Meier out at MSNBC…
TVNewser has Randy Meier’s farewell email to his co-workers at MSNBC. Friday is Meier’s last day at the network. I knew something was going on for reasons I can’t get into but I didn’t realize this would be the result. This move is made all the more ironic because a new TV ad about the synergy of NBC News on TV, cable, and, the internet just started airing and Meier is featured on it.
This means MSNBC is the only cable news channel without a male news anchor for its M-Fr daytime broadcasts…for now.
UPDATE: A tipster says that Meier’s farewell message didn’t come directly from Randy’s email account. It was sent out via an email account that usually is for generic MSNBC announcements. Make of that what you will. It probably doesn’t mean much but I find it interesting…
Good riddance! Randy has no respect for women co-anchors. I’d like to think this is the reason he got the boot…
Comment by Terance — June 20, 2006 @ 5:40 pm
So looks like IMUS doesn’t know about this, this AM right? For some strange reason he liked him and Amy on MSNBC. Guess he’ll rip into Abrams tomorrow then? Talk about his hair plugs etc… hahahaha. Is Abrams trying to get rid of all the pretty boys there for his own selfish reasons? lol, If so then Olbermann’s job is safe and he can rip on Rita all he wants.
Comment by Lurker — June 20, 2006 @ 6:09 pm
Terance, please back that statement up with evidence.. if you are unable or unwilling, then you are guilty of spreading vicious lies.
Comment by Nobody — June 20, 2006 @ 6:09 pm
Question for Spud- Why tease your readers by saying you can’t talk about something? That’s like in radio when the host knows something and then what say what it is. It’s like saying, “I know something you don’t know.”
Comment by bravesfan — June 20, 2006 @ 6:15 pm
Maybe he’ll get to do the Sam Shane sign off:
“That’s it for me… we’ll see you later on” — as the camera buzzes around the studio and the music plays.
Comment by WestCoastBlogger — June 20, 2006 @ 6:26 pm
Nobody, I was watching Meier & Gregory one day. Something was brought up about the year they were born. Gregory says something like, “we’re from the 50’s”. Meier makes it a point to let EVERYONE know he was “born in the 60’s”. So, instead of just going with the flow and conceding the 5 year difference which would make him from the 50’s… He proceeded to insult Gregory on-air in front of all who were watching.
Comment by Terance — June 20, 2006 @ 6:41 pm
Give me a break. Have you ever thought that he was kidding around? Most MSNBC anchors “go with the flow” and, well… just look how well they are doing during the day… not well at all. Have you ever watched FOX News? Their anchors have great chemistry with each other and you can tell because they don’t always just agree with each other. They kid around on air, and viewers take them into their living rooms each and every day by the millions, because they have personality, and aren’t just reading teleprompters or just bowing down to each other in a dull attempt at pretending to be something they aren’t.
While Randy’s comments may have come across as insulting… most people would assume that they are playing around. MSNBC needs MORE stuff like that on the air. Their anchors are just so dry and boring lately… Hopefully Dan can deliver on his promise to make the news a little more exciting or whatever… and that doesn’t mean that everything turns into Countdown… exciting could be as simple as pairing anchors together who are passionate about what they do.
Comment by Nobody — June 20, 2006 @ 7:57 pm
Sad news, I know…I GUESS Olbermann is PROBABLY safe: I noticed that on Monday his demos were (more than) 60% of BOR, and he received 3x that of his lead-in. Yes, we all know it’s only one night, but it seems every Friday when the ratings are usually the lowest of the week there are always several posts about how “Countdown” is “failing”.
I have no doubt that Dollar and his acolytes will just be even more determined in their important mission—maybe Grove can uncover some more “scandalous” e-mails from more “sources” too cowardly to give out their names or say for whom they were working.
Comment by museglet — June 20, 2006 @ 8:05 pm
Question for Spud- Why tease your readers by saying you can’t talk about something? That’s like in radio when the host knows something and then what say what it is. It’s like saying, “I know something you don’t know.”
I’m not teasing, though I guess I could see some people taking it that way. If you want me to elaborate further email me…
Comment by Spud — June 20, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
Come off your high horse there Museglet. The reason the demo was so high was that Al Gore was a special guest and it had been heavily promoted. And I’ve got news for you–sources don’t have to be identified. Even Olbermann himself has referred numerous times to unidentified sources. Oh, that’s right, when Olbermann does it, it’s okay but God forbid Grove do it. Olbermann apologized for those emails. Doesn’t that tell you he recognizes that what he did was wrong? Are you really that much in denial?
Comment by MGM — June 20, 2006 @ 8:50 pm
museglet, way to make this thread about Olbermann, you obsessive sycophant.
“Sad news, I know…I GUESS Olbermann is PROBABLY safe”
Such heartfelt words - MUCH nicer than say, “Go blank your mother.”
Comment by blinky — June 20, 2006 @ 10:05 pm
Right. I purposely wrote the word “sources” with quotation marks around it. The term SOURCE as used in news and journalism has nothing remotely to do with sarcastic and/or explicit e-mails sent (as RESPONSES, no less) from one party (or someone who worked under him) to another, and handed over to a gossip columnist in order to embarrass the person.
