Interesting blurb on TVnewser.com re: MSNBC, & re: tonight

Though it may raise more questions than it answers:

Aftermath: "Skeleton Staff" At MSNBC?

"While MS & NBC people continue to do outstanding work, it is taking a huge toll on the skeleton staff at MSNBC," a tipster says. "The hiring freeze means there are dozens of open positions and the burn out is overwhelming. If MSNBC continues this kind of coverage, you will see it get increasingly sloppy. The producers just can't keep up. But it's not like there is anyone noticing. was busy EP'ing that telethon and no one has replaced Griffin or Perlmutter. It's just falling apart." Can anyone confirm?...

In the meantime, they're running ads on MSNBC for "Countdown" tonight, and Abrams just came on. Maybe...just maybe...we'll get lucky.

divorce? It's not unusual for companies that are about to sell off parts of themselves to decide they no longer want to pump money into what they're selling. Sometimes that makes sense, sometimes it doesn't. You can underfund your for-sale item to the extent that it no longer fetches an attractive price. Maybe they thought bringing Rita on board would either bail them out or up the price tag. Makes you wonder about their list of prospective buyers...

E-mailer responses to the MSNBC "skeleton staff" post:

> "I can confirm that the MSNBC rumor. It looks like a ghost town around here. People are at their breaking point from overwork and there is no relief in sight for them. I'm amazed that they've been able to keep it together this long. No one seems to know what anyone else is doing or what's going on around here. There is no one overseeing the big picture. we need HELP."

> "Your other e-mailer is right on a couple points -- but to say that our work is going to "get increasingly sloppy' is unfair. Some people aren't happy that they had to give up Labor Day weekend -- but they shouldn't be in news if they want weekends and holidays off. The staff isn't by any means skeleton -- and MOST people here are very upbeat. I hope you'll share that end of the story."

> "Your 'aftermath' at MSNBC misses the mark. Not only did Kaplan EP that telethon, which kept him out of the loop for all of last week, but then he was gone all weekend and today. The idea that this place has leadership is ludicrous. The primetime EP's are doing a great job, but they are making it up as they go. there is NOBODY in charge ... NOBODY!!!"

at a moment's notice.