Rachel Maddow is stepping back from her prime-time weekday show on MSNBC to work on movie and podcast projects, she told her team Monday, according to two sources with knowledge of conversations. The star news anchor was expected to share with viewers of The Rachel Maddow Show Monday night that she’ll take a break starting next week but will be back in “a few weeks,” said an MSNBC insider. (Insider)
The hiatus will begin Feb. 7, and last through the month. The network will tap various guest-hosts to lead the weekday 9 p.m. hour in the interim, including Maddow’s primary fill-in Ali Velshi. (TVNewser)
Maddow, a popular prime-time host especially among liberal viewers, agreed to stay on at the network through 2024 after she and the network reached a deal that reportedly pays her $30 million per year. It was reported then that part of Maddow’s deal included working with NBCUniversal, the parent company of MSNBC, on creating new projects. (The Hill)
Maddow will executive produce a Focus Features movie based on her book and podcast, Bag Man, about a political bribery scandal. (NY Post)