Who will Replace Russert?
By John Amato Saturday Jun 14, 2008 2:00pm
After the shocking death of NBC's Tim Russert on Friday that stunned the political world, NBC News' signature show is now without an anchor. The LA Times says they have heard that the network is considering three hosts already under contract.
Speculation on possible successors centers on three on-air personalities already under contract to NBC: David Gregory, the former White House correspondent recently given his own MSNBC show, "Race for the White House"; Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's long-running "Hardball"; and Joe Scarborough, the former congressman and host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, according to talent representatives who declined to speak on the record for fear of jeopardizing relationships with network management...read on
I would say that Gregory will be the fill-in host for the time being, but in my mind, he's not strong enough to take over the show full time. Scott Collins writes that Olbermann is considered an ideologue, so he's out of the running too, but if that's the case, then The Scar should also not be a real possibility. If NBC had ever considered Chris as a viable candidate for the job, then he would have hosted MTP already as a fill-in for Russert when he took time off from the show in the past. Matthews never had a shot there and since he barely reads the tele-prompter, so I'd say he's got no shot either. NBC might give him a few shows anyway, but I don't see him as a realistic choice. I think NBC has to either promote some local talent that we haven't had a chance to see yet or look outside their circle and find a strong personality to take over the reigns of the number one Sunday talk show that brings in at least fifty million dollars a year. Chuck Todd is not the answer either so, who do you think should take over the show?
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first
no no and no
Who cares? Do we really need another talking head for government propaganda?
Gwen Ifill!
I could live with Gregory replacing Russert, but Scarborough or Matthews?? No way!
jeff @ 1:
lester holt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Holt
What about Andrea Mitchell? I thought she was in line for that job.
lester holt?
Gregory would be a capable replacement; either of the other two would be absurd.
Jeff Gannon, perhaps?
I vote Rachel Maddow.
Daryl Waltrip.
I mean, I'm sorry his heart broke down and I'm sorry his family has to go through this, but DAMN! Nil nisi bonum and all, let's not make him into some kind of saint just because he died. He must have been a personable fellow, but let's not forget he helped convince the ignorant and gullible public into approving of the Iraq invasion.
Imus.
I'm sure NBC will cave in and bring in another reich-winger who will handle Cheney et al with kid's gloves.
after reading some comments I'd say Gwen Ifill or Andrew Mitchell would be more realistic.
How about just a tele-prompter from GE?
I vote for....who gives a shit.
Ask Murde...I mean Morning Joe about the aid found dead in his office.
I know you said Chuck Todd isn't the answer, but I wish he was.
Oh please not David Gregory. Forget Matthews and Scarborough. If either of those three got the spot, it would be the end of MTP for me.
If Olberman is an idealogue(???), then it doesn't matter who they put in , because they clearly aren't interested in integrity. If that's the excuse they are going to make, I suggest they go recruiting over a FOX.
pissed off patricia @ 17:
I will get rid of every T.V I own if it's David Gregory.
I. Conoplastic @ 11:
not a reason to be grateful he's dead, IMO. Fired maybe, but not dead. And him being dead might just mean he'll be replaced with someone worse. Russert had plenty of faults, but he was hardly the worst of his kind.
Bert and Ernie
I'd like to see David Shuster get a shot, but his 'pimping' comment has set back his career a bit. It will probably be Karl Rove's dance partner, that tool David Gregory.
wisedup @ 15:
LOL!
Exactly! Why bother with the person. Maybe just have bodacious babes in the background to compete with Faux news format?
Who here trusts or believes any of these people.
I am thoroughly skeptical.
Going outside of NBC, I'd like to see Aaron Brown (eventhough I know he has a new gig).
Within NBC, Gwen Ifill.
I nominate Rachel Maddow. She has recently (primary coverage) been on MSNBC a lot as a commentator and has brought thoughtfulness to the discussion every time. She has a doctorate in political science (or the equivalent) from Oxford University and has her own radio talk show on Air America. She should get a shot at this position on MTP because she is head and shoulders above the three mentioned above in intelligence, and she does her research, doesn't just prattle and spout every thought that flits through her head (Matthews), is not an ideologue (Scarborough), nor intimidated by the establishment (sorry, Gregory).
I second the nomination of Rachel Maddow
Samantha Bee!!
If they want real and serious, then Amy Goodman is an excellent choice
Dan Rather.
