Robin Red

Watching Stephanie Ruhle as this is her first week anchoring MSNBC Live at 9AM and today's episode was good. I was wondering how she'd be as she been a bit reserved during the first few weeks on Weekend Today. She's certainly got quite a personality and I like it.

I have high hopes for Steph and hopefully she can be a catatlyst in turning MSNBC around and they will more like a Bloomberg network then a wannabe Fox News network. I wonder though, how will she fit in on Weekend Today cause I can't see Shenielle leaving unless they promote her to the third hour of revamped Today show once Billy Bush signs on.

I just saw Erica Hill anchoring with Don Lemon on CNN. She has literally come full circle.

We will see how she does on CNN, in reality she should've gone to local news to save herself the agony of always changing jobs cause it seems to me her career as always been about starting all over again then building up her journalistic reputation. Since she has a little following going back to her CNN days we will see how she does. At 40 years old network anchor jobs come fewer for women, consider herself blessed for another opportunity.

Wait so Shienelle is the female co-anchor? I thought she was to remain newsreader while Stephanie replaced Erica as anchor?

Yeah, Sheinelle is the main anchor and Stephanie is the newsreader. I think they did that cause they don't want viewers to think that they pushed Erica out for Stephanie. Erica was let out of her contract and NBC did not want renew it, she was not pushed out.

Today is Stephanie Rule's first day on air at MSNBC.

 

[MEDIA=twitter]747393941830410240[/MEDIA]

 

She's currently anchoring the 9 am hour.

 

Also does anyone know why Stephanie would be sitting in Sheneille's chair and not the main anchor chair (Kate Snow was) even tho Stephanie is main CO-anchor

 

http://www.today.com/video/today-anchors-put-their-shark-knowledge-to-the-test-712696387936

Shenielle is the main anchor and Stephanie is the newsreader. Kate Snow is the veteran and the Sunday Nightly News anchor, she can't be the newsreader. I have a feeling that Stephanie will be elevated pretty quickly, she came from Bloomberg as a business reporter so she has a lot to contribute to NBC News.

While they are at promote Betty Ngygen to the daytime lineup on MSNBC as a fill in or newsreader.

Today show is very confident, they think they can reclaim the ratings once the Olympics start. We will see what happens. I do believe the sources, Lara has been the hurting the ratings at GMA but I don't think she will lose her job unless they move her over to Kelly Ripa show or The View.

Your points are valid but I'm not so sure that I'm going to cast blame on GMA or Today. I think we're just witnessing a major shift in the audiences demand for these programs. Keep in mind Good Morning America and Today have both built empires off of a format that values personalities and lifestyle segments over news. ABC tried to be more newsier once and they suffered some of their worst ratings ever. The audience is looking for something more thought provoking and CBS is filling the void, the others are catching on to that and will begin to shift soon enough. GMA has already been giving us a taste of what's probably likely to come with Robin, George and Michael leading the show.

I do think the personalities are to blame, they are the faces of these shows and they are the ones who decide to act the way to act. There is only so much you can blame the director. The last 10 years there has been change on how these personalities carry themselves. Today show moreso has been suffering cause they value the personality too much and they create anchor monsters. It has been documented with the scandal of Ann Curry's firing how cutthroat and ego driven these personalities can be. I was talking to a person who handles tv contracts and she told me that most of these tv personalities are so insecure and worry about job security that they end up turning on each other if you don't keep them in line. That has been the problem with media these days is that turn to anchors into thinking that they are stars and they wind up making the news and distracting the viewers away from the real star which is the news. People are so disenchanted with media and tv anchors but CBS This Morning has channeled that disenchantment and used it to speak to their audience.

The newsreader position is going to be gone. As much people trying to downplay, CBS This Morning really shaped the way Today and GMA is changing. Just two years ago, it was all about soft news but now everyone is focusing on hard news. I still think CBS is going to become a second place finisher in the near future.

I agree with you, I think people just want to be informed and tired of being pandered too and having their intelligence insulted. GMA and Today show has become too much of a circus show, then a news show. GMA/Today have been to centered on personalities/celebrities and less on making the news a priority. GMA/Today show have a myopic view of looking at the world,they are trapped in that Fifth Avenue/Beverley Hills mentality of all about their worlds and they don't reflect the rest of America. CBS This Morning speaks to it's national audience they don't give off an air of being elitist but making sure the audience stays informerd. I hope CBS This Morning finishes second place and eventually becomes first place.

I've noticed that too... It's hard for me to see them mess with the Matt/Savannah chemistry... I heard that after Natalie leaves there will be no replacement for her, the main 7-9am team will just be Matt, Savannah and Al.

