Howard Dean guest hosts Countdown Tues & Wed

Tomorrow and Wednesday, former Vermont governor and Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean will guest host Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

Expect a lot of health care talk as Dean is the author of "Howard Dean's Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform." The question: will there be opposing viewpoints during his healthcare segments?

Sitting in tonight is Lawrence O'Donnell. Richard Wolffe guest hosts Thursday and Friday. Olbermann is back next week.

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/howard_dean_to_fill_in_on_countdown_122702.asp

I'm in a bit of KO withdrawal but a heckuva lineup of hosts this week - good luck Howard - take no Repuke or Blue Dog prisoners!

Now to figure out who the dipstick ("Donnie"?) that was on this afternoon with Tamron Hall instead of David Schuster. Whoever it was was obnoxious and Tamron kept having to shut him down.

First, CNBC exile Dylan Ratigan got two hours of MSNBC's morning programming, now Donny Deutsch is bookending dayside as he fills in this week for vacationing David Shuster on the 4-6pmET block.

About whether this may lead to more permanent anchor role, an MSNBC insider says not to read too much into it. Deutsch often appears on Morning Joe as well. Deutsch's CNBC show "The Big Idea" was shelved in December.

By the way, how many Ad men and women on Madison Avenue do you think know who Donny Deutsch is? As part of the hit Web show "The Week in Advertising," AgencySpy's intern Ryan hit the street to find out. Video after the jump (after the sex talk).

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/msnbc/donny_deutsch_anchoring_on_msnbc_122756.asp#more

He got his start in advertising. He got in to a row with Coulter a couple of years ago when she made a comment on his show about Jews needing to "get perfected."

...but wasn't sure if Duetsch was his last name.

Daytime, I don't turn to MSNBC until Tamron Hall and David Schuster come on at 3 PM ET - I like their interplay and coverage. But if they keep putting on CNBC jerks, I'll be watching more and more other stuff. Today I even watched cooking shows for a while, Paula Deen while Matthews had "Uncle Pat" on.

Oh well, if they don't care to cater to their viewers, the viewers will go elsewhere.

And that's been happening a lot lately. Got up one morning last week, turned on the tube, and had the great misfortune to see Erin Burnett sitting next to Matt Lauer on "Today."

Don't have a last name for this dude, but Donnie rings some bells.

ON EDIT: I am looking forward to seeing Lawrence O'Donnell tonight. I like him. A lot.

When MSNBC has the unwatchables on.

I haven't heard. Is he sick?

It is summer when a lot of people go on vacation for a week or two.

at a few baseball games.

where he was celebrating his nephew's birthday. He also went to the Hall of Fame inductions last weekend. So heck, he's having a summer break.