BAD 'WEEK' FOR MORNING JOE

[Eric]

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough was all set to appear this Sunday on ABC's "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos until yesterday, when Scarborough canceled because David Gregory, the host of NBC's "Meet the Press," allegedly threw a fit.

"What is David Gregory so afraid of?" asked one network insider.

Stephanopoulos was first pitched to have Scarborough as a guest by Scarborough's "Morning Joe" co-host on MSNBC, Mika Brzezinski.

"About three weeks ago, George got a handwritten note in the mail and a copy of Scarborough's book, 'The Last Best Hope,' " said our source. "The note said, 'Would you consider putting Joe on your show?' "

Last week, the booking was finalized. "She [Brzezinski] said she checked with all the high-ups at NBC," said our source.

But on Wednesday night, Stephanopoulos was alerted there might be a problem. Scarborough is said to have informed him, "I'm terribly sorry, but David Gregory had a fit." Yesterday morning, Scarborough canceled his appearance, leaving Stephanopoulos scrambling to find a replacement guest.

Stephanopoulos declined to comment, but an ABC source said, " 'Meet the Press' has lost more than half a million viewers on David Gregory's watch. That explains his tantrum, but it does not excuse it."

Since Gregory took over on "Meet the Press" last December after Tim Russert's death, viewership of the still top-rated Sunday morning show has plummeted. "Meet" topped "This Week" by 2.2 million a year ago, compared to 240,000 this past Sunday.

An NBC rep told Page Six: "NBC News never approved an appearance by Joe on George's show. But it's flattering to know that when ABC needed a smart political analyst, they turned to us. As far as any issue between David and Joe, he's hosting a book party for Joe [last] night in DC."

JOE SCARBOROUGH CANCELS APPEARANCE ON "THIS WEEK" AFTER DAVID GREGORY HAS FIT- New York Post

[DanS.]

I'm lost.

Gregory had a fit....why?

Why is it bad for Joe when the article says that Gregory has cost the show a couple million viewers?

[Eric]

I'm lost.

Gregory had a fit....why?

Why is it bad for Joe when the article says that Gregory has cost the show a couple million viewers?

Maybe because Joe is no longer going on the show to plug his new book?

It sounds like it's more than just a "bad day" for all of them looking at the big picture though.

[HarperLee]

David Gregory was/is Tom Brokaw's Republican Golden Boy and thanks to him MTP is jumping the shark.

I wish MSNBC would give the show to Aaron Brown.

I wonder how long they will kowtow to Brokaw and allow Gregory to wreck the train in slow motion.

[Heavy_monkey2.0]

MTP misses Tim Russert (or i do and im not the only one), i tuned in one or two times and ended up walking out of the room without thinking about missing something...that guy just doesnt make it happen.


There arent a whole lot of shows left where the show is about the guest not the host.

[Cookie]

I'm lost.

Gregory had a fit....why?

Why is it bad for Joe when the article says that Gregory has cost the show a couple million viewers?

Why? Because Joe and Gregory are on the same team (MSNBC), and an appearance on ABC would likely hurt MTP's ratings, again.

(It's not cool to help out the opposing team, which is probably why Gregory had a fit. It's usually about ratings, afterall.)

[dsolo802]

Why? Because Joe and Gregory are on the same team (MSNBC), and an appearance on ABC would likely hurt MTP's ratings, again.

(It's not cool to help out the opposing team, which is probably why Gregory had a fit. It's usually about ratings, afterall.)

Can't go wrong with a follow the money analysis.

[Eric]

I quit watching MTP after Russert left anyway, Gregory is a terrible replacement IMO.

[Cookie]

I quit watching MTP after Russert left anyway, Gregory is a terrible replacement IMO.

Amen to that.

[Cookie]

Can't go wrong with a follow the money analysis.

those folks live and die by the ratings.

like Glen Beck who was canned at Headline News. now, he's making a fortune on Fox with 2 books on the NYT bestsellers list.