Ultra-liberal host Ed Schultz has lost his daily show on MSNBC and has been shunted to a weekend time slot.
Schultz made the announcement on “The Ed Show” Wednesday after airing his biggest scoop for years — an exclusive interview with the bartender who taped Mitt Romney’s now-infamous 47-percent speech.
“I want you to know I raised my hand for this assignment for a number of personal and professional reasons,” Schultz said in announcing he will move to the much lower-rated 5 p.m. time slot on Saturdays and Sundays.
He said he would have more time to focus on “stories I care about.”
Schultz, 59, will be replaced in the 8 p.m. daily slot by Chris Hayes, who, at 34, will be the youngest prime-time host on cable news. NBC Universal confirmed the switch on Thursday.
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Hayes has a daunting task airing against Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly and CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Making the announcement, Schultz said, “I’m very proud of the work our team has done here at 8 p.m., but sitting behind this desk five nights a week doesn’t cut it for me.
“I want to get out with the people and tell their stories. This show has been a show that has been a voice for the voiceless. That really was my mission when I came here and it remains.”
However, Politico’s media columnist Dylan Byers said sources had told him that Schultz had been shunted aside to make way for younger talent.
Hayes has thrived hosting “Up with Chris Hayes,” in which he offered a liberal take on the news. Schultz’s approach was a more populist brand of liberalism, often advocating for unions and the middle class.
Hayes’ show will appear just before the cable network’s primary star, Rachel Maddow, takes to the air at 9, followed by the “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” at 10 p.m.
“I am thrilled to be joining Rachel and Lawrence in primetime,” Hayes said in a statement. “I’ve absolutely loved hosting ‘Up’ on the weekends, and I’m looking forward to thinking through the news five nights a week.”
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