MSNBC: Donahue 'Tired, Left-Wing, out of Touch'

NewsMax.com ^ | Feb.28, 2003 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[conservativecorner]

So why did MSNBC fire Phil Donahue? The ratings were terrible, of course, but worse was the odor of mothballs that was tainting the network.

An internal MSNBC memo revealed that Donahue was viewed as "a tired, left-wing liberal out of touch with the current marketplace" in an analysis from an outside focus group, the Washington Times reported today.

He represented "a difficult public face for NBC in a time of war. ... He seems to delight in presenting guests who are anti-war, anti-Bush and skeptical of the administration's motives," according to the report. The network feared his show would become "a home for the liberal anti-war agenda at the same time our competitors are waving the flag at every opportunity."

So typical: Donahue's final guest, Rosie O'Donnell, yakked about her feelings as a "mother" and member of the appeasement movement.

Donahue, however, claims MSNBC is trying to "out-fox Fox" by becoming conservative. He says he wanted "to break through the noisy drums of war on cable."

MSNBC has recently hired conservative radio star Michael Savage, former House Republican leader Dick Armey and former GOP Rep. Joe Scarborough as commentators.

"The channel has not adopted a single political viewpoint," an MSNBC spokesman said. "We're a big tent, and we're bringing in people with opinions from all over the political spectrum. This is not a reinvention."

Will copying FNC rather than CNN work for MSNBC? A broadcasting source told the Times: "It may be flattering. It may seem like a smart thing to do. But it just doesn't work.

"CNN already tried it and found that success isn't guaranteed by bringing in new faces or graphics. It's the balanced approach. Fox stays focused and stays fair. And that resonates with viewers."

Here's the sad part: We no longer have the irony of peacenik Phil Donahue being on the payroll of weapons maker General Electric.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

...Donahue was viewed as "a tired, left-wing liberal out of touch with the current marketplace" in an analysis from an outside focus group...

pMSNBC paid an outside market research firm for this data?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Donahue lost two out of three falls with Connie Chung.

[Havoc]

"The channel has not adopted a single political viewpoint," an MSNBC spokesman said. "We're a big tent, and we're bringing in people with opinions from all over the political spectrum. This is not a reinvention."

Right - And Orange tigers aren't making a change by painting themselves purple.

[bmwcyle]

My old company paid an outside firm to help improve the company. They kept telling us our pay was at market standard. The only problem was that the main office was in Garland, TX and we worked in Reston, VA. The surveys were done in TX.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

If you want a "BARF ALERT GAGGING" example of this, read EJ Dionne's op-ed piece in today's Washington Post (something about "Patriotic Liberals"). Not sure if it's been posted here, but the most gagging sentence goes something like "it was Jimmy Carter's human rights campaign that provided the foundation for Ronald Reagan's successful Cold War policies."

Like I said: a real "gagger" over breakfast.

[Petronski]

An internal MSNBC memo revealed that Donahue was viewed as "a tired, left-wing liberal out of touch with the current marketplace..."

What a delicious morsel! Even better would be the expression on Phil and Marlo's faces when they read of it.

[f.Christian]

"The buzz is, a new substratum of Democrat has evolved."

"It is liberal, deviant, and incredibly boring."

"It is called a Cuomo (( fr thread // link )) -sexual."

[friendly]

MSNBC has recently hired conservative radio star Michael Savage, former House Republican leader Dick Armey and former GOP Rep. Joe Scarborough as commentators.

I am completely skeptical that MSNBC will do this new programming properly. But the question is raised: Is there a dim lightbulb going off in the management brains of the perpetually failed MSNBC network?

I never understood how the MSNBC executives got away with shafting the company's stockholders for so long with their compulsively, perpetually cr*ppy programming, symbolized by the insanity of touting Donahue.

With absolutely no problem at all I could have the MSNBC network soaring past CNN in 12 months. I doubt the management executives would ever listen to me, and I do not believe they will ever be successful.

Nonetheless I cannot wait for Savage to blow the roof off their ratings, at least for his show.

[Dudoight]

After Chris Matthews confronted him about his (donahue's) hate America presentation, Donahue tried to calm down a bit. He had more 'conservative' guests with his liberal ones. The problem was he cut short and talked over the conservatives and let the liberals spout. He just couldn't escape his tunnel vision to save his soul or his show! He can blame MSNBC all he wants, but he held the rope, strung the noose and kicked the chair out on his own.

[friendly]

I can envision many, many ways in which MSNBC could be extremely successful. It seems so easy, so obvious... What in God's name is the manner with their management?.

Chris Matthews is certainly not one of the ways MSNBC will ever make any money.

[TADSLOS]

One would hope that MSNBC would fire the executives who made the decision to give him a show in the first place - but then, who would be left besides the camera crew and the security guard at the front entrance? The only thing this network is good for is the delay time it provides clicking between The History channel and HGTV.

[cinFLA]

An internal MSNBC memo revealed that Donahue was viewed as "a tired, left-wing liberal out of touch with the current marketplace" in an analysis from an outside focus group, the Washington Times reported today.

He was their knight in shining armor a few months ago. Whut happened?

[syriacus]

I hate to help Donahue, but I'd suggest he might possibly be a good host of some "nostalgia" show like Joe Franklin's "Memory Lane."

A caveat: If Donahue were to get too political on a nostalgia show, he would lose his audience.

It's interesting that Donahue can't seem to control his obsessive need to put down or ignore any ideas that are not similar to his own. I guess that's true of most hard-core Liberals, though.

[HumanaeVitae]

Ah, I guess there's no reason to kick a guy when he's down. Ok, there are plenty of reasons, but it's really not sporting.

Hopefully Donahue enjoys his retirement.

[RnMomof7]

Did anyone but me see Dennis Miller on Donahue last night? I looked in to see if he was whinning..Dennis cleaned his clock..

He said Americans voted for Clinton the second time because they are used to buying "off the rack"..and that Hillery rides on his coat tail because the front is taken..LOL

He asked Donahue if the reason for his pacificism is guilt over his pro abortion stand..LOL

Dennis said he has come to see Bush as his President ..and that he does not like to hear Ashcroft called a Nazi..He had ole Phil speechless..

.BTW has anyone watched former Rep. Joe Scarborough on his new MSNBC show? He is opposite Gretta Van Face in our time zone and it is no contest. He is terrific.I just hope they do not switch him and move him against O Reilly or Hannity cause he will get killed there..this is a GREAT time for him.

It is nice to see a REAL conservative with a show on MSNBC

[CarolAnn]

A delicious morsel to be sure. He's not only out of touch, he absolutely rubs people who love this country the wrong way. If he came off as just anti-war, that would be one thing. But he comes off as anti-American. So does most of the Hollywood crowd.

[blam]

"Chris Matthews is certainly not one of the ways MSNBC will ever make any money."

Another commie has-been.

[snooker]

>>>Chris Matthews

dumball is rated lower than gonna-hue

[Oldeconomybuyer]

I saw Dennis Miller last night and watched it live a few weeks ago. Interesting that he said his first clue that something was amiss with the left was when he heard Guilliani refered to as a Nazi when the facts surrounding the improved condition of NYC were obvious to anyone who didn't have a political bent.

I will miss his HBO show.