Rachel!!

It's clearly a show that's got to get itself together yet, but the debut tonight of "The Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC got off to a promising start, even if it did have a bit too much Keith Olbermann. We are huge Keith fans here at B@B, but the segment on the Obama interview felt a bit like "repurposing content", which is of course exactly what it was.

While I love the cheeky snark of calling a segment featuring Pat "Culture Wars" Buchanan "It's Pat" (with Buchanan seemingly unaware of the irony), I think the last thing Pat Buchanan needs is yet MORE air time on MSNBC. And Rachel doesn't seem quite able yet to keep him under control:

I'm not getting a funny, SNL-type Point/Counterpoint "Jane you ignorant slut" vibe out of this; both seem a bit too angry for this to do what it's clearly supposed to. But this is the oddest couple on television, and if it works better over time it'll be replayed right up there with the opening monologues on The Daily Show.

And of course the return of the great Kent Jones to Rachel's side caused much joy and huzzahs to emanate from Casa la Brilliant. Now if "Lawton Smalls" returns to the upcoming Seder v. Maron video show (watch this blog for updates and premiere dates), I can almost think the good old days are back.