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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MSNBC marks its 10th year on the air this summer, but there isn't a lot to celebrate. Even with the muscle of NBC News behind it, the cable news network has lagged in third place behind Fox News Channel and CNN in recent years. The powers that be at 30 Rock hope to jump-start the operation with the surprising appointment of Dan Abrams as its new general manager. The network legal correspondent and host of The Abrams Report will run the day-to-day operation and report to Phil Griffin, a senior executive at NBC News who also keeps his eye on Today. The Biz talked to Abrams, son of well-known First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams, about his new job behind the camera.
TVGuide.com: So how was that first day?Dan Abrams: A lot of phone calls. A lot of interviews. But also a lot of walking around. I'm trying to make it cl
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