L.A. Times: MSNBC Viewers Lobby For A Liberal Host (Highlights Cenk And Sam Seder)

ihavenobias

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Wed Feb-18-09 08:40 PM
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L.A. Times: MSNBC Viewers Lobby For A Liberal Host (Highlights Cenk And Sam Seder)

Edited on Wed Feb-18-09 08:50 PM by ihavenobias

NOTE: This an excerpt. You can . This is awesome news for fans of TYT and Sam Seder, especially since this is coming off the heels of that featured the two the other day!

Radio hosts Cenk Uygur and Sam Seder draw support after the news that the cable channel is contemplating creating a new show.

By Matea Gold
February 19, 2009

Reporting from New York -- Television network executives looking for new talent are accustomed to getting pleas from agents urging them to check out their clients.

But in the last few weeks, MSNBC has experienced a different kind of onslaught: a flood of unsolicited endorsements from fans of liberal radio hosts touting them as the network's next potential big star.

The grass-roots campaigns were triggered by the news that the cable channel is contemplating creating a new show for its 7 p.m. time slot, currently occupied by a repeat of "Countdown With Keith Olbermann." That prompted the launch of independent Facebook groups extolling the merits of two radio hosts: Cenk Uygur of the Internet show and of Air America.

The lobbying efforts have drawn thousands of supporters and led fans to pepper MSNBC with e-mails in support of their favorite personality. Hundreds of people have posted messages of support online, some even creating . (Give the time slot to "The Young Turks," , "or I'll switch back to CNN.") Liberal bloggers on sites like have also weighed in.

They all hope that MSNBC will choose a host cast from the same left-leaning mold as Olbermann and Rachel Maddow, who have helped power the cable channel's ratings...

There are signs that approach is seeping into the network's daytime programming: This week, anchor David Shuster announced that he would feature an issue from the "progressive blogosphere" each day on his show "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." (Griffin said the segment would spotlight "new voices" from across the political spectrum.)

Still, among many on the left, the network's partisan credentials are viewed with some skepticism. "All they really have is Olbermann and Maddow, and then they have a three-hour block in the morning that is completely right-wing," said Uygur, referring to "Morning Joe," hosted by former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough. "But at least they're trying."

, currently spends three hours a day talking politics and pop culture on his show. The program would be the perfect complement to MSNBC's lineup, he argued, in part because it brings a built-in following. After being carried on Sirius and Air America, "The Young Turks" is now solely online, and videos on its have accumulated more than 66 million hits.

"We have an online audience that would instantly be watching," he said.

(Obviously you're aware of who I'm rooting for )

PS---Cenk On The Colbert Report?! Let's make it happen:

1. (Brand New)

2.

Hopefully you already joined the (and invited your FB friends to join). Now you can and send an email to letters@msnbc.com to let them know you want Cenk for the 10pm slot. And obviously you can use the to leave a positive comment in favor of TYT (or Sam, who I like BTW).