
MSNBC contributor Melissa Harris-Perry has been given her own weekend program, network president Phil Griffin announced today. The show debuts February 4th, in the 10 a.m. to noon spot.
Ms. Perry frequently appears on Reverend Al Sharpton’s show and sometimes hosts Rachel Maddow.
The announcement means weekend anchor Alex Witt will bookend the new 8 a.m.- noon weekend block of Up with Chris Hayes and Ms. Harris-Perry’s yet-unnamed show, filling the 7-8 a.m. and noon-2p.m. spots.
“Weekend mornings are a time when our audience wants intelligent political conversation, as the success of Chris Hayes has shown, in addition to coverage of all the headlines,” Mr. Griffin said in the announcement. “As the political year gets underway, there’s no better time to build up our weekend coverage, which Alex has helmed so well for years.”
“All I’ve ever wanted to be is a teacher. Phil Griffin and MSNBC are giving me the chance to have a much bigger classroom,” Ms. Harris-Perry said.
Ms. Harris-Perry also writes the “Sister Citizen” column for The Nation, an apparent talent pool for the home of “Lean Forward.” Before launching Up, Mr. Hayes was The Nation‘s Washington D.C. editor and remains an editor-at-large.