freddi

Oh, Steve Kornacki -- it was so disarming for him to stand three inches from a plain white door as a backdrop, rather than a designer kitchen or wood-paneled library. I hope it was his own door. Sometimes I think he has a cot at MSNBC and can't get away.

Where has she been? I missed that memo.

HUGE irony at this spelling error, given that Rachel Maddow is a Stanford University graduate. Yikes, on her own show on Tuesday evening:

Yes, they were in the studio Monday, also (Mika was with others, not Joe, of course); I was not sure if they had been doing that prior to Monday, so kept quiet! It really makes a difference to see them at a table talking. ETA: Oy, Jonathan Lemire is now on the 11th Hour with Brian Williams -- so will get about two hours of sleep before he is back with the Morning Joe club.

Jonathan Lemire had teased that "Way Too Early" would be in the news today, so I assumed it meant he would be the new host. Mika's reaction was so, so odd. Joe was trying to be supportive and tie it into the Red Sox (of course), and said he was very pleased for Jonathan. Then Mika said, "*I'll* be pleased if you don't screw it up." Even Jonathan could not hide his surprise at the swipe, and he took a sentence to say it would be a fun take on some news, but that he wanted to bring in hard news and leading political guests. Then he looked at Mika and said, "I also will be pleased if I don't 'screw it up'."

It always seems like the third hour is a repeat of hour one, sometimes with a new opening five minutes. But even two hours is a lot of time to fill. I think the current problem compared with the past is that they have transitioned out of the studio, to the ridiculous boxes even when Mika/Joe could sit together on a home set. And the many number of days when it is Mika *or* Joe has increased. If they got back in the studio, interacted, and reclaimed some part of the dynamic of the earlier years, there would be more to engage this audience member. And a lot of this lack of engagement started BEFORE the pandemic. Jonathan Lemire seems to be on the air constantly, starting at 5:00 AM and going late in the day. If he looks tired, at least he earned it. It's Joe who makes sports the opening topic, so I can't fault Lemire for trying to stay on the good side of anyone who can help him get a better gig.

I missed whatever he appeared in -- which sketch? Did they show the names for next week's rerun episode? I know it's too much to hope for the Tom Hanks Halloween episode...

I wish the franchise would issue a DVD with just the Cabot Cove episodes. I love them all, pre-Seth, and post-Tom-Bosley.

I did not hear if Craig said he was auditioning for "Hamlet" (the Prince of Denmark), but a still image right before the farewells showed Malek in the scene from the play with Hamlet contemplating the skull that is iconic to the play. I enjoyed, this and did not expect Daniel Craig! And the 10:00 rerun on the West Coast is that Daniel Craig episode from 2020. (Do you get the reruns on the East Coast? For us, it fill the gap between the live show and rerun of the live show at 11:30.)

Yes, I was not paying a lot of attention at the start of the story, so will listen to the repeat -- but I've known doctors who have written to people on the TV to say, "you should get that checked," so I wonder if there had been any of that in her mailbag. I could not even see the band-aid. Stay well, Rachel! Thank you, Susan!

You are all raising anticipation for West Coast viewers who did not see the 8:30 live broadcast -- we get it again at 11:30 PM. I did like her second song (in flannel and denim) and had not heard her previously. October 11, 1975? (That is my entry for the pool; too lazy to look up anything else. 😉)

Wow, what a relief! I did not think her departure was likely until I heard Ali Velshi give her that wistful mountain of praise about a week ago in the handoff: "You are incredibly important to me, and also to this network, and I want you to know that." It sounded like the beginning of a farewell. (and a hope of Ali to move into primetime?)

So terribly sorry to hear the news about Christina Applegate this morning. She may be able to continue to act, depending on the kind of multiple sclerosis she has, but what a shame to have to figure our how to deal with this diagnosis on a personal level. Even if she decides not to act, I really hope she can find a way to enjoy the things and people she loves best. Please take care. I have enjoyed every major series she has been in.

That was quite quite a little tantrum that preceded the announcement of "Rachel will be back on Monday"! I could not take the time to watch it, but it sounded like it could have been edited a bit and still made the point.

At least Nicolle Wallace recognized our collective dismay at not seeing Rachel in the chair, "Rachel is still on vacation, I know, I know, but we'll get through this."

It has not been filmed already; and as others have noted, with Jill's second baby about to arrive, and with her committed to filming a Christmas movie (I seem to recall?), it will be at least the New Year 2022 before any filming can occur. That would make the earliest possible air date around Spring 2022, even with their quick production process.

I got the sense from Ali's signoff (on Rachel's show on Friday) that he planned to be back on the show on Monday. I have to say that I also am looking forward to hearing anything Col. Vindman wants to tell me. I applaud Rachel for taking vacation time. We are all the better for her coming back refreshed. I only object to the idea it needs to be a secret in advance and while it is happening!

I love Mystery 101 and the main cast, but I totally believe that they shot this in 16 days. It felt very thinly plotted and if I could have jumped to the ending, I would have. So, it appears that they are trying a format that is serializing this series, with cliffhangers and convoluted love-life plot lines that cut across the end/beginning of adjacent episodes. I thought this worked fine as stand-alone episodes. I did think they did a good, unobtrusive job with Jill's pregnancy wardrobe.

I can't imagine it is because of the Olympics -- MSNBC is still being MSNBC with all its programming, with the bonus that the September 6 hearings have begun. Plenty of actual news that matters.

I went back to the video of the Friday July 23 show, and Rachel said at the conclusion: "I'll see you on Monday." Not "We'll be back on Monday." But here's Ali!

The pandemic has pushed filming of the next series into 2022 -- this short statement from the producer, McClunes' wife Philippa Braithwaite to a writer in the U.S. who covers the show: https://karengilleland.wordpress.com/2021/03/03/doc-martin-season-10-production-postponed-to-2022/

Rachel seemed a little time-zone challenged on Olympics Eve -- amazed that there would be coverage at 7:00 AM, but also saying that meant that the nighttime shows would go from her repeat right to the Olympics (I think Ali was agreeing) But that is not how night time works, because there are still hours between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM. And sure enough, "Way too Early" came on at its regular time of 5:00 ET/2:00 PT. But Rachel will never know as she is asleep. A lot of the China Olympics was in real time, also, in 2008, so with big meets in the middle of the night (Phelps!).

Joe and Mika were quite excited about the studies coming out of Iceland, showing the benefits of a four-day work week. Then they realized this would increase their work week. 🤣

On a much less serious note, was there some subtext that I was not getting in the handoff? It seemed like there was some rumor about Rachel having a fun or busy weekend that the LOD replacement seemed intent on needling her about. Rachel was clearly trying to sidestep the question ("reading transcripts", "definitely NOT fishing"). Was it just a clumsy way to call attention to the soccer match?

The new Mystery 101 will premiere on August 1. Saw two trailers for the new episode early Saturday morning (July 10). The turnaround time on these is so quick!