Ed Schultz returns to MSNBC lineup in May with weekend show

Liberals, get ready: Ed Schultz is back to fight the good fight with you.

The scrappy host -- who once called Laura Ingraham “a right-wing slut” (he later apologized) -- will return to the MSNBC lineup with a weekend show starting May 11.

Fans were dismayed in March when it was announced that Schultz was going to lose his weekly prime-time show on the cable news network. Executives promised then that Schultz would return, although it’s taken a bit longer than expected (they initially said April 1).

PHOTOS: Cable versus broadcast ratings

In a statement, MSNBC President Phil Griffin wrote: “I’m thrilled for Ed and happy to be expanding our weekend programming. It’s an exciting time for MSNBC and I’m looking forward to having Ed’s powerful voice on our network for a long time.”

At first, the new Schultz program will be one hour starting at 5 p.m. Saturdays. But the network plans to expand it to two hours later this summer.

In the meantime, Schultz’s old weeknight slot has been taken over by Rachel Maddow protege Chris Hayes, whose star is on the ascendancy.

What do you think of Schultz?

ALSO:

HGTV to introduce nine new series by July 31

The Amazon pilots (Part 2): Children’s shows

Netflix releases first peek at ‘Arrested Development’

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT

PHOTOS, VIDEOS & MORE:

Real places, fake characters: TV’s bars and eateries

PHOTOS: ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ through the years

PHOTOS: Violence in TV shows