Hardball with Chris Matthews
Hardball with Chris Matthews | |
---|---|
Directed by | Ray Herbert |
Presented by | Chris Matthews |
Country of origin | United States |
Production | |
Production location | Washington, D.C. |
Running time | 60 minutes (with commercials) |
Original release | |
Network | America's Talking |
Release | 1994 1996 | –
Network | CNBC |
Release | 1997 1999 | –
Network | MSNBC |
Release | 1999 February 28, 2020 | –
Hardball with Chris Matthews is an American television talk show that was hosted by Chris Matthews. The program premiered on the now-defunct America's Talking network in 1994 (as Politics with Chris Matthews) before moving on CNBC, and then to MSNBC, where it remained until its end in 2020. The show took its name from Matthews' 1988 book: Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game.[citation needed] The program primarily featured coverage of political issues and headlines, along with discussion from a panel of analysts and political figures.
History
Hardball was originally broadcast on CNBC from 1997 until 1999, after which the program was moved to MSNBC.[1]
On March 2, 2020, Matthews announced that he had left the program, effective immediately, stating that the "younger generation" was "ready to take the reins", but that he would still "continue to write and talk about politics and cheer on my producers and crew here in Washington in New York and my MSNBC colleagues." His sign-off also included an apology alluding to
The Wall Street Journal reported that Matthews had already been considering retirement from the show, possibly after the 2020 presidential election, but that the allegations, as well other controversial remarks he had recently made on-air (such as during an interview of Elizabeth Warren, and comments made comparing Bernie Sanders' Nevada caucus victory to the fall of France to the Nazis), had expedited his departure.[4]
Notable moments
Matthews caused controversy with remarks made off the air at a celebration of Hardball's 10-year anniversary in October 2007. He claimed that the Bush administration—specifically Vice President Cheney's office—had tried to "silence" him by pressuring MSNBC executives to put a stop to Matthews' criticism of the Iraq War.[5] The White House declined to comment.
Michele Bachmann
On October 17, 2008,
Bachmann's comments had an immediate impact on her re-election campaign. A campaign urging Congress to officially censure Bachmann was launched with over 35,000 signatures in the first 24 hours after her Hardball appearance.[7] In less than 72 hours, her congressional election opponent Elwyn Tinklenberg received $740,000 in donations.[8] Tinklenberg said that he heard "in that kind of a call echoes of the House Un-American Activities Committee."[9] However, Bachmann defeated Tinklenberg 46.4% to 43.4% in the November 4, 2008 election.
Confrontations
Michelle Malkin
On August 19, 2004, conservative commentator Michelle Malkin appeared on the show and raised the question of whether Democratic candidate John Kerry's Vietnam War wounds could have been "self-inflicted", saying that such questions were "legitimate". Matthews repeatedly asked Malkin if she thought that Kerry "shot himself on purpose" in order to avoid combat or to gain accolades, noting that such an act would constitute a criminal offense. Matthews challenged Malkin to "say to me right now that you believe he shot himself to get credit for a Purple Heart—on purpose." Malkin refused to answer, instead referring to allegations made by some of Kerry's former fellow soldiers. Matthews told Malkin that Hardball "is not a show for this kind of talk." Malkin asked if Matthews didn't wonder whether Kerry's wounds may have been self-inflicted, to which the host responded, "No! I don't, it's never occurred to me."[10]
Zell Miller
Days later, then-U.S. Senator Zell Miller, (D–Georgia), a Democrat who supported then-Republican President George W. Bush, appeared on Hardball. Miller had just given the keynote address at the Republican convention. Matthews took Miller to task for his statement that soldiers, not reporters, are responsible for freedom of the press, accusing the senator of making the comment only "to get an applause line against the media at a conservative convention." Miller had also criticized Kerry's record on national defense issues during his speech, prompting Matthews to ask if the senator believed that Kerry did not want to "defend the country." During a heated exchange in which each man interrupted the other several times, Miller shouted at Matthews to "get out of my face" and angrily stated that he wished "we lived in the day where you could challenge a person to a duel." He also made reference to the Malkin interview, telling Matthews not to "pull that stuff on me like you did that young lady, when you had her there browbeating her to death. I'm not her."[11]
Ann Coulter and Elizabeth Edwards