How about a real journalist? Sy Hersh, e.g.
Anderson Cooper is pretty much the only guy I could see doing a good job at this post. I realize he's not an NBC guy, but seriously, who else is there that's fair and balanced and actually gives a shit whether or not he's telling the truth? Can you imagine what a trainwreck Dan Abrams would be?
adwildcat @ 3:
Not a bad choice.
SuD @ 25:
I think Aaron Brown would be great.
I am vomiting into my mouth at the thought of Joe Scarborough.
I no longer even watch HIS show when he is on it. He degrades all of those who appear on the panel with him. Have they lost their effffing minds?
What a snarky know-nothing Florida good ole boy schmuck!!!
Oh, two more things:
1. Chuck Todd and David Gregory have all the presence of pastel wallpaper.
2. Christiane Amanpour should only host MTP if she can get Warner to greenlight an actual ending for Gilmore Girls, which ended on a ridiculous lack of closure. ;)
How about Dan Abrams
I consider Mr. Russert to be part of the orchestra that Mr. Bush conducts. The tune they played caused the deaths of thousands of our mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, and seriously injured tens of thousands more, while putting our country on the verge of collapse. My eyes are red from the past 7 years; I don’t have any tears left for Russert. Russert was the epitome of "Go along to get along".
Does this mean that Arianna will now be allowed on Olbermann's show?
Why is Chuck Todd not the answer? I think he might be a good choice. Would he have to grow into the position? Probably. But didn't Russert when he started out on MTP?
Whoever it is, I'm sure they will follow in the Tim Russert mold- which seems to be the model of all mainstream media these days.
They are no longer the watchdogs of democracy- rather they exist to insulate and enable the ruling corporate class.
Not Gregory.
Not Matthews.
Not the Scar.
I like Chuck Todd, personally. I bet they'll rotate some ppl in and see who fits the shoe.
Ed Schultz
John Tighe @ 363:
Yep, but there's puppeteers in the rafters pullin Shrubs strings too...
;-}
My guess is they prefer another extremely smart person like Tim who graduated cum laude from law school.
My choice would be John Harwood who graduated magna cum laude from Duke University.
Not only is he very intelligent, but from all appearances he plays it down the middle.
As far as Andrea Mitchell, even her friend Don Imus once said she is ill suited for interview-type formats.
I love Rachel Maddow, but too partisan to be seriously considered.
David Shuster also graduated with honors from the University of Michigan. But he has limited experience conducting interviews.
I thought Gregory had a law degree, but apparently not. As others have said, he has not excelled with his new talk show on MSNBC.
Without question, Rachel! I'm sick of these cowardly men who are afraid to really ask tough questions (excluding just ONE who isn't; Keith Olbermann.) Every one of those men at NBC should be working at Fox (again, excluding Keith Olbermann.) I can tell you this - if somebody gave Rachel a lame answer on MTP, she'd follow up - she would not let them slide. Nor would she allow them to get away with murder.
I checked out the poll. Rather was top pick, and a good pick. I'm waiting to hear what the Milquetoasts say.
Gwen Ifill
Andrea Mitchell
Lisa Myers
Katie Couric
Judy Woodruff
Chuck Todd
BAC
LynnDee @ 364:
Chuck Todd is not a journalist and has never conducted a on camera or off camera interview in his life. People keep trying to equate Chuck Todd with Barack Obama in terms of experience. Chuck Todd is more the equivalent of Charles Barkley running for President.
Does he have potential? YES! Is he ready right now? Not by a long shot. He has to prove he can host Hardball or something before he's given the biggest news job in politics.
codosca @ 100:
I cannot believe your comment re: Andrea Mitchell !!!
Have you really listened to her lately? Unbiased, you say??
She was sooo anti Hillary, and it was very apparent.
Also, on her daily show on MSNBC, she has a lot of trouble getting her words together to make a complete sentence.
PLEASE NOT Andrea Mitchell.
John Harwood, CNBC DC Correspondent would be perfect
They will never give it to a woman, regardless. It will be another man, and my guess would be that they will aks Brokaw to come out of retirement to do it....and he just might.
MSNBC needs to dump Scarborough, Pat Buchanan, and Tucker Carlsen. They are all just Republican stooges. Keep MSNBC pure and accurate. No bots with Republican leanings or thoughts.
