MSNBC sent out the release on yesterday's news, that Rachel Maddow would be getting her own show on the network. Calling it "a smart look at politics, pop culture and all the day's top stories," the show will air at 9pmET replacing Verdict with Dan Abrams. Insiders tell us the staff of the Abrams show will stay on to produce Maddow and that prime time VP Bill Wolff will run the show. Wolff's relationship with Maddow goes back to his days as the EP of The Situation with Tucker Carlson on which Maddow was a regular guest.

Maddow, who had a successful 9-day fill-in gig on Countdown in July, was on with Keith Olbermann last night talking about the new show, which at the time, didn't have a name: "The Rachel Maddow Show is taken. It's on Air America," she said, speaking of her nightly radio show, which will continue. Apparently, the name became available.

Click continued to read the release...

"THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW" LAUNCHES SEPT. 8 ON MSNBC

NEW YORK - Aug. 20, 2008 - "The Rachel Maddow Show," a smart look at politics, pop culture and all the day's top stories, will premiere Monday, Sept. 8, on MSNBC, it was announced today by Phil Griffin, President, MSNBC. "The Rachel Maddow Show" will telecast weekdays, 9-10 p.m. ET.

"Rachel is unbelievably talented and brilliant; her breadth and depth of knowledge of politics and news is astonishing and I'm so excited to give her a place to really showcase what she can do," said Griffin. "We've established MSNBC as the place for politics and the destination for viewers who want the smartest take on the day's developments. Adding Rachel into our primetime lineup makes perfect sense."

"I've loved working with MSNBC, and being asked to host my own show is an amazing opportunity," said Maddow. "I can't wait to get started."

Dan Abrams, currently the host of "Verdict," will remain Chief Legal Correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC; he will be expanding his role contributing to "Dateline" and "Today" and will also serve as an anchor on MSNBC during the day.

"When Dan served as General Manager, he really laid the groundwork for MSNBC's success today, with ratings growing 62 percent under his watch. Dan helped establish MSNBC as the place for politics, launched our political "Super Tuesday" coverage and was vital in positioning the network for its current success," said Griffin. "Dan is the best legal analyst in the business. Our primetime focus is now politics, so this move will enable Dan to focus on what he does best."

"Putting my G.M. hat back on, I think this is absolutely the right call. I look forward to my future success at NBC News," said Abrams.

"The Rachel Maddow Show" will feature Maddow's take on the biggest stories of the day, political and otherwise, including lively debate with guests from all sides of the issues, in-depth analysis and stories no other shows in cable news will cover. Maddow will also continue to host "The Rachel Maddow Show" on Air America at 6 p.m. ET.

In January of 2008, Maddow was named an MSNBC political analyst; she is a regular panelist on MSNBC's "Race for the White House with David Gregory" and a frequent contributor on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann." She has been the regular guest host for "Countdown," has filled in for David Gregory on "Race," and has been a regular panelist on MSNBC's 2008 election coverage.

Maddow has worked with Air America Radio since its inception in the spring of 2004. Prior to joining AAR she worked for WRNX in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and WRSI in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Maddow received a bachelor's degree in public policy from Stanford University. She earned her doctorate in political science at Oxford University, which she attended on a Rhodes Scholarship. She is currently working on a book on the changing role of the military in U.S. politics, due out next year. She lives in New York City and Massachusetts with her partner, artist Susan Mikula.