- Scarborough Country
infobox television
show_name = Scarborough Country
caption =
format =Opinion /Analysis program
runtime = 60minutes
creator =
starring =Joe Scarborough
country =United States
network =MSNBC
first_aired = April2003
last_aired = June2007
num_episodes =
website = http://msnbc.msn.com/id/
imdb_id =
tv_com_id = 31221"Scarborough Country" was an opinion/analysis show broadcast on
MSNBC Monday - Thursday at 9 P.M. ET. It was hosted by formercongressman Joe Scarborough (R - Fla.)."Scarborough Country" made its debut in April
2003 . On average, "Scarborough Country" received approximately 300,000 viewers per night. (Source:Nielsen Media Research , ) Frequent on-air contributors to Scarborough Country wereCraig Crawford ,Pat Buchanan , Brent Bozell, and Tony Perkins.While remaining "extraordinarily conservative" [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/] , Scarborough has recently become much more critical of
George W. Bush and some of his policies. In so doing, Scarborough finds himself agreeing more frequently with traditional conservativePat Buchanan , who appeared on Scarborough's show nearly every day.Dan Abrams had been filling in due to Scarborough's work on "Morning Joe " during the show's last few weeks. "Scarborough Country" was replaced with "Live with Dan Abrams " in 2007.Controversies
In May 2005, Scarborough criticized
Arnold Schwarzenegger by repeating an allegation in a British newspaper that the California governor had advocated blowing up themoon as a way of controlling women's menstrual cycles. Scarborough apologized after learning that it was a comedy skit on theHoward Stern radio show and not an actual Schwarzenegger interview. [http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/weblog/permalink/schwarzenegger_blows_up_the_moon/ Schwarzenegger Blows Up the Moon ] ] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=qw111570084341B253 IOL: Arnie's not mad at the moon ] ]The show also had a non-satirical segment asking "Is Bush an 'Idiot'?", complete with a discussion with political analysts
John Fund and Lawrence O'Donnel. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whhbPVrb5KM "Is Bush an 'Idiot'?" on YouTube.com] ]In 2007, Scarborough blasted Bill O'Reilly for being a Republican "suck-up" after O'Reilly claimed everyone at MSNBC was a liberal and hated Bush, saying:cquote|Bill O'Reilly, just attack Rosi ... You're way off base on MSNBC, on
NBC and certainly on me. And I challenge you to debate me anytime, anyplace, anywhere, and find one thing I have said on this program over the past year that is not consistent with the conservative congressman who was against military adventurism when I was in Congress, that was against exploding deficits, that was against reckless spending, and was against turning Congress into the type of swamp that we Republicans have turned it into over the past six years. That doesn't make me liberal, that makes me conservative. That may make you, though, a suck-up, if you defend the Republicans that have done that to this country and to our party over the past six years. [ [http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/05/scarborough-challenges-oreilly-to-a-debate/ Scarborough challenges Bill O'Reilly to a debate - Transcript and Video] .]After Rosie O'Donnell made the controversial claims that the UK intentionally allowed British troops to be seized in order justify a war against Iran and that
7 World Trade Center was imploded by explosives, Scarborough explicitly called for ABC to fire O'Donnell during the April 2 and 3, 2007 broadcasting. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id// April 2, 2007 Scarborough Country Transcript] [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id// April 3, 2007 Scarborough Country Transcript]Tabloid turn
Since the summer of 2006, "Scarborough Country" had been criticized for taking a "tabloid turn", covering mainly celebrity, entertainment, and crime stories. The show then featured segments such as "Must See SC," and "Hollyweird" about celebrities in trouble. The show covered the August 2006
Mel Gibson DUI arrest very extensively. The show also devoted much time to segments about "The View ",Lindsay Lohan ,Britney Spears 's baby,Tom Cruise 's baby, and other tabloid stories. The segment was also known for sometimes reairing a regular skit from ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live ", "This Week In Unnecessary Censorship".carborough Unplugged
Former
MSNBC General ManagerDan Abrams has started a segment called "Scarborough Unplugged," which features Joe Scarborough engaging in humorous acts. These segments are fictionalized. One included an audition tape for "Dancing with the Stars". Another included Scarborough destroyingLaura Ingraham video tapes. A recent one made fun of MSNBC's Dan Abrams, and another one featured Scarborough swearing at reporters over a celebrity list.Notes and references
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