Matthews Renews Contract at MSNBC -another four years (at least) of Tweety

[jefferson_dem]

Matthews Renews Contract at MSNBC
By BILL CARTER

Chris Matthews, the usually garrulous host of “Hardball” on MSNBC, has quietly signed a new long-term contract to remain with the cable network through the next election, signaling that he had quit entertaining any plans to run for a Senate seat.

The deal is for at least four years. Financial terms were not disclosed, and neither side would confirm whether MSNBC had won a reduction in salary for the host, as it had been reported to be seeking. Previous reports put his annual salary at about $5 million.

One executive involved in the negotiations said, “Whether he took a slight cut or got a slight raise, it’s nobody’s business.”

Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, said the deal would guarantee that Mr. Matthews would “be around to cover the next presidential election.” Mr. Matthews, known for his combative interviews, said he was happy to be staying on. “I love what I do,” he said. “It’s transparent. You can see it in my face.”

<SNIP>

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/business/media/23matthews.html?pagewanted=print

[RepublicanElephant]

1. great.

:banghead:

[Towlie]

2. Just as well, he could never stick to parliamentarian procedures. He loves to interrupt too much.

[dem629]

3. Sooooo glad I stopped watching talking-head 24-hour info-tainment/hype-news channels.

[Webster Green]

5. Canceled my cable service.

800 channels of nothing. :boring:

[dem629]

9. I couldn't go that far. I just had to get the babbling-heads off my TV.

[GoCubsGo]

18. I wouldn't say there's "nothing"

But, most times, one really has to dig find something decent. I have satellite, myself, only because my local cable provider doesn't carry WGN, and I must have my Cub games. With Dish Network, we get things like Al Gore's "Current TV", The Documentary Channel, Free Speech TV, and several university channels. I think some cable providers carry some of these channels in their digital packages.

[Webster Green]

21. Correct!

I was exaggerating to make my point. :P

[tularetom]

4. If I actually watched cable TV I'd shoot myself now

[Clio the Leo]

6. Now THAT is something to be joyous about!

Love Tweety!!!!

HA!

[rocktivity]

7. Maybe that's why MSNBC has been talking to Ed Schultz

To scare Tweety into taking less money!

:evilgrin:
rocktivity

[camera obscura]

8. "Garrulous" is a good word for him... and either you like that style or you don't.

I'm one who does, so I'm glad to read this.

[The Traveler]

10. I actually like Matthews

I enjoy his unabashed love for the contact sport that we call politics. I really love that about him. Of course, that does make him act rather assholish sometimes, from my point of view. Sometimes I am really pissed off at him.

But then, most would consider me a lefty. Others consider me leaning dangerously right. Frankly, all that confuses me. Perhaps I should write "Trav's Manifesto" so my DU friends could help me properly label myself. The point is, most people are multi-faceted in our viewpoints, and Tweety certainly exhibits that characteristic, too. It is unlikely that would I always find him in agreement with my viewpoint. Bit, still, he is an asshole sometimes.

And a lot of other times, he isn't.

Trav

[vaberella]

11. That's my Tweety. n/t

[Raine]

12. I have a love/hate thing for Tweety

sometimes I really love him, sometimes he's annoying as hell but I'm still glad he'll be around another four years. :-)

[Norrin Radd]

13. Can not stand the superficial analysis he gives on his show,

and his demeanor, but, at least, with him parking in that slot, they can't put someone worse in his stead.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Hmmm. Interesting. I wouldn't use the word superficial when

describing chris. To me, he is one of the very FEW who has a deep knowledge and understanding of history. That's what I love
about him. He loves knowledge. And he is not afraid to confront anyone. To me, he would have made a far superior host to MTP than Gregory.

[Norrin Radd]

24. Superficial in the sense that there are many deep political topics that he

ignores or gets visibly irritated or hostile when brought up, and then hastily tries to change the subject.

[Medusa]

14. The amount of money these talking heads get a year is

ridiculous. And for what? So they can pass on the attack message of the day or twist and distort something? I really don't need their opinion. I just wish the news would go back to being the news.

[ShortnFiery]

16. HA!

:P

Watch out Tweety, you're ALSO sentenced to four years of being forced to tolerate us little people within the USA's Pajama Hudeen. :evilgrin:

[ErinBerin84]

17. When he's good, he's good

and when he's bad, he's really bad. Just think of it this way, would we rather have him on the Senate? Not me, since I don't really know where he stands on issues. I read that a friend of his asked "what" he would do in the Senate if he got there, and he realized that the Senate was more about him carrying out a childhood dream than wanting to fulfill a specific agenda. At least he got that. I enjoy his show sometimes, am annoyed by it at other times. His show is still better than what Race to the White House with David Gregory was like, that is probably the type that would replace him if Hardball went off the air.

[GoCubsGo]

20. Where he stands on the issues...

...depends on what is popular at the time. He used to write speeches for Jimmy Carter, yet he also carried water for Shitboy for several years--until Shitboy's approval ratings started to tank. Wasn't he the one who said "We're all Republicans now?" or something to that effect after 9-11? I have mixed feelings about him, but I have to give him credit for calling out the rethugs on his show lately. He isn't perfect on it, but it's more than a lot of the others are doing. I think he's starting to take a page from Keith and Rachel,and I hope we see more of that.

[ejpoeta]

19. $5 mil a year doesn't exactly make him a regular guy does it?

it's not that rich people can't work for regular people or understand what it's like for the rest of us. look at ted kennedy.... i'm sure he doesn't know what it's like to have food stamps or anything, but he works tirelessly to make sure that we have healthcare. but it seems that some people either have never known or have forgotten what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck and you get the impression that they just don't care. i am not sure about chris matthews... but it does make me think when these talking heads are talking about this recession and i know that they'll fare just fine if things get worse while most of us would drown.

[Beacool]

22. They can keep him.

I haven't watched MSNBC for almost a year now and I don't miss it all.

x(

[renate]

23. good. I like him n/t