BURNS: “Quick Take” headline number two: “New Assignment for Abrams.” M -- MSNBC -- I can't say it either -- show host and NBC legal correspondent Dan Abrams is getting a new job. He gives up his MSNBC talk show and becomes an MSNBC executive, second in command at the network. OK, it sounds like an inside story, Neal. But -- but usually show hosts, low-rated show hosts, aren't promoted to management.
GABLER: Yes, that's right.
BURNS: And maybe it's another indication of -- of the way MSNBC has struggled to find an identity.
GABLER: Well, they certainly have struggled. But here's what I found interesting: Abrams said, “I'm going to bring more exciting treatment of the news. It's going to be less sober.” And just once --
BURNS: Just what we need.
GABLER: -- just once, I would like to hear some guy who takes over a network say, “You want to know something? I am going to make the news more exhaustive. I am going to make it more nuanced. I am going to make it better.” Will anyone ever say that in the history of news?
THOMAS: You touched on the important thing: the loss of identity. All of them are trying to copy Fox now, to be honest. They wanted -- many of them are doing more tabloid, more big-lipped blondes, and all this kind of stuff. There's only so much of that trailer-trash pie to go around.
[laughter]
THOMAS: And you got to -- you've got to get out there and do the serious stuff once in a while.