As for the ratings, I seem to recall having written “we all know it’s only one night” because I saw a comment like yours coming immediately. But are you seriously saying the demos for BOR were down so much and Countdown’s up just because of the tune-in factor for Al Gore, who has been portrayed for years by the “right” as an unstable crackpot? What BOR viewer would turn off their guy in order to watch such a man? On the other hand, if your theory about promotion is true, then it appears you are saying that if MSNBC under Abrams and Griffin were to get its act together as far as spending a little money on advertising and promotion, they would see a ratings upturn. And I still don’t see your ratings theory fitting in at all with the usual comments posted here when Countdown’s demos DROP for a couple days: that it’s a sign of a failed program.
Comment by museglet — June 20, 2006 @ 10:51 pm
mugselet, I think we’re just trying to figure out how the Randy Meier thread is now about Olbermann and O’Reilly!
Comment by Missy — June 21, 2006 @ 10:04 am
Thanks Missy. I don’t know about you but I’m rather tired of certain people here who take every opportunity to make any and every posting about Keith Olbermann. Seriously do they get paid to promote him and his show here or what? If they do, whoever is paying them should ask for a refund of their money. They aren’t getting results for the dollar if you ask me taking a look at his pathetic ratings.
Now can we get back to Randy Meier please? I think MSNBC is making a big mistake in letting him go. I heard Imus say this morning that Dan Abrams personally called him yesterday to talk to him about it since he was a big champion of Randy’s work at the network. He said that Abrams told him the decision to let Meier go had been made prior to his becoming GM at MSNBC.
Comment by MGM — June 21, 2006 @ 11:55 am
MGM, I think these people think MSNBC and Keith are synonymous. But they’re not! The network is more than just him.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Randy Meier, but thought he did a decent job and worked well with his co-hosts. I am surprised by the decision to let him go, because MSNBC has so few male anchors to begin with. Go figure.
Comment by Missy — June 21, 2006 @ 1:01 pm
And another thing - if Abrams is responsible for running MSNBC, he should be allowed to select the anchors that appear. If he wants Meier back, he should be able to overrule whoever it was who cancelled his contract.
There’s nothing worse than being given responsibility for something without the accompanying authority.
Comment by Missy — June 21, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
Please direct all of your inquiries regarding this thread to Lurker, who in the SECOND post said:
“…..Is Abrams trying to get rid of all the pretty boys there for his own selfish reasons? lol, if so then Olbermann’s job is safe…..”
And thanks for the polite responses, particularly blinky.
As for Randy Meier, his type can be found at any local news station (as can the majority of FOX anchors…I agree with Cal Thomas’ recent “trailer trash” comments). There are a few other daypart news anchors Abrams and Griffin could dismiss and they would not be missed the next day either.
Comment by museglet — June 21, 2006 @ 1:06 pm
AHA!!!! LOL!!! Museglet hits the nail right on the head!!!! The Olbermann haters accuse the Olbermann fans (of which only one was even POSTING the first 17 posts, that I can see!) of making this into an Olbermann thread…when the truth is, THEY are the first ones to drag Olbermann unnecessarily into it, by insulting his looks! It’s hilarious! Can’t you guys even see what you are doing? The proof is right there for all the world to see…YOU GUYS are the ones who started talking about Olbermann rather than Meier…you can’t seem to have an MSNBC thread going for long before your talk turns back to Olbermann and how much you hate him.
Oh, and I have to laugh when you guys make the excuse that his ratings were up on Monday only because of Gore…that’s like the laughable excuse that his ratings were up in March and April only because of “the Olympic halo effect”! Nah, I think his ratings were up in part because he had higher than usual viewership from all his enemies tuning in hoping he would make a blubbering on-air apology…oh well, I guess they were disappointed!
Oh, and as for Meier…I haven’t seen enough of him to judge. Just for the record.
Comment by tanne — June 21, 2006 @ 7:34 pm
Well, I guess Randy’s departure marks the last nail in MSNBC’s coffin. Legitimate news has now been replaced by tabloid fodder and silly “lifestyle” news stories almost across the board. Why in God’s good world did Tucker Carlson’s contract not get cancelled, too? He’s the real brass plated dodo on the cable channels.
Comment by LaVerne B. Lindsey — June 22, 2006 @ 9:26 am
Dan abrams: Kept Randy Meier,you have to be crazy to let him go. The best part of MSNBC are Randy Meier and Amy Robach at 9:00 am. Please, Please do me and yourself a favor use your new position, your courage and your GM position to kept
Randy as part of the team. You wont be sorry.
Comment by Wallace Majkowski — June 23, 2006 @ 1:13 pm
Randy was one of the only good things about MSNBC. What a big mistake on their part. He has class and did his job very professionaly. I normally watch FOX but tuned Randy in when he was on. Seal it shut!
