The secret to Rachel Maddow's ratings success

http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/?last_story=/tech/htww/2008/10/21/rachel_maddow_ratings_success/

The secret to Rachel Maddow's ratings success

The New York Times exclaims today over the huge success of the six-week-old "Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC -- she has more than doubled the ratings of the previous 9 p.m. program -- but doesn't dig deep and tell us why the 35-year-old former AIDS activist is a knockout hit. If we were to judge by the Times article alone, we would be left to think that Maddow was just another partisan newshost lucky enough to be capitalize on the success of Keith Olberman's "Countdown."

I have an alternative theory. Maddow has hitched her train to the amazing television star power of Princeton University professors, and there's simply no stopping her, now.

I've already mentioned Maddow's habit of bringing Paul Krugman on to her show to attempt to translate the latest in geeky TED-spread economist wonkery to her adoring fans. But I did not realize until last night that Maddow has a full-on Princeton faculty fetish!

Like everyone else commenting on the election over the past week, Maddow devoted some time on Monday night to discussing whether or not we should be taking seriously the so-called "Bradley effect" -- the idea that white voters may be telling pollsters that they'll vote for a black candidate, and then change their mind in the secrecy of the polling booth.

But unlike her time-slot competitors, Fox's Hannity & Colmes and CNN's Larry King, Maddow gave ample live screen time to someone who actually knows something about the subject, Melissa Harris-Lacewell, an associate professor of politics and African American Studies at Princeton University. The two courses Harris-Lacewell is teaching this year: "The Politics of American Racial Health Disparities" and "Black Women's Political Activism."

There is much to be dismayed about in the world today. But when featuring Nobel Prize-winning economists and black female academics who specialize in race and politics proves to be a ratings winner on cable television, well then, all is not lost.

:loveya:

Works for me.

:applause:

with her discussions.

In fact, as much as I worship Keith (and I do), I wish he'd spend less time on putting things into categories and just listing them
and more time discussing the issues in depth. That's where he shines, and I think his audience is devoted enough by now
that he can dispense with some of the other stuff.

Rachel is first-rate, and I've been a huge fan since the first time I heard/saw her.

Long live Keith and Rachel, the only two links left to what used to be known as my sanity!

Rachel is so smart and intelligent, we just love watching her.

I listened to her on Air America because I loved her voice and secondarily, I loved what she had to say. She lost none of that in her translation to TV.

Which is something the previous hosts in the 9 PM EST timeslot couldn't do.

Not that she isn't attracting her own viewers (she is), but she is doing a terrific job of holding onto Keith's viewers, which is a credit to her.

:hi:

It's nice here. :)

What a concept.

that last few minutes and she uses experts from reputable papers, books, schools etc. I love her show.

I know she felt BAD when AAR didn't renew his contract...

good one! :thumbsup:

:hi:

She never talks over anyone or tells them to shut up. She is not an "In your face" sort of gal and because of that she is able to get opposing views and honest discussion. She is an inspiration to all.

:loveya: Rachel!

She kind of does some actual research into what is going on. I don't know what the Haters on Faux do - whether they rely on researchers for them - but Rachel does a lot of her own research, reads lots of newspapers, etc.

Mark.

I went to school* there.







*(middle school)

that don't hurt.



simpler explanation is that there is a huge liberal audience out there that has been IGNORED since fox "news" began.

I saw her a while back on an Amy Goodwin program about Hillary's campaign. She is excellent.

It is about time that we had some real thinkers talking on talk shows, right? Geez, what a no brainer that is.

God, I am so happy about this...

Rachel's show is awesome, it gives me something else to watch that I don't have to constantly fact-correct. The fact that she and her guests are all intelligent, insightful people is also a bonus.

Between her, Keith, and the Daily Show, I don't have to watch "regular" TV at all!

1,2,3 combination don't they?

:faint:

and I'm a huge Rachel fan, too.

:wow:
It's been years!
KO and RM rock.
I still tell the Donahue story though.