Wake Me When It's Over

Last week I reported on Lawrence O'Donnell's new MSNBC show "The Last Word," and I guessed what sort of an identity he would cultivate as the host of his own program. Having finally had the opportunity to watch it, I know exactly what his identity is going to be.

He's going to be MSNBC's resident bore.

Listen, I'm not one of those conservative pundits attacking liberals for being boring and wonkish, and now I'm accusing Lawrence O'Donnell of being just that, so you can take my appraisal to the bank. I had MSNBC on during the 10 PM Eastern Time hour, and O'Donnell was just . . . not . . . interesting. Bear in mind that I was watching him while on my PC. I don't normally have the TV on while online, but when I have Keith Olbermann, or maybe Chris Matthews, on while online, I sometimes find myself paying more attention to their ramblings than whatever blog I'm writing, whatever Facebook post I'm looking at, or whatever Flickr photos I'm uploading. O'Donnell doesn't distract me like that. For from being animated like Olbermann, Matthews or the wonderful Ed Schultz - or even being bitingly witty like Rachel Maddow - he's incredibly dull, a sleeping pill in a two-piece suit. Whatever appeal he had as a fill-in host has been lost as a host of his own show. Maybe, given time, O'Donnell will find his voice. But it's worth remembering that MSNBC shows that don't catch on right away (Phil Donahue, anyone?) don't get much of a chance to catch on at all.

Maybe it's that Boston intellectual thing O'Donnell has going with him. Matthews is also a Washington insider like O'Donnell, but he's a Philadelphia street kid who knows how to play hardball, hence the name of his show. O'Donnell is more cerebral, perhaps too so for television. Maybe that's why "Mister Sterling," the NBC congressional drama he produced, only lasted half a season - as a spring replacement series.

Meanwhile today is the first Monday of October, and for the first time since "Chicago" - not the revival that's been running since 1996, the original production - opened on Broadway, John Paul Stevens is not on the Supreme Court. Sadly, neither is his replacement, Justice Elena Kagan - at least not as much as someone else would be. See, Kagan has to recuse herself from nearly half of the cases coming up before the Court this term because she was instrumental in several cases reaching the Court as Solicitor General. And all that jazz. It now looks like several cases might be deadlocked in tie votes, letting lower court rulings stand.

Let me know how much of an impact Justice Kagan will have on the Court's direction. I'll be taking a nap. Most likely with the television on.

Say, on MSNBC, at around ten or so.

The First Word On "The Last Word"

Perennial substitute MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell has filled in for people such as Ed Schultz and Keith Olbermann so many times, the bigwigs at the liberal news channel have elected to give him his own show, The Last Word," debuting tonight at 10 PM Eastern Time. And though it seems natural to suspect that he might be a better fill-in than a regular, especially in light of MSNBC's long list of canceled shows (Phil Donahue, anyone?), I have every reason to suspect that O'Donnell - not related in any way to noted O'Donnells Norah or Kelly, and certainly no relation to noted O'Donnell Christine - will have a fine run. The former aide to the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY) knows his stuff, and he has experience with how Washington works. He even has an entertainment background; he was an executive story editor for the NBC White House drama “The West Wing," and he also served as a producer and as an executive producer on that show. (He was also the creator and producer of a congressional drama on NBC – Mister Sterling, about an idealistic California senator, but it only lasted half a season.) I'll probably miss the premiere of “The Last Word” tonight - I have to go somewhere and I'll be away from my TV set - but I still look forward to seeing it.

The only question is what kind of identity O'Donnell will cultivate as a host of his own show. MSNBC hosts have distinct images. Dylan Ratigan is the self-righteous ranter. Ed Schultz is the lunch pail liberal, a meat-and-potatoes guy. Keith Olbermann is the clown. Rachel Maddow is the caustic urbane wit. That leaves the role of Washington insider, which O’Donnell certainly is, except for one thing – Chris Matthews already has that role. My guess is that O’Donnell will aim for the role of a polished, erudite Washington insider that will be a contrast to the rumpled, abrasive Matthews. These two Irish-Americans differ much in style; the Boston-born O’Donnell comes across the kind of fellow who sips lattes, while Matthews resembles the kind of guy who drinks diner coffee.

And O’Donnell can be guaranteed not to interrupt anyone.

Having said all that, all we have do is watch MSNBC at ten o’clock tonight to see how it unfolds.