When MSNBC CEO Phil Griffin announced Tuesday that Al Sharpton would be taking over the 6 p.m. slot with the new show "Politics Nation," he spoke about the decade-long relationship he has developed with the minister and civil rights activist.
For Sharpton, what seems to have truly cemented that relationship was working with Griffin on “A Stronger America: The Black Agenda,” a special MSNBC aired last year that grabbed headlines for a debate between Sharpton and professor/author/activist Cornel West.
Also read: MSNBC Ends Speculation, Hires Al Sharpton as Primetime Host
Sharpton talked to TheWrap shortly after the announcement about extending his civil rights endeavors to television, seeking a bigger audience for his message and giving MSNBC another opinionated voice to tee up its primetime line-up.
Have you always wanted to go into TV full-time?
It’s a natural fit for what I’m doing. I clearly understand that in the 21st century of policy America, you’ve got to deal with talk TV and talk radio. The Tea Party didn’t come out of anywhere. If it weren't for Fox TV and Fox radio, the right wing would not have had traction. I knew the battleground would not just be on the streets but the studio as well. It worked for where I felt the movement had to go in the 21st century.
Why is MSNBC the right fit for your efforts?
One, we have had a working relationship with MSNBC. The last two years of my civil rights movement (the National Action Network), we’ve had the “Black Agenda” special -- the infamous debate with Cornel West and President Obama was that special. But secondly, the shows after 5 p.m. are opinionated shows like Fox. The other cable stations are more just news down the middle. I’m not a news-down-the-middle journalist. I’m an opinionated person.
The show debuts Aug. 29; will it be any different from what you have been doing filling in for Cenk Uygur at 6 p.m. over the summer?
It will not be different in terms of the focus -- dealing with issues in an opinionated way, my expressing my views and others giving their views. But we will do some stuff that will be my signature segments. The focus will be from another point of view, and I will be dealing with those that disagree.
Do you have certain topics or any regular guests in mind?
I certainly want to deal with the issue of the economic disparities in this country, deal with what’s going on in the political season of 2012. I know politics. I ran in 2004. Just like a [Mike] Huckabee knows on Fox, I know it on here. I’m the only one on this station that has run for President and knows what it is to go through a primary and presidential debate. It’s just like why Roger Ailes hired Huckabee.
So have you ruled out any more election campaigns?
No, I’m not ruling anything out, but I wanna be focused on making this as wide an audience as I can.
