Al Sharpton to Take Over MSNBC Time Slot?

Are you ready for Rev. Al Sharpton to grace your television every night? If not, you might want to start preparing yourself. TVNewser is reporting that the civil rights activist may be taking over MSNBC's 6 p.m. slot.

When Olbermann was let go back in January, there was some programming upheaval and political commentator Cenk Uygur was thrown onto the 6 p.m. slot. Now, sources say Uygur may be removed from that position and the outspoken Sharpton is said to be on the ballot to replace him. TVNewser has more:

Sharpton has hosted the 6pm show for the last two weeks. This past week, the hour was second, to Fox News, in A25-54 viewers Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Insiders tell us that Uygur will remain a part of MSNBC in some capacity. His site, The Young Turks, says Uygur has been on vacation and will return Monday.

Sharpton is no stranger to hosting MSNBC programs. In addition to his most recent stint on the 6 p.m. hour, he also has experience guest hosting "The Ed Show." The Huffington Post writes that Sharpton's addition to the MSNBC team could "raise eyebrows." After all, he is a controversial figure who, by some accounts, takes a more extreme view on sociopolitical issues.

Back in June, during a guest hosting stint on "The Ed Show," Sharpton had some conflict-management advice for embattled congressman Anthony Weiner. While the words of wisdom are intriguing, the clip also offers a chance to see Sharpton at the helm of a broadcast program:

Interestingly, last week, Phil Griffin, the president of MSNBC, had the following to say about his network as it relates to Fox News:

I don’t agree with how they [Fox] approach news, because I don’t always think they base it in fact, but I respect how they went out and got this huge audience...I don’t think there’s equivalency between Fox and MSNBC, although I do think a lot of people are glad there is an MSNBC to take on the big, bad Fox. I don’t think we’re nearly as based in ideology the way they are, but we definitely have tried to find a space the way they found their space.

One wonders how Sharpton fits into the network's news approach. Will his show, if these revelations prove true, be based "in fact?" There are still many questions on the table, but the idea that one of the nation's most outspoken activists would find his way onto the small screen is certainly worth noting.

If, indeed, Sharpton secures the 6 p.m. time slot, his presence could potentially transform the way in which people view the network.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected. The 6 p.m. time slot did not belong to Keith Olbermann (his was 8 p.m.), though Sharpton is allegedly being considered for this hour of programming.