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Tuesday, May 31, 2011 11:55 AM UTC

11 options for a post-Ed Schultz MSNBC

Just in case the relationship can't be fixed, here's who we might want to watch at 10 p.m.

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Topics: MSNBC, War Room, Media Criticism,

11 options for a post-Ed Schultz MSNBCRadio talk show host Ed Schultz

Ed Schultz should be back on MSNBC this week following his suspension for calling conservative pundit Laura Ingraham a “right-wing slut” on his radio show. But even after his apology and suspension, it would not be surprising if the occasionally liberal cable network and the populist Midwestern radio talker parted ways. Schultz isn’t a great fit at MSNBC. They have left him out of promo campaigns, unnamed staffers have leaked embarrassing stories about him, and network golden boy Joe Scarborough mocked him on-air. If he doesn’t get fired, he still might quit.

But that would leave MSNBC, already suffering from the loss of Keith Olbermann, down another hour of liberal punditry. Who could they get for 10 p.m. who’d actually be worth watching? We have some suggestions, even though they will probably just get some odious hack like Martin Bashir again.

Sam Seder and Marc Maron

If you just gave these two comedians and Air America vets an hour with which to do as they please, you’d have compelling television every day. Either could do it on his own — Seder filled in for Olbermann on occasion, Maron co-hosted Air America’s morning drive-time show — but both would make for a more eclectic, entertaining show that would not necessarily just be a guy shouting about how John Boehner is orange for an hour.

Lizz Winstead

The co-creator of the Daily Show and already a frequent Ed Show guest, Winstead has extensive TV experience and would have no trouble attracting great guests and contributors. Of course, MSNBC most likely thinks one primetime opinion show hosted by a woman meets their quota.

Ray Suarez

In addition to being universally respected with a long experience in news on both radio and television, Suarez is my mom’s favorite person on public radio. It would also be nice to have someone discussing Latino news and issues on a cable news station who isn’t a racist white man.

The Reverend Al Sharpton

This would be a hilarious move that would enrage conservatives everywhere, but Sharpton could also use the platform to talk about the things he talked about when he ran for president: Poverty, institutional racism, the death penalty, and social and economic justice.

Shepard Smith

Smith belongs on Fox, where he seems to be subtly (or not-so-subtly) satirizing the Fox atmosphere of constant fear with things like his breathless bear alerts, but if he was on MSNBC liberals wouldn’t have to turn the channel to Fox for an hour every afternoon.

Toure

Ok, maybe not necessarily Toure, but remember when MSNBC hosted that town hall on the African American experience in America and Ed hosted it? That should’ve been a wake-up call about the inescapable whiteness of their current talent roster. (Attn. Steve Capus: There are also a lot of very successful and popular black syndicated radio hosts! I might not watch “The Bev Smith Show” every night, but plenty of other people would!)

Glenn Beck

He was a pretty middle-of-the-road talker in his Headline News days, so why couldn’t he just become the liberal lifestyle guru/infomercial pitchman version of himself?

The BBC World Service

Just air the BBC World Service every day. Yeah, it’s on most PBS stations, but how revolutionary would it be for an American 24-hour cable news network to have a full hour of reported international news every night? (Alternatively air an hour of al-Jazeera English, as a public service.)

Law & Order repeats

These would probably be competitive with CNN most weeknights.

Robert Reich, Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz, and Simon Johnson

But instead of talking about economics they should be the celebrities on an updated version of “The Match Game.”

Jay Leno

Think about it: Jay Leno, America’s favorite funnyman, on every night at prime time. What could go wrong?

Alex Pareene

Alex Pareene writes about politics for Salon and is the author of "The Rude Guide to Mitt." Email him at apareene@salon.com and follow him on Twitter @pareene More Alex Pareene.

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

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  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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