MSNBC Gives Chris Hayes His Own Weekend Show

by Mark Joyella | 3:24 pm, August 1st, 2011

» 39 comments

MSNBC contributor Chris Hayes, who’s been a regular fill-in host for both Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell, will begin his own show, to air live on Saturdays between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., and on Sundays between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The program, yet to be named, debuts September 17 and will focus on politics. “Chris is a thoughtful analyst and one of the smartest journalists out there,” said MSNBC president Phil Griffin in a statement released by the network. “As we head into election season, there is no better time to amp up our weekend political coverage.”

Hayes, who will continue in his role as editor-at-large at The Nation, began working with MSNBC in October of 2007. “I’m tremendously excited to create something new at MSNBC,” said Hayes. “I think our position on weekend mornings is going to allow us to slow down the news cycle and look at the week’s news with a fresh perspective.”

The new weekend lineup moves weekend anchor Alex Witt to a later start-time, 9 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Here’s the full release, from MSNBC:

NEW YORK – August 1, 2011 – MSNBC contributor Chris Hayes has been added to the network’s weekend lineup as the host of a new weekend morning show. The program, with a focus on politics, will be live on Saturdays from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. ET and Sundays from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. ET starting September 17. The announcement was made today by MSNBC President Phil Griffin. Hayes, a frequent substitute host for “The Rachel Maddow Show” and “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell,” will continue as an MSNBC contributor and will remain part of The Nation as Editor-at-Large.

“Chris is a thoughtful analyst and one of the smartest journalists out there,” said Griffin. “As we head into election season, there is no better time to amp up our weekend political coverage.”

“I’m tremendously excited to create something new at MSNBC,” said Hayes. “I think our position on weekend mornings is going to allow us to slow down the news cycle and look at the week’s news with a fresh perspective.”

“Weekends with Alex Witt,” anchored by Alex Witt, will follow Chris Hayes on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – Noon ET and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to Noon ET. Witt joined MSNBC in 1999 and currently anchors MSNBC Weekends.

“Alex Witt has been a standout and critical to our overall success,” said Griffin. “I’m thrilled that she’s going to continue in a key role on the weekends as we head into the 2012 election season.”

Hayes had been the Washington DC Editor of The Nation since October 2007 and joined MSNBC as a contributor in April 2010. He is a former fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J Safra Foundation Center for Ethics. From 2008-2010, he was a Bernard Schwartz fellow at the New America Foundation. From 2005 to 2006, Hayes was a Schumann Center Writing Fellow at In These Times.

Since 2002, Hayes has written on issues including union organizing and economic democracy, the culture of right-wing email forwards, the worldview of the anti-globalist right, and the culture of technology. His essays, articles and reviews have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Time, The Nation, The American Prospect, The New Republic, The Washington Monthly, The Guardian, and The Chicago Reader.

He is currently working on a book about the crisis of authority in American life, which will be published by Crown in the spring of 2012. Hayes grew up in the Bronx, graduated from Brown University in 2001 with a BA in Philosophy and is married to Kate Shaw.

Alex Witt, chris hayes, Lawrence O'Donnell, msnbc, Phil Griffin, Rachel Maddow

Anonymous

analyst and journalist, lol……..he is a liberal commentator
Laurence Glavin

I wonder if this is the slot MSNBC offered to Cenk Uygur.
Anonymous

Great news! Chris Hayes is a fabulous addition to the MSNBC lineup. He’s bright, knowledgeable, clear speaking and a simply straightford kind of guy. He also has a wicked sense of humor that l really appreciate. I only hope his new gig won’t prevent him from continuing to fill in for the evening crowd.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

I’m glad for Chirs he should get his own show. Why don’t they give him one in the afternoon or night. Does really like whatching inmate have prsion sex. And reruns of to catch a prendar. As far as Alex go’s I like her. I love her segment’s with Vera Gibbions and Amy Pamler. But her ratings have been going down hill for awile now. And I thought she was being sued for oweing money to her best friend of something. I’m shocked she’s even still on TV.
Arkansas Steve

WOW, the downward spiral of MSNBC continues. Chris is like all the other MSNBC hosts & Hannity in that you ALWAYS know exactly what they will be saying. No independent thought. No attempt to understand those who might disagree with them. He’ll get a few hundred people to say: Go Chris!!
GoNavy

I thought it was spelled “JournoList”
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

I think this was the deal that Cenk turned down. And Phil already painted himself in a conner by saying he was going to give Chris a show. I think he did that was to keep Chris from joining up with Keith at Current. Keep in mind when Keith got supended of giving money to Gabby Grifen’s. Phil wanted Chris to full in. Chris told him to go to hell. I also think Chris thought he was going to get the 6 pm spot. And Al Sharpton mess things up. And Cenl walked out. So Chris had to be given something.

