The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle - a change of opinion

[Joinfortmill]

There was a time in the recent past when I recorded The 11th Hour with Brian Williams so that I could begin my mornings enjoying his sharp wit, while his insightful guests informed me about world events. Suddenly, it seemed to me, he was gone.

Enter stage right, all gussied-up with a new look, was Stephanie Ruhle. Say what? You must be kidding. This giddy, overly effusive, light-weight is replacing THE Brian Williams. NOT! As time went by I became curious to see if Ms. Ruhle was ruling the nighttime air-waves or turning The 11th Hour into a comedy show.

Last night I held my breath and watched her show. So, she isn't Brian Williams, but then who is? She was still gussied-up. She actually looked pretty good - Just saying.

Her demeanor, it seemed to me, was very much toned down. The guests were first rate, that much hasn't changed. The questions she asked were the kind that you, or I, or any everyday person might ask. I liked that she wasn't afraid to put herself out there and ask what might be considered a naive question. She offered some blunt opinions, some of which I agreed with. When she was corrected, she took the correction with grace.

Well, I said to myself, maybe NBC was right to replace the irreplaceable Brian Williams with someone who could never be compared to him. She may just stand on her own. I will definitely watch her show again.

[Demsrule86]

1. I don't like her but then I really don't watch cable news anymore.

[BannonsLiver]

2. All cable news is shit.

[H2O Man]

3. Recommended.

I like Stephanie.

[Wounded Bear]

4. I really grew to like her...

Her roots are in fanancials, but she seems to always approach current fanancial and economic news with the take of a mother concerned for her own kids. She seems empathetic, though I know she came from a basically conservative background.

And yes, she's gorgeous.

I don't always stay up that late and I don't have a recorder option, but I like her and will watch if I am.

[Hekate]

5. KnR. I like Stephanie Ruhle, ever since I first saw her as part of panels for some MSNBC hosts...

Her start as “Brian Williams’ replacement” was a bit rocky — that’s gotta be more than a little intimidating. Big shoes to fill and all that.

But if you’ve ever contemplated the damage a well-placed spike heel can do, you recognize that there are other kinds of shoes than big.

I think she’s coming along. Glad you decided to giver her a chance.

[samnsara]

6. ive always liked her..but when the texas abortion mess hit, it quit watching MSM

..i wasnt even aware Rachael had moved. I only watch local news and weather now and maybe a little about the war but other than that its b/w classic TV and Julia Child!....and Im going to attempt a chocolate souffle as soon as my Charlotte pan arrives!

[TreasonousBastard]

7. I always liked her, but the other news I heard was Morning Joe...

going to 4 hours. Yuk.

[NoMoreRepugs]

8. 4 hours of those 2 birdbrains? Talent must be hard to come by for MSNBC.

I do like Stephanie and I appreciate her getting gussied up as someone alluded too.

[Mr. Evil]

10. They were almost ready to bring Keith back but,

Rachel said no. I switched to CNN.

[Upthevibe]

19. Mr. Evil... Link please? That states

Rachel said no regarding Keith...
Thanks...

[Mr. Evil]

22. It was widely reported but,

here are some.

https://www.rawstory.com/rachel-maddow-keith-olbermann/

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/keith-olbermann-was-reportedly-in-talks-to-replace-maddow-on-msnbc-until-maddow-vetoed-him/

https://nypost.com/2022/03/15/msnbc-almost-brought-back-keith-olbermann-to-replace-rachel-maddow-report/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/keith-olbermann-lengthy-talks-replace-222000825.html

https://www.barrettsportsmedia.com/2022/03/15/report-rachel-maddow-vetoed-keith-olbermann-as-her-successor/

https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-rachel-maddow-keith-olbermann-msnbc-20220316-6rrfceeonjcafhfxnzlgttex6y-story.html

https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/keith-olbermann-addresses-rachel-maddow-beef-and-msnbc-controversy/ar-AAVeLZ1

[Bayard]

35. Okay, the MSN story makes a bit more sense of it

Keith was looking at taking over Rachel's timeslot.

I think that would be great, myself, since she said last night she's planning on only coming in on Monday nights, long term. I love Rachel, and have certainly missed her, but it sounds a bit like having your cake, and eating it too.

