The Washington Post’s Erik Wemple pays a tribute of sorts to Melissa Harris-Perry…
“Nerdland” was an appropriate descriptor for the programming that the host put forward each weekend. If the face-offs between Democratic presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton raised questions about the meaning of progressivism and capitalism, Harris-Perry and a slew of very smart guests were going to explore each one. If the water crisis in Flint, Mich., raised questions about race and U.S. infrastructure, likewise. If the San Bernardino massacre raised questions about the approriateness of prayer in public life, likewise. If the makeup of Stephen Colbert’s staff at CBS’s “Late Show” raises questions about race and comedy in the United States, likewise.
Here was a show addicted to substance. The notion, too, that “MHP” had to be preempted to cover the 2016 presidential race is a touch silly considering that the show did plenty such work, though perhaps not in the “polls-polls-polls!” spirit of the Fox News-CNN-MSNBC axis.
And there’s this…
To finish with an apology: This blog has covered Harris-Perry primarily by highlighting her show’s less glorious moments, which is an unfortunate tendency in this media-criticism racket. Herewith a resolution to highlight the good stuff now and then.
Filed under: MSNBC
