"NBC has likely had it out for Kaplan for some time," an informed e-mailer says. "The question here isn't, 'Why?' rather, 'Why now?"'Throughout RK's tenure, MSNBC has seen a multitude of failed attempts to boost ratings -- not to mention Deborah Norville, Connected Coast to Coast, two entertainment shows, Maury & Connie, and let's not ignore Rita Cosby's ever-dropping numbers. Many of the respective hosts of the above shows were hand-picked by Kaplan. A year ago, no one would've questioned NBC's motives for making this move, but now we see the first step in the strategic restructure of its long-neglected cable offspring."

> Also: ICN has a Kaplan scoreboard. Plusses include the expansion of weekend live news and a commitment to in-depth topic discussion. Minuses include "lack of success in launching new shows" and "Crimetime in primetime..."

> Update: 8:30pm: "Your recent Kaplan post is wrong on so many levels," an e-mailer says. "As for several of the new shows that did not last, at least they were fairly serious attempts at real news because that is what he was dedicated to." Click continued for the full message...


"But you make a mistake attributing some decisions to him. For example, Deborah Norville was on the air when he got here. Her hobbling contract agreement was negotiated before he arrived. He did work to make it better but it was really a lost cause. And how do you know it was Kaplan who made the "crimetime in primetime" decision? Perhaps you should check that. Same goes for some primetime shows with recent changes. Say what you will but Kaplan did great things for the people who worked at MSNBC and actually inspired them to think about real journalism even in the complicated world of cable news."