Go behind-the-scenes with Chris Hayes and his crew as they launch a new weekend talk show.
Tomorrow we're going to practice on our new set with fancy graphics and theme music, but in the beginning... There were paper rehearsals in a conference room. We woke up very early in the morning to pretend we were putting on a show for a live audience. The point was to develop the right rhythm and tone, which we worked out with friends of the show Baratunde Thurston, Sally Kohn, John Fugelsang and Josh Barro.





Really glad you got this show Chris! Weekends are soooo boring with nothing but prison shows. I wish you the best of luck!
I love this look at the making of the show. I think you should incorporate these elements - the behind the scenes decision making that goes into what topics you discuss and who you have on - into the show itself. Not just as trailer material. But actually deconstructing the show. It's fresh, it's transparent. It's what journalism needs. I zoned out as soon as the panel got a couple of minutes into the political discussion. Everyone was great. But it's a tired format. We've all seen it before. The format needs a refresh and I think you guys are really onto something if you carry through some of this vibe.
And now I am a fan of Theophilus London simply because of a two-second clip in your preview...
Really looking forward to your show, Chris.
Thank the gods for DVR technology.
Love your show. Worth getting up early for. Would love it if you would discuss the pledge Republican congress members made to not raise taxes. I believe it's treasonous and no one seems willing to look at the seriousness of making a pledge to an individual citizen as to how you will govern. I thought congress was responsible to their constituents (plural)and the Constitution.
Excellent, thoughtful and insightful. I liked the balance of your guest -- not the same tired people regurgitating the same old analysis. Too bad you can't replace MSNBC's Morning Joe. Perhaps you will! The expose' on Rick Perry was fine investigative reporting which we need more of. Look forward to more.
What did I learn this week? That Chris purposely misstates that he 'learned' something then gives commentary. And like all talking heads, when he disagrees with someone he demonizes them.
What an amazing show, Chris! My Morning Joe weekend jones has been corrected so nicely and sweetly. And for BOTH Saturdays and Sundays. GREAT kick-off show. GREAT guests. GREAT Job, Dude! Good luck!
I'd wake up at 6AM for this.
Excellent, thoughtful and insightful. I liked the balance of your guest -- not the same tired people regurgitating the same old analysis. Too bad you can't replace MSNBC's Morning Joe. Perhaps you will will! The expose' on Perry was good investigative reporting which we need more of. Look forward to more.
Great show Chris! You are very smart & a great thinker!! Maybe you can remind Boehner that he said so many times during the budget debate that it was "his way or no way"!! The audacity of him to suggest now that the President cannot use the same tactics!! Will the Washington Press corps let him get away with this? And Grover Norquist should be one of your guest to be brought out and brought down for his
attack on America's middle class in favor of American corporate interests. Ali Velshi did a great show with him on his position….!! I hope you will too Chris…I hope you will too!!
On a lazy Saturday afternoon, I watched this. Preceded by a commercial for tar sands oil! Gagged on the juxtaposition.
Chris,
Your debut show was great ! Lotta of interesting discussion only slow down the banter once and a while so us non Washington types can understand more completely what is being said. One question.....what the hell was wrong with Nancy Peloci ? It was as though she had not had enough coffee yet. You had to keep correcting her and guiding her to the correct answers. I admire your skill at getting a guest to stay on message. Anyway congrats and good luck !
what happened to the extended version of this? i'd really like to see it.
what happened to this extended version of this? i'd really like to see it.
Hi Chris
Nice debut show - had to watch via the website vids. Any chance the show will have a podcast like Rachel's? Right now hers is the only show MSNBC has available that way!
Keep up the great work! Looking forward to catching up with today's show when it's posted.
Hiccups:
Any responses appreciated either here or via twitter. Thanks.
Wow, what an intelligent show! You make Scarborough and his group look like amateurs. Forget about even comparing FOX news with your intellectual discussions.
You are in a league of your own. Your show is intellectually stimulating, vibrant, refreshing to watch. Thank you.
Absolutely thrilled with the new show. Love the format, and really enjoy the interaction between the guests. Thank you for providing a provoking discourse.
Chris - congratulations on a triumphant launch to your new show. BTW.. I was UP
and watching at 4:00 AM... and loved it. The guy in Seattle had nothing on the Last
Frontier. Thanks for involving people of different political leanings, making sure they're
smart, well-informed, and civil.
lkharter
Anchorage, AK.
HI CHRIS, I REALLY WANT TO WATCH YOUR SHOW, HOWEVER, I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND I CANNOT GET UP AT 4:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY AND 5:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY.
WOULD YOU PLEASE, PLEASE ALSO SHOW YOUR SHOW AT A NORMAL TIME JUST LIKE "MEET THE PRESS" DOES.
WE FOLKS IN THE WEST REALLY WANT TO SEE & HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
THANKS, JUDY FORD AT JUDITHFORD@FRONTIERNET.NET
I really like that you give your guests opportunities throughout the show to bring up topics that interest them. It really gives the show more of a collaborative feel, and I'm really enjoying it!
Congratulations to everyone for producing such a fine show! I'm on the left coast (Oregon), but I'm DVR'ing it faithfully, just like I do Rachel's show.
Excellent!
great show, chris. will be a regular watcher.
I love your show. Good topics, fresh approach, and so nice to not have to watch Sanjay Gupta on Saturday mornings depressing the hell out of me because I am not healthy enough for a triathlon. You're a tad frenetic for that early in the morning, but I like your enthusiasm :-). Now if MSNBC could just fill out the rest of the weekend and save me from weekends at CNN.
I have seen you on many of the MSNBC shows and you have provided some very powerful insights when given the chance.
On your show, you are quick to shut down guests who are factually WRONG – great! People who do this on purpose do not deserve our time going forward.
Today I watched your Buddy Roamer segment who I believe has something to say (in a clear manner) and we all should have the opportunity to hear the details of his VISION (not plan - no candidate has an actual “plan”). I found your treatment of him on the show lacking and disrespectful. I saw him being treated as a "lightweight". As a way to make amends, invite Buddy for at least a half hour on your next weekend show.
Please drop the rude interruptions - I think all other talking heads on MSNBC have gotten into this habit. Please consider that the show is about the guest who is there because they have something to offer to your audience - it is NOT about you. Are you attempting to EDUCATE your audience or are you trying to fill the air with your pontificating? Here are some simple tests:
Simple questions. I hear many questions posed that are so convoluted and long with the guest given 15 seconds to respond that to expect someone to answer in a coherent manner is just silly. It takes hard work to come up with good questions - DO some more work.
Talk less - LISTEN more. If you talk more than half of the segment with guests, why have guests? Give your guests the respect of your listening even to ideas you may not like.
Facts. Provide screens with bulleted facts - cite your sources.
Solutions. Every guest who complains about some breakdown should be asked to provide at least 3 actionable solutions for each breakdown. I am tired of hearing about the breakdowns - let's talk about SOLUTIONS. At some point we need to get past the bullet points and get into the details of solutions.
FYI – Among other things, a plan is an APPROVED what, when and who task list of work to be done. It includes an actionable set of deliverables, deliverable dates, resources with defined roles and responsibilities and a budget. It also includes consequences when deliverables are not met. The best that any of the presidential candidates can say about their “PLAN” is that they have a VISION that may become a plan when all the other components are approved by congress and signed by the President.
I understand that the show is still evolving so treat my suggestions as a way to make it better.