MSNBC pays $5 million per year for "tonally inaccurate but factually true" TWEETY?

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/television/nyt_mag_on_matthews_the_excerpts_81956.asp#more



Patrick Gavin at FishbowlDC has obtained an advance copy of this coming Sunday's New York Times Magazine, which features a long, juicy profile of Chris Matthews by Mark Leibovich. In the piece, Matthews admits that MSNBC executives forced him to apologize for sexist remarks against Hillary Clinton and speculates that he would be an inviting target for a propaganda kidnapping, which is why he won't visit Syria.

The profile also reveals Matthews' deep job insecurity: his contract expires next year and "NBC officials seem bent on conveying the message that they could get the same ratings, or better ones, for considerably less" than the $5 million per year he gets now. Matthews is particularly suspicious of David Gregory, who is commonly perceived to be auditioning to be is replacement.

Leibovich also writes that "Matthews craves Russert's approval like that of an older brother, but that "Russert can be disdainful of Matthews, whose act he often sees as clownish....Russert believes Matthews is something of a loose cannon who brings him undue headaches in his capacity as NBC's Washington bureau chief."

Matthews says the notion that he is sexist has been pushed unfairly by blogs, women's groups and, to some degree, the Clinton campaign. His remark that Clinton benefitted because her husband "messed around" triggered much outrage from the Clinton team. Matthews eventually apologized in a rambling on-air explanation, but he hardly sounds contrite now. "I was tonally inaccurate but factually true," he told me. I had asked him earlier if he was forced into the apology. "Oh, yeah, of course I was forced into that," he said, laughing. "No, no, no .... Phil asked me to do that."

[JeffR]

1. Tweety looks up to Timmeh

That pretty much is the official print obituary for the legitimacy of television news, right there.

[SpiralHawk]

8. Excuse my projectile vomiting

Timmy a model? Maybe a model for an aspiring republicon butt-kiss propaganda spokesmodel. But that's about all...

[TheUniverse]

2. Im surprised they pay him so much considering his ultra low ratings.

How is it that he is the only one who has survived for a decade on MSNBC despite his horrible ratings. Does Keith Olbermann make more than him?

[RB TexLa]

3. depends on what their demographics are. Age, income, area of the country

if you've got people advertisers want watching your numbers can be low and you can still be very profitable. Works on cable, network television thinks every night they have to try to have an hour that draws however million put them in the top five or so slot.

[Thepricebreaker]

4. no.. He has VERY poor ratings period.. he doesnt break 200k people.. usually...

[Junkdrawer]

6. ...or he, like Limbaugh, could be a highly paid propagandist...

Oh, wait, they don't exist....it's ALL market driven...

I forgot...

[mitchum]

16. Bingo!

You are correct

[Berry Cool]

5. It's never been stated publicly how much Keith is making under his new contract

that runs through 2011. It is known, however, that he was asking for somewhere around $5 mil. Even if he doesn't make that much, he's close to Tweety in terms of how much he makes. He's been able to ask for more, while Tweety, if he stays next year, will have to settle for less, and everyone will now know it.

I predict Tweety will leave for CBS and Face the Nation next year, rather than be perceived as the old toothless lion of MSNBC desperately begging to be allowed to stay around because he's cheaper than King Keith. His ego wouldn't be able to take that.

[Supersedeas]

20. notice the quality of his guests continue to slump--recirculating MSNBC commentators instead of

experts

[KharmaTrain]

7. Tweety Better Be Polishing Up That Resume

I could see Tweety running around his DC digs spittling all over the furniture...this article does him no good. As I was once told (by a boss), when you see your salary in print, it's been leaked by someone who doesn't like you and the money you're making...usually your boss. I've thought for a while that Tweety's star was fading at MSNBC...not because of what he says or does on the air as much as how he gets along with others.

No doubt Russert has to have some hard feelings as it was Tweety who got Timmeh involved with Plamegate and egos and memories die hard. Then there was the disastrous teaming with Olbermann...who all but treats Tweety like a crazy uncle on the set. A lot of this is Tweety's own doing as he's felt "Hardball" mean him...what he thinks and what he thinks WE think. His "conventional wisdom" radar is way off and he's becoming a liability...and definitely not worth the money.

Be assured this article is all over the beltway drinkie-drinkie circuit...the people Tweety sucks up to. It'll be interesting if Tweety can keep his verbal diahrea in check. Also if we start seeing his show moved to the 3am time slot.

[Supersedeas]

19. his act is worn and old -- time to take the shallow act elsewhere

[malaise]

9. All I have to say is

http://minoo.imeem.com/music/zL9EqQGG/chris_matthews_laugh/

[Orsino]

10. And on the cover, he laughs and laughs at us.

What a bunch of rubes we are. No research, no script, no rehearsal--he just has a couple of stiff drinks and wings it, and we keep watching.

[cynatnite]

11. If MSNBC dropped his show, which I doubt would happen...

He'd get a new one at Faux news. Tweety is a real POS. I'll take Russert over Tweety any day of the week.

[annabanana]

13. not me.. Tweety is USUALLY wrong. Russert is ALWAYS wrong.

[cynatnite]

14. For me, it's a matter of who is tolerable...

Despite the things that Russert says, he doesn't demean women or foam at the mouth. Tweety does which makes him intolerable.

[Life Long Dem]

12. I don't know what they call his answers

but it's like a good joke that has a bad punchline. The lead up seems smooth - probably to lead the audience into his answer or comment, and once he has your attention the bottom line is or the last word is always a spin.

[Booster]

15. But he's nowhere near that asshole Rush. Last I read Rush makes

20 million a year - go figure.

[Supersedeas]

17. Stewart put Tweety in proper perspective -- and clownish is apt for his superficial act

Gregory is proving the superficial is easy.

[kentuck]

18. How long before he works for FOX News??

I say about 90 days.

[Supersedeas]

21. there is no job too shallow for this creep