Comment by cathi — June 23, 2006 @ 4:13 pm
I’m so surprised and sorry that Randy was let go. He and Amy made the best pair for my mornings–I genuinely enjoyed watching the news with them. I really don’t understand why they would make a decision like this. He is so good-natured; has a good sense of humor; great, great chemistry with Amy; and such an amiable demeanor to wake up to. I genuinely enjoyed watching the news with the two of them together. My mornings won’t be the same. Such a sorry mistake.
Comment by eileener — June 24, 2006 @ 2:44 am
I was so disappointed to hear that Randy was leaving. He and Amy were the best pair on MSNBC. I don’t want to be cruel to other anchors, but there are SO many that should have gone before Randy. Where ever he ends up, that’s where I’ll be watching. What a dumb mistake. I hope that Dan was not responsible for this decision.
Comment by rudie — June 24, 2006 @ 3:53 pm
How disappointing. What a shock. Randy and Amy were the best thing to happen to MSNBC. They were a delightful pair Others that should have gone first, or should still go, are Rita, Tucker, Monica, Abrams, and the ex-Congressman (whose name escapes me at the moment). I left Fox for MSNBC, so not sure where I will go now. WHAT were they thinking???
Shocking decision for sure!!! Unbelievable !!! Would like to know WHO made this decision….absolutely stupid!!!
Comment by Patricia — June 26, 2006 @ 1:03 pm
Randy Meier and Amy Robach were the only legitimate news anchors on MSNBC. Along with Dan Abrams, they seemed to be the only broadcasters on this channel that did not have an agenda. From what I’ve seen since Randy left; it seems that most of the day, the other news is an all-woman show. Is this the different direction that MSNBC has decided to go? I agree that MSNBC might have just put the final nail in it’s coffin….come on Dan, bring them back! I will be searching the Web to see where Randy lands. It would be great if it were FOX!
Comment by Maggie — June 28, 2006 @ 10:21 pm
I’m responding to the comment that you can find a Randy Meier on any local news station. I’ve watched the guy for quite awhile and I think TV news needs more like him. He’s an actual human being with a sense of humor that I’ve seen come out as self-deprecating many times. He and Amy Robach are (were) the best anchor duo on TV.
Comment by Godman — June 29, 2006 @ 9:24 am
I’m amazed at MSNBC. Amy and Randy were the best thing together on t.v. MSNBC played around with that morning show until they got it right when Amy was in and others out. They worked great together and looked great at the same time. They were good and professional. Together they seemed caring and gave credibility to the network. After their show it was all downhill for the rest of the day because the lineup continues to change. Now MSNBC ruins all they had left. No Lester Holt in the afternoon, And now Amy looks like she lost her best friend in the morning.I miss her smiles. I guess I will go back to CNN. They seem to be more consistant. If MSNBC wants viewers like me back, they can find me in the situation room.
Comment by John Witty — August 16, 2006 @ 10:06 am
john whitty has said it all! randy was one of the best that i have ever seen! and ive seen a lot of them,they should have started the changes by putting amy and randy on in the afternoon or the evening! i want them back together!! i will watch amy and go with randy!!
Comment by dorothy patton — August 20, 2006 @ 10:07 am
Huge disappointment! Randy Meier and Amy Robach were the best anchor pair I have ever seen. Randy was the reason I changed my work hours. The high qualities of his character, his sense of humor, and his great chemistry with co-workers naturally reveal themselves each time he is on the air. His exemplary conduct and professionalism will be greatly missed. I wish him the best and hope he will soon be on another major network so that his viewers and fans may continue to enjoy his outstanding work.
Comment by Fran on the West Coast — September 3, 2006 @ 1:31 am
I am not a big newswatcher but I sincerely have to admit I enjoyed the team of Randy Meier and Amy Rohbach very much. Their natural chemistry was contagious and I thoroughly enjoyed their bantering with each other, it brought out a real human side to the news. I am very disappointed that Randy has left. Though I am still a big fan of Amy, it seems the “yang” is missing from her “yin”. Bad mistake MSNBC…..
Comment by John — September 13, 2006 @ 5:37 pm
Yes, bring Randy back. He and Amy were a great team. Where in the heck did Dan Abrahms come from, he has such a sing song winny voice that’s really irritating - in addition to his tilted flat head.
Comment by Jan — July 6, 2007 @ 4:29 pm
It’s been a while since anyone has posted here, but I thought I’d follow up. Randy is back in the Twin Cities market where we was before going to MSNBC. He’s hosting a local show on how to be Green in every day life. My guess is that once there is an opening in one of the anchor desks, he’ll be back on local news.
Comment by Dean — November 23, 2007 @ 8:46 am
Since Randy left, I’ve no longer watched MSNBC NEWS. He was my favorite news reporter/anchor. What they did to him was rediculous. I now completely watch another channel. Wonder why NBC’s ratings are constantly going down? Could it be that they can’t keep good people? Or better still, when they get good people, they fire them? Oh well, I’m sure Randy will come out on top in the end. Good luck Randy. You are the man!
Comment by Jim White — February 12, 2008 @ 2:10 pm