Cenk Uygur Explains His Departure from MSNBC
Well, Cenk Uygur is out and Al Sharpton is in for the 6pm eastern time slot at MSNBC and Uygur explained on You Tube why he didn't take the deal MSNBC offered him for a weekend time slot with twice the money he was being paid for his weekday show instead.
Bottom line is that he felt some pressure not to be too hard on the Obama administration and they said they were having trouble booking guests because they thought he was being too aggressive with them and didn't like the tone of some of his interviews.
Cenk had nothing but praise for some of his fellow prime time hosts on MSNBC and expressed his gratitude for being given the opportunity to host during the time he had on the air there, and thanked his online viewers of his radio show for giving him that opportunity in the first place to even get a chance to host at MSNBC. That said, he didn't want to take a diminished role at the network even if it did mean more money and remain silent about why they were unhappy with his show, despite the fact that it was doing pretty well in the demo they all claim to care about, which is the adults 25-54 demo.
Personally, I'm sad to see Cenk leave MSNBC because I like him and have actually talked to him a few times when Video Cafe was first being added to the site here at C&L about featuring some of his Young Turks segments. He's a friend of John's and a very nice person and I'm sorry he's going to be losing that spotlight on MSNBC just as I would be about any liberal or progressive voice we've got out there in the corporate media whether I agree with everything that they say or not. We don't have nearly enough of them to counter all of the wingnut b.s. that makes up the majority of our "news" coverage.
That said, I think the Rev. Al Sharpton will continue to do a very good job as a wingnut slayer in his place over at MSNBC. I think the sad thing is, Cenk was never really allowed to do his own show at MSNBC. If he had his druthers, I believe there's no way in hell Michael Steele and Ed Rendell and a host of other guests he was probably forced to have on there would have been any regular contributors to his show.
I think he described it pretty well when he said that commenters said he looked like a lion on his radio show and a lion at the zoo on MSNBC. He talked about saying he didn't want to be constrained any more with how he responded to guests on his show and made a decision not to hold back with criticisms some time back, but that doesn't account for the fact that he probably had zero editorial control over who his guests were in the first place as he does on his radio/Internet show, The Young Turks.
I honestly think Cenk would be a better fit for Current TV and what Olbermann is trying to do with that network instead. I've read that Keith wants to turn them into a news network with more people hosting than himself and since that time, I've noticed MSNBC suddenly giving more liberals either guest spots or guest hosting spots or new contracts. We can add to that list Chris Hayes, who I read got a contract but have no idea what it entails, now Al Sharpton who's going to get Cenk's spot, and I've seen Ezra Klein filling in for Martin Bashir. It made me wonder if MSNBC was trying to get some potential liberal contributors on contract before Current TV has a chance to hire them.
I would not be shocked to see either Cenk Uygur or David Shuster who's already filled in for Keith Olbermann wind up with shows at Current TV and there's a long list of others that, if I had my druthers, I'd love to see hired there as well if they decided to turn Current TV into a 24/7 news network actually hosted by all liberals who don't have corporate America breathing down their neck and don't feel constrained to do the usual false equivalencies and we've got to represent both sides even if one side is insane and lying with who they book as guests and constraining them with what they say if they have criticisms of anyone in government.
UPDATE: Looks like Cenk is going to be one of Keith's guests on Countdown tonight.
Here's part two of Cenk's response on his decision to leave MSNBC rather than take the offer they made him.
Television is a goddam amusement park."
H. Beale
"That's fu*#ing retarded."
Big City Mayor
picking up cenk on current and letting cenk be cenk would be a win-win move.
it would both cement current tv's central modus operandi as a source of news with management that backs it's commentators, and in cenk's case as in olbermamann's would allow him to continue his own special brand of speaking truth to power.
...he hosted on MSNBC, which is the stock panel of "expert" pontificators serving up heapin' helpins' of conventional wisdom.
On a positive note, perhaps MSNBC is at long last considering replacing the lurid "Lockup" style shlockumentaries that are the current staple of their weekend programming. These tabloid pieces of infotainment sewage undermine MSNBC as a credible news organization (and it's not as if they generate positive ratings).
Personally, I'd love to see Mike Papantonio have his own show, but I don't think that will ever fly on MSNBC. If management thinks Cenk is a loose cannon...
Those lock up shows and their "mystery" crime shows serve a pupose, which is, to keep the sheeple scared. Racial fear is a potent tool of the ruling elite, but they make sure that we are scared of Hispanic and African-American gang members, not the well coiffed w frameless glasses white male Wall Steet gangs, that do far more damage to our societies and lives.
