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The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Rachel Maddow Show is a news and opinion television program
that airs weeknights on MSNBC
at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow
, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name. The show debuted on September 8, 2008.
, then host of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann
, was Maddow's first guest on her debut show, and has been given credit for pushing for Maddow to get her own show. Prior to getting her own show, Maddow had served as regular guest host for Countdown when Olbermann was absent. The Rachel Maddow Show replaced Verdict with Dan Abrams
.
on December 20-22, 2010, the Free State Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas on February 23, 2011, and the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana on February 5, 2010 (to mark the impending Super Bowl XLIV
game featuring the New Orleans Saints
under the name "The Rachel Maddeaux Sheaux").
writer, Matea Gold stated that Maddow, "finds the right formula on MSNBC", while The Guardian
writes Maddow has become the "star of America's cable news". Associated Press
columnist, David Bauder called her "[Keith] Olbermann's political soul mate" and referred to the Olbermann/Maddow shows as a "liberal two-hour block". The New York Times
writer Alessandra Stanley opined, "Her program adds a good-humored female face to a cable news channel whose prime time is dominated by unruly, often squabbling schoolboys; Ms. Maddow’s deep, modulated voice is reassuringly calm after so much shrill emotionalism and catfights among the channel's aging, white male divas".
On September 16, 2008, the show drew 1,801,000 viewers (with 534,000 in the 25-54 demographic), beating Larry King Live
and becoming the highest-rated MSNBC show of the night. Maddow's ratings success on September 16, 2008 prompted many of her MSNBC colleagues on Morning Joe
to congratulate her on the air, including Joe Scarborough
, who said it was "just one of those times where good people do well." In the month of March 2009 the average number of viewers dropped to 1.1 million, part of a general trend in the ratings decline for cable news programs. During the third quarter of 2009, the show was ranked in third place behind Fox News's Hannity
and CNN
's Larry King Live
. The average total number of viewers for the show's airtimes during this period was 992,000.
During the first quarter of 2010, Maddow's show pulled well ahead of Larry King Live, regularly beating the show in overall and primetime ratings, becoming the second highest-rated program in its time slot, behind only Fox News Channel 's Hannity. The show continued its lead during the second quarter of 2010, staying well ahead of CNNs Larry King Live for the third consecutive quarter, and topping the show in both primetime and overall ratings.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
that airs weeknights on MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
at 9:00 p.m. ET. It is hosted by Rachel Maddow
Rachel Maddow
Rachel Anne Maddow is an American television host and political commentator. Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC. Her syndicated talk radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, aired on Air America Radio...
, who gained popularity with her frequent appearances as a liberal pundit on various MSNBC programs. It is based on her former radio show of the same name. The show debuted on September 8, 2008.
Background
Keith OlbermannKeith Olbermann
Keith Theodore Olbermann is an American political commentator and writer. He has been the chief news officer of the Current TV network and the host of Current TV's weeknight political commentary program, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, since June 20, 2011...
, then host of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann is an hour-long weeknight news and political commentary program that airs on Current TV, where it began airing on June 20, 2011. The program was broadcast on MSNBC from March 31, 2003, to January 21, 2011. On MSNBC, the show presented five selected news stories of...
, was Maddow's first guest on her debut show, and has been given credit for pushing for Maddow to get her own show. Prior to getting her own show, Maddow had served as regular guest host for Countdown when Olbermann was absent. The Rachel Maddow Show replaced Verdict with Dan Abrams
Verdict with Dan Abrams
Verdict with Dan Abrams was a newscast on MSNBC, hosted by former MSNBC general manager Dan Abrams. It aired Monday-Friday at 9 p.m. Eastern.-Timeline:...
.
Current segments
Maddow invites a variety of commentators and newsmakers onto the show to discuss the day's news. Frequent segments include:- TRMS Tonight: Maddow opens the show, briefly detailing the issues the show will cover in the following hour.
- Rachel Re:: Maddow provides an extended commentary on a topic.
- The Interview: Maddow interviews a guest about a particular story.
- Moment of Geek: Maddow provides information on a subject usually related to science, math, or other potentially "geeky" subjects.