[Bayard]

21. I heard that too

It's odd, because I remember when Rachel started on his show--she was a quiet little thing!

Keith ruled. And definitely not afraid to speak his mind. We need more of that to counter the likes of Tucker Carlson.

[calimary]

28. He was her mentor.

I may be mistaken but I think he brought her onboard, or encouraged her toward a higher profile at MSNBC.

I, for one, FUCKING LOVED Keith Olbermann! I loved his biting wit, his “angry man thing”, his willingness to make waves on principle. His was a Never-Miss show for me. He was as far away from a dispassionate news reader as one could find. LOVED his show!

I still miss him. Still don’t understand what his problem is as to why he keeps getting himself fired. But I don’t exactly have a source for good gossip at that network anymore. Everybody I knew or worked with is either retired, dead, or selling real estate.

I’m tempted to wonder why Maddow said no to bringing him back aboard after he was instrumental in her initial success. (Loyalty much?)

My immediate reaction is that Rachel loses points for this, but then again, I have no idea what or how things were playing out behind the scenes. And I’ve not heard any stories about Maddow holding grudges of some kind, either. So I can’t figure out who’s the heavy, here.

I just wish he was back on the air every night. We NEED somebody who doesn’t keep trying to keep it “tidy” and “remain objective” by not yelling the truth about the GOP. The Republicans have long ago forfeited the right to have people cling to some misbegotten “objectivity” and just start calling it like it is.

[Mr. Evil]

30. Yes we do!

Keith won't do the corporate bidding. He won't try to dictate the narrative. He tells the truth, plain and simple. That's why he was pushed out.

[Upthevibe]

29. Mr. Evil... Thanks for the links....

I had heard that there were some kind of issues but I didn't have details. I wonder what happened?

I thought he was the one who brought her to MSNBC. Goodness only knows what went down.

Thanks for the links!

[Mr. Evil]

31. He was.

He would have her on periodically as a guest. Then that evolved into her guest-hosting his show. Then she eventually got her own gig. He was very instrumental in all of that.

[PatSeg]

39. Oh my god, seriously?

Oh well, I rarely watch the show anymore, so I really don't care that much. Once and a rare while, I'll try watching Morning Joe again and I quickly remember why I'd quit five years ago.

[csziggy]

12. Yep - they started this week extending it until 10 AM

MSNBC has lost me until at least 2 o'clock, if not until later. If I am up early and want to watch news, I'll watch Alisyn Camerota and John Berman on CNN. They don't piss me as much as Morning Joe does.

[badhair77]

9. I grew to appreciate her paired with Ali Velshi.

I loved Brian Williams at 11 but I’m liking Stephanie at that time now. I should record because I often can’t stay up that late.

[Rebl2]

13. I never cared

for them together. When she was on her morning show by herself she seemed like she did okay. Seems like her last half hour on her morning show was more business related. Now I have to say this I rarely watched her, but saw her enough to know she was not my favorite.

[hlthe2b]

11. I wanted to like her (for years when paired with Velshi) but....I'm sadly truly unable to agree

That voice is like an air-raid siren combined with concurrent scratching on chalkboards over loudspeakers in all 50 states--live. When she is "animated" (we'll say) it gets worse and though I realize she is sometimes trying to play devils' advocate, she comes across as a pious and perpetually whining, constantly interrupting teen as she seems to feel the need to defend every damned thing about Wall Street.

The worst is that I used to allow my tune-in app to stay on overnight since I have a bimodal sleeping pattern and would frequently wake up to a few minutes of replay of Rachel or Lawrence... or Williams. Never will I do that again after I was awakened by a voice that would shoot up the dead and bring tears to the buried--alas, the eminent Ms. Ruhle.

So, no more 11th Hour for me. I kind of think MSNBC knew what they were doing in giving her that show (and it wasn't exactly a favor to her or the show).

Sorry to be harsh and I fully admit that YMMV.

[Grasswire2]

32. you have said what I think.

I can't take the narrowed-eye snarky look.

I don't watch cable any more, since Brian left. Why would I watch OPINIONS? Seriously.

