After a strong debut, MSNBC’s The Ed Show struggled in the ratings, but something interesting began to happen last week. Ed Schultz has been picking up viewers. His show has been tweaked, and he still isn’t even close to Fox News, but The Ed Show is starting to grow.
On Friday April 17, The Ed Show only had 95,000 views age 25-54, which was last behind Headline News. In total viewers Schultz was next to last with 365,000 total viewers. The show had been slipping and struggling to find an audience, but things started to pick up on the following Monday, as Schultz had 173,000 25-54 viewers, and 555,000 total. His lowest number of total viewers last week was 472,000. His best number came yesterday, with 581,000 total viewers.
Schultz’s low point with viewers age 25-54 was 125,000 viewers over the past week. Schultz is now starting to hold and occasionally exceed the number of 25-54 viewers of its lead in Hardball. The changes that have been made to The Ed Show appear to be working. One of the criticisms of the early shows was that listening to Ed Schultz rant and rave like the liberal Lou Dobbs was really boring, so the show added panels and more guests.
The focus of the program’s content has also shifted. Schultz still covers his pro-union issues, but the majority of the show is given over to the news of the day. The psycho talk segment is a big hit, and in general the show seems to have more rhythm. I think what the people behind this show are figuring out is that a show about Ed Schultz isn’t very appealing. Schultz is more Matthews than Olbermann, and I can see some similarities between The Ed Show and Hardball.
The Ed Show can’t be qualified as a success yet, but it represents an improvement if it can draw the high end of the former show 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. numbers on a nightly basis. There has also been an improvement in the quality of guests on the show, but the game show set still needs to go. Schultz seems to be getting more comfortable in front of the camera, but this show has a long way to go.
The program had one evening since it debuted where it drew less than 100,000 total viewers. If the numbers would have stayed that low, the axe would have certainly fallen. Ed Schultz still isn’t the most comfortable host to watch, but neither is Chris Matthews.
MSNBC would probably be happy if The Ed Show kept and expanded on Hardball’s viewers, and if it could finish second behind Fox News at 6 PM. Schultz is accomplishing the first goal, and little by little he is inching up on CNN. Schultz isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but at least his show is making progress.
(h/t: tvnewser
I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO HIM(ED) FOR AS LONG A SHE HAS BEEN ON THE RADIO.It is time that the public has a choice about what is said.I will continue to listen and suggest others to do the same. Maybe they will learn something new…and believe it.
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Finally a show that speaks to almost EVERYONE, even though some don’t know it yet!! MSNBC might not know it yet, but this show needs time to grow.
It addresses the realities of ordinary, middle and working class people who are the very backbone of our society. It has to have time to become known better. Remember that the people who will like it most are just getting home from work———if they’re lucky enough to have jobs!
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This show has been focusing in on the progressive topics that me and the people I know are interested in:
Health Care
Labor
Business Reform
and others
I have to admit I didn’t think much of him the first two nights I watched, but I thought I’d give him a chance. Ed is not yet smooth, but his authentic passion reads very clearly to me and he is now the only show I make sure to watch in the MSNBC lineup each night.
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I gave MSNBC a shot….but the same old, same old. The show’s host feeding leading questions to a panel usually from the New York Times and Washington Post…with a tort trial lawyer thrown in now and then to weigh in. How new and refreshing..NOT!. FOX is not much better, I think FOX and MSNBC are more entertainment than news or political debate.
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I think Ed is a man for the common people. He is a voice for the forgotten and overlooked masses. I think if more people watched him at least once, I think they, too, would try to never miss a program. And I think they would record it if they cannot see it live. Only very good programs are recorded on a daily basis on my DVR. I think Ed is the best among the talking heads!
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I think Ed is a man for the common people. He is a voice for the forgotten and overlooked masses. I think if more people watched him at least once, I think they, too, would try to never miss a program. And I think they would record it if they cannot see it live. Only very good programs are recorded on a daily basis on my DVR. I think Ed is the best among the talking heads!
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God I tried watching the show for a week and I could not make it past the 3rd day. He is a Democratic Talking point. If you don’t agree with what he is saying them your wrong or you don’t know what your talking about….Basically it’s Ed is right and if you don’t agree you must be a republican.
I love that fact that he keeps spouting “The polls show that a majority of Americans want6 health care reform” but neglects the fat that in the same polls most Americans does not want Obamacare or the democratic public option.
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He is all about ED!!! I have known him for over 30 years and he is very arrogant, name dropper, no nothing, non-vet, that thinks he has all the answers. He used to be a NDSU supporter than switched to UND. He used to be Repelican than switched to Demograt!! His nose follows the $$$$ if you know what I mean
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Watch every night. Love the lineup – Ed, Chris, Keith and Rachael.
Go MSNBC…
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He act like he has a centerist barrage, but the leftys get their message right on in. Just look at who he interviews and do a little research. It’s smarter to see who funds what and what is pushed on network tv. It is on all networks both left and right. People I guess will learn to think for themselves one day.
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Seriously, you dont have CNN, NBC, ABC, or hell even the BBC. Gathering news from multipke source is a most fair way to judge.
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Since the Obamasiah has been coroneted I have discovered that I HATE liberals. I didn’t know that until recently… I can’t stand to even be on the same planet with them….. The great uniter has turned out to be a hell of a divider.
I tune to Ed when Fox is in commercial just to feel the ecstasy of relief when I switch back to Fox.
I hope the racist bastard Obama fails in ALL his plans so that a real conservative can get in office and help take back this nation from you socialists!
NOBAMA!!
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Love it, love it, love it. Watch him everyday. You go my friend!
Well, I would like to see him yell more!
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Not really a good show. A lot of name calling and not really about the issues. He spends to much time knocking the Fox network. It’s not very appealing. Take care of your business and don’t worry about someone else.
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I can’t believe some of the comments on here!! Reruns of Spong Bob get’s more viewers!! This guy is nothing more that a liberal commercial when he’s on tv
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I dont see how such a far left wacko that boldly says he would commit voter fraud in MA if he was able to do so can stay on the air.
You may lean left, but do you really agree with the premise? If so, goodbye America.
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Keep preaching, Ed! Gust and I love your impassioned plea for health care reform, and you have sites and people to prove just how much we need a fresh approach to health care in this nation. How anyone can pretend we have the best care in the world is absolutely incredible. Those people should stand behind the elderly man at the drugstore who said he wants only a few pills at a time because he can’t afford a month’s supply, or listen when a young mother is told she can’t get care for her child until she has the cash in hand. On the other issues, we also applaud, and it’s past time for the Democrats to get serious about the needed changes. We know the Republicans aren’t going to help; they’ve always been for the rich (read This Land is THEIR Land, if you haven’t). This is too long, but I want to say I’m proud of you, and your mission. Thanks! Melva Moline
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I happened to catch a short segment of Ed while surfing the channels. This guy is an arrogant, insulting, self-righteous, pompous bag of wind! In just the 10 minutes of my life that I wasted on this show I could tell this guy was a loser. It makes me wonder…if this is the best MSNBC could find to fill an hour of airtime then, clearly, their entire network is in serious trouble. I had to get online and verify the pathetic ratings for this moron to renew my faith in the viewing public to filter out this vile trash!
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