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The Secret to Rachel Maddow's Success

Posted by Faiz Shakir, Think Progress at 8:10 AM on November 24, 2008.

Head of MSNBC on Maddow's success: 'She comes in every day and studies for eight hours.'

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Newsweek reports that, since Rachel Maddow's show debuted on Sept. 8, "she has more than doubled the ratings of her predecessor, Dan Abrams, with 1.9 million average total viewers, and she's beaten CNN's Larry King 27 out of 44 nights among viewers 25 to 54." MSNBC executives say the key to her success is her hard work:

For Maddow, the job never really stops. She regularly works 16-hour days, only eating once she has finished. She often has just one large meal at 2 a.m., purchased from street vendors. [Executive producer Bill] Wolff says she "simply wants to be excellent." Phil Griffin, the head of MSNBC, attributes her success to a certain "magic," and to her application: "She comes in every day and studies for eight hours. I think one of the biggest mistakes that people make when they come in to television and cable news, which is a really intense, competitive area, is to not work hard. This is not for the soft of heart. It’s intense."

Faiz Shakir is the Research Director at the Center for American Progress and serves as Editor of ThinkProgress.org and The Progress Report.

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'she simply wants to be excellent' [Report this comment] Posted by: weathered on Nov 24, 2008 10:50 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] That's fine, so she should ask simply excellent but uncomfortable questions like how did bldg. 7 at WTC pancake at 5:30pm on 9/11! Arrest Silverstein/Bushcon and heal or stay stuck in the myths, manipulations and Lies. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] WOW!-The Right Stuff!!! [Report this comment] Posted by: drricklippin on Nov 24, 2008 11:08 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Maddow is a strong,highly intelligent,highly articulate,very beautiful person. If there is a flaw- I haven't seen it? Dr. Rick Lippin Southampton, Pa [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Rachel Maddow's Success [Report this comment] Posted by: gwazdos1 on Nov 25, 2008 3:13 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Rachel Maddow program is now my number one choice to watch each night, of course after Keith Olbermann as they are a team of sorts. Now if only Phil Griffin would get rid of Joe Scarborough and his secretary Mika things would start to look up at MSNBC and start each day better, even Imus would be better, but only if he got rid of his Hilter director. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] richsuth [Report this comment] Posted by: RichardS on Nov 25, 2008 4:57 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Rachel is liberal and smart, but that's redundant, isn't it? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] The path to Maddow [Report this comment] Posted by: Gregory Kruse on Nov 25, 2008 5:06 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I started watching TV news again when I heard about the special comments on Countdown. Soon after that the Rachel Maddow show made its debut. Now my wife and 13 year-old daughter are on the couch every weeknight at 7:00 CST to get our "intelligence fix". We don't always agree with them, but their viewpoint we can at least consider a viable alternative to our own. I can't watch TV all day, so I don't mind if MSNBC has other types of shows on like Mourning Joe. Just please don't take these two away. Along with Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, they make our day. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Rachael Maddow- We've waited along time for change [Report this comment] Posted by: Babygoat on Nov 25, 2008 7:30 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I'm a 62 year old woman and now I finally have an anchor worth watching and listening to. NBC-CBS-and ABC would do well to learn from her. There's nothing wrong with expecting miracles, sometimes, it just takes a lifetime for them to materialize....Besides being a brilliant woman she has the integrity and common sense to put it all together. MSNBC- Thank YOu. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] I have tremendous [Report this comment] Posted by: Grandma Crabby on Nov 25, 2008 8:05 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] respect and admiration for Rachael. I actually like her better than Keith Olbermann, and I never would have thought such a thing possible! I just hope she does not burn herself out working so many hours and eating so poorly. There I go, sounding like everyone's mother again. Maybe I will send her some vitamins for Christmas. Granny's crazy videos = Go get a chuckle! Luv, Granny [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] maddow is great - [Report this comment] Posted by: sallywally on Nov 25, 2008 11:01 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] i hope she and keith have recovered from their clinton derangement syndrome now that obama has placed her in his top cabinet position. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Imagine, she works hard and succeeds! [Report this comment] Posted by: tymefornew on Nov 25, 2008 12:04 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I too am "mad for maddow" because she DOES work hard! She is one of the strongest interviewers on television because she does background research and has a working knowlege of the topic of the interview. She puts issues in context and doesn't give anyone a pass. But what I like most about her is that even when she clearly disagrees with someone she is intellegent and respectful! Every other "talking head" take note...there are those of us that actually want intelligent reporting that challenges us to really think about the issues, without the hostile ugliness that is touted as reporting. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Almost perfect... [Report this comment] Posted by: herronsmith on Nov 25, 2008 1:00 PM Current rating: 1 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] As soon as MSNBC agrees to let Rachel wear collared shirts then will I sing their praises. Trying to make her out to be a lipstick lesbian is an insult to everyone's intelligence. We like what hear, get it!!!! [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Almost perfect... Posted by: koolwoman Jeanna [Report this comment] Posted by: jeanna on Nov 25, 2008 3:35 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I am just thrilled to see that there are so many people out there who share my addiction for Rachel,& Keith, and their approach to the news of the day. I hope they both continue to speak truth to power in the days and years ahead. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Chappie [Report this comment] Posted by: ChapWriter84 on Nov 25, 2008 4:09 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I'm 85, and I think Rachel Maddow is one of the best to come along on TV. I think our thanks are due to Keith Olbermann, whom I wouldn't miss either. What a pleasure to hear the truth told with intelligence, humor and gentleness - not screaming and nastiness. Recently Rachel's poise and restraint were so refreshing when she had to deal with that nasty, attacking horror (whose name I've happily forgotten!). I don't think I could have been as polite as she was! Chappie [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] One big meal? [Report this comment] Posted by: lamac66 on Nov 25, 2008 5:25 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] At 2am. from street vendors...I hope that's an exaggeration there. If not, I worry about Maddow. Can you say burn out or exhaustion. She really needs to take better care of herself. She's such a bright star. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] openly black [Report this comment] Posted by: jsw748 on Nov 26, 2008 11:08 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Olberman and Maddow are the bomb! The are opinionated, yet don't tell viewers what to think, but instead offer things to think about. Agree with them or not, they are a counterpoint to the dumbing down of America perpetuated by Faux News, The Fat Doper and the Idiot (aka Limbaugh and Hannity) and others in the MSM. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] It is about time. [Report this comment] Posted by: francene64jb on Dec 2, 2008 3:38 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] It is extremely refreshing to spend an hour with a real journalist. Rachel is smart, witty, does not mince words, and is delightful. I look forward to her take on the issues of the day. I have never said this, with one exception, the Phil Donahue Show, that small minded white men decided to stop his Progressive agenda by taking him off the air. If I will not be at home when Rachel is on, I tape the show. I also enjoy keith Olbermann, although, he is slowly becoming like most of the other TV host. He was superb before the election. I rate Rachel Maddow a 5. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]