That bing said I think Chris will do well. But he should have a primetime spot on the weekend. Something like Mike Huckabee has.
Anonymous

Will his show be called Lock Down Vegas or Lock Down Denver?
ROTFLMAO

OMG!!!
Chris Hayes??
hahahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahah
ANOTHER ratings MAGNET for MSNBC!
I mean this guy (?) is a MAJOR LEAGUE BORE!
Big Time
gajack

I’m guessing he volunteered to be a”Lockup” inmate!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

I would fear for chris if ever did go to jail. He does have that look
The Real Royal Emperor

He is very knowledgeable.
Anonymous

Great! Here is yet another lib pederast who will go down in flames.
ROTFLMAO

We notice you are very knowledgeable also.
IN YOUR OWN MIND, that is………….
Anonymous

NEW YORK – August 1, 2011 – MSNBC contributor Chris Hayes has been added to the network’s weekend lineup as the host of a new weekend morning show. In addition, he will be supplied with the biggest Obama drool cup available.”
Jboehner

So, I’m supposed to hate him?
Anonymous

no, hate is bad and just eats you up inside…………but you have to be honest in this article
Anonymous

Why cut back on straight news ? they could have atleast put on at 12-2pmet atleast cause MSNBC’s not doing anything imporant then anyway
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

he has that look that inmate’s like. I wouldn’t want to see him in the jail
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

I just tought of something. it’s a long shot but who know’s what if this might be some test run for a replacement if Morning Joe go’s off the air. In case Joe and Mika go to CNN or CBS. There are storys going around about them doing that.
Anonymous

They’ve got to kick off their new 3 hour radio Talk Show first!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

are you talking about the one that being retooled. That’s going on for about 3 years now :)
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

they should have more stringht news on the weekends. Atleast till the nightly news come’s on at 6.
Anonymous

honestly this guy should’ve gotten a show before cenk uygur or ed schultz or even lawrence odonnell.
Anonymous

“Chris is a thoughtful analyst and one of the smartest journalists out there,” said MSNBC president Phil Griffin in a statement released by the network.

I’ve watched this guy in action, he’s worse than the regulars at MSNBC, and that’s no small feat.
Griffin must be sleeping with him or something.
Anonymous

Bout time! Great news! :)
Anonymous

Good question.
Anonymous

Sharpton continues to improve and I like that he’s tenacious and doesn’t let his guests go unchallenged.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

yeah but he should have a prime time guy.
Anonymous

Sharpton is so bad. He’s beyond a joke.
jayamerican1

Yeah…I’ll be up all night pondering that
jayamerican1

Fabulous news…when I first read your glowing review almost thought you were talking about the Rev. He has so many of the same fine qualities.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQWUTBF2KSSVOXCR4PSN66L2PM James

I tryed ti watch his show today. I’m sorry but he sucks and should not have his own show. Ther are better peolpe that work there that are better then and deserve a show. Black or white. Like Chirs weekend show or not. I’m happy for Chris. I just think he should have a show like Huckabee has on prime time.
Anonymous

“Chris says, “My favorite color is blue, and I like walks on the beach and I love my cat, Snookie.”

In addition to a “fresh perspective to last week’s news, we’ll also review some of the best bakeries in the country for a fresh look at baked buns.” Chris also adds, “I can’t wait to get on the air with all the good stuff I know about, to include the stuff I’m putting in my new book, “Baked, Half-baked, and Over Easy.” MSNBC and I both rock!”
Anonymous

Kitty, LOL. Take your meds. Al Sharpton is non-stop-laughs! He’s ”tenacious,” if tenacious means ”tongue tied.”

I don’t know who slurs their words more, Sharpton or Chris Matthews!
Anonymous

LOL
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VFQSLJBGIKXCO4IDL4URXW2AQA Wilkby

Gee, I would have thought MSNBC could have broken up their Weekend Lockup Marathon to put Chris’s new show on during the day, when people are actually awake.
Wharton MBA

More disinformation. Chris Hayes’ comment that the proposed transaction tax doesn’t affect “retirement accounts” because you “buy and hold” and only would affect (wall street) speculators is completely false and misleading. Retirement funds typically are invested in mutual funds which are actively managed and portfolio turnover within funds are ongoing and significant. Therefore, transactions and the value within retirement funds will also be taxed away. Given that the Federal Reserve Bank has taken interest rates to near zero, Mr. Hayes is now supporting taxation on securities transactions, whether a profit is made or not, on 401k, IRAs, and other retirement accounts, all of which have significant portfolio turnover.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_VKRGFB3LUZ6ZIJGKLXRZGKQ3HQ Francisco Duarte

He is not bore, you do not have the mind nor the guts to understand what he is talking about. That makes a difference