It has been a long time, but I do remember watching Donahue on MSNBC.  He was not good in the format.  Even if Donahue had high ratings then, he was practically the only game in town.  Cenk, otoh, is very entertaining and that is a great format for him.  I think of Cenk as being more like Rachel, fresh new talent.  I read (quite possibly on TVNewser) that Rachel did lobby for her show, that MSNBC was dragging its feet, so Rachel approached Fox, which caused MSNBC to move.  I don't know if Olbermann lobbied for her as well, but she did analyst-segments on his show and filled in for KO many times as well as occasionally for DG.

I don't know how much t.v. Cenk has done, but it is a great way to audition.  If Cenk has opportunities or can make opportunities to be on t.v., he should.  It is also too bad that tyt was dropped from AA.  It was great advertising.  That is how I became a fan and now a member.  (I am new to tyt and wonder what the deal is/was w/AA.)  Imo, there is no contest between him and Dohahue.

Ed Schultz, otoh, has appeal as someone mentioned in an earlier post.  I think that he would be very good and could expand the white working class male demographic.  But, Cenk would definitely have a greater appeal to the youth demographic which is the future, not to mention the sought-after demo for the network execs.  Youth of all shades too.

I vote for Cenk, hands down.  But he has to make his breaks like Rachel did and find opportunities.  He should be doing that anyway; he is definitely talented and seems to be very ambitious.   Go Cenk!