Because I work a job with long, empty night shifts, I get to watch all of those shows I want, and in the 3 years in this job, I have yet to see one MSNBC lock up show about Wall Street criminals. Maybe that is also because while they steal TRILLION$. and destroy whole societies, they never get punished for their crimes.
If they think Cenk is too hard hitting, they should let me take Cenk's place on MSNBC; and I'd do it for free.
You are as good as your word.
It's noted and appreciated.
We R Paying Attention
the WHOLE "vacation time" that there is something wrong. Well at least Cenk wasn't "legally binded" Keith Olberman and was ABLE to explain how BOSS-Joe "Scarface" TWISTS Progressives' ARMS - KO he had to bring Markos Moulitsas to exlain it because KO ISN'T legally allowed !
Yep it's out in the open now - that Lame-Stream-Media FAKE MSNBC is part of the "Washington Buddy Machine" ...
They tried to bury Cenk in dog's ASS, but thakfully Cenk didn't "bite" so to speak. By means of MONEY they could have "lock" him so he would NOT be AVAILABLE for CurrentTV ...
Thank you cenk ... for not selling yourself OUT !
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking
Republicans for Voldemort
Government does work, just not for YOU. Government work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons
Repeal stupid
I want to see Cenk on Current! Keith and Cent? Now that's what I'd call a good Progressive night. Talk about an antidote to Faux Noise!
...to think that Cenk has been, or will be approached by Current, but I'd love to watch a broadcast version of TYT every evening...and the actual production cost of that show is next to nothing.
In fairness, Al Sharpton's naturally combative style is better suited to the MSNBC 6 O'clock squabblefest format anyway. (I don't mean that as a back-handed compliment to Al, or a dig at Cenk. I don't like the format structure at all, but I think Al's temperment is better suited for it).
I think that he would also be a good fit with LINK TV! FREE BRADLEY MANNING!!!!!
I'm a little pissed many media outlets parroted the talking point (likely told to them by MSNBC) that his ratings were bad, when they were not.
A little fact checking? Just a little? No?
I respect Cenk to no end, and I think everyone should watch TYT. He has been right about almost EVERYTHING.. (Except Anthony Wiener's innocence. He was admittedly wrong about that.)
But I've been stunned over these last few years how dead-on he is in analysis of everything going on in Washington. From everything from the public option, to Iraq troop withdrawal numbers, to Bush tax cuts, he's (albeit depressingly) almost always right.
Also, (puts on hipster glasses) Cenk was criticizing Obama before it was cool. No, I'm just kidding, but his articles that criticized and showed a pessimistic outlook on the president and what he'll accomplish (or more likely, fail to accomplish) used to be a laughing stock. People would hate on him for no end, and call him a closet conservative for not supporting Obama.
He was right.
That's like all the Israelis and their supporters who call those of us who disagreee with their murderous apartheid of the Palestinians that we are "anti-semites".
Cenk Uygur Tells Keith Olbermann MSNBC Said "People In Washington Did Not Like My Tone"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1WsJxb_BCo
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
It belonged here.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Many Left blogs often feature "must see" vidio clips - but I rarely recall Uygur among them.
How many did Crooks and Liars post? I have the impression that Sharpton has gotten much more traction in blog clips.
Cenk's Rant After 2010 Election Results
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDS2LScjkNc
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Thanks. We don't have TV so I depend on clips like this to keep up-- and spend a lot of time on C&L, of course.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Glad I could be of help. We are all in this together, so it is a pleasure to pass on good things to my faithful and progressive friends. Good call on going without the tv too : )
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
than wound up being promoted to the main page, but part of the reason we didn't end up making them a weekly feature is his show was regularly chasing after stories we'd already covered here with regular contributors and even as good as a lot of his commentary was, it was often a day after we'd already had posts on the same topic and him using our video from the day before on his radio/Internet show. So it was a matter of it not being timely more than not wanting to add his voice here that we decided against getting them doing some regular posts instead of me just going ahead and posting what I caught that he did that wasn't redundant to what our site had already written about.
I did try to make sure any time he just completely slayed some wingnut he had on his show that I posted it at Video Cafe and we featured quite a few of those on the front page over the last few years.
