MSNBC’s desperate Rachel Maddow replacement has spotty track record, fans give her points for being hot

Rachel Maddow’s Monday-only appearances on MSNBC programming have left a void the company has been attempting to fill, and the latest patch is none other than Alex Wagner who hasn’t had much luck with her own shows.

Wagner was a frequent guest on Maddow’s primetime program, and will now be consistently hosting the 9 p.m. EST time slot “MSNBC Prime” on Tuesday through Friday starting in August. Launching her career in political punditry, Wagner has held positions at the Huffington Post, CBS News, and ‘The Atlantic’ as well as spending some time as the cultural correspondent at the Center for American Progress and executive director of Not On Our Watch.

However, her venture into MSNBC programming had been less successful. In 2015, her show “Now” was canceled by the channel reportedly due to abysmal ratings. Just one year later, in 2016, Wagner was preparing to launch a weekend show that would also end up being scrapped before it could air.

It is for these reasons it is unknown whether Wagner will be able to revive interest in the prime time slot and draw an audience on par with Maddow’s.

These past failures aren’t stopping MSNBC or Wagner from jumping in with both feet, though.

“Alex Wagner in the 9pm hour was a clear choice,” read a press release from MSNBC President Rashida Jones. “Her unique perspective—built on more than two decades in journalism—and tenacious reporting in the U.S. and abroad will help our audiences contextualize what matters. I am looking forward to watching Alex thrive in MSNBC’s primetime lineup.”

Wagner responded with equal enthusiasm for her new position.

“I’m honored to be anchoring a key hour of television in such a critical time for American democracy,” she said. “In many ways, the stakes have never been higher, and there’s no better place to explore this moment than MSNBC. I’m thrilled to be coming home.”

Social media responded to the news:

Sierra Marlee

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