From TVNewser:
“Michael Smerconish’s MSNBC try-out has been extended through Friday.
The simulcast was originally set for Monday through Wednesday. Now it’s running all week, Dan Gross says.
MSNBC says a variety of fill-in hosts will be appearing in the 6 to 9am time slot in the weeks to come. An NBC tipster says Tony Kornheiser is the next host, but MSNBC won’t confirm it…“
Interesting that Kornheiser would be considered for such a role. Would he be able to balance working Monday Night Football and Pardon the Interruption with a hosting gig on MSNBC? Would he host from Washington, DC?
More importantly, is Kornheiser controversial enough for such a role? Does he have enough clout to attract major political players? Considering that he seems to have a more liberal viewpoint, would he be welcomed by viewers? The only opinionated liberal on cable news is Keith Olbermann and — while he does well for MSNBC — he is occasionally defeated in the 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM timeslot by Nancy Grace of Headline News.
Kornheiser’s brand of humor may be caustic, but he does not seem to have strong enough, controversial enough opinions to be a good fit and cut through all the morning cable news clutter. Someone like Jason Whitlock might be a better fit, considering his divisive opinions on race and culture, but he has already turned down an offer to replace Imus. Kornheiser is not nearly as divisive as Whitlock or Michael Smerconish; unlike people of their ilk, one is not likely to hear Kornheiser refer to Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson as “terrorists” or hear him suggest that killer Cho Seung-Hui simply wasn’t “hooking up enough“.
And that is to his credit.
Obviously, he is only being considered for a fill-in role, and in all likelihood, this will either fall through or be very temporary. However, the idea is intriguing.