The Murdoch Empire: How media shapes society
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." - former CIA Director William Colby
"There's really five companies that control 90 percent of what we read, see and hear." - Ted Turner founder of CNN
"A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself." - Joseph Pulitzer
“We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries." - David Rockefeller at Bilderberg Meeting... Baden-Baden, Germany 1991
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
I've got nothing against him personally, but he doesn't come across as professional. He is confrontational, but not in a thoughtful way. It always seems that he's winging it, and a little of that goes a long way.
just can't handle getting the truth. Sure he's got a different approach, he's telling you the way it really is.
ah,if you hadn't noticed,we are in a fight to the death...professional?,i thought so,but i'm a blue collar ,worker bee...don't even own a suit..professional, maybe not......a warrior,believe it...i'd want cenk to back me up in any fight,anywhere,anytime,any discussion or situation...he's a good man....................let me guess ,you think david gregory and chris matthews are 'professional'?
....the fools do not realize,a population that can ,..... not paticipate .............in the 'economy'...,can not keep it viable!..........."we are listening,.......and we're not blind.,......this is your life....this is your time."
a little old for the fight but I've got his back too.
… got something against the word, 'professional'?
To me it means prepared, precise, honest, competent and thorough.
You seem to think it means wearing a suit?
wankers giving blow jobs, both.
MSNBC wants the progressive brand, without ruffling any feathers in Washington.
MSNBC needs to speak truth to power. Not some mushy semi-truth. America needs the truth on TV news.
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Release The Kraken!
I couldn't be prouder of you. I've watched TYT once in a while and always loved your honest style.
That it can't be bought gives me more hope in the world than yesterday.
A thousand thank yous for that.
Jack
Managed to catch a bit of Sharpton this week. He was more than holding his own. Would the powers that be be able to constrain Al in the same way they do the others? It would seem that they would not be able to do so just because he IS, after all, Al Sharpton.
It amazes me that this networks hire people because they have a following and are opinionated and then they first try to control them and then they let them go because they have opinions that don't fit some management narrative. We don't want to make waves, do we?
Did you see Jon Stewart's piece on the British Parliament yesterday? The Prime Minister taking criticism from the opposition and then giving it back. No coddling there.
I thought us lefty types were against liars (the Palins and Limbaughs of the world),
yet nobody is outraged that the lying liar Sharpton is now a regular on MSNBC?
Sad....
"...Of course, no ruling class ever does anything entirely for itself - not the cooking, not the child-rearing, not the driving (or, in Rebekah Brooks' case, the helicopter piloting), and most certainly not the thinking. Hence, the active, conceptive ideologists of the ruling class who precisely formulate "the illusions of the class" are only rarely members of the ruling class. There are a few cases where they are - Thomas Friedman, and Bernard-Henri Levy are examples - but otherwise they tend to be simply well-remunerated professionals, the gold-diggers of the academia and media, the upper middle class. The means by which this happens are straightforward in the proprietor-driven newspapers. The owner has a particular world-view, the editorial staff are expected to promote this world-view, and they duly hire and promote a suitably submissive and obedient staff to do just this. (Incidentally, such submissiveness is not only entirely compatible with hard-bitten individualism and self-interest, it is actually the form in which it is most encouraged as it constitutes an identification with the competitive weltanschauung of the master-class). It has been pointed out, for example, that of all of Rupert Murdoch's dozens of newspapers across the globe, not a single one opposed the Iraq war. It has also been pointed out that Murdoch was personally very close to and supportive of the Blair administration in this period. But of course, it is doubtful that Murdoch even had to be persuaded to support the Iraq war, or that he ever had to pick up a 'phone to find out which way his editors were thinking of going on the issue. It was probably just assumed, as Murdoch had specifically built his newspaper empire to automatically reproduce his general perspective - his reactionary politics and vicious morality, "the illusions of the class" - on a daily basis."
"But even where a mega proprietor isn't involved, the market is such that there will always be more money in pleasing the ruling class. Even if you're an academic working in a slightly insulated environment (ever so slightly insulated), the real money, the real kudos, comes not from doing solid work for obscure academic journals, but from producing ruling class ideology through house organs, thinktanks, newspapers, and documentaries. Think were Niall Ferguson would be if he had been forced to rely on the Journal of Economic History and a shrinking humanities department for his income. Politicians are slightly more tragic in that most of them don't seek a fortune, but instead defer to ruling class ideology to a considerable extent because of the flak which backs up that ideology. The extent of this flak, the protection racket based on the potential for humiliating exposure and rabid denunciation, backed up by the police, has until recently only been guessed at..."---Richard Seymour
http://leninology.blogspot.com/2011/07/ruling...
http://leninology.blogspot.com/2011/07/ruling...