New blog post is up at my blog and it has tim russert as a topic of talk.
Sad that some blogs (not this one) allowed ppl to post comments wishing his death. Well congrats asswipes, it happend hes dead and your hate for america is still there.
Enjoy life, forget ppl that forget about americas core founding, live for yourself and smile when pissed!
Oh and my blog has some funny ass videos too. In times like this,, its best to laugh, then cry.
Danke C&L for a kick ass blog and danke for all your readers etc.
Best regards,,
Best political analyst that I have ever heard is Dave Ross and local radio host in Seattle, WA. He's smart, funny, he believes in "drive-by common sense" and he even sings...
ambz @ 10:
Good choice as well.
Lawrence O'Donnell. He's already associated with NBC, is a journalist, political commentator, actor and producer. Russert was more than just a host. The new guy will need to be experienced in keeping a successful show afloat. Larry has that experience.
Moyers and Rather, great as they are, are over 70 years old and would not stay with the show long term.
Taking the show back to its panel roots, quaint as it sounds, would be disastrous because the show was still in that format when it almost was taken off the air due to poor ratings before Russert came along.
Who cares, It's just gonna continue as a message multiplier for Bushco, & the like.
Unless they go way off script & put someone like Phil Donahue in there, it will continue to serve up republican Poo every sunday.
John Harwood
in the CNBC vein, David Faber, Charlie Gasparino, and a few of their other reporters are pretty sharp. Maria Bartiromo could handle it. or Dylan Ratigan, just to see how many shows the man is capable of hosting.
Tavis Smiley is a good host.
i know the C-SPANners were mentioned in one post, but i would like to suggest B-Lamb, if for no other reason than to see myself type "B-Lamb". (and he's plenty qualified, too.)
also, there's no reason they can't consider accomplished journalists from local news stations (and if they're from a major market, that might give them some momentum). there's a few in Chicagoland i can think of.
I enjoy Joe Scarborough on Morning Joe. He's a conservative but not a partisan hack. However he is ill suited to a Sunday type show.
Chris Matthews is a democrat who gets a special tingle when Obama speaks and who develops various mancrushes. I don't think he would be good.
Olbermann is too partisan and I've only seen him interview synchophants. I honestly wouldn't see him being fair in inteviewing someone he loathes (Matthews or Scarborough would at least try) KO is a liberal Sean Hannity.
If you go for a woman, I like Lara Logan, Gwen Ifill or Mika Brzeznski. For the males I really like Ray Suarez. He's a fair and good interviewer. I also like Shuster but his "pimping" comment really hurt his career.
For the short term I'd like to see rotating guest hosts until one is picked. Then we can see who is suited for it.
I am tired of the whole Sunday morning shows. But, if NBC has any sense, they will realize that, contrary to your position, among their existing talent base Chuck Todd is the only answer. He may be young and relatively new to NBC, but he is the smartest about politics. I wish you would explain your casual brush off.
Olbermann is the perfect choice. He's got presence & integrity...& he's hot right now...& he'll bring ratings! If he's "considered an idealogue" now, that'll change after a few weeks of hosting MTP. Shuster, Gregory, & Maddow are not ready yet.
1.If Brokaw feels like working hard again, I can see him filling in, out of a sense of duty, respect, and friendship, but not for long term. He's NBC's "icon" for news, and it's a safe choice. I think it's his job, if he wants it.
2.Mitchell is the woman who has been there a long time, so she's got some pull, despite being Mrs. Greenspan
3.Ifill, Amanpour, Woodruff.Outside the company, would make it look like, those on the payroll, can't cut it, so it would be weird, even though all 3 would be fine.
The suggestion it becomes a panel show again, is a good one, prevents the suits from making one choice, that blows up in their faces.Also, allows them to play the "No ONE person can fill Russert's shoes" card.
...as a follow up.
J. Scar, no, clearly right leaning.
Olbermann, no, clearly left (but I'd WATCH)
Same for Maddow (and she's hot)
Gregory, no, but can't quite put my finger on it, something too "slick".
Suarez...he'd be an interesting choice, but anyone from PBS would be thought of as "left".
Jon Stewart: I think Obama should make him Chairman of the FCC after the election, and Bill Maher the Press Secretary, but briefings would only be on HBO, so he can curse at the stupid reporters.
CRB @ 377:
Agreed. Three absolute lying Republican whores. If I never, ever hear a word from these throwback to the 1950's I'll be happy.
Definately Gwen Ifill or Rachel Maddow!
Why is Chuck Todd not an option? I see him as a burgeoning Tim Russert, and in fact, it feels as if Tim Russert saw him as some sort of protege. Tim didn't start the show being the Tim Russert that (gulp) signed off last week. (Still can't believe we will never have the pleasure of his company again. Damn it.)
What about David Shuster? Love the man.
Chris Matthews is adversarial and not a Meet the Press moderator. And the show is not called "Meet the Mess." Can you imagine Matthews spitting on all of his guests at the MTP roundtable? Euu.
I hate that we have to think of a "replacement." I was so looking forward to growing up and older with Meet the Press and Russert. It will never be the same.
If they go with the older or more established news person, what about bringing back Brokaw or Rather or Koppel?
I think that if NBC doesn't choose Andrea Mitchell, Tom Brokaw would be the best, look Bob Schiefer is on Sunday Morning in CBS, he's the former anchor of CBS Evening News just as Tom
CRB @ 377:
SCARBOROUGH? Quick. Someone get me smelling salts before my head falls off in hysterical laughter. Why don't you just add Blakeman and Buchanan to the list- the talking heads MSNBC pulls in when they need a right wing fruitcake.
BILL MOYERS. Oh yes. BILL MOYERS. Perfection.
I love Keith Olbermann... Not sure if I want to see him leave COUNTDOWN but... it could be.. Hmm..
No no no to Andrea Mitchell. There is something canned about her. I respect her and her work but she does not feel like the independent voice of reason. She's got this Way Too Inside Elite DC Vibe going for me.
Hell, give me Helen Thomas and I will donate money to the charity of MSNBC'S choice for giving THAT Woman a voice at the table.
Rachel Maddow. She'd be great, and it's long past time a woman hosted a Sunday morning chat show.
Rachel Maddow has as much of a chance as I do.
Hey now!
There's an idea. I need do need a job.
Why not bring back the old format...one moderator and 3 or 4 journalists from around the country asking one newsmaker for that week..this way we wont have what we had with russert..The Tim Russert Show..
Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog
coco @ 5:
I agree. She'd be great at it.
Joe Scarborough?
If he does the show I will never watch it again. "Face the Nation" will overtake MTP in a matter of weeks. Joe Scarborough is a dumbass and his right wing bias waifs off of him like sweat in a steam bath.
I would like to hear everybody's thoughts about Joe Scarborough. I thing the people at NBC read this blog and would be interested about your feelings.
Gregory, since he got his own show, has been a disappointment as far as I'm concerned. Not hear as bad as Joe Scarborough but I thought he would have been better. I hate to sya this but Tweety may not be a bad call unless (god I hated typing that) they get Olbermann or Rachel Maddow. Chuck Todd I like and seems like a perfectly nice guy but he doesn't seem to have the attack dog mentality that is needed.
I would like to hear everybody's thoughts about Joe Scarborough though. I think the people at NBC read this blog and would be interested about your feelings.
Vernon Twinburger! Of Course!
I love Maddow and would be thrilled to see her with her own TV show, but I can't see them promoting someone with only a few years of regular gigs as a commentator to head the biggest Sunday Show there is. Not that she couldn't do the job, but I think even Rachel would find the idea funny.
Take a step back and return to the glory days when the guest would appear before a panel of reporters and actually Meet The Press instead of being interviewed by a political version of Barbara Walters.
Ever wonder why they have a roundtable of reporters dissecting what someone just said? Why did they call it MTP instead of Meet Tim Russert And Then Listen To Reporters and Pundits Blather And Misinterpret. Sure, a little long but a helluva lot more accurate.
Write NBC today - tell them to make the show live up to it's name!
why not chuck todd?
i'm a fan of his. i think he's been great during the primaries
SuD @ 25:
Gwen Ifill's with PBS, hosts "Washington Week" or some such talking head program. She'd be a good choice. Or...Bob Costas.
Lara Logan
Or
Kermit the Frog.
Just look at what he has done to Mika, she use to be good but some how under Joe Scarborough she lost her way; I honestly don’t know who could replace Tim Russert… I am assuming the closes maybe David Gregory but I have my reservation about him since his show Race to the White began but until that I was impressed when he sat in for Tim on occasions on Meet the Press and how he was one of a few reporters not afraid to ask President Bush tough question but I have not been impress with how at times he has allowed Joe Scarborough or Pat Buchanan to take over his MSNBC Show.