Has anyone noticed that Weekend Today has been using a 3 anchor format? Could we possibly see this on the weekday after Natalie leaves?

It is due to the response of the rise of CBS This Morning which has 3 anchor people. CBS TM is the biggest dark horse and viewers are tuning more to CBS . Having seven people at one table is just cluster mess . People don't need weather people on the Today show anymore cause people can get their weather through their local stations and weather apps. They can also cut costs by getting rid of the weather person and turn to the resources of the Weather Channel and the affliate people. Instead of getting Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer to cover the weather. I always believe that Al and Dylan have glorified welfare jobs on the Today show. Once Natalie Morales moves on to her new job, I don't think we will see the newsreader anymore.

So Dylan Dreyer also announced her pregnancy on the today show

Congrats to Dylan!

Seriously what is your issue with Erica? And what do you mean she never paid her dues?

I think the issue (which I don't have any) is that she started out a at PC Week Radio, then went to Tech TV as a producer, then reporter and finally as an anchor (including 9/11) for a few years. She went to HLN and did odd anchoring jobs, transferred to Newsource, had her own show, provided news updates to AC360. This brings us to CBS' The Early Show / This Morning and most recently Today and MSNBC.

 

She may not have the traditional career path of working up the markets but given her background in technology she got a leg up when TechTV started news. She obviously did well there to be offered a position with CNN - and she worked her way up the ranks. After seven years at CNN she was on for a challenge but unfortunately she went to CBS which at the time sucked ratings wise and she was brought in as a fix.

No issue people are too thinned skin but I know the business pretty well, I don't know if she has an agent but it is just how she keeps transfering job after job not bringing in any results to warrant why she keeps getting these jobs unless she is freelancer who is used to save money and HLN gave her a good contract. If she had any particular value then these networks would have kept her, there is a reason why NBC let her go and so did CBS and I speculate that maybe she is a freelancer and when she was on NBC had a part time contract.

I was thinking the same thing. I use to be a big fan of Tamron but not too much as of lately. She's always giddy and grinning for no apparent reason at all. I still holding out hope HODA will become the anchor one day but I think Savannah is going to be there for years to come. The only announcement I'm waiting for is for Matt Lauer and Al Roker to finally step down and leave. They have worn out their welcome.

Congrats to Savannah and I agree, just waiting for the day until Matt and Al are out of there. The just remind me of the bad culture that was permeated at NBC which lead to Ann's firing.

Follow-up regarding Hill. She won't be at NBC for long.

 

TVNewser stated this morning that's she's returning to HLN. She'll also contribute on the CNN shows.

This lady jumps on more networks then most pro-athletes who jump on different teams. It's is pretty sad how she keeps jumping around like that and she never paid her dues to get these jobs. Being on HLN I don't think she should consider promotion it is not a upward mobility to a good career, this seems like a waste of time for HLN which is stagnating in the ratings.They should change their program into Court TV instead of creating a CNN II which people won't watch unless they do a second Jody Arias trial. If the ratings don't come in which network can she go to now.

Follow-up regarding Hill. She won't be at NBC for long.

 

TVNewser stated this morning that's she's returning to HLN. She'll also contribute on the CNN shows.

Talk about someone who never paid their dues.

Andy Lack and the strategy makes sense. If you want to push MSNBC more in the hard news direction in the daytime (which I think is the right idea), aligning it closely with NBC News makes a lot of sense.

MSNBC and NBC once upon a time were closely aligned before it started leaning ultra left. I think the new MSNBC is no different from the old ultra left MSNBC the only difference is that they got more NBC reporters covering the network. The culture still remains the same with leftists like Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews etc. Old MSNBC back in early 00's had better talent and direction, the new MSNBC talent are average, the best people have been female correspondents covering the election.

Brian Williams is bad to watch on MSNBC, he takes 30 seconds to make a point when it can be done in 10 seconds.

have they finally named a male co anchor for saturday or is it presumed craig?

Craig Melvin is probably the host but I do think they still have a rotation male anchor team cause Craig Melvin still works for MSNBC.

Max Robinson was the first African American to be an evening anchor. Yes it was more of a rotation anchor team but he was technically the first. I will say that I don't see anything wrong with Roberts claiming to be the first openly gay man to anchor an evening network broadcast (even though there some discrepancy about that but that's another story).

Max Robinson was the first African American to be an evening anchor. Yes it was more of a rotation anchor team but he was technically the first. I will say that I don't see anything wrong with Roberts claiming to be the first openly gay man to anchor an evening network broadcast (even though there some discrepancy about that but that's another story).