- Debunktion Junction: Maddow quickly goes over little-known interesting tidbits about different topics, usually about politics but sometimes about other things as well.
- The Best New Thing in the World Today: At the close of the show, Maddow presents a heartening item such as a quirky news piece or video.
- Cocktail Moment: Maddow makes a cocktail in the studio.
Former segments
- It's Pat: Maddow debates Pat BuchananPat BuchananPatrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
, whom she refers to as her "fake uncle," on a topic. The name "It's Pat" was taken from the Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
sketch and film of the same name. - Lame Duck Watch: Between the 2008 US election and Obama's inaugurationInauguration of Barack ObamaThe inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The inauguration, which set a record attendance for any event held in Washington, D.C., marked the commencement of the four-year term of Barack Obama as President and Joe...
, Maddow commented on President Bush'sGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
last actions in office, because "somebody has to do it." The segment restarted on 9 November 2010 to cover the lame duck sessions of the 111th Congress. In 2008, the segment started with the theme "Hail to the Chief." In 2010, the segment started with incoming Speaker John Boehner yelling, "Hell no you can't!" - Scrub. Rinse. Repeat: Maddow comments on issues that President Bush left behind.
- Talk Me Down: Maddow elaborates on an issue that concerns her and then brings in an expert to discuss.
- GOP in Exile: Maddow reports on the activities of the Republican Party in 2009.
- Just Enough: Maddow runs down a few pop culture stories with Kent JonesKent JonesThomas Kenton "Kent" Jones is a writer and performer on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show, airing live M-F at 9 p.m. Eastern time...
. - The Weak in Review: Maddow and Kent Jones cover "outstanding achievements in public lame-itude". Sometimes replaces "Just Enough" on Friday editions of the show.
- Ms. Information: Maddow discusses news stories she feels have been under-reported, referring to them as "Holy Mackerel" stories. During the appearance of a male guest host, the segment is instead titled Mr. Information.
- TMI: Maddow and Kent Jones "investigate" representatives and senators who have been recently talked about.
- Life During Wartime: Maddow reports on news about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During the beginning of the segment, there is a sign saying "This Way Out?" on the screen.
- IntimiNation: Maddow reports on violence and threats of violence by right-wing extremists in the U.S.
- Pin the Debt on the Donkey: An infrequent game show-style segment where Rachel has two contestants (one is usually Kent Jones) answer questions wrongly (on purpose) about the records of former Presidents regarding increasing the National Debt.
Live audience shows
The series has occasionally aired in front of theatre audiences, including the 92nd Street Y92nd Street Y
92nd Street Y is a multifaceted cultural institution and community center located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, at the corner of E. 92nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Its full name is 92nd Street Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association...
on December 20-22, 2010, the Free State Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas on February 23, 2011, and the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana on February 5, 2010 (to mark the impending Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV
Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of...
game featuring the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
under the name "The Rachel Maddeaux Sheaux").
Guest hosts
- Ana Marie CoxAna Marie CoxAna Marie Cox is an American author and blogger. The founding editor of the political blog Wonkette, she is currently the Washington correspondent for GQ and is The Guardian's lead blogger on US politics. She previously worked at Air America Media.-Early life:Cox was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico...
- September 4, 2009 - Howard DeanHoward DeanHoward Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
- November 24, 2009 - Melissa Harris-Perry - Regular replacement as of 2011
- Chris HayesChristopher Hayes (journalist)Christopher L. "Chris" Hayes is an American broadcaster, journalist and liberal political commentator. Hayes hosts Up with Chris Hayes, a weekend news and opinion television show on MSNBC. Hayes had formerly been a frequent guest host and commentator on shows such as The Rachel Maddow Show and...
- Regular replacement prior to September 2011 - Arianna HuffingtonArianna HuffingtonArianna Huffington is a Greek American author and syndicated columnist. She is best known as co-founder of the news website The Huffington Post. A popular conservative commentator in the mid-1990s, she adopted more liberal political beliefs in the late 1990s...
— November 17, 2008 - Lawrence O'Donnell - November 23, 2009
- Andrea MitchellAndrea MitchellAndrea Mitchell is an American television journalist, anchor, reporter, and commentator for NBC News based in Washington, D.C.. She is the NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, and has recently reported on the 2008 Race for the White House for NBC News broadcasts, including NBC Nightly...
