The New Host Of UP?

There was something of a bombshell dropped last Wednesday night (3/13/13) when Ed Schultz abruptly, at least to the non-insider, announced he was abandoning the 8pm slot (M-F) in the MSNBC lineup. This announcement put the preimo time slot up for grabs (even if the show is likely destined to lose to Fox blowhard, Bill O'Reilly).

Speculation quickly grew over who would get the time slot, with Ezra Klein being called the front-runner. However,it was announced within ~12 hours of Schultz's announcement that Chris Hayes would be moving to host a new show in that time slot. This leaves an opening at Up which airs Saturday and Sunday from 8am-10am. So, who is going to replace Chris Hayes? The post is about making that prediction.

LONGSHOTS:

JOY REID (8%): Joy will get a look. She is a frequent commentator on the network and does a nice job. I see her as a longshot because, as far as I know, she has very little hosting experience. To be honest, I've never seen her host a show so I can't comment on her ability to interview or lead a panel discussion. I'm giving her as much as a 10% chance because she was guest hosting Melissa Harris-Perry the very weekend that the job opened up... was this something of a test? If so, did she pass? I have no idea - I didn't watch!

SAM SEDER (5%): The chances for Sam are slim because he currently has no official role with the network. This does not fit the model that we have witnessed with Maddow, O'Donnell, Hayes, & MHP all being insiders prior to getting their respective hosting gigs. However, Ed Schultz was brought in from the outside, so it is not impossible. Moreover, Seder is one of only a couple guest hosts in the relatively brief history of Up with Chris Hayes; that has got to give him at least a punchers chance.

ARI MELBER (2%): There seems to be little buzz around Ari's chances. He has no hosting experience (as far as I know). However, he is a frequent MSNBC commentator who really knows his stuff. A likeable wonk who would presumably be able to hold the current viewers of Up.

OTHER (10%): There are other players within the network (moving an Alex Wagner or Krystal Ball) but mostly this covers the possibility that the network will look outside and go for a big splash. Jennifer Granholm!?!? Could Eliot Spitzer get on his third network in the past three years? Don't count on it!

CO-FAVORITES:

EZRA KLEIN (35%): Ezra has a bright future with MSNBC; there seems to be little question about that. I have no doubt he could do a great job as the new host of Up. He's smart and engaging - seemingly a very hard worker and a team-player (given how often he shows up on the assorted MSNBC shows in his role as a policy analyst) - and, importantly, likeable. The only reason I will not call him the definitive favorite is that it's possible he is so valuable in his current role (policy analyst and, often, the Friday night host of The Last Word), that perhaps the network heads could hope to keep him in his current role for the time being with the intention of giving him a more high profile role down the line (replacement for Lawrence O'Donnell? Taking the 7pm hour from Hardball? This is, needless to say, nothing but wild speculation!)?

STEVE KORNACKI (40%): To me, this just makes the most sense. The fans of Up with Chris Hayes should embrace Kornacki. He brings the same wonkish style and formidable intellect. Morever, he has guest hosted for Chris Hayes before (over the X-Mas holiday as I recall) and did a fine job in my opinion. This, presumably, gives him at least a small advantage over Klein. His current role as one of four co-hosts on The Cycle (3pm) is expendable. He could be replaced on that show with little problem... would Ari Melber want the role?

The announcement will be coming soon.  Who ya got?!?

UPDATE: Nailed it!  Steve Kornacki has been announced as the new host of Up.