Max Robinson is the first but he was co-anchor not a solo news anchor and eventually Peter Jennings took over and Max Robinson was demoted to weekend anchor. Lester Holt is the first solo African American evening news anchor and the first African American evening news anchor to ever host Nightly News and Dateline.

A lot of this drama from the View started cause they hired actors/comedians to be part of the panel instead of educated women. They need to go back to basics and get some educated people who know what they are talking about on the program.

Keep Paula Faris, promote Mara Schivicampo, Nancy Grace (she brings in an audience), Sarah Silverman (for laughter/breaking the ice)

Any Today Show news come out of the Upfronts today?

Billy Bush will more than likely be the new host of the third 3rd.

Outside of NBC, there are rumors that Billy Bush might be Matt Lauer's replacement.

Sorry, but your comments are coming off to me as paranoid and slightly homophobic. I've yet to see any proof that Roberts has some "agenda" to push is "gay agenda" over the airwaves or secretly overthrow Lester. Careful how he presents himself? Roberts isn't some stereotypical flamboyant, Modern Family-like, Ru Paul's Drag Race-like gay person. He's a reporter doing his job.

 

Anderson Cooper never used his sexuality to push agendas because Cooper has no agenda to push. Roberts promoted himself as the first gay man to anchor a broadcast (big point there) evening newscast because he is and he took pride in that, so what? It's not like he won't shut the hell up about it. Lester is the first black man to anchor a broadcast evening newscast and Katie Couric was the first woman. Other people made a big deal out of it, even if they themselves did not.

 

I assure you, if Roberts starts acting "too gay" on TV, or viewers start complaining about it, he and NBC News will know and do something about it.

 

It's much ado about nothing. Get back to me when Kim Kardashian starts reporting or anchoring news!

You should really get with the times. This comes off as ignorant and homophobic.

I want him to be pushed for his credibility and how good he is and not because of a quota or cause he is gay. It is not homphobic, it is common sense never wearing who you are on your sleeve and staying professional.

Look at the links and headlines I put on my post. First gay evening news anchor, don't care really as long as you are good in your profession and have the background to back up why he got the spot. At least with Anderson Cooper he established him first and never wore his sexuality on his sleeve climbing up the ladder. It is about avoiding agenda and NBC has a bad enough rep for being an agenda setting network.

Seems to be a bit of an over-reaction here...I highly doubt Roberts (or anyone else) is trying to step on Lester's toes or has some type of agenda. A number of different people have subbed for Lester, so what??? Good grief, NBC News has a pretty solid team, so if Roberts subs (for Lester) more often than Snow, Smith or anyone else, it shouldn't be a big deal. Is he not qualified or something? What am I missing?

What indication do you have that Thomas is only filling in for Lester to "fill a quota"?

It is his optics and promotion that needs to be handled carefully. Thomas Roberts is a good reporter and anchor but optics is important espcially appealing to a national audience . Anderson Cooper never used his sexuality push agendas but Roberts is openly gay and promoted himself as the first gay man to anchor an evening newscast. Sometimes when people put quotas on you there is often pressure to make it an agenda. Evening newscast is a different platform then cable news, so he has to be careful with how he presents himself especially towards evening viewers who only care about the news and credibility of the anchor.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/thomas-roberts-hosts-nbc-nightly-809767

http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/msnbcs-thomas-roberts-discusses-coming-out-with-metrosource/282041

http://www.advocate.com/media/2015/07/18/watch-reporting-tonight-thomas-roberts-first-out-gay-man-anchor-network-news

I'm thinking more along the lines that he should earn any such position on merit, no matter if gay or straight. It's insulting to him and the viewers to try and just fill a quota. He's got the potential to move up on talents, alone.

He should earn the respect of viewers by his merit and nothing else cause people won't care what you are as long as you stay professional and do your job. If you use to platform to push yourself to be a certain quota and agenda then people won't like that.

Is Thomas Roberts going to be Lester's fill in anchor during the weekdays. I respect Thomas Roberts, good presentation but they need to be careful with how they push him as well,ever since Lester took over, everybody is trying to be get their name out there for demographics and become the first so on. What made Lester Holt good is that he never had an agenda or wanted to push anything towards people which is one factors in why people trust him. Cause anytime you go on national news anchoring a major broadcast, the vetting needs to go up to avoid another Brian Williams mistake. He is gay but his sexuality is not the main issue it is how he will use his platforming and hopefully him being gay won't make him someone pushing an agenda. He is fine on cable news but evening news anchor is the top tier job in that industry. Evening news anchor is broadcasted to wide variety of people with and viewers want an evening news anchor as someone who has no agenda and overall very neutral. If they need a second tier fill in then focus on Kate Snow cause she has no agenda from what I have seen and has been there longer.

