Should MSNBC give Al Sharpton his own show?

Craving a bonafide new star, the cable news channel might put the controversial liberal activist in a high-profile time slot

Al Sharpton
(Image credit: D Dipasupil/Getty Images)

MSNBC is reportedly considering giving the Rev. Al Sharpton his own 6 p.m. show, hoping that he'll fill the star-power void created by the January ousting of Keith Olbermann. MSNBC would retain Cenk Uygur, who occupies the slot now, but move him into another spot. Though Sharpton is a controversial and high-profile civil rights leader, not a broadcaster, he has been subbing for Uygur for two weeks with better-than-average ratings success. Could he click as an MSNBC regular?

Hiring Sharpton would be smart: This makes sense in many ways, says Colby Hall at Mediaite. "Sharpton is a known, if controversial, quantity, who's not shy of confrontation." Uygur got this MSNBC gig because he fronted a popular YouTube show, Young Turks, "and while he certainly enjoyed some nice moments hosting the 6 p.m. show, he never made the impact that MSNBC executives were likely hoping for."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us