The Cable TV Rising Star, Who Doesn't Own a TV

[DainBramaged]

The smartest, gayest rising star in cable news is a self-described dork.

"I'm not cool and I don't want to be," says MSNBC's Rachel Maddow. "I tend to pursue avenues of interest that are quirky and nerdy and weird."

She likes country music, trout fishing and cocktails "from before Prohibition." She's never owned a TV. Her idea of a good time is shooting cans with her BB gun at her 1860's home on a river in Western Massachusetts.

In fact, on their first date, Maddow and her partner of nine years, artist Susan Mikula, 50, went to a shooting range.

A Rhodes Scholar with an Oxford Ph.D. in political science, Maddow, 35, just finished a two-week fill-in stint for Keith Olbermann (Cornell '79). As part of her new, exclusive TV deal with the network, she appears regularly on his show as a political pundit.

MSNBC boss Phil Griffin is an unabashed apostle.

"We don't have a place for Rachel right now, but she is in our future," he says. "She has the magic. Sit tight; she's going to fill in for everybody. We're letting her grow."

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/

[annabanana]

1. Yay Rachel!

BIG fan here....

[DainBramaged]

2. Me too, I'd adopt her if she wanted a straight Dad

Just the best, and deserving of all the accolades and publicity. One day she'll replace one of the Wingnuts on MSNoBodyCares.

[tekisui]

3. I listened to her religiously

a couple of years ago. She was the best, and brightest on the radio. It's good to see her get well deserved praise!

[Atman]

4. She lives in Western Mass!

Awesome! She's a "local." I knew there was even more I liked about her.

.

[zanne]

9. It must be the Bershires. nt

[rox63]

10. I believe she lives in Northhampton

IMHO, the coolest town in western MA.

[zanne]

11. Oh, yeah. Smith College and lots of beautiful countryside.

I lived in a town just outside of Northhamption for a couple of years; Chesterfield.

[Mabus]

12. She lives in West Cunningham

http://www.eric-goldscheider.com/id15.html

[zanne]

13. I've never heard of West Cummington...

Which is probably a good reason to live there.

[Mabus]

15. Neither have I

but I grew up in Kansas and Oklahoma. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. ;)

[Atman]

14. It's Cummington, and it is way out in the boonies.

West Cummington is even boonier. Beautiful country, but very rural. Almost "Appalachian," which shouldn't be surprising because the Appalachian trail runs through in the general area). We used to frequent a nude beach up there, on the land of, of all people, former Secy of State George Schulz.

.

[Mabus]

16. Boonies is nice

I've lived in a few boonies and backwaters in my day and I have always loved it.

[monmouth]

5. Love Rachel, can't wait for to have her own...n/t

[KharmaTrain]

6. It's Great To Have The Boss On Your Side

Kudos to Phil Giffin who has recognized Rachel's talents and took a big chance...especially in the staid world of the corporate media...to help advance her inside the jungle. The fact he was just promoted shows how the network is seeing some green and ratings from our side of the world and have transitioned the network to the middle. Yes, you still have Buchanan and Joey the Intern Killer and Bow Tie boy, but at least there's a Rachel who won't hestitate to call them on their shit. Here's hoping this opens the door to other Progressive journalists to get some valuable face-time as well...such as Amy and David Goodman or Kristina Van Den Huevel.

[zanne]

7. I just hope they're not waiting for her to "grow"...

out of her Liberalism.

[DailyGrind51]

8. Really, is television anything more than background noise for most people?