(MSNBC)
Is Lawrence O’Donnell’s last word on MSNBC coming sooner rather than later? If the primetime host and the cable network don’t soon come to terms on his contract, which expires on June 4, 2017, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell will effectively be cancelled. Should that come to pass, however, O’Donnell sounds confident he’ll move to another network.
A former Senate Finance Committee chief of staff, who executive produced and wrote The West Wing for NBC, O’Donnell has hosted the hour-long political news talk show for nearly seven years. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell first premiered on MSNBC in September of 2010.
Rumors have been circulating for days, but this morning, after a fan posted that he was sorry the host was leaving MSNBC, O’Donnell finally addressed the situation, tweeting, “Contract expires June 4. I’ll let you know where you can watch me June 5 if it’s not msnbc. I’m sorry this situation has become public.”
Contract expires June 4. I'll let you know where you can watch me June 5 if it's not msnbc. I'm sorry this situation has become public. https://t.co/bS8V8GXbZ1
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) May 17, 2017
The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell: Ratings
Deadline reports The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, along with its lead-in, The Rachel Maddow Show, and its follow-up, The 11th Hour With Brian Williams, have been doing quite well in the ratings lately.
Two days earlier, MSNBC boasted a first-place finish among cable news networks in the weekday primetime news-demo ratings last week. It marks MSNBC’s first such win since the week of December 29, 2008. Three MSNBC programs finished No. 1 in the news demo in their time slots: The Rachel Maddow Show at 9 PM, The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell at 10 PM and The 11th Hour With Brian Williams at 11 PM.
Only, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, MSNBC’s ratings news got drowned out by all the noise about O’Donnell maybe about to exit the network, what with just a few weeks left on his contract and no new deal pounded out, and reports NBC News chairman Andy Lack might be mulling whether he would prefer to move The 11th Hour host Brian Williams into the 10 PM slot.
Last week on Thursday — the day NBC News aired Lester Holt’s jaw-dropping interview with President Donald Trump, to the benefit of NBC News programs across the broadcast network and MSNBC (including O’Donnell’s, which ranked No. 1 in its slot in the news demo and No. 2 in all of cable TV), the primetime show host thanked viewers for their support, adding meaningfully, “We need it”:
The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell: Conflicting Reports on Contract Talks
On May 14, freelance reporter Yashar Ali, who contributes to both The Daily Beast and New York Magazine, reported on Huffington Post that four “well-placed” sources had confirmed that MSNBC had not contacted O’Donnell’s representatives to work out a new deal.
According to Ali’s report, O’Donnell is not tight with NBC News chair Andy Lack, perhaps because he reportedly refused to move his show to 6:00pm. Per Ali, O’Donnell’s current deal guarantees a primetime slot. What’s more, Ali asserts President Donald J. Trump has, in the past, encouraged MSNBC President Phil Griffin to fire O’Donnell — more than once.
A few hours after O’Donnell revealed his potential end-date, Variety reported MSNBC issued a statement saying it is negotiating with the host. Will they be able to come to terms? Stay tuned.
What do you think? Are you still watching The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell TV show? If MSNBC cancels this TV series, will you follow O’Donnell to another network? Let us know, below.
I will follow Lawrence O’Donnell to what ever channel he airs.
I am shocked to her that this Show with a great Host might be lost to MSNBC, with Maddow and then O’Donnell following, I made the move from other Channedls to MSNBC at the beginning of the Primaries. This is a great show with great guests and doesn’t pander to the ultra Consevatives.
I think your making a big mistake. I love his show and will be very sad to see him leave. I think it’s a mistake a big one.
Lawrence is a self-identified socialist, which everyone should be. He is brilliant, insightful, informative and wickedly funny. I have contributed to his fund to buy desks for schoolchildren in Africa. MSNBC would be crazy to fire him.
Yes. I will watch Lawrence on another channel. If he is opposite Rachel, I will just DVD it.
MSNBC has a man in the control chair and he doesn’t like Lawrence. This is just a stupid business!!!
Keep the show !
Ernestine Robinson
Cancel Lawrence, and I just may lose the will to live. You don’t want to do hard time for assisted suicide, do you?
Please do not let Lawerence go! He is wonderful and if he goes to another station I will follow him wherever he ends up! Rachel is great they really compliment each other. If anyone has to go it should be Greta!!
I absolutely will follow Lawrence O’Donnell to whatever place he goes. I totally agree with the comment from “Dan”. If anyone should go it should be Chris Matthews. The hiring of far right personalities is ruining late evening and night news. Not keeping Lawrence O’Donnell will be a mistake.
If you are going to let anybody go, after he gets a 2nd chance with good counseling has been tried, Chris Mathews would be your choice. His constant interruptions of his guests is rude, condescending and annoying.
What the heck are the Contract disputes about? If is just the 6PM slot, there are more important things to be worried about. Andy Lack, don’t you dare fire one of the most popular progressive hosts on TV particularly because Trump says so. That is just plain dumb. You will lose viewership which I do not think the 11th Hour can make up for with all do respect. Lawrence is very professional and researches thoroughly as does Rachael Maddow, both of them are my two favorites on TV with Tomm Hartman being the best Liberal on Radio. I enjoy the… Read more »
I am a faithful viewer of Lawrence O’Donnell. I will definitely watch his show should it be aired elsewhere. Disappointed in MSNBC.
of course i will follow him! Losing Lawrence is a totally stupid thing to do! I watch MSNBC every day but i will change channel to watch Lawrence!
I like Lawrence O’DONNELL more than any male anchor on MSNBC. Plus better than Greta. I will follow him to another network without question. Please don’t renew Greta, tell Matthews to stop interrupting his guests, and move Hayes out of Primetime.
I agree with most of your comments, except about Chris Hayes. I think he is brilliant and underrated.
Yes I will continue to follow him . Please work it out. If move 11th hour to 10, and Lawrence is on another channel at same time, I will watch/change channel to lawrence
Yes, I will follow Lawrence wherever he goes! It would be a travesty if the network does not renew his contract. As a progressive, I watch MSNBC religiously! I hope they don’t break up this great team. Honestly, the thought of it happening is quite upsetting. I would hope that the network won’t fold under the request of the new administration.