Dan Abrams: Keith Olbermann part duh

[riverdeep]

I was laughing so hard at the last segment of KO last night, an O'Lielly expert charmingly discussing Bill's egomania, cheapness, and descent into madness (who knew?), that I forgot to reach for the remote and change the channel. Last I remember it was Scarborough and didn't want to witness that again. But it was someone I'd never seen, Dan Abrams.

Now, the guy espouses views fairly sympathetic to DU, but something just rubbed me the wrong way. It's like he was trying to do Olbermann but just coming off as trying way too hard. It's like that line about a recording executive that gets handed a brilliant product-"It's fresh, it's original, it's heartfelt! Give me ten more just like it." KO developed naturally, and I don't know too many who do his combination of serious and snarky and pull it off.

Instead of a network of Olbermanns, they should find people who have their own style that complements Olbermann. On that same show last night they had Rachel Maddow. To me, she would be perfect for a host on MSNBC. She's smart as hell, but accessible. She can do hard news in an appealing way without dumbing it down. She's also got a decent Q rating, I'd imagine.

Lastly, she's someone different from the same hosts they have on. MSNBC could use that to garner interest. Probably the first out woman host on a news show. They wouldn't have to put her on after KO, anytime is good. But they need to do something, because the ratings, except for KO, are pretty shaky. He deserves better than that.

[NewJeffCT]

1. I could be mistaken, but I think Dan Abrams is one of the head guys there

at MSNBC...

I don't think Abrams is particularly liberal, but he has certainly done some sharp work in recent months in relating to reporting on Team Bush. However, it's nothing that a good reporter should not be doing... it just seems like a breath of fresh air compared to everything besides Olbermann.

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

4. He's the general manager at MSNBC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Abrams

[Metta]

2. I've seen him carry lots of water for smirky.

It appears to me that Abrams philosophy is right of center a good part of the time. He's said some really misleading, partially true things on air.

[riverdeep]

3. ok

I'm only going by a sample of one, last night, so I can't say what the overall outlook is at all.