By David Bauder, Media Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --MSNBC on Monday solidified its primetime lineup by appointing Alex Wagner to fill Rachel Maddow's time slot four nights a week, Tuesday through Friday.
Wagner, who has worked at CBS News, as a co-host of Showtime's "The Circus" and as an editor at The Atlantic, is on her second stint at MSNBC. She rejoined MSNBC in February after hosting a show on the network a decade ago.
Maddow will continue to work in her 9 p.m. Eastern time slot on Monday nights, MSNBC said.
"I'm honored to be anchoring a key hour of television in such a critical time for American democracy," Wagner said.
It's an important move for the liberal-leaning news network and its president, Rashida Jones. Maddow has been MSNBC's most popular personality, and her decision earlier this year to step back from a weeknight show that was a linchpin of the network's schedule was a blow.
Since she went to her Monday-only schedule, the hour has been filled with subs, but the nightly show retained her name. Occasionally, during big news weeks, Maddow has been on the air more often.
A first-generation Asian American whose mother emigrated to the U.S. from Myanmar, Wagner wrote a book about her experiences, "FutureFace: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest and the Secret to Belonging."
Besides The Atlantic, she has also been an economics reporter for HuffPost and White House correspondent for AOL's Politics Daily. She was editor-in-chief of The Fader, a culture-oriented magazine, and was executive director of an advocacy organization that aimed to stop mass atrocities.
"Her unique perspective, built on more than two decades in journalism, and tenacious reporting in the U.S. and abroad will help our audiences contextualize what matters," Jones said.
Wagner's new show will premiere Aug. 16. A continued rotation of anchors will fill in at the 9 p.m. hour until then.
Meanwhile, CNN is still looking to fill its 9 p.m. Eastern time slot on a regular basis following the firing of Chris Cuomo.
Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton among hosts for “SNL” season 50
Fresh off her Emmys win, Jean Smart will kick off the landmark 50th season of "Saturday Night Live."
NBC on Thursday announced the lineup of hosts for the season, which premieres Sept. 28. Joining Smart on the first show will be Jelly Roll as the musical act. He was also at the Emmys, singing during the ceremony's in memoriam segment.
It will be Smart's first time hosting "SNL."
Comedian Nate Bargatze will host on Oct. 5, with Coldplay as the musical guest.
Ariana Grande will host Oct. 12, with musical guest Stevie Nicks.
"Beetlejuice" star Michael Keaton will host on Oct. 19, the last show before Halloween, and Billie Eilish will be that night's musical guest.
The host on Nov. 2 will be "SNL" alum John Mulaney, with breakout sensation Chappell Roan as the music guest.
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