They take the strong voices, trick them into thinking they have a show, offer to pay them off double to become a minor commentator, and neutralize their following. msnbc is not our friend, never forget Olbermann, fired suddenly and ruthlessly, Donahue, silenced for being anti-war, and now Cenk for speaking truth to power. Current seems to be doing the right thing, maintaining its independence and integrity. Cenk has a bright future, just not on the establishment's cables. msnbc is becoming as irrelevant as cnn and faux, with their con job in the morning, racist buchanon, they simply want to brainwash the sheeple with a mild center/left option, that creates an illusion of fairness and sacrifices the truth to keep the oligopoly/village of beltway insiders in power. Fuck them.
NBC, ABC, CBS and C-span. They are all complicit in the great dumbing down of the citizens. People aren't dumb but they are brainwashed. Same ole shit, different station or channel. They will spin it just to keep you from figuring everything out.
Those are the old school village media, Cspan the one exception but just as bad. We all need the internet these days to keep our brains clean of all the bullshit. Blogs, forums, sites, and indie news web operations are vital to keeping our democracy and our sanity.
You've got that right. It doesn't help to get 7 different interpretations of 7 different polls every morning only to get 7 more every evening.
Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
and their stunning piece on the dangers of beach flip-flops (plastic sandals)
wins again
what god wants, god gets! god help us all.
you're wrong there,cenk...dylan is a flaming libertarian..there's a different 'f' word i want to use.
....the fools do not realize,a population that can ,..... not paticipate .............in the 'economy'...,can not keep it viable!..........."we are listening,.......and we're not blind.,......this is your life....this is your time."
is that Dylan has no problem attacking any party. What's most important is that Dylan is fighting the correct fight...the class war.
Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
there you have it, the real story, there are insiders and outsiders and most everyone is an outsider to power and control. the fact that they wanted Cenk to shut up speaks well of him. always love TYT. thank you Cenk, you just did the real hard thing, refused power for truth so you could speak truth to power. cheers.
... they were having trouble booking guests because they thought he was being too aggressive with them and didn't like the tone of some of his interviews.
They can't stand the heat, so they decide to stay away from the kitchen.
Admittedly, it's hard to have a show if'n there's no guests to have on it to converse with.
MSNBC hires Al Charlatan?
Another reason not to watch. Looks like MSNBC is going the way of Air America Radio. (i.e. into the toilet).
get this Cenk-isode to the msm -- (ha) BEST. CENK. RANT. EVER.
Breakdown of Netanyahu's Appearance in US Congress
I'm sure Cenk is a nice guy and his heart and beliefs are in the right place, but in no way was he ready for prime time. His interviews always felt artificially tough, like he thought he had to be a tough guy, when in fact he was too nice to be this way. It didn't come naturally to him. He is difficult to enjoy, it's too uncomfortable because his manners seem forced. He doesn't come off polished or professional, and many times seemed totally unprepared. He also has the tell-tale sign of an amateur--what I call the "Arsenio Syndrome", where the interviewer doesn't/can't pay attention to what their guest is saying because they're preoccupied thinking about their next question.
Al, on the other hand, is a natural. He just is himself and it's fun to watch. He's a brilliant speaker who can think on his feet (in his seat?). He also needs some polishing on the talk show/interview schtick, but within a couple of months he'll be seasoned.
Cenk comes across like he's a YouTube blogger in a basement, and maybe that's what he should be happy being.
... for your insightful thoughts.
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking
Republicans for Voldemort
Government does work, just not for YOU. Government work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons
Repeal stupid
I prefer to call that the Tweety Syndrome.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
sanity on MSNBC, we have seen from the Olbermann situation that while MSNBC does not want to be Cnn or FAUX NOISE, they still want to be more attuned and representative of the elite opinion makers/shapers like Chris Mathews and Hardball, which sucks.
The elite criminals cannot take the truth, but until Obomber and his Justice Dept minions start shutting down the Internet, and it will happen, we are still able to get the truth on the Web. But I seriously doubt it will last.
Hence, all the recent articles in the papers about hacking and internet security and "terrorism" issues. They are prepping us to consent to the shutdown, just as they did with 9=11 and having our "leaders", Dims and Rethugs alike, allow our civil and privacy liberties to be severly cut back to almost nothing with the FISA and PATRIOT acts.