- April 2, 2009 - David ShusterDavid ShusterDavid Martin Shuster is an American television journalist who has been an anchor for MSNBC and who has also worked for Fox News and CNN. He anchored MSNBC Live weekdays from 10-11am and 3-4pm ET and filled in for Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow on their respective shows...
- October 12, 2009 - Alison StewartAlison StewartAlison Stewart is an American radio and television journalist. She was one of the hosts of the Bryant Park Project, a morning drive news program from NPR...
— November 18–19, 2008; February 23, 2009; June 29–30/July 1, 2009; August 24–25, 2009; October 13–14, 2009 - Bill WolffBill WolffBill Wolff is the vice-president of prime-time programming for the cable news channel MSNBC, as well as the executive producer of The Rachel Maddow Show. At MSNBC, he was previously the executive producer of The Situation with Tucker Carlson - later called Tucker - before his promotion in 2005...
- December 30, 2010
Ratings and reviews
The Rachel Maddow Show debuted on September 8, 2008, with 1,543,000 viewers (483,000 of whom were in the 25-54 demographic). Early reviews for her show were mostly positive. Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
writer, Matea Gold stated that Maddow, "finds the right formula on MSNBC", while The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
writes Maddow has become the "star of America's cable news". Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
columnist, David Bauder called her "[Keith] Olbermann's political soul mate" and referred to the Olbermann/Maddow shows as a "liberal two-hour block". The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
writer Alessandra Stanley opined, "Her program adds a good-humored female face to a cable news channel whose prime time is dominated by unruly, often squabbling schoolboys; Ms. Maddow’s deep, modulated voice is reassuringly calm after so much shrill emotionalism and catfights among the channel's aging, white male divas".
On September 16, 2008, the show drew 1,801,000 viewers (with 534,000 in the 25-54 demographic), beating Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
and becoming the highest-rated MSNBC show of the night. Maddow's ratings success on September 16, 2008 prompted many of her MSNBC colleagues on Morning Joe
Morning Joe
Morning Joe is a weekday morning talk show on MSNBC, with Joe Scarborough discussing the news of the day in a panel format with co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Willie Geist. It was created as the replacement for Imus in the Morning, which was canceled in April 2007 after simulcasting on MSNBC since 1996...
to congratulate her on the air, including Joe Scarborough
Joe Scarborough
Charles Joseph "Joe" Scarborough is an American cable news and talk radio host, lawyer, author, and former politician. He is currently the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, and previously hosted Scarborough Country on the same channel...
, who said it was "just one of those times where good people do well." In the month of March 2009 the average number of viewers dropped to 1.1 million, part of a general trend in the ratings decline for cable news programs. During the third quarter of 2009, the show was ranked in third place behind Fox News's Hannity
Hannity
Hannity is a television show on the Fox News network, a replacement to the long-running show Hannity & Colmes. It is hosted by conservative political pundit Sean Hannity....
and CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
. The average total number of viewers for the show's airtimes during this period was 992,000.
During the first quarter of 2010, Maddow's show pulled well ahead of Larry King Live, regularly beating the show in overall and primetime ratings, becoming the second highest-rated program in its time slot, behind only Fox News Channel 's Hannity. The show continued its lead during the second quarter of 2010, staying well ahead of CNNs Larry King Live for the third consecutive quarter, and topping the show in both primetime and overall ratings.
Awards and nominations
- In 2011, the Rachel Maddow Show won a News and Documentary Emmy in the Outstanding News Discussion and Analysis category for the segment, "Good Morning, Landlocked Central Asia".
- In March 2010, Maddow won at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in the category, Outstanding TV Journalism—Newsmagazine for her segment, "Uganda Be Kidding Me".
- The Rachel Maddow Show has been nominated 2 times for a Television Critics Award in the "Outstanding Achievement in News & Information" category.
- Maddow also took home a Walter Cronkite Faith & Freedom Award for her work in covering religion and politics.
- The show took home the Planned Parenthood Maggie Award for exceptional news coverage of reproductive rights and health care issues.