Did MSNBC host Joe Scarborough really thank his bosses Thursday morning for canceling several of the network’s lowest-rated shows? If so, this means he thanked the network’s top brass — on air! — for sacking at least four of his former colleagues.
Scarborough claims he did nothing of the sort, but online media seems convinced otherwise.
“Scarborough Thanks MSNBC Boss for Booting Liberal Hosts,” Newsbusters declared in one headline.
Mediaite added in a headline of its own, “Scarborough Expresses Public Gratitude for MSNBC Show Cancellations.”
The Daily Caller reported, “‘Thanks, Andy!’ Scarborough Praises MSNBC For Canning Liberal Hosts.”
In July, the network cancelled three shows in a single week, including “The Cycle,” “Now with Alex Wagner”and “The Ed Show.” Four hosts, including Toure Neblett, Krystal Ball, Abby Huntsman and Ed Schultz, have also been sacked, and it was revealed this week that Al Sharpton’s weekly show will soon be demoted to Sunday mornings.
The shakeup comes in response to the network’s longtime ratings woes — and Scarborough appears a bit excited.
Referring to polling data on television shows, he said, “It’s the part of the polls that scares me the most. They’re called ‘verbates.’ It goes, ‘what’s the first thing you think of when you hear Joe Scarborough?’ Then you have to sit there and read —”
“How’d you do? What were some of the worst?” co-host Mika Brzezinski interjected.
“‘He works for MSNBC’ was always the worst,” he responded. “Not anymore though because things have changed.”
Turning to the camera and smiling, he added “Thank you, [Andy Lack]! Thank you, Andy! That was the past, but this is the now.”
The “Andy” he is referring to would appear to be Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News Group.
Scarborough said later on Twitter that it is inaccurate to suggest he was gloating over the network’s programming changes, writing, “Anyone that takes my compliment of Andy as an insult to anyone else is dead wrong. And as I said last night, I’m a big fan of the Rev!”
