Tweety breaks back in for another few words and then the guest tries to speak, then Tweety breaks in again. The guest ends up looking like a guppy who jumped out of the tank.

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. That's what he gets for trying to be FAUX NEWS! I've emailed MSNBC so many times about how to raise

their ratings.....CATER TO THE DEMOCRATS/LIBERALS! Did they listen? hell no. All RW wackos think FAUX propaganda network is the best thing since sliced bread because they're a bunch of ditto-heads. They LIKE being told what to think. No halfway fair network can compete with RW propaganda and that is exactly what CNN and MSNBC have been doing since 2000. NO ONE wanted to give the Liberal POV. NO ONE.

Look at Olbermann! He's the highest rated show on MSNBC right now. Why? Because he caters to DEMOCRATS/LIBERALS! Doh! Now, they need to apologize to Phil Donahue and BRING HIM BACK! Do they want to see their ratings go through the roof? Put Phil Donahue on and KO following him. They will kick ass in the ratings.

They could just send Tweety over to the FAUX propaganda network where he'll be right at home. Unless Tweety is now in the mood to lean Left. He's such a jerk....... "Mitt Romney's got a strong chin.", Mitt Romney has nice hair.", Mitt Romney is a really good lookin' guy." :puke: GO to FAUX Propaganda network! We won't miss you!

[in_cog_ni_to]

41. PHIL DONAHUE should be apologized to, given a HUGE raise and brought back to MSNBC!

:hi: