Despite extensive advertising and securing President Biden’s final television interview of his term, MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell’s interview ratings lost out in a major demographic to comedy shows and reruns on other platforms.
O’Donnell’s interview with Biden that took up the show’s hour drew 1.2 million total viewers and just 97,000 in the critical 25-54 age demographic.
Repeats of “Seinfeld,” “Family Guy”, “Friends,” “The Office,” as well as an episode of “South Park” were some of the shows that won over MSNBC’s interview with people between the ages of 25-54.
During the 10 p.m. ET hour, when O’Donnell’s interview with Biden aired, Fox News Channel commanded a 68% share of total cable news viewers and 71% among viewers between the ages of 25-54, while MSNBC had 23% and 15%, respectively.
MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell interviewed President Biden last week in one of his final appearances before leaving office.
While O’Donnell was beaten out by multiple comedy shows among cable television viewers, his interview with Biden was more highly rated than the prior week.
O’Donnell’s ratings have dropped year-over-year from 2023-2024 with multiple age demographics, however. The ratings for “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” declined 5% in total viewers, 6% with people between 25-54 and 12% with ages 18-49 from 2023 to 2024.
O’Donnell’s show was also down 41% in total viewers, down 45% with A25-54 and down 38% with A18-49 from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024. O’Donnell was down 19% with total viewers, down 13% with ages 25-54 and down 85% with ages 18-49 from quarter 4 of 2023 to quarter 4 of 2024.
President Biden discussed the legacy of his administration with MSNBC host Lawrence O’Donnell.
In 2024, Fox News Channel’s time slot rival to O’Donnell, “Gutfeld,” had an advantage of 69% in total viewers, and 152% higher ratings in the 25-54 age demo and 173% higher ratings in the 18-49 demo.
O’Donnell praised Biden throughout his interview with the president, telling him that he pulled off a “magic trick” by passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and combining “domestic and foreign policy” as president.
MSNBC’s highly anticipated interview with President Joe Biden failed to capture the attention of viewers in the critical 25-54 demographic, as the network lost out to comedy reruns in ratings.
Despite the buzz surrounding Biden’s first sit-down interview with MSNBC since taking office, the program failed to draw in younger viewers, with many opting to watch comedy reruns instead.
This disappointing outcome raises questions about MSNBC’s ability to attract a younger audience and maintain viewership in a competitive media landscape. As the network grapples with declining ratings, it will be interesting to see how they adapt their programming to appeal to a wider demographic.
NBC’s Saturday Night Live returned this weekend with host David Chappelle and musical guest GloRilla, and they came back from the break not afraid to take on both incoming POTUS Donald Trump as well as MSNBC (and other alleged news networks). For tonight’s SNL Cold Open, we got to MSNBC – with Rachel Maddow (Sarah Sherman) anchoring a panel that included Chris Hayes (Andrew Dismukes), Joy Reid (Ego Nwodim), Stephanie Ruhle (Chloe Fineman), and Ari Melber (Marcello Hernandez) – with Claire McCaskill (Heidi Gardner) as their special correspondent.
Image: SNL ScreencapImage: SNL Screencap
The focus of the opener was how MSNBC was going to do a better job of not jumping on everything crazy thing that Trump (James Austin Johnson) said – but they just couldn’t help themselves (with the writers offering up some great “Trumpisms” that would’ve been funnier if they didn’t sound too eerily true). Along the way, some nice knife twists were had – from Melber’s use of rap lyrics in his reporting to Ruhle’s flirty nature to even Maddow confusing Hayes for being “Rachel Maddow.” In addition, Trump got a chance to introduce his new cabinet appointment – George Santos (Bowen Yang), who will be in charge of fact-checking and serve as an “ambassador to Sephora” (and who is apparently dating Luigi Mangione).
Before we get to the big celebration on February 16th and NBC’s documentary event, Ladies & Gentlemen… 50 Years of SNL Music on January 27th, Peacock and Academy and Emmy Award winner Morgan Neville will be offering us an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at what makes NBC’s Saturday Night Live the enduring and influential institution that it’s been for 50 seasons. Featuring more than 60 contributors, including alumni, and covering decades of history, the four-episode SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night reveals new insights into the show’s history, pulling back the curtain on everything from the writers’ room to the famed audition process. With all four episodes currently streaming on Peacock, here’s what you need to know:
Image: Peacock
Peacock’s SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night is a four-part docuseries honoring the legacy of SNL, with over 60 contributors, including SNL alumni, and covering decades of SNL history. Spotlighting some of the show’s most iconic elements, each episode delves into the rich history of SNL and pulls back the curtain on the audition process, the writers’ room, the fan favorite “More Cowbell” sketch, and the pivotal season 11.
Episode 101, “Five Minutes” – A showcase of the audition process, with never-before-seen audition footage and firsthand accounts from some of the show’s most iconic names as they reflect on their preparation and journey to the SNL stage.
Contributors: Ayala Cohen, Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Beck Bennett, Bill Hader, Bobby Moynihan, Bowen Yang, Cheri Oteri, David Spade, Ego Nwodim, Fred Armisen, Heidi Gardner, Jason Sudeikis, Jay Pharaoh, Jeff Blake, Joe Piscopo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kenan Thompson, Kyle Mooney, Lindsay Shookus, Marci Klein, Mike Shoemaker, Molly Shannon, Nasim Pedrad, Pete Davidson, Stephen Colbert, and Tracy Morgan.
Episode 102, “Written By: A Week Inside The SNL Writers Room” – A behind-the-scenes look at the writing process from script to screen, capturing the creativity and chaos of a week inside the writers’ room.
Contributors: Alan Zweibel, Alex English, Al Franken, Andrew Dismukes, Asha Ward, Ben Marshall, Bob Odenkirk, Bryan Tucker, Ceara O’Sullivan, Celeste Yim, Emily Spivey, Harper Steele, Jim Downey, Jimmy Fowlie, John Higgins, John Mulaney, Larry David, Louie Zakarian, Marilyn Miller, Martin Herlihy, Paula Pell, Robert Smigel, Sarah Silverman, Seth Meyers, Simon Rich, Steve Higgins, Streeter Seidell, Tina Fey, and Will Stephen.
Episode 103, “More Cowbell” – A deep dive into the making of SNL’s iconic “More Cowbell” sketch, exploring how a simple idea became a cultural phenomenon and offering a tribute to the lasting impact of sketch comedy.
Contributors: Akira Yoshimura, Albert Bouchard, Beth McCarthy-Miller, Bruce Dickinson, Buck Dharma, Cara Hannah, Chris Kattan, Chris Parnell, Dana Carvey, Dave Grohl, Dave Itzkoff, Darrell Hammond, Eamon Cunningham, Eric Bloom, Fred Armisen, Jimmy Fallon, Jodi Mancuso, John Karpi, Josh Homme, Keith Raywood, Larry Demler, Louie Zakarian, Murray Krugman, Rachel Dratch, Tom Broecker, Will Ferrell, and David Lucas.
Episode 104, “Season 11: The Weird Year” – An exploration into SNL’s 11th season, examining the pivotal year that reset the show’s direction and cemented its enduring DNA with Lorne Michaels at the helm.
Contributors: A. Whitney Brown, Al Franken, Andy Breckman, Anthony Michael Hall, Billy Crystal, Carol Leifer, Damon Wayans, George Meyer, George Wendt, Griffin Dunne, James Andrew Miller, Jim Downey, John Lithgow, Jon Lovitz, Kevin Nealon, Laila Nabulsi, Mark McKinney, Nora Dunn, Penn & Teller, Robert Smigel, Terry Sweeney, and Tom Hanks.
Additional archival interviews include Bernie Brillstein, Lorne Michaels, Robert Downey Jr., and Tom Davis.
Executive-produced by Neville, Caitrin Rogers, and Showrunner Juaquin Cambron, Peacock‘s SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night is produced by Jonathan Formica (Ep 101, “Five Minutes” & Ep 104, “Season 11: The Weird Year”) and Allison Klein (Ep 102, “Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room” & Ep 103, “More Cowbell”). The episodes were directed by Robert Alexander (Ep 101, “Five Minutes”), Marshall Curry (Ep 102, “Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room”), Neil Berkeley (Ep 103, “More Cowbell”), and Jason Zeldes (Ep 104, “Season 11: The Weird Year”).
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Saturday Night Live never fails to poke fun at the latest news headlines, and this week’s cold open was no exception. The sketch took on MSNBC’s obsession with all things Trump, portraying the network’s hosts and pundits as obsessed with the former president’s every move.
From analyzing his tweets to dissecting his latest golf outing, the sketch hilariously captured the over-the-top coverage that has become synonymous with cable news channels. Kate McKinnon stole the show as an overly enthusiastic anchor, while the rest of the cast hammed it up as various talking heads and political commentators.
While the real MSNBC may not be quite as absurd as SNL’s portrayal, the sketch certainly hit on some truths about the media’s fascination with all things Trump. Love him or hate him, it’s clear that the former president still generates plenty of buzz – and plenty of material for late-night comedy shows.
Overall, the SNL cold open was a sharp and funny take on the craziness of cable news, and a reminder that sometimes it’s good to take a step back and laugh at the absurdity of it all.
This weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” roasted MSNBC in a skit ridiculing the left-wing cable news network about everything from its hysteria-prone coverage of President-elect Trump to its anchors’ personalities and appearances.
The segment featured Sarah Sherman as Rachel Maddow — complete with the host’s signature close-cropped hairstyle and thick-rimmed glasses — who introduced herself warning that dads watching at home “better hide their older, bookish-looking lesbian daughters.”
Sherman then introduced the panel, who she described as “basically like ‘The Avengers’ for your aunt” and which included cast members mimicking network regulars including Ari Melber, Joy Reid, Stephanie Ruhle and Chris Hayes.
The “SNL” skit parodying MSNBC featured imitations of Joy Reid, Rachel Maddow and Stephanie Ruhle. NBC / SNL
The skit’s Joy Reid — portrayed by Ego Nwodim — said the network was turning over a new leaf when it comes to covering Trump.
“This time around, we’re not gonna get sucked in by every new shiny, crazy statement from Trump. We need to focus on what he does, not what he says.”
At that moment, Sherman’s Maddow cuts in to announce some breaking news that Trump wants to “trade Connecticut for Italy.”
The segment bounced between anchors — lampooning their peccadilloes, including Melber’s penchant for hip-hop and portraying Ruhle as flighty and flirtatious.
It interrupted the panelists with mock-breaking news a few more times throughout, including a made-up story that the incoming 47th president had told a group of LA wildfire victims that “Arnold Palmer had some of the longest balls in American history.”
The most stinging barb of the skit came at the expense of Hayes and Maddow.
The skit got its biggest reaction from a bit in which it implied that Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes looked so similar that the camera operator couldn’t tell them apart. NBC / SNL
Nwodim’s Reid at one point throws a question to Maddow, but the camera fixes on Hayes — who is being played by Andrew Dismukes.
The audience awkwardly guffaws in realization as Dismukes stammers, “oh, I’m not Rachel, I’m Chris Hayes,” a riff on a longstanding internet meme that the hosts share a resemblance.
Trump is a frequent source of material for the long-running NBC series, despite hosting the show twice, in 2004 and again in 2015.
Trump is a frequent source of material for the long-running NBC series, despite hosting the show twice, in 2004 and again in 2015. NBC / SNL
During the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance on the program, sparking backlash and prompting NBC to file an Equal Time notice with the Federal Communications Commission a day after the episode aired.
The network ran a Trump campaign ad during the broadcast of NASCAR’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway and the NFL’s coverage of the Minnesota Vikings-Indianapolis Colts game on Sunday night.
“SNL” Roasts MSNBC’s Trump Obsession in Scathing Takedown of Rachel Maddow
In a recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” the sketch comedy show took aim at MSNBC and host Rachel Maddow for their relentless coverage of all things Trump. The segment, titled “MSNBC’s Trump Obsession,” featured Kate McKinnon as Maddow and showcased the host’s over-the-top reactions to every tweet, scandal, and controversy involving the former president.
From Maddow’s dramatic monologues to her frantic attempts to connect the dots between Trump and various conspiracy theories, the parody highlighted the absurdity of the network’s fixation on the ex-president. McKinnon’s portrayal of Maddow as a hyper-caffeinated, conspiracy-obsessed news anchor was spot-on and had audiences in stitches.
The sketch didn’t hold back in its criticism of MSNBC’s coverage, pointing out the network’s ratings-driven approach to journalism and its seeming inability to move on from the Trump era. It was a fiery takedown that didn’t pull any punches, and it left viewers wondering just how accurate the portrayal really was.
Overall, “SNL’s” skewering of MSNBC and Rachel Maddow was a hilarious and timely reminder of the dangers of media obsession and sensationalism. It was a reminder that sometimes, it’s important to take a step back and remember that there are other things happening in the world besides Donald Trump.
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SNL, Saturday Night Live, MSNBC, Trump obsession, Rachel Maddow, sketch, comedy, parody, political satire, takedown, sketch comedy, television, entertainment, social commentary, current events.
Joy Reid has gone off on the billionaire right amid the wildfire that is tearing down homes across LA.
Nothing gets more viewers in the US media than getting people pissed off, and Joy Reid is a master of it. US journalism loves nothing more than a good conspiracy, aligning with people’s suspicions and paranoias. This time, in an effort to draw viewers back to faltering MSNBC, Joy Reid shared an outrageous theory on the wildfire ripping across LA.
She claims, unbacked by anything but her own opinion, that the wildfires are a ploy by the billionaire right to buy out California. The ones affected by the wildfires, she claims, are not the rich, but the poor and middle class. They will lose everything, and be left desperate and destitute.
The billionaires will then move in to snap up the land left burnt, and ripe for rebuilding, for a fraction of its original price. Once they have taken the land, they can rebuild overpriced rentals to add to their massive hedge funds. Now able to dictate prices, and who can live where, according to Reid.
She also alleges racism at the heart of this wild conspiracy theory.
“They can drive out the brown people and the black and Asian people, or just sink them into the same apartheid they’ve created in Texas, and they will control enough electoral votes if they control California to never have to worry about another presidential election,” she states.Joy Reid has her theories on the wildfire that has devastated California. Although it seems wild, she is far from the only person who sees foul play. She may have received all sorts of backlash for voicing her opinion, but she’s not alone in this conspiracy.
Jor Reid Adds Fuel To The Wildfire Conspiracy Flames
Of course, her theories, aired on national television, have caused a bit of a ruckus. While some agree with her view of the wildfires, others believe she is barking up the wrong tree. There are conspiracies on both the left and right sides. But, whether people agree with Joy Reid and her wildfire views is up for debate.
“Where does she get her information? Does nobody require evidence from these news people, actual reports? or they just take Joy’s word for it? They make these wild fantastical assertions with not one shred of proof or truth,” one commenter adds, making a valid point.
Her accusations are unfounded, and only based on her own opinion. Joy Reid is stating her wildfire conspiracy as a fact. This can be dangerous to people not bright enough to understand that everything on TV isn’t the truth. People often get opinion and neutral journalism muddled up.
Joy Reid is an opinioned talking head, not to be taken too seriously. As someone notes “I mean at this point it’s apparent she tries to come up with the most outrageous things to say to gain attention. She’s like a live tabloid.”
It’s important to remember that not everything has to be factual. People are entitled to their opinions, and someone like Joy Reid garners viewers by being contrarian. It works too.
MSNBC host Joy Reid is facing backlash after suggesting a wild conspiracy theory about the wildfires currently ravaging the West Coast. During a recent segment on her show, Reid claimed that the fires were deliberately set by “right-wing extremists” in order to further their political agenda.
Many viewers were quick to criticize Reid for spreading baseless and inflammatory claims, with some accusing her of fear-mongering and spreading misinformation. The theory has been widely debunked by experts and officials, who have attributed the wildfires to a combination of dry conditions, high winds, and human activity.
Reid has since issued a statement clarifying her remarks, stating that she did not intend to imply that all wildfires were intentionally set, but rather that some may have been the result of arson. However, her initial comments have already sparked controversy and raised questions about the responsibility of journalists and media personalities in reporting on sensitive and complex issues.
As the wildfires continue to devastate communities and wildlife across the West Coast, it is important for media outlets like MSNBC to provide accurate and responsible coverage of the situation. While conspiracy theories may generate attention and controversy, they ultimately do a disservice to those affected by the fires and undermine efforts to address the root causes of the crisis.
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