MSNBC Smackdown: Maddow Vs. Matthews

Media Columnist Jon Friedman Wonders If The Calm Rachel Maddow Will Overshadow Chris Matthews

(MarketWatch)  This commentary was written by MarketWatch media columnist Jon Friedman

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Chris Matthews is still bombastic after all these years.

But I prefer Rachel Maddow's reasoned, analytical style to Matthews' glibness.

It boils down to a matter of whether you prefer the old-school, in-your-face delivery of Matthews or the new breed, personified by the even keel of Maddow.

While flipping the channels immediately after President Obama's speech on the economy Tuesday night, I marveled at how General Electric's MSNBC could manage to pair two such different analysts on the same show.

Let's face it. Any time Keith Olbermann, himself no stranger to preening on television, comes across as the voice of reason, you have to sit up and take notice.

Big challenge

MSNBC is scrambling to find something -- anything -- that will stick to the wall and attract viewers. Its task is exacerbated by two factors: the Fox News Channel juggernaut and the expectations for MSNBC following the election of "its" candidate, President Barack Obama.

Some pundits believed that Obama's victory would translate into a sea change in cable television ratings. The reasoning went like this: A liberal president would help the ratings of the most overtly left-leaning cable news channel -- and take some of the shine off Fox, which had a reputation as the network that gave the Bush White House a home-field advantage.

So far, that hasn't happened. Fox continues to trounce its rivals. In February, Fox has remained at the top of the heap in cable news ratings, where it has been for the past seven years. (Fox, like MarketWatch, the publisher of this column, is a unit of News Corp. )

Smackdown

Following Obama's speech, it became clear that a large part of MSNBC's strategy was to do what it has been doing for the past few years: stress the personalities of its top anchors and give them free rein to riff and wing it.

After Bobby Jindal, the Republican governor of Louisiana, finished his rambling diatribe against the Democrats, Maddow (seen at left) quipped that she was "incapable" of analyzing the address's content because she was so stunned by Jindal's incoherent rant.

Matthews showed that for a moment, at least, he could win me over by giving viewers his well-thought-out analysis. He noted that one of the reasons that Jindal had gotten the Republican's nod to counter Obama, instead of one of the GOP's more established stars, was that the Republicans in Congress were in the hall -- and had been shown supporting Obama's attempt to unify the nation.

When Matthews relaxes and shows off his considerable political knowledge, he is both entertaining and illuminating, a lesson Maddow grasped on day one. Matthews pointed out Tuesday night that Jindal was "running for the outside rail of the Republican Party," hoping to appeal to the most rabid sector of the GOP.

Sophomoric

Yet for MSNBC as a whole, it might help the channel's prospects if its reporters and anchors showed more devotion to explaining the news -- not taking gratuitous shots at people.

It should have embarrassed MSNBC to the core when Matthews admittedly groaned, "Oh God," as Jindal was about to speak.

It was sophomoric of MSNBC's analysts to take a shot at CNN anchor Lou Dobbs during the post-speech analysis as well. Dobbs is an easy target these days because he has traded any semblance of objectivity to cater to his beliefs.

The MSNBC folks were joking about how "steamed" Dobbs gets. Dobbs represents low-hanging fruit if MSNBC, or anyone else, wants to mock him.

I wish MSNBC's journalists would make a stronger attempt to offer keen analysis, not mindless commentary. The network has pretty much tied its fortunes to the political left. And why not? Fox has effectively put a stranglehold on the conservative audience on TV for the past decade or so by tapping a market that the TV world has largely overlooked.

MSNBC has to do more than stand for left plitics if it hopes to capture a bigger share of the ratings pie. If its stars continue to get their jollies by mocking foes, all I can do is groan and say, "Oh God!"

MEDIA WEB QUESTION OF THE DAY: What do you like or dislike about MSNBC?

[fourpatts]

Bush and Cheney are looking better every day...anyone who can make that many liberals angry has to be doing something right.

[plutorocks]

Nazi TV...LOL!

Fox?? Msnbc is so far left its just sad. ALL of their anchors are screaming liberals and you want to call Fox Nazi...

Fair and balanced...Fox far right, msnbc far left....cnn is the closest thing we have to fair and balanced...and they are left of center.

[TPS2]

Mathews', Maddow's and Olberman's shows are carbon copies of one another. Each shows entire hour is dedicated to Bush bashing, conservative/Republican bashing, and name calling."The Worst Person in the World" segment, that is journalism? Where is the news? O'Riley, Maddow, Mathews and Olberman act like spiteful children trying to one up each other. Objective journalism is a thing of the past; honestly does anybody care about the political opinions of these people? What happened to "just the facts?"

[cm5605]

Bottom line is: Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS and all other agencys need to hire real reporters. Get rid of all the news commentators, no one cares what the commentator's opinion of what's being reported is. Just report the news and don't tell us what you think about the story. Leave that at the water cooler.

[cm5605]

It dosen't really matter they both suck, and so does Olberman

[jjudyphill]

Several of the above comments lead me to believe the lies, distortions, out of touch crew on Fox is more YOUR style.

Certainly not the mindset of persons who listen to MSNBC. We are probably more likely to listen to NPR instead of 'Rush Limbaugh' as well.

I do hope you choose to go home to FOX.

[jjudyphill]

What happened to my first comment? Ummmm!

David Schuster, 1600 Penna Ave, Chris Matthews who is witty, intelligent with strong principles is an excellent interviewer AND he does follow-ups. Wonderfully refreshing.

Keith Olberman is a thinker...his Special Comments are right on target. He has interesting guests who are also knowledgeable and principled. Keep it up, Keith.