I doubt that Ruhle has the quietly top quality guests that Brian brought to us.

I don't need snark.

I don't need gussy appearance.

I need DEPTH and background.

[Srkdqltr]

14. She has always been a heavy weight questioner. She is gussied?

How absolutely condescending . Brian Williams wore crappy ties. ( he didn't really)

[txwhitedove]

18. Ha, like your thinking. Lawrence got gussied up for Rachel's return last night. Rachel

looked like Rachel, but rested. I have always liked Stephanie.

[ampm]

15. She a smart one

I've watched her for years, she knows a thing or two about finance, and more and can highlight what wall street is doing because she worked on the inside, so she is a bright spot on my radar

[Grasswire2]

33. And so an expert on finance, an insider, is given the show...

...where little of that is the topic??

Doesn't make any sense at all.

[TeamProg]

16. She's been good for a while.. n/t

[PCIntern]

17. I actually enjoy her insights, effusiveness, and emotionality as well as her

shoulders.

Sorry…it’s true.

[Grasswire2]

34. good lord. nt

[qazplm135]

20. She strikes me as

A fundamentally decent person. She's clearly invested in the idea of capitalism so that sometimes gives her a bit of naivete about the power of capitalism to do good but at the same time she's definitely not pro-corporatism and I don't think she has any love for the current version of Republicans.

I think she's just one of those people who thinks relatively decent thoughts about most things and perpetually is in a why can't we just get along and solve things reasonably state which might also strike some as naive but hits me, most of the time, as just decency.

[Stinky The Clown]

23. I like her and have since I first "met" her when she did the show with Ali Velshi.

She strikes me as a truly empathetic lefty. Someone up thread said it was like a mom worried about her kids. I get that and more. I find her to be concerned for little people even as she knows, understands, and explains to us little people wheat the big people are doing.

[Pepsidog]

24. Same producers would probably make the transition smooth and keep the same tone as Williams.

[Grasswire2]

36. I'd like to know what the size of the audience is now, compared to Brian.

Although I see here on DU that her "shoulders" are something Brian lacked. So maybe her "shoulders" offset his wit and humble charm.

[Pepsidog]

38. I will give her a chance. Not like we progressives have tons of options I always liked Brian

Williams as he came out of the Philly market. As a lifelong resident of South Jersey its nice to see a hometown guy make it to the top.

[FakeNoose]

25. Stephanie Ruhle deserves her spot at 11 p.m.

The fact is that nobody could have replaced Brian Williams, but she's holding up her hour quite well.

Here's my problem: I'm already "faithful" to Rachel and Lawrence. I try to watch them whenever I can. Even when it means DVR-ing their shows and watching them the next morning. So Stephanie's show will get a loyal following also, but I'm already maxxed out on Rachel and Lawrence. Occasionally I will tune in early and watch a little of Chris Hayes, when it fits my schedule. I like Chris and he usually has great guests on.

When I was younger, I was a night owl and watched TV into the late hours. I've mostly given that up and I sense that many of the older DUers are doing the same. Folks on the West Coast have a few more options, but we Easterners have to turn the TV off ... sometimes.

Your point that Stephanie Ruhle is actually a great show host, is very fair. I wish her well.

[sloopdog50]

26. It's Good for US

Stephanie is quite capable without comparison. I enjoy being taught by such women as her and Joy Reid and Rachel Maddow. These women certainly have an approach to become accustomed to, but they sure as hell ain't no Chuckles Todd.

[Escurumbele]

27. I think she is great, I have always liked her, she is very knowledgeable, she doesn't take crap

from those she interviews, she never allows them to go on a tangent, she stops them on their tracks...She is great.

Yes, we will all miss Brian Williams, but she is not a lightweight, give her a few more weeks to show everyone the heavy weight journalist she is. She is also very versed in Economics.

No Brian Williams? OK...welcome Stephanie Ruhle.

[Redleg]

37. Same observations here

Stephanie has been a tough interviewer and asks some very pointed questions at times. I hope her efficacy discussing economic issues is matched by her political savvy. I will miss Brian but welcome Stephanie. Now someone at MSNBC needs to give Ali Velshi his own show. I thought that he and Stephanie made a good team when they were together.