Now with Alex Wagner

Ms. Wagner is the most informative, well organized, clear and articulate of all the news anchors. Not only those anchors at MSNBC but those at CNN and the mainstream national news programs. (I didn't mention FOXas I do not consider it a news program.) Her English is impeccable. Her vocabulary, vast yet comprehensible, given she always uses "high minded" words in the correct context. She treats her guests with great respect, while teasing from them the information she seeks. She seems to sense the Zeitgeist of the moment. Thus, she is able to make her messages timely and relative. Hers is one of the few news programs I have set my DVR to record on a daily basis. If it were the only one, "Now, With Alex Wagner" would be that one. In my book, she's the best in the business.

Her value to the viewer and the station, to me, is adding diversity. She has an unusual strong confidence, not rising from her quality, but for her diversity - she is different, not better. What bothers me, though, is not her tremendous room for improvement. She has 50% quality guests and 50% guests that you do not want to listen to. The 50% quality guests, I wish any of them can replace Wagner. I don't get it. MSNBC, if they want to stress their attitude in diversity, they still should pay attention to quality.

Wagner's background isn't impressive at all. She is extremely liberal which is extremely unconvincing. Hopefully MSNBC could find a better replacement among other choices of diversity.

I thought very highly of Alex Wagner's work on Showtime's 'The Circus': She brought great energy to their casual roundtable format and particularly shone in one-on-one field interviews. I especially remember one with a tense militia member that she handled expertly.

I wonder about her comfort level on 'Now,' as she seems so changed. I have yet to watch it more than 20 min. (for the big interview), and each time she gets too loud. That can be a byproduct of adjusting to studio sound levels. But, without fail, she has also interrupted and talked over guests. There is a line, imo, between liberal and strident (I'm darn liberal); I'm not sure Wagner respects it.

I hope she will exhale a little, maybe take some notes. Just now she reminds me a bit of Chris Jansing, a good reporter who became an overloud, overtalking host.