Rachel Maddow is bright, knows her politics and public affairs. She is also wonderfully expressive. Delighted you are in this time slot. Congratulations on your fairly new position, Rachel.

MSNBC is the ONLY channel I watch on a regular basis - they do the news and enjoy it which means it is enjoyable to the viewers as welll Keep it up, MSNBC. You have an excellent crew.

[jjudyphill]

The evening lineup on MSNBC is the best on the internet. I enjoy Chris Matthews,,,he is an excellent interviewer and is NOT afraid to respond to the guests. This trait is very refreshing. He even does follow-up which is truly remarkable. Congratulations to you, Chris.

Keith Olberman is a thinker...does educational comments sometimes. And has interesting guests who are NOT afraid to express their comments. Thankful for MSNBC.

Rachel Maddow is not only an excellent interviewer with interesting guests but is also an interesting person. Again, thanks to MSNBC.

David Schuster is also very good. Keep up the good shows, David.

MSNBC keeps me glued to the TV from 6-10. Delighted with this group.

[NewsJunkie70]

My first though was why is CBS sitting as judge and jury on the other two. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! I watch CNN, MSNBC, and occasionally FoxNews, but I can't stand O'Reilly smugness and condescending sneer. In weighing the news on each, and doing some fact checking myself, I find the most accurate information on CNN and MSNBC. FoxNews has been guilty of commenting on political situations or news items that have already been proven wrong and gone by the wayside, still ranting about the horror of it! How embarrassing for their colleagues when they are still hung up on old news. Try watching all three, and you will get the balanced news that you want. Nobody does it perfectly, but then God never created any perfect person, even one to work at CBS News.

[edmundsingleton]

It seems that when ever a station see its market share sinking they throw as much crap on the screen as possible; news crawl, time and temperature and animated logos, all of which are a distraction and lend nothing to viewer pleasure...

[enriquecaliente]

Fox News Fair and Balanced.? LOL Give me a break.

More like Nazi TV.

[maryleedg]

I admit I prefer the liberal bias, and Chris Matthews can be obnoxious, but his knowledge is formidable. He does need to listen better and let guests finish.
Rachel is brilliant and thoughtful., as well as informational.
I rarely watch fox, as I consider their info is presented as neutral, when it is obviously not.
Name calling with those one disagrees is immature and insulting, whether from a left or right show host, as WELL as from an e-mail commentor here. marylee

[hankvreeland]

I really don't think Ms. Maddow is going to last. You gotta admit that Mr. Limbaugh is much prettier.

[athena1955]

posted by :boosterprez1 : <<The "even keel" of Rachel Maddow??? You're kidding, right?

Obviously you've never heard her radio show.....

She's vile, loud-mouthed and obnoxious....nothing but a litany of negativity spews from her lips...it's disgusting.... >>

Actually, you have clearly never, ever listened to Rachel Maddow's radio program. I have listened to her on the radio since day one of Air America. I have even paid for the podcasts of her show for years. That you would say what you did shows that you are an obvious liar. Rachel is the most even keeled radio voice out there.
I suspect you are mixing her up with Randi Rhodes.. a fired host of Air America. But, when you clearly only get your information from extreme right winger media, you can't be expected to know any facts whatsoever.

[emperorlotku]

Rachel Madcow is pretty to look at, but has the political analysis capacity of a sophmoric cub newsreporter. She needs to stick to who, what, where, when and why instead of rude insults about the past Administration. She is still very fortunate that she lives in the United States where we had a President that went to war with the scumbags that would never have allowed a female to be a news anchor. No matter what her liberal viewpoints, she still has an obligation to be fair and truthful. Now I realize she went to the Joseph Stalin School of Socialist Journalism,, and her paycheck is from a liberal alternate to FOX news, and her job is to skew the news towards the far left.v That is still no excuse for smarmy, rude behavior. At least Chris Mathews is far more professional and thoughtful about analysis than Rachel Maddow. She's pretty but that's only skin deep, Ugly thoughts and rude behavior go all the way to the bone.

[Kaelinda1]

Uh... can we be civil here, folks? Fox is just as biased to the right as MSNBC is biased to the left. Ya gotta watch both channels to get both sides of the story. Is there a 'fair and balanced' news channel or news show on television any more? I haven't been able to find one.

[tybo321]

What can I say, I'd rather be suffering from the severest pain, Then watch MSNBC, They all suck, espically Olberman's childish antics every night, regarding O'reilley, Matthews, He's a babbling Idiot, Morning Joes Meika is a camera *****, Mitchell is a washed up hag and we can't forget Mr. Politics, David Gregory, who dances like a fool on national TV, To Hillary Duff's music, as I mentioned before, I'd rather have a Migrane then watch MSNBS, I'll get my news from spongebob.

[budmag06]

Oh Chris, what a "thrill runs down my leg" when I see you!!!

[dshutter]

msnbc hosts are no more bias then are fox news.the difference is thier seems to be more Americans that agree with Olbermans views,rather then Orielly

[gmoore243]

Actually, MSNBC is doing quite well, and so are their hosts. It's too bad that Fox hacks like Friedman and O'Reilly are wiling to lie about that fact. Just because you want MSNBC to fail, Friedman, does not meat it is... But think about this: Where is the only T.V. channel people like Friedman, O'Reilly, Limbaugh and Hannity can gather to get their lies and pass it off as legitimate news and information? Answer: Fox News! There are atleast 5 million jerks like them who are willing to turn to that station each day... No wonder you dislike Matthews and Olbermann yet pretend to love Rachel.