On June 26, 2007, conservative commentator Ann Coulter was the guest when Elizabeth Edwards, wife of then-Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, made a surprise (per Coulter, afterwards) call to the program. Coulter had made a speech days earlier in which she said, "I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, but it turns out you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot'."[12] Elizabeth Edwards confronted Coulter about the comment, as well as other comments Coulter had made accusing John Edwards of exploiting his son's death for political gain. Edwards asked Coulter to "stop the personal attacks" and accused her of "lowering the political dialogue" in America. Coulter responded that Edwards' complaints were an attempt to raise money for the presidential campaign, and questioned why the candidate himself was not making the call.[13]
Kevin James
On May 15, 2008, Matthews had a confrontation with radio broadcaster Kevin James when he appeared on the show. At issue was a controversial speech made by President George W. Bush in Israel, where he appeared to claim that statements made by United States presidential candidate Barack Obama were tantamount to Neville Chamberlain's actions of "Nazi appeasement" in 1938. James agreed with the notion that Obama's positions were like Chamberlain's policy of appeasement but was unable to elaborate on what exactly Chamberlain did.[14]
In popular culture
The show has been spoofed by
Hardball appeared on the October 9, 2005 episode of
The show was featured in the February 22, 2007
The 2008 film Swing Vote contains several segments of Chris Matthews delivering commentary on Hardball that relates to the film's plot line. Matthews received a credited cameo for recording the segments.[15]
The Hardball Award
The Hardball Award is an award created in 2009 that recognizes an individual "who displays a combination of guts and political moxie to win not just the day but our fondest admiration."[16] The award is not given on a regular basis; instead, it is given when someone displays character consistent with the award.
Recipients:
- Roland Burris: Given on January 9, 2009, for his efforts to retain his seat, which was appointed controversially by Rod Blagojevich.[16]
- Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger: Given on January 16, 2009, for his courage in his successful emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River.[17]
- Bernard Madoff's ponzi scheme.
- Hillary Clinton: Given on February 18, 2009, for her service to her country and her historic run at the presidency.
- Rush Limbaugh: Given on March 5, 2009, for taking a modest mention by the president and turning it into media gold.
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Given on March 24, 2009, for balancing motherhood, a successful House campaign, continuous voting, and presidential support for both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama while undergoing seven surgeries for breast cancer.
- Barack Obama: Given on April 2, 2009, for "firing" General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner, when Wagoner proved ineffective at reorganizing the company.
References
- IMDb
- ^ a b "Chris Matthews to Retire From MSNBC". The Hollywood Reporter. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ Ryu, Jenna. "Joy Reid takes over Chris Matthews' MSNBC time slot to host nightly news show". USA Today. Retrieved 2020-07-09.
- ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ Matthews: V.P.'s office tried to silence me on Cheney's Iraq role Salon.com
- ^ a b c d Interview with Rep. Michele Bachmann. Hardball with Chris Matthews on NBC News. 2008-10-17. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ "Stand Up America PAC". Censurebachmann.com. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
- ^ AP Archived October 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Democrats seek to unseat Michele Bachmann minnesota.publicradio.org
- YouTube
- YouTube
- ^ "Coulter under fire for anti-gay slur". CNN. March 4, 2007. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
I was going to have a few comments on the other Democratic presidential candidate, John Edwards, but it turns out that you have to go into rehab if you use the word 'faggot,' so I'm - so, kind of at an impasse, can't really talk about Edwards
- ^ Elizabeth Edwards vs. Ann Coulter - First Read MSNBC.com
- ^ Video Clip Appearance from NBC News's Hardball depicting Chris Matthews with Kevin James
- user-generated source]
- ^ a b "Hardball with Chris Matthews for Friday, January 9 - Hardball with Chris Matthews- NBC News". NBC News. 2009-01-13. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
- ^ "Hardball with Chris Matthews for Friday, January 16 - Hardball with Chris Matthews- NBC News". NBC News. 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2010-02-23.