Rosie in Talks to Host MSNBC Show

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has suggested voters are “seeing two different realities, a Sean Hannity reality and a Keith Olbermann reality”—and he’s right, Howard Kurtz writes in the Washington Post. "Adored by fans and derided by critics," Fox's Hannity is an unapologetic John McCain booster, while Olbermann uses his MSNBC pulpit to promote Obama. More»

Money issues sink negotiations for prime-time cable gig

(NEWSER) - Talks between MSNBC and Rosie O'Donnell, the outspoken ex-host of ABC's "The View," about a potential prime-time talk show have broken down, the Los Angeles Times reports. The main point of contention was money, with O'Donnell demanding network-TV coin from the cable news station. O'Donnell confirmed that the deal was dead on her blog last night. More»

Execs thrilled as new host grabs for Larry King's crown

(NEWSER) - Rachel Maddow has made MSNBC a prime-time contender with dizzying speed, the New York Times reports. The liberal pundit's Rachel Maddow Show more than doubled the network's ratings in the 9 pm slot within days of its debut six weeks ago, and has beaten CNN's Larry King Live among viewers ages 25 to 54 more often than not. More»

O'Donnell dishes as she buries hatchet with Howard Stern

(NEWSER) - Shoot-from-the-lip comedian Rosie O'Donnell had plenty to say about her acrimonious last days on The View when she called up Howard Stern to bury the hatchet with the shock jock, MSNBC reports. O'Donnell told Stern that producers threatened to sue when she told them she was leaving. But ABC insiders denied O'Donnell's take on events. More»

Host faces mammoth task as show begins tonight, writes Brian Stelter

(NEWSER) - Tonight, Piers Morgan takes over Larry King’s time slot—but he won’t take on King’s style. Morgan is "in many ways the anti-King," writes Brian Stelter for the New York Times : "obnoxious, obsessively prepared, and eager to tape his interviews in advance as often as he can"—so clips can get as much buzz as possible. One example of his brasher approach: In an interview to air Tuesday, he asks Howard Stern if he’s "just a domesticated little pussycat" who’s "physically impaired." Stern, ready to talk, replied, "I’m not sure how much you can get into this. CNN’s a little uptight." Morgan's response? "Let’s try it." More»