Howard’s end? Nah! MSNBC President Rick Kaplan yesterday forgave MSNBC political analyst Howard Fineman for the latter’s snarky on-air comments about MSNBC “Hardball” host Chris Matthews on Don Imus’ radio show (which, yes, is simulcast on MSNBC).
Kaplan returned to the scene of the crime – the Imus show – where Newsweek correspondent Fineman suggested that ratings-challenged “Hardball” might be more successful if Matthews “shut up” more often.
“Sure I was irritated,” Kaplan said. But he added, “I think Howard’s great and I think that Howard’s brilliant, and I look forward to years and years of more Howard.”
A clearly relieved Fineman declined to comment yesterday.
OK, so I’ll comment: Chris, shut up!