At MSNBC, a Professor as TV Host

[babylonsister]

At MSNBC, a Professor as TV Host

Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Melissa Harris-Perry last week on the set of her MSNBC show, which has its debut on Saturday.

By BRIAN STELTER
Published: February 12, 2012


Week seven of Melissa Harris-Perry’s introductory course in African-American studies at Tulane University includes a lecture about “the hollow prize” — a theory that African-Americans tend to be elected as mayor only after a city has tipped into economic decline.

One day last summer, when Ms. Harris-Perry was filling in for Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, she recast the class lecture as a television segment, invoking Detroit; her adopted home, New Orleans; President Obama; and tax policy.

“I’ve given that lecture a million times — a million times,” Ms. Harris-Perry said in a recent interview. “But I do it once on Rachel’s show, and it was everywhere the next day. It was up on Web sites, people were e-mailing me — that, for me, was a really clear indication of how powerful television is.”

Now, MSNBC is about to introduce a progressive talk show called “Melissa Harris-Perry” on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Ms. Harris-Perry will be the only tenured professor in the United States — and one of a very small number of African-American women — who serves as a cable news host.

Is this a sign of the rise of the academic on TV? Though cable news is still stereotyped by some as a 24-7 screaming match, there are now pockets of intellectual stimulation that did not exist a decade ago.


more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/business/media/host-of-msnbcs-melissa-harris-perry-is-a-professor.html?_r=1&src=dayp

[seabeyond]

1. i like and respect her so much. nt

[Judi Lynn]

2. Stupendous! Can't wait until her program opens Saturday. Best wishes to Melissa Harris-Perry. n/t

[JNelson6563]

3. Awesome! I wish her great success!

[kemah]

4. Compare that to the Fox and Rush's college drop outs

Fox news and right wing radio hosts are college drop outs and they cater to the trailer park trash mentality. Just look up Trailer Park Boys on you tube to see the GOPs true viewers and fans

[southernyankeebelle]

5. It's about time we get some level headed host who actually knows what she is saying. Best

of luck to her. We sure need her.

[xtraxritical]

20. I'm pretty sure Rachel M. is a Rhodes Scholar as B. Clinton was also. eom

[Hissyspit]

6. I met her and we spoke for a while about her daughter, who wants to be an artist, apparently.

I said hello to her from DU.

[elleng]

14. Nice, and THANKS!

[Plucketeer]

7. Yes - I'm a guy

A "white" guy at that. I've been smittern by this "Class Act" since the first time I saw and heard her. What a delight to get smart, insightful information from someone who's SO EASY on the eyes!

[drm604]

9. I've also been somewhat smitten.

Beauty and brains is a powerful combination. Of course, physical beauty shouldn't matter, but we all know that it will bring in the viewers, so maybe some people who wouldn't otherwise have tuned in will get to hear what she has to say and maybe change their thinking.

[JDPriestly]

8. Good news.

[intheflow]

9. Great news, crappy time slots.

A lot of people sleep in on Saturday and Sunday mornings, or go to work, church, cart children around to recreational activities, do their weekly grocery shopping, etc. Why not give her Sunday night at 8? That would garner more viewers and be much better than that Caught on Camera show.

[Dollface]

15. Three cheers for TIVO and DVR! The bad part is people are less likely to stumble onto it.

I recommend it everyone, especially those who are sick of listening to Republican talking points on Meet the Press.

[Doctor_J]

11. She's way too intelligent for cable "news"

the morons who watch fox all day would barely be able to comprehend what she says. She'd be a very valuable asset in a nation that didn't worship ignorance the way the US does now.

[Plucketeer]

27. You've got that right! nt

[Lost-in-FL]

12. Happy days! Happy days!

[grandpamike1]

13. MSNBC

Is setting up an unbeatable lineup for thinking people. I have listened to her and I am quite impressed with her intelligence and style, and she is good looking to boot, sort of icing on the cake. To even compare her to anyone on Fox, is disrespectful to her. Congrats to her and MSNBC.