I do like David Shuster with the exception of his Pimp Comment, Other than that, it has to be another unknown who can demonstrate integrity, fairness and one who is with out any hidden agenda and Joe Scarborough is not that person.
Captain Obama’s Bitter Half Husein Kangaroo @ 41:
My thoughts on Joe Scar is that (a) he's an alcoholic who's (b) too much of an idealogue to be an objective moderator for MTP and (c) he should not benefit from Tim Russert's death with a promotion of this caliber until he answers questions about that dead staffer found in his Pensacola office when he was a Congressman.
I was watching a tribute to Tim Russert Saturday morning on MSNBC and Joe Scarborough appeared to be interviewing for the job on Meet the Press… I got the strong suspicion that his Republican friends are privately pushing for him to pursue this job… And if ever there were a person who should never replace Russert it is Joe Scarborough.
…He actually had the nerve to compare his show to Meet the Press, trying to lead one to believe that Morning Joe had the same type of credibility and Integrity that Meet the Press has….You have got to be kidding… The way Morning Joe handled to Reverend Wright Story, Senator Obama’s “bowling” and intentionally misinterpreting Michelle Obama statement about being proud that American are getting involved in the voting process and in the same breath given major passes to Senator McCain’s confusion on Sunni and Shiites, his lack of economy experience, His Pastor (S) problems, His Second Wife Cindy’s admitted drug uses and the fact she stole from her own foundation… Now can you imagine if Senator Obama had an affair with the woman who is now his wife, Joe Scarborough would have ran this story over and over again, and without acknowledging his own martial indiscretions with his first wife…. There is no way NBC can consider making Joe the hypocrite Scarborough the next anchor of Meet the Press.
Just look at what he has done to Mika, she use to be good but some how under Joe Scarborough she lost her way; I honestly don’t know who could replace Tim Russert… I am assuming the closes maybe David Gregory but I have my reservation about him since his show Race to the White began but until that I was impressed when he sat in for Tim on occasions on Meet the Press and how he was one of a few reporters not afraid to ask President Bush tough question but I have not been impress with how at times he has allowed Joe Scarborough or Pat Buchanan to take over his MSNBC Show.
I do like David Shuster with the exception of his Pimp Comment, Other than that, it has to be another unknown who can demonstrate integrity, fairness and one who is with out any hidden agenda and Joe Scarborough is not that person.
I've been thinking about this on and off all evening and I'm starting to think Aaron Brown would be a really good choice. He's a grown-up, his credentials are good and he has the same calm style that we're used to from Russert. Plus, he has that VOICE!
I like the idea of Bill Moyers or Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann, but let's face it: The corporate executives do not want someone who is left-leaning.
Chris Matthews already has a morning show just before Meet the Press.
Joe Scarborough would be too biased to the Right. I don't hate him as much as some people on this site do, but I can't see him being fair and balanced enough for a mainstream news show.
David Gregory would be ok as a temporary, fill-in host, but not as a regular.
I thought of Aaron Brown, too. I know he has a new show on PBS (or will) but... contracts can be amended in emergencies....
Another vote for Rachel Maddow. When she speaks I believe.
She does her homework and speaks the truth.
I also want to note that I don't understanding all the halo hanging on Russert.
Death is never welcome. But God, listening to all the eulogizing going on you would have thought he was a saint. He wasn't. A good man, a good son, a great father, yes... but not a saint.
Was he any more complicit in the propaganda for the war than the rest of the MSM? Probably not. Just as much? Definitely.
We used to trust these people to do their homework. Now they just read off the teleprompter what the corporate bosses want them to say.
Humm wonder why we don't see him they way his buddies in the MSM do.
ambz @ 10:
Great idea! Intelligent, well spoken, able to actually understand what the guests are saying. One problem though, NBC will never let someone that far left host Meet the Press. Could you imagine how she would shred someone like Dana Perino?
Bring back Brokaw!
Since we are not getting a woman presidential candidate, how about a woman here.
Gwen Ifill would be my first choice, then Judy Woodruff, then Amanpour. Not Mrs. Greenspan( besides her being Republican she does all that humming and hawing.) Some people get tired listening for her to finally get her question out.