Pat Robertson was blathering right-wing falsehoods and not letting anyone else talk. Cenk was laughing when he told Pat if he didn't stop, he wouldn't be back on the show. I bet Pat (in DC) complained and of course MSNBC would rather fire Cenk than offend Pat. MSNBC is under pressure to keep bringing in the righties who don't like the "tone" on this "establishment" channel. Keith is refreshing. I don't have to listen to what the right-wing idiots said except when it is funny. I get the updates I need on the politics I honor. Rachel was smart and kept control of her guests in her contract. They are not controlling Ed, but no doubt they would be happy to see him go. Democracy Now is good. Cenk is offended when the rightie not only lies, but goes for something immoral. He will do well in the new world of media while the MSM goes the way of CNN with no viewers.
For the life of me I don't understand why anyone would be surprised by the move MSNBC made. I said it back in April, "this man will not last. There's no way he could criticize the President the way he does and remain on this channel. I have never heard Cenk give credit to this president on anything. If it was DODT, HC reform, tax cuts (in exchange for unemployment benefits to be extending) and other issues, he constantly criticized Obama."
I guess Cenk thought that he could perform on this network the same way he did on you-tube. I have my problems with the president as well, and I voice them on a weekly basis. But, when he does the right things, like the aforementioned and the killing of- (Somali Pirates/Osama Bin Laden) I'll say, "great job, Mr. President!" Cenk's format, "Oh, what took him so long. I bet he almost caved until someone talked him into taking out Bin Laden." His visceral was so obvious.
When you have veterans of the media like Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams, who thinks very highly of this President, you can't come in and pretend you're on you-tube. Again, Chris M., Rachel, Ed and Lawrence have criticized this president in the past, and rightfully so. They also have credited the man when they felt he has done the right thing. Listening to Cenk, one would think this president is always wrong.
I wish him well. Just remember what Cenk said, "I hope I made the right decision."
Well, we'll see.
Btw, for any of you Al Sharpton haters....Rev. Al had nothing to do with this young man's demise on MSNBC. If you're into ratings, Rev. Al came in second to only Fox News viewers (25-54). So, don't blame him, I think he's doing an outstanding job.
SteelCurtain!
... for your insightful thoughts.
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking
Republicans for Voldemort
Government does work, just not for YOU. Government work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons
Repeal stupid
Wow, just wow. "people in Washington said..."
Good on Cenk.
Not everyone is for sale, Conservatives. You wouldn't understand that.
So what???
Al Sharpton isn't hard on his guests?
I really enjoyed Cenk...he's a straight shooter.
They don't like you, so you must be doing it right. You're the best dude!
Another good one chewed up and spit out. Bummer.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
Over the last several months, I have seen how MSNBC started airing a Republican viewpoint on every.single.segment ...on Ratigan, on Maddow, with Cenk. It just sickens me. Adios MSNBC, you're just another corporate mouthpiece trying to shove the oligarch's agenda down our throats. I hope your advertisers notice (of course, they'll just say "See, the liberals shows just can't cut it" when we've yet to hear fully unleashed liberal voices on TV).
M$M's hacks, villagers, corporate shills, plain rich "know nothing of the world" Sterilized journalists and ESPECIALY "Dog Neutered" journalists ... America CRAVES for people like Cenk ! The fact that (by doing what's he FEELs it's right and doing it DESPITE the ARM-TWISTERS) in 2 months Cenk MANAGED to BEAT Fox - that is "the living proof" that there is a ENOURMOUS MARKET for people like him ...
About the "professional" issue: YEAH there is something wrong with HIS team - I don't know if he was PURPOUSLY given a "two-left-hands" team or he is LOYAL to his 'ol youtube team, but the PROBLEM WASN'T with him - it was the team.
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking
Republicans for Voldemort
Government does work, just not for YOU. Government work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons
Repeal stupid
I knew Cenk’s departure had nothing to do with his [viewer, not management] ratings. Have you seen Tweety’s [viewer, not management] ratings for the past decade? (pretty pitifully pathetic)
Cenk got off to a slow start and I’d thought we’d lost him to MSNBC’s management audience, but then his last couple of months he started to really kick ass. Whenever conservatives and conservaDems started talking shit he would quickly set them straight with the facts. This is why I think the hand movement and tone excuses were just complete and total bullshit. He got the run around because Obama is obviously working for the multinational corporations and it is up to Comcast/GE to get him reelected.
I wonder what MSNBC’s lineup will be after the ’12 elections. While some contracts will expire, I’ll betcha 20 bucks that Tweety will still be there to sell MSNBC's next narrative. (I'll bet his daddy would be proud of him -- not)
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