Original programming on the fledgling Newsmax TV comes entirely from a conservative perspective, except for a new hour-long break at 7 p.m.
In that space, there’s a new panel opinion show that deviates from the rest of Newsmax. Hosted by Joe Concha, a media critic and frequent talking head on Fox News and CNN, the show is a chat fest with conservatives, liberals and the apolitical.
Concha, in an interview with the Washington Examiner media desk, likened the show to other popular cable news panel programs like “The Five” on Fox News and “The Cycle” on MSNBC.
“It was something that we weren’t entirely sure if it would be picked up or not because it was something very different from what Newsmax had been offering in terms of TV programming,” Concha said. “Most of the shows are interviews with newsmakers and politicians. Ours was going to be a panel, not many guests. Fortunately, we learned quickly that they liked what they were seeing and we got the go-head in February that the show would be permanent.”
The show, titled “The Daily Wrap,” features Concha as the host asking questions and simultaneously offering his opinions. He’s accompanied by his co-host Rick Ungar, who is a political writer for Forbes, and two other rotating panelists.
Jane Velez Mitchell, a former HLN host, is a frequent panelist.
“That’s tricky because what you have to do is find the diamonds in the rough,” Concha said of his panel selection. “You have to find people who are compelling on TV, know how to make an argument, know how to be likable and it has to be somebody you have some chemistry with. But they can’t be under contract with Fox, CNN, MSNBC, so you have to find the people that aren’t under contract but still can put on a good show.”
The subjects range from ISIS to Hillary Clinton to the type of feel-good viral Internet videos that either cause either eyerolls or laughs.
On an episode in early June, the show started with the panelists discussing controversial NSA programs. It ended with a segment about a Taco Bell restaurant beginning to sell alcoholic beverages.
“We may do political stuff and then it could go to more pop culture, entertainment, legal issues,” Concha said. “So, you have to be pretty educated on almost everything. And not only educated but can you talk about it and make it compelling for people at home. That’s my biggest goal is to have people on the show and not to have these trained seals who only talk with talking points.”
Rick Ungar, the show’s co-host, is a liberal. But Concha doesn’t describe himself as a conservative. He calls himself a pragmatist.
“I look at an issue and I come to a conclusion,” he said. “I don’t say, ‘Boy, I hope the RNC approves of this.'”
Concha said he has a bipartisan history. He voted for Bill Clinton and Mitt Romney.
“It keeps people guessing,” he said of himself and his show. “You can’t typecast it. The minute you start typecasting people on television it becomes tedious.”
Disclosure: This reporter previously worked at Mediaite, where Concha is a columnist.