After scanning all the comments above... I have to agree that Andrea Mitchell is the most "reasonable" choice for Meet The Press and NBC. Her long career gives her the professional chops necessary for the position, and her election coverage has been some of the best.
Now, a few words about The Scar: NO... NOT FUCKING EVER!
His show is a daily "morning jo(k)e." His only credential is that he was a Congressman... but THAT was from Florida... so it's a tainted credential. I say that because he repeatedly claims that he KNOWS the "heartland" of America. He's wrong. Florida is NOT the heartland of America. Florida is a politically foreign country that only happens to be physically connected to America and shares statehood with the other forty-nine REAL states. Did you know that Florida did not even rise up out of the ocean untill a hundred million years AFTER the rest of the country? No WONDER the place is backward and up-side-down at the same time..... I know this to be true because I have lived in Florida... and if NBC had any brains at all... they would send The Scar back from whence he came.
Mr. Bill Moyers
I'll vote for Rachel Maddow, or, in any case Gwen Ifill, or, as a last resort, Chuck Todd!
But again, i love Keith Olbermann, yes you hear me!!!
Cannot be someone who has been an ideologue (Olbermann and Maddow) or who has been juvenile (Matthews and Schuster). Also cannot be someone who has shown no gravitas (Gregory and Mitchell).
Hey... I know... how about someone who has actually EARNED such consideration, you know... someone who is a seasoned, non-partisan television host/journalist who deals with issues in a way that suggests that it may actually be important to handle important and complex issues in the manner that might attract a THOUGHTFUL AUDIENCE... you know, someone like Gwen Ifill!
She actually fits this description! And as an undeserved bonus for NBC/MSNBC, her appointment would be the single most effective way for the network to address the issue of the sexism in the media (MSNBC most particulalry).
Joe Scarborough might also be good, but it would kill me to lose "Morning Joe". That show is tone-perfect as a "typically-breezy-but-dead-serious-when-warranted" program. Keep up the great work, Joe!
I agree...if it's Matthews, Scar-face or Gregory...then I've watched my last MTP. Talk about coming with an agenda...right-leaning...in corporate media's back pocket!!! Ugghh!!!
DAVID SHUSTER.
He's young, so he will have some ambition and ideas about taking the show into the future. his hardball pieces are always well researched and hard hitting.
He asks really tough questions. Only drawback is he can lose control if he gets too worked up (see "pimping" comment).
Hopefully someone with the balls to ask some real questions.
Mister Anderson @ 153:
WHY ON EARTH DOES SHE HAVE TO "OPEN UP" ABOUT HERSELF? A THOUGHTFUL PERSON WANTS THE INTERVIEWER TO DRAW OUT THE GUEST!!
I must say that Molly Ivens has left a greater void than Tim Russert. Since she is no longer available, I suggest another real journalist, Greg Palast.
how about walter cronkite. The only reason he retired back in '81 was because he didn't think he would live much longer, but there he is still going. He's still strong enough to give a speech, so let him host meet the press.
I promise you, if cronkite hosts, nobody will yell.
TONY @ 412:
He was one of the rare few who was not afraid to call Joe Scarborough out on his BS... At first he did not come to mind and then I started going over in my head on who is very thorough in their reporting and it was him... Aaron Brown is someone I hadn't thought about but someone I do enjoy.... Chuck Todd may not be aggressive enough but who knows Tim did pick him out....Andrea Mitchell would bore me if I had to listen to her for an hour.... Rachel gets to worked up and I at times can't take listen to her on her own radio show.... she wouldn't work at all.... I guess we will have to just wait and see. I bet Chris Wallace wish he could get out of the mess called Fox News
MGB @ 413:
Yeah, and thats the person they would not pick.
I thought Russert did a great job and hope that NBC will look outside the box for someone who is a truly talented interviewer. Some radio people come to mind - Terry Gross, Diane Rehm, Leonard Lopate are all great at looking deeply and asking the penetrating questions. They are all incredibly well read. Please God, don't let it be an heir apparent - esp. not Scarborough or Matthews...or, god forbid, Matt Lauer.
It will be a down grade , guaranteed .
Here's a short list...
