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Huge Change at MSNBC

Posted Jun 12th 2006 12:36PM by TMZ Staff

TV personality Dan Abrams has been named General Manager of MSNBC.

The stunning announcement means Abrams will no longer host his afternoon legal show, 'The Abrams Report' on the network.

It is a bold move that no one saw coming.

Abrams, who graduated from Columbia Law School, became a commentator and host for Court TV, then moved to NBC where he made a national name for himself during the extremely tight presidential election of 2000.



Abrams will continue on as the Chief Legal Correspondent for NBC, where he makes frequent appearances on 'Today,' 'Nightly News' and 'Dateline.'

The network has lagged behind the other cables, and the gamble is that Abrams, who is considered creative with substantial experience at MS, can change the tide.

Abrams replaces Rick Kaplan, who was booted recently as President of MSNBC.

The network also announced it has named Phil Griffin as the Executive in Charge, which is the job he currently holds at 'Today.' Griffin will continue at 'Today.'

Check out Harvey's blog entry 'Dan Abrams -- Smart Move for MSNBC' for more info.

Tags: Dan Abrams, DanAbrams, MSNBC, The Abrams Report, TheAbramsReport

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1. I was not enamored of Dan Abrams as an on-air personality, He never appeared comfortable on air. He was too smug for his own good, and if he has a sense of humor, I did not see it. Perhaps he will be more effective behind the scenes,

Posted at 1:05PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Mercy

2. Passionate, savvy, smart ~ and a bit unexpected ....let's see what he can do!

Posted at 1:23PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Angie

3. The Abrams Report is the only show I have ever watched on MSNBC now I will not watch (MSNBC) at all

Posted at 2:26PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Stan Heck

4. So happy for Dan - so bummed for me. 6:00 PM EST I love to tune in to Dan on my kitchen TV while cleaning up dinner - my hour of alone time. Kids know not to bother me. I am so bummed. Loved his zinging personality. Now you are going to hide him away in an office. Such a bummer.

Posted at 2:26PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Judy Hamilton

5. Well I loved "Abrams report" with that off the air there is nothing on MSNBC that I will watch now

Posted at 2:27PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Stan Heck

6. That's too bad. I am going to miss Dan and his comments on legal isssues, both pro and con. I really enjoyed his show. Don't know if I will watch it from now on. I hope they don't change Chris Matthews "Hardball", and I enjoy it when he puts people on the so called hot seat. Anyway, good luck Dan. Hope to see you again on the tube so you can wave goodbye.

Posted at 2:28PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Tom Carlitski

7. Dan is the only reason I've ever watched MSNBC. It's a shame to take him off the air. He has a great personality and is very fair not to mention very handsome.
Wish him well.

Posted at 2:55PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Denise Lucas

8. I agree with others, wishing him the best, but he IS the only one I watch on MSNBC.
Can't he do both jobs?
Dan is definitely meant to be on air. Handsome, smart, and smooth!

Posted at 3:09PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Kim Gambill

9. If anyone did not Dan on the air, they must be a true airhead!

Dan was fabulous, no BS and straight to the point (s). Why should he have expressed any sense of humor taling about the serious issues he selected.

Now Dan, as your first assingment, you must cancel Joe Scarborough immediately. This blathering idiot needs to be sent back to the pine barrens of Florida where he can practice his own brand of bigotted, redneck Republican gobbledegook.

Best wishes for wonderful succes!

Posted at 3:14PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Bill

10. I'm hoping that Dan Abrams has the sense to get rid of Chris Mathews. He's an embarrassment to MSNBC.I watched him during the National Republican Convention.He was abrasive,sarcastic and clearly put words in the mouth of the people he disagreed with that night. Very unprofessional, whereas Dan Abrams is very professional in his dealings with guest interviews. Hopefully Dan can turn this around or get rid of him. Thanks

Posted at 3:19PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Loraine Pertrick

11. Have the powers to be @ NBC ever heard of the Peter Principle?

Now for sure there's no reason to watch MSNBC...!!!

Posted at 3:25PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Steve Furman

12. How is Dan going to bring big success to MSNBC when he had the lowest ratings of all the on-air personalities?

Posted at 3:35PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Ron

13. Hopefully, MSNBC will now lead the way and put CNN, FOX and other shills for the administration where they belong, in the toilet! Get rid of Chris Matthews, he just doesn't give anyone who disagrees with him a chance to talk and his fawning over the Republicans is sickening. Keith Olbermann is your bright, shining star, one of the few anchors we can depend on to give us a "fair and balanced view" and his sense of humor is refreshing.

Posted at 3:53PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Marilyn

14. I will miss Dan's wonderful and dry sense of humor........I LOVED THAT!!!! His smarts will be hard to replace - Good Luck!

Keep up the good work behind the camera as well as you did in front of it. Will miss your handsome face as well as your brains.

Posted at 4:10PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Nancy

15. MSNBC's move ? The embodiment of the Peter Principal!

For those of you who are not old enough to know what that is...google it!

Posted at 8:03PM on Jun 12th 2006 by CSullivan

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