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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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16. just to congratulate you Dan. Very much deserved, but i will miss you
Don't be a stanger we still want to see your cute face

Posted at 10:45PM on Jun 12th 2006 by ginger

17.
I really like Dan a lot ... Also like Chris Matthews (Hardball) and Keith Oberman (Countdown)... I watch a lot of MSNBC and will continue to watch it!!!!!

Posted at 11:00PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Katherine

18. Countdown with Keith Oberman!!! Thats what you should watch instead. Now that off the air would bum me out!

Posted at 11:35PM on Jun 12th 2006 by Karen

19. Sorry to see Dan leave I guess I will not watch MSNBC any longer. Really enjoyed Dan. Now I do not have MSNBC along with the TODAY show. I really feel like the public is unable to choose who they really enjoy because as soon as we do they are gone.GOODBYE DAN AND GOOD LUCK,ALSO GOODBYE NBC AND MSNBC.

Posted at 11:36PM on Jun 12th 2006 by mary

20. Congratulations to Dan Abrams. I knew he would go far. I always watched him
on Court tv. He is smart, handsome & gets to the point.He will be missed but hopefully he will help MSNBC become more interesting. They trail behind th other networks.

Posted at 12:27AM on Jun 13th 2006 by Evelyn GribCongratulations to

21. Dan Abrahms is so fantastic! I support him no matter what!!! I would LOVE to see him head up this new program!

Posted at 1:59AM on Jun 13th 2006 by Ellen Karper

22. DA was about the only guy I watched on MSNBC as well. I thought he was intelligent and interesting, but it did drive me nuts that he was CONSTANTLY looking down and to the right, I guess at his monitor. Oberman is all there is left on that channel, unless Dan can shake things up. And for god's sake, please fire Matthews, Dan! My ears bleed when he talks. I wonder if MSNBC is going to be more crime-oriented than it was before. All news seems to be going that way, though, or is already there.

Posted at 2:29AM on Jun 13th 2006 by H

23. What's MSNBC? Is that like a girly NBC. Obberman is lame and full of hate and Matthews spits to much and flips to much. Dan, he was A'ight. Tucker and Joe a'ight too.

Posted at 8:00AM on Jun 13th 2006 by Pierre

24. Who is this guy, and who watches MSNBC?

Posted at 8:47AM on Jun 13th 2006 by Sam

25. How does Dan feel about the change?I feel that is whats important.I always enjoyed his reports.Good Luck.

Posted at 10:38AM on Jun 13th 2006 by Marcy

26. If there ever was a network bent on destroying itself, it was MSNBC, it aired some of the worst shows ever conceived and then permitted one of their on-air talent (Imus) to berate, insult, and call a female employee "fat, stupid" to name a few and NEVER made any move to pull the reins in on this jerk as he insulted just about EVERYONE that worked at MSNBC. If Don Imus is so powerful at MSNBC that should tell the listening public something... which it did according to the ratings. Keep doing stupid programming, let persons like Imus berate all and MSNBC will be likely to be the joke of the industry!

Posted at 8:23PM on Jun 13th 2006 by rosemary matter

27. I am heart sick about losing Dan. I am one of the ones who watch msnbc or any other news channel such so that I can listen to Dan. And, please, take Susan or whatever her name is, off. She had terrible remarks about the Duke lacrosse players. Oh, well, leave her because once I am certain that Dan will not make an appearance, I will not tune in again.

Posted at 5:55PM on Jun 15th 2006 by gale flory

28. Dan, I will miss you. You are truthful and that is why I watch your show. Please get rid of Chris Matthews. He is go ignorant. He has three guesses on and he talks for 10 mins asking a question and gives them 10 seconds to answer the question, what a jerk, what an egotist, he is an embarressment to MSNBC. Now I turn him right off. Ray Nagen mentioned in an interview on another cable show, he spits in people's faces, I can see that threw the tv. Get of him. Keith Olberman is not the real news 50/50 he is full of too much sarcasim for me. Always putting someone down, ie Bill O'Reilly, he never stops with him, very distasteful. Bill comes out on top all the time, he commented once only. Why in the world does Keith keep it up. He needs to go. You need to get MSNBC up to the standards on CNN, people like Wolf Blitzer and Lou Dobbs, the real professionals, especially Mr. Dobbs, he is always on target, he reports the news and gives his professional opinion. You will find people like them I am sure. Good Luck.

Posted at 8:21AM on Jun 20th 2006 by Audrey Rose Casseline

29. I've missed watching Dan on a daily basis...more than any other favorite show of mine that's been cancelled in the past. Just MAYBE I'll get over it! I'd like to see Dan remove Contessa Brewer...her style of delivering the news and acting has always irritated me. Thanks in advance Dan!

Posted at 1:51PM on Jul 11th 2006 by Janet Sobol

30. Dear God in heaven, what is with this "Tucker" person? I have no news to watch at 3and 5pm. Surely you don't want me to go totally to CNN? Let's us not take 10 steps down the class ladder ,he is not Dan, Dan wasn't perfect, but Dan wasn't sleeze and attack . Get someome else....rita blastick

Posted at 8:22PM on Sep 1st 2006 by R Blastick

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