A Message to Chris Matthews (aka "Tweety Bird")

[AndyA]

First of all, Chris, I will start off by telling you that I am not a huge fan of yours. Normally, I only catch your show because of the show that follows: Countdown with Keith Olbermann. I turn on MSNBC just to make sure I don't miss the beginning, and that is when I normally watch your show.

I would have to say the most annoying thing about your show, and the thing that really is irritating, is that You won't shut the hell up after you ask a question! So, that means your viewers can't hear the response. Last night, you had Sam Waterston on your show and I didn't hear half of what he said in response to your questions because you were talking over him the whole time.

Not only is this behavior disrespectful to your guests, it's also disrespectful to your viewers. And people don't tune in just to watch you, Chris. If you sat there and bloviated for an hour with no guests, where do you suppose your ratings would be? Lower than they are now for certain, and can you really afford to go lower?

Time and again I've seen you interview someone on your show, and I never really understood what their message was, until I saw them on another show, one where the host actually lets them speak without interrupting them, and I got the message.

Hint: Take some lessons from Keith Olbermann who interacts really well with his guests. You can tell they are relaxed and happy to be on his show. Your guests, Chris, seem frustrated because they can't seem to get a word in.

People don't watch Hardball to see you, Chris. They watch it for your guests and to learn something. Your viewers aren't getting that because you won't shut up.

SO, SHUT UP!

[opihimoimoi]

1. No Shit......I agree....STFU......

[Catherine Vincent]

2. Send it pronto!

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

[Irishonly]

3. Happy to K&R

Even if it didn't exactly need kicking. I always gripe about the same things you are but would also include his unabashed puppy love for De Lay and others. I guess I am a hypocrite because it doesn't bother me when it's someone I like.:D

[butterfly77]

4. Agreed...and

stop spitting all over the guests...

[Little Wing]

5. Not only is his voice annoying, but his loudness has a sound pressure

unmatched by anyone in the business, it makes my ears hurt

[indypaul]

6. Zell Miller was right in this instance. N/T

[flyarm]

7. i could not agree more!!..old drooly..just can not shut his trap!!

last week he was trying to talk so fast over his guest he drooled all over his chin..did anyone else see that..my husband and i were in amazement over the huge drool going down his chin!!!!!!!! and it was all because he was in such a hurry to speak over his guest!!

and last night it was so frustrating to see Sam trying to get a word in..

i can not stand tweety ..and i tune in also, at the end of his show to make sure i am "on Time" for Keith!!..BUT I WOULD RATHER WASH WINDOWS ( ICH!) THAN WATCH THAT DROOLING WASHED UP BLABBERER!!

thanks for your thread!!

fly

[peekaloo]

10. lol

another board I frequent refers to him as old slobber jowls.

:rofl:

[Mark E. Smith]

8. He's become a Giuliani shill

Maybe they share a similar taste in dresses.

[moonladyoregon]

9. Tucker and Joe too

They both do the same thing....it is SO annoying. Why have a panel when no one gets to answer the question or finish a comment? I hate it!!!!

I watch Tweety now and then, Joe more often for some perverse reason I don't quite get, but Tucker makes me want to jump through the TV and strangle his puny little ass.

I suppose it's a "pundit" model that needs to die!

[flordehinojos]

11. tweety knows what he is doing. he sabotages any pro-democracy, anti-bush, anti fascism guests.

He did it to Anne Lewis last Friday. She ended up saying, "how long have we spent talking about" "instead of talking about the issues."

the tweety man was very unhappy with anne's comment and he ended her time right then ... whether it was already at an end of not. he did not allow her to talk about any issue related matter.

[UTUSN]

12. Plus, he needs to register as a lobbyist or something if he's pulling for certain candidates

O.K., I realize "lobbyist" is not the correct category, but he is ACTIVELY, OVERTLY shilling for (Saint Rudy THIS week, McCAIN other weeks).

He's not a reporter. He's a partisan OPERATIVE.

Fwhy, Tweety Pie!!1 FWHY!!1 Be FWEE!!1

[wiggs]

13. No one tunes in to Hardball to "learn something". The formula they use

has to do with the host creating either anger or vindication...and Matthews switches between both. It IS about the host and polarization.

I think he's an irresponsible, immoral vampire sucking the life from public discourse...not unlike Coulter, Hannity, Malkin, Condi's Fox guys, etc. except that he's not waterboy 100% of the time...just 75% of the time.

They like it when progressives are outraged and talking about them...that's the point. I'd just as soon do them no favors....there are other talk show hosts that deserve the attention.

[bear425]

14. I usually catch the last couple minutes after I switch from watching

Jeopardy. I, like you, don't want to miss a minute of Countdown with Keith. Last night I was thinking the same thing. I couldn't hear a word Sam Waterston was saying for Tweety's blathering over him.

[checks-n-balances]

15. Agreed 100% - but good luck getting him to STFU, because

I think he knows that the more bizarre and irritating his behavior, the more likely he'll be lampooned on SNL. It's obvious that he absolutely LIVES for the opportunity to showcase those clips on Hardball.

He looks like he's having fun a lot of the time, but that often means that it comes at the expense of truth and the real issues.

I catch myself yelling at him on the TV to "shut up and let your guest talk!!!!"

[Canuckistanian]

16. He doesn't get the "inter" part of "interview"

And interview with Tweety is a "monoview".