Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews might be on the move from MSNBC to D.C., should he decide to run for one of Pennsylvania's seats in the United States Senate.
The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, reports that the Hardball host and Philadelphia native has met with Democratic Party officials to discuss challenging Republican Sen. Arlen Specter in 2010.
Pennsylvania Democratic Party executive director Mary Isenhour's take-away from the confab was that Matthews ...
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Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann courtesy MSNBC
Jeers to MSNBC for keeping Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews too far from the action at the Democratic National Convention. The cable network placed their two primary anchors on an outdoor platform that looked a mile away from the Pepsi Center. The distance, isolation and wind wreaked havoc on Olbermann and Matthews' hair — and possibly on their minds. The Hardball blowhard forgot Joe Biden's name at one point, and if the Countdown bloviator is supposed to leave his subjectivity at the door on nights like this, somebody should tell him not to follow Hillary Clinton's speech with cries of "Grand slam! Grand slam! Grand slam!" (Maybe he was having an ESPN flashback.) It all made me miss Tim Russert even more.
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Anderson Cooper courtesy CNN, Harry Smith by John Filo/CBS, Diane Sawyer by Ida Mae Astute/ABC
If Katie Couric does leave the CBS Evening News anchor chair, here are the leading candidates to replace her and what they bring to the table.
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In another case of confusing those pesky consonants S and B, an NBC employee mistakenly flashed a picture of Osama bin Laden on the screen as MSNBC host Chris Matthews talked about presidential candidate Barack Obama. NBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines said, "This mistake was inexcusable." The photo mix-up came during Hardball on Monday, as Matthews teased a segment on the controversy over Obama's use of another politician's words in a speech. A picture of the al Qaeda leader flashed for a moment with the text, "Words About Words."Obama's campaign complained immediately, Matthews apologized moments later and in the rerun episode, the photo was corrected. The network did not disclose the name of the photo-swapping culprit, nor discussed what, if any, consequences the individual is facing. The Obama campaign, meanwhile, has seen this S and B error before, and has already garnered a similar apology from CNN. There was no comment from the Bin Laden camp. — Anna Dimond
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Chris Matthews by Lisa Berg/NBC
Chris Matthews recently celebrated his 10th year as the host of MSNBC's Hardball, and he spent a few decades in politics before that tenure. He's distilled his observations into a new Random House book, Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation and Success. Ah, but can politics teach you how to handle Daily Show host Jon Stewart when he calls your book "sad," as he did when Matthews recently appeared to get a plug? Matthews tells The Biz how he survived what he called "the worst interview I've ever had in my life."TVGuide.com: What made you think your experience in politics would make a good advice book?Chris Matthews: It's what I know. You write what you know. I've spent 36 years watching politicians, and I've learned the traits that work with people. The absence of those traits usually suggests the failure of a career. I'm talking about people who get elected time and time again and succeed in American politics: Generally they have a set ...
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Keith Olbermann
War hasn't been hell for Keith Olbermann. As President Bush's poll ratings have declined in response to his handling of the Iraq situation, the ratings for Olbermann's nightly MSNBC newscast Countdown have shot up. The irreverent anchor recently signed on to front the cable news channel's most-watched show for another four years. NBC News sweetened the pot by giving him occasional essays on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams and two prime time specials each year on the big network. The Biz asked Olbermann to reflect on his recent success and his new deal.
TVGuide.com: Countdown's ratings have built a lot over the year. Do you think it had something to with MSNBC finally sticking with a show for more than a few months
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Thanks to a delay system, WFAN's Don Imus was able to bleep out a bad word when Hardball host Chris Matthews, during a Wednesday-morning simulcast interview, let slip, "I want a guy to run for president who doesn’t have a f---ing ranch." MSNBC viewers, however, heard the F-bomb in all its glory, since the cabler doesn’t employ a delay on its end. MSNBC has received no complaints, reports the New York Daily News — perhaps because, let's face it, Matthews has desensitized us to a lot of things at this point.
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Chris Matthews
Americans head to the polls today for one of the most anticipated midterm elections in recent memory. A power shift in both the House and Senate appears likely, and the news media has focused in, with predictions, polling and punditry having reached a fever pitch. Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball and of the syndicated/NBC News-produced panel program The Chris Matthews Show, is one of those members of the media who believes this election deserves the hype.
"I don't think this is a prelude. This is a main event," Matthews attests. "The voters' attitude about Iraq is the big story for the world. No matter how we read the election at home, no matter what the president says or Democrats say afterward, the world press will read t
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Matt Walsh, Dog Bites Man
Oh, how Comedy Central loves to skewer the media. After finding success parodying national news reporting on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, the new series Dog Bites Man (premiering tonight at 10:30 pm/ET) takes local news to task. Produced by Da Ali G Show's Dan Mazer, the show is a half-scripted, half-improv concoction that follows a f
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Chris Matthews, Hardball
Maybe it's just a coincidence: As President Bush's approval ratings are tanking, Chris Matthews' ratings are surging. Compared to a year ago, the February audiences for his MSNBC show, Hardball, doubled at 5 pm/ET, and the repeat at 7 was up significantly as well. If that's too early for you, Hardball is getting a special repeat airing at 11 pm the week of March 6. Soon the show will be hitting the road to cover the major 2006 races in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The president's misfortunes mean there's a strong chance the House could end up back in the control of the Democrats, making it a compelling year for political junkies. But when it comes to politics, every year is compelling to Matthews, who recently spoke with the Biz.
TVGuide.com: It's been said that President Bush likes the sport of politics — that's what gets his blood pumping. Do you think he cares about low approval ratings or what people think about him now that
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