Interesting article in InTouch Magazine about why Natalie is really going west! Apparently at one point met with ABC Executives about possibly joining ABC.

 

There were reports back in late 2014 about Tension between Natalie and Tamron.

 

http://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/natalie-morales-today-nbc-101761

Apparently Billy Bush is being groomed to replace Matt Lauer.

http://pagesix.com/2016/05/08/is-billy-bush-the-next-matt-lauer/

I used to like Tamron Hall before she became part of Today show but ever since she joined she has gotten too full of herself and it shows on the camera. When they are doing the third hour, she always wants to lead the conversation or become the center of attention. I am sure Natalie wanted out as well cause she has a stand sill job as the newsreader. If the drama is true, I am glad that they are tearing down the 3rd hour. If Billy Bush is their annointed one to replace Matt Lauer then he will move pretty quickly to the first two hours. I think Willie Geist will devoted his energy to the Sunday show. Al Roker might retire in the next couple of years. I think Tamron Hall has gotten to big for her britches so reduced her camera time. Let Hoda Kob fill in during the 3rd hour.

Nightly News is coming from DC tonight in the newsroom. The broadcast was unremarkable except for the fact that one toss came from the MSNBC studio. Lester was standing between the monitor wall and the desk and when it was over he was back in the newsroom. It just seemed out of place from the whole show.

I think that Lester was in a newsroom instead of a elaborate studio, they probably prop up the newsroom to accomodate Lester when he is doing the broadcast. In my opinion, if Lester is now the anchor and he said that likes taking the broadcast on the road then their bureaus should develop studio space to accomodate Nightly News. When Lester is anchoring from LA, they have the studio designed for the Nightly News broadcast. The same thing goes for their DC, Chicago and London bureaus.

Your right. I was basing it off of his Twitter bio and the fact he anchored for three or four weeks straight.

I think that there is a rotation team on the weekends, I think Kate Snow permanently has Sunday but on Saturdays, they rotate the anchors.

I think they should have used the MTP set tonight because NN and MTP's set bare noticeable similarities. The presence of heavy wood tones, projected walls and monitor walls would have made a much better match for tonight's broadcast.

They can't do that cause it will change the mood of the broadcast. When people tune it they might think Lester is on Meet The Press instead of Nightly News. You don't want to get viewers paniking and thinking that Lester has changed positions.

Erica was demoted from Weekend Today and had to take a massive pay cut to stay at NBC. She's not getting out ok weekday Today.

Sheinelle doesn't have the gravitas they want for the 9am hour.

Kelly Ripa is currently getting paid insane amounts of money to host 5 hours of random yapping a week. Plus if she wanted to do the network morning show, she would have accepted GMA when they offered it to her.

They only possible scenario of yours could be Dylan, if they are looking to ease her in to eventually replace Al, but also make her more palatable other than just weather (a la Ginger Zee.)

Billy Bush can bring in his own people from Access Hollywood to become part of the 9am hour. Erica Hill does not have any gravitas to host any show, she is better off staying at MSNBC and just read the news. Shenille, has hosted long programs before, she was hit in Philadelphia. I think they should give her an audition, Dylan Dryer they are trying to feel her around. She is trying to make herself more well rounded by interviewing celebs, Dylan's problem is that she is not naturally smooth as Ginger Zee, which might be a problem in the long run. Dylan is cute and technically in her prime, which is what she has going for her. II have a feeling that the weather person on the Today show will be non-existent in the next something years. Nowadays people don't need weather people to tell them the news when they can go on their apps and get the weather.

I also enjoy Natalie, and would rather see Al and maybe Matt go. But I don't foresee her continuing in the newsreader capacity from the west coast. She would come on air at 4am PT, plus have AH to do. Doesn't seem likely.

It has been rumored that Matt Lauer may possibly leave after the election. I hope that is true cause this sounds very similar to what he did a four years ago to try to angle for more money. He scapegoated Ann has the ratings disaster and used his leverage to get more money so the network can keep him.

Wonder who will replace Natalie as newsreader? I'm guessing Tamron will. Al needs a new role. He's become boring and stale. Will Natalie host AH solo or with Kit Hoover? Will Natalie also co-host the spinoff AHLive?

I am guessing Tamron Hall or Shenielle Jones on the weekends. I can take so much of Tamron Hall she has lost all her likability factor.

Al Roker has become boring but also the rise of Dylan Dryer she is getting more camera time and doing roles that typically Al Roker does like interview celebs. Even though I like Dylan, I think the new work is a little bit above her head. I don't think she will have the versatility of a Ginger Zee even though NBC is trying to make her more like a Ginger Zee type.