Rachel Maddow: Voice of America (UK Guardian, of course)

By cutting across the grain of US cable news, the sober-minded liberal pundit has become the best talkshow host in America



Rachel Maddow first came on my radar in the spring of 2004, when she, along with Lizz Winstead and Chuck D of Public Enemy hosted an early morning radio show called Unfiltered on the newly minted Air America, an attempt to counter rightwing talk radio with liberal programming.

Radio has this ability to make the listener feel like they share a secret with the hosts and the few, hard-to-know listeners out there. I hoped people tuned in to listen to the hosts trade jokes and talk about politics and music, and mostly I wanted other people to learn about this Maddow character, who brought to every episode a dynamic mix of sparkling good humour, intelligent analysis and a broad view of what issues should matter.

...

Maddow's audience is still small, but she inspires devotion in her fans, because she doesn't fit the tedious mould of most political talkshow hosts. Maddow openly identifies with the wild world of the liberal blogosphere, and even went so far as to wear pajamas on her show to cheekily demonstrate solidarity with bloggers after Palin denounced the netroots.

Like bloggers, Maddow knows that the key to building rapport with your audience isn't making yourself into an aloof portrayal of authority, but to show your human side and sense of humour. To this end, Maddow lets her idiosyncrasies become known, such as her obsession with classic cocktails.

But what really endears her to American liberals is the way she takes her job and the authority it gives her seriously. Maddow is less interested in the shouting fests that dominate most cable news and instead favours in-depth interviews with experts who are permitted to show their expertise on air without being interrupted. Hers may be the only show on cable news were feminists come on air to speak their minds without being paired off with belligerent sexists who dominate the conversation by yelling over their points.

But Maddow isn't opposed to fair-mindedness. She often brings on conservatives for the same kind of in-depth interviews, and even when she strongly disagrees, she always gives them a chance to air their views (and generally hang themselves with those views). Her show is the exact opposite of Bill O'Reilly's show. Where he cuts people off for saying things he doesn't like, Maddow digs in deeper.

MORE...


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/oct/09/rachel-maddow-television-talkshow

What she offers is so badly needed in the wider public concourse.

Catching it later on the net won't work if she's taken off.

Sure, Americans watch too much TV. But 2 hours on weekdays for Oberman and Maddow are reasonable.

We can't complain if we don't support the only network that has a consistent, collective rational voice.

:hi:

I don't have cable and have to watch her online.

I refuse to support the cable industry.

Ratings are counted by the AC Neilsen company using boxes attached to participant's TV sets. It doesn't monitor your computer thus the webhit doesn't go toward her ratings. I'm sure NBC keeps track of people who view videos online, but that's not included in her overall viewing totals.

Times have changed and a lot of us select a few things to watch on line instead of paying for cable.

With the convergence of technology, the day is shortly coming where computer, TV, phone, radio and email is all in one unit...be it a handheld PDA or a large screen.

The problem with online is it isn't as valuable as a "live body"...networks don't make much money on their sites and advertisers can't fill a webcast with ads like a live broadcast. If and when the networks find a way to make money off their online, then you'll see the ratings or views matter.

is only available on more expensive Cogeco cable TV....

Bell Dish TV is way cheaper, but has no MSNBC at all in their line-up.

Fox, of course, is everywhere.. :(

Congratulations Rachel Maddow.

so there's no excuse to miss her shows.

...I REFUSE to pay for cable TV - it's not worth the 2-3 shows I'd watch and I don't like feeding the lame$tream media machine - I DO watch them both on YouTube/online.

the alternatives.

I can hardly believe it...I love her, NEVER miss her, and would gladly fly half way across the country to protest in front of 30 Roc should MSNBC seriously consider dropping her.

Part of this is due to last year's high viewing numbers surrounding the elections. The only network that is up is faux due to it being the lone refuge for the dead-enders.

far more stations than msnbc and cnn...and this has been going on for years...the same with radio...I live in a rural area and all we get on radio is limpballs, country and western music and religion...I think that is why rural regions are so right wing..

We love you, Rachel!!!