Rosie Txts Jacques: “2day there is no deal” With MSNBC

Tom McGeveran — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:52:03 -0400

Jacques Steinberg had a nice bit of news in an otherwise unrewarding piece on cable network MSNBC the other day: Rosie O'Donnell was close to a deal to host a show on the network.

Then, last night at 7:06 p.m., O'Donnell posted the following to her blog:

msnbc
one hour
live
following keith olbermann

we were close to a deal
almost done
i let it slip in miami
causing panic on the studio end

well
what can u do

2day there is no deal
poof
my career as a pundit is over
b4 it began

just as well
i figure
everything happens for a reason
bashert - as we say

and on we go

Regular readers of her blog might know whether the comedian writes in blank verse or txt msg. But the big news organizations quickly had to pick up the thread of the story. Broadcasting & Cable followed Rosie with the news three and a half hours later, using only the blog entry to back the story that the deal was dead;
Jacques Steinberg quickly picked up the thread, and a half an hour later attributed the news to an NBC executive:

The NBC executive, who would only describe the negotiations on condition of anonymity, said a principal hurdle had been the length of a potential contract. To preserve her options, Ms. O’Donnell would only commit to a year, just as she had last year on “The View,” the executive said. But the network wanted a commitment of at least two years, so that it could take better advantage of the higher rates it anticipated charging advertisers on her program.

A publicist for Ms. O’Donnell, Cindi Berger, did not respond to telephone and e-mail messages sent late last night.

Observer » Rosie Txts Jacques: “2day there is no deal” With MSNBC

Rosie Txts Jacques: “2day there is no deal” With MSNBC