MSNBC

On his show tonight, MSNBC’s Ed Schultz promises to tackle the Twit-scuffle he found himself in this afternoon with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity.

Last night, Hannity was talking with Frank Luntz about Pres. Obama’s electability, and how the campaign will use the killing of Osama bin Laden to its advantage. But Hannity added this: “But it wouldn’t have happened if he had his way and that can be proven, as well, on tape.”

That, led to this, on Twitter:

> Update: After the jump, Schultz’s segment from Wednesday night…

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Hey, did you hear? NBC has a new musical drama series about putting on a Broadway musical!

Odds are, if you watched the Super Bowl on Sunday, you saw a lot of promos for “Smash,” the series in question. It debuted Monday night to solid ratings, and apparently NBCUniversal isn’t done promoting it in-house yet.

MSNBC is “The Place for Politics,” but during the 1 PM hour today it became “The Place for Promotion,” when Chris Matthews (in for Andrea Mitchell) interviewed “Smash” star Anjelica Huston:

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has won the John Steinbeck Award, Galleycat reports. She is the third female recipient and the first recipient under the age of 40.

The award is given “to writers and artists whose work captures the spirit of Steinbeck’s empathy, commitment to democratic values, and belief in the dignity of people who by circumstance are pushed to the fringes.”

“Listening to Rachel Maddow is like listening to Walter Cronkite,” Steinbeck’s son, Thomas, said in a statement. “We have that kind of trust in her.”

MSNBC has taken out another full page ad in the Sunday New York Times, this time tying together the Super Bowl and 2012 Election coverage.

A few weeks ago, MSNBC ran an ad — criticized by some — promoting “Morning Joe” as “The Most Influential Political Show in America.” A week later, there were dueling full page ads from MSNBC and CBS ahead of the launch of “CBS This Morning.”

Today’s ad features Rachel Maddow, who has been anchoring MSNBC’s caucus and primary nights, except last night when Michael Smerconish and Chris Matthews had Nevada duty.

The networks have not yet announced plans for Tuesday’s Colorado and Minnesota caucuses. But the ratings for Florida’s primary showed channels like Fox News and MSNBC actually perform better with regular programming, while CNN, which ranks third in primetime, has experienced significant tune in on primary nights — up 75% last Tuesday during Florida coverage, from its Monday average.

The battle for the #2 spot among the cable news networks continues this month between CNN and MSNBC. For the month of January, MSNBC placed third in primetime, behind Fox News and CNN. In Total Day, MSNBC came in #2 in Total Viewers, but placed #3 in the A25-54 demographic.

The ratings for January, 2012:

• Primetime (Mon-Sun): 804K Total Viewers / 219K A25-54
• Total Day (Mon-Sun): 452K Total Viewers / 133K A25-54

In primetime, both hours of “Hardball with Chris Matthews” stand out compared to last year: at 5pmET, the program is up +15% in Total Viewers and +5% in the demographic, and at 7pmET, the gains are +8% and +2%, respectively. Growth in the rest of the primetime lineup, which has seen several major changes in the past year, was scarce for MSNBC.

Keith Olbermann left MSNBC in January 2010, and in the year since his departure, the 8pmET timeslot — which has been home to programs hosted by Ed Schultz and Lawrence O’Donnell — is down -12% in Total Viewers and -29% in the A25-54 demographic. “The Rachel Maddow Show” was also down slightly: -2% in Total Viewers, and -8% in the demographic.

“Morning Joe” continues to be a draw for younger viewers, up +9% in the A25-54 demographic but down -4% in Total Viewers. Chuck Todd‘s “The Daily Rundown” is another bright spot for the network, growing +4% in Total Viewers and +27% in the demographic compared to January 2011.

The full release from MSNBC is after the jump.

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While Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich were duking it out on CNN last night, Bill O’Reilly moderated a debate of his own, over MSNBC analyst Pat Buchanan‘s removal from the network. MSNBC president Phil Griffin is keeping Buchanan off the air due to the nature of his book, Suicide of a Superpower.

O’Reilly had on Washington Post Magazine contributing editor Cathy Areu, who called Buchanan “a white extremist” and says he should be fired, and Fox News contributor Sandy Rios who defended Buchanan’s right to write, and say, what he wants.

It also gave O’Reilly a chance to go after MSNBC: “If the litmus test is you fire extremists, MSNBC would have nobody on. Nobody on!” said O’Reilly to Areu. “They’re not extremists over there?” O’Reilly asked rhetorically. “Do you watch the network?”

(h/t J$P)

On last night’s “Jeopardy!” a pair of TV news personalities were the the subjects in a category about Rhodes Scholars. One was ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, and the other was a certain MSNBC anchor (spoiler: Rachel Maddow), who, despite there being a picture along with the question, none of the contestants could quite figure out the identity of.

WATCH:

This is not the first time that “Jeopardy!” contestants haven’t been on top of their cable news facts. Last year a question about CNN brought about the answer “Morning Joe,” and the year before contestants were unable to identify “Good Morning America.” News Corpse notes that some contestants were unfamiliar with Fox News Channel contributor Sarah Palin’s recent book.

Roll Call reports MSNBC primetime host Ed Schultz and CNN contributor Paul Begala will participate in Democratic retreat which begins today at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa & Marina.

Begala takes part in a panel tonight and Schultz will participate in a panel tomorrow with Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. We’re told MSNBC executives gave Schultz prior approval to participate. Schultz will also conduct an on-site interview with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi which will air on his show tomorrow night.

(h/t ICN)

Subrata De, a senior producer on “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams,” has been named EP of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.”

De (right, with Williams) has been with NBC News since 1998 and for the last several years as been Williams’ lead producer, traveling with him across the country and around the world. In a note to staff, MSNBC executive editor Yvette Miley writes, “It is truly an amazing time for MSNBC to have a tremendous journalist with such an outstanding background join our team.”

De takes over for Jennifer Suozzo who, as we reported Friday, has been named senior broadcast producer of “NBC Nightly News” weekend editions.

In her note, after the jump, Miley points out “Andrea Mitchell Reports” is MSNBC dayside’s longest running show. De starts her new role tomorrow.

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• Jennifer Suozzo, EP of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports”, is joining the mothership as Senior Broadcast Producer of “NBC Nightly News” weekend editions. Suozzo has been with MSNBC for 10 years working her way up from line producer to senior producer to EP. Before MSNBC, she worked for NBC O&O WVIT. Suozzo joins Weekend Nightly next month reporting to EP Sam Singal.