[oldhippydude]

16. whats up

with Chris Hayes.. been meaning to catch his show, but havent... will she be in addition to, or relacing Chris?.. would be nice to MSNBC move to more constant liberal programing.. less prison

[TuxedoKat]

17. I think her show

will be on right after Chris' show, which is great, BTW. They usually rerun it again later in the day along with MTP, or you can watch it online. Good luck to Ms. Perry, looking forward to her show.

[glowing]

19. Addition.. I think she's up after Chris.... I can't wait.. I don't even have to pay all that

money to be taught by her insight.. She really is quite brilliant... and not all stuck up the ass about it... LOL.

[oldhippydude]

35. agreed

i have seen her substitute for Rachel and others... very impressive lady!!!

[musiclawyer]

18. First. If you are missing Chris Hayes you are missing the best show on cable

Tivo it and watch it when you get up. That MHP is following Chris is a very good sigh that MSNBC sees that good liberal bent programming is also good for the bottom line. They don't need to do news shows all weekend. But they need to develop a better weekend bench. One or two more shows after MHP should be fine. Then run repeats. Leave the prison shows for latenight.

[greenman3610]

21. I watched UP with Chris Hayes this past weekend

what a breath of fresh air!!!
smart people talking about things that matter!
What a concept!!!!

highly recommended 5 stars must see TV.

[JitterbugPerfume]

22. I have a tremendous amount of respect for her

I record UP with Chris Hayes every week end and now I will be recording Melissa-Harris-Perry..

[davidwparker]

23. Lovely woman.

Look forward to it.

[bemildred]

24. I guess that means cable news is in decline.

I'll have to check her out.

[boomerbust]

25. She might have to put in a little extra effort...

To convince the North of The Mason-Dixon crowd.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

26. MSNBC has a lineup of very bright and attractive hosts.

Completely frivolous opinions here:
If I was playing for the other team, I'd go for Rachel. Not likely to happen, though.

I really dig Lawrence O'Donnell.

Chris Hayes is a cutie. However, I am old enough to be his mother.

[Cleita]

29. They really need to get rid of scarface and mikka. Let them go to Faux Nooz where they belong. n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

36. I agree. I don't watch Joe and Mika.

I was talking about the evening lineup.

Martin bashir is good in the daytime.

I don't particularly like Tweety.

[DonCoquixote]

28. Very much a step

in the right direction.

[Redstate Bluegirl]

30. DUR

ec!

[Auntie Bush]

31. Sorry I missed her debut, but will be sure to see her this weekend.

I've always been an admirerer... and fascinated by her hairdo's.

[babylonsister]

33. You didn't miss anything; I think she starts this weekend. nt

[gateley]

32. I like her so much! And I'm thrilled that MSNBC is getting some good shows on the weekends. nt

[Lifelong Protester]

34. She's a real 'fave rave' in this house

of oldsters. We love her! And so glad to see another female, intellectual cable news host(we love Rachel, too). Intellect!

[The Doctor.]

37. Black, intellectual, female... more proof of the 'Liberal Media'.

How dare they be so 20th century!

(Though she is more of a hot latte)

[SpankMe]

38. I hope they put video podcasts on their web site

You can get Rachel podcasts, but not Chris Matthews. It's hit and miss on MSNBC depending on the contracts of the hosts, I guess.

Also, I hope Professor Harris-Perry has a thick skin and is prepared for a big change in how she is seen by the world. This is because her high intelligence and capacity for logic and reason and her leanings toward constructive, helpful thinking and insight all run counter to normal conservative operating standards. When she hits their radar, they'll savage her like the mindless, brain eating piranhas they are.

[davebritton]

39. MPH lost me back when

When she opined in The Nation that if white liberals rejected Obama for re-election it would be racist, because they did not reject Clinton under similar circumstances, at that point MHP lost my previously undying admiration. I think she represents an interesting segment of African-American intelligensia who have been molded by overexposure to conventional white academic thinking in the process of their extensive education. Obama may be someone like this as well. Things have gone really badly for African-Americans since the Reagan revolution, as the middle class and better educated made it out of the ghetto and into the mainstream, leaving an impoverished and terribly oppressed underclass behind. The need for fundamental structural change is more urgent than ever, but you won't hear much about that from MHP. Try the Black Agenda Report instead, and read Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.