David Shuster Off MSNBC As His Fate With Network Looms
In the wake of a report Friday MSNBC’s David Shuster had filmed a pilot for CNN – for which MSNBC said he would be “punished appropriately” – the anchor was off the air today.
We hear he met with MSNBC President Phil Griffin this afternoon, and are awaiting the results of the meeting.
Monica Novotny served as anchor of the 10amET hour this morning while Ed Schultz anchored at 3pmET. An MSNBC spokesperson had no comment about Shuster’s absence of his future with the network.
Mediaite hears a meeting between Griffin and Shuster took place this afternoon, while TVNewser columnist Gail Shister reported this morning that “Griffin, vacationing in Florida, ripped Shuster a new one over the phone [Friday], network sources say. A repeat performance is expected today in the office.”
Shuster’s contract is up at the end of this year – so the idea he might be looking at other opportunities isn’t exactly surprising. He’s hopped around the MSNBC line-up in various capacities – from anchor of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. after David Gregory left, to co-anchor from 3-5pmET to his current incarnation – but nothing that feels particularly permanent. He often filled in on big political weekend events as well. Trying out for a CNN show, even if it was more talent testing and less actual pilot, isn’t particularly shocking. The question becomes, what did MSNBC know?
Rachel Sklar noticed his bio was briefly removed from msnbc.com around 7:30pmET Friday night.
We’ll have more as we get it…