Scott McClellan (seriously)
Tucker Carlson (not seriously)
Bernard Shaw (formerly of CNN, now retired)
Bill Moyers
Jim Lehrer
Ted Koppel
David Shuster
Gwen Eifel
Andrea Koppel :)
Her husband's a foreign policy expert and her father's the Nightline anchor, but it was Andrea Koppel '85 who grabbed family bragging rights by landing an exclusive interview with Muammar Gadhafi
The apparent shortlist of possible 'replacements' is awfully short indeed. Maybe it's time to look a little outside of the NBC box of resident WH mouthpieces.
Maybe Hillary might want the gig..
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers
Bill Moyers
Ted Koppel has great skills as an interviewer/interrogator but he's pretty old and probably unwilling to leave Discovery.
Okay, some posters have convinced me regarding both Gwen Ifill and Aaron Brown. So here's who I think the shortlist should be:
1) Aaron Brown -- because, well, I think he's sneaky enough to do follow-ups that destroy your assertions without you realizing your assertions are being destroyed)
2) Gwen Ifill
3) Tom Brokaw -- obviously, he's got to be the interim host for a while, but he's relatively young-ish for an elder statesman journalist, so I could see him hosting it for 5 and even up to 10 years. Sure, that would certainly assume that he's found retirement to be totally boring, but he's been contributing commentary and observations to the primary season already. It wouldn't be like anybody would be asking him to take up the daily grind again. Yes, he'd be a safe, sensible (possibly even obvious) choice, but that's not to say he'd be milquetoast. He's simply a strong candidate for the spot.
4) Lara Logan -- Best journalist out there. And she deserves to be rotated out of Baghdad just like every single soldier out there.
5) Christiane Amanpour -- She's got the bonafides, but honestly, her accent is far more impenetrable than Lara Logan's brogue. However, a Brown-Amanpour team would be interesting.
And as for Rachel Maddow:
As a Hillary supporter, I was *happy* that she stated her preference for Obama -- her analysis and commentary during the primaries were smooth and not so caught up in the horserace like everybody else on MSNBC was (Yes, I mean you, Olbermann and Matthews). I want to say that she's a pundit, but IMO, that insults Maddow. She's more of what I would call a true commentator. Which means I'd like to see her get the "Race For the White House" slot after the November election. In the meantime, I'd hope that she gets just a wee bit of camera coaching as she's got such a strong voice from being on the radio that she doesn't realize that she doesn't need to use even a quarter of it on camera to be just as effective on TV as she is on Air America.
That's not to say that I think that she's shrill -- which the above paragraph could have unintentionally implied without this disclaimer -- I just think she's a really, really big personality, bigger even than Keef himself, and just needs to pull back for the much more intimate audience of the one or two people in front of any random TV screen. Kinda the same thing as going from Movies to TV, you don't have to give as big a performance on TV to give as great a performance as in the movies or on radio.
If you've never watched the BBC's Tim Sebastian grill a politician, you don't know what hard-hitting journalism really is. Of the three mentioned here, Gregory . . . good. Scarborough . . . fair (heh, heh). Matthews . . . come on, now! A loud-mouthed, sophomoric fratboy?
Matt Lauer would be good if he was a bit smarter.
Texas Democrat @ 61:
I think Tom Brokaw would be ok for a while, but NBC would eventually have to replace him with someone younger soon. I thought Ted Koppel would be a good choice but the same thing applies to him.
By the way, hello everyone. I've been coming to this site for a while but this is the first time that I've posted a comment. Best site around in my opinion.
First person I thought of was Rachel Maddow.
And second, and third.
John King of CNN will be the best choice for MTP. He's fair extremely knowledgeable and full of passion and thats the least u can do to replace Tim.
adwildcat @ 3:
I love this idea.
However, I have another thought. If you're NBC, you'll want someone who: has powerful name-familiarity (especially during this election cycle); is friendly toward GE (and, by extension, Bush/Cheney--especially Cheney); is better with face-to-face "interviews" than straight news. Who has all this, pray tell? Who's the hostess with the mostest???
Katie Couric. (yes, I'm puking, too, but hear me out.)
CBS wants to get rid of her. NBC would love to get her back. But she can't go back to "Today." That would be a step down and an admission of failure (both on her part and on NBC's for hiring Meredith Viera). Since she's "been an anchor," though, she's going to be viewed as having gravitas (even if she doesn't). Plus, Timmy hired her for her first Pentagon correspondent's job back in the day.
Look for her by September.
I swear to god it they are th inking of Joe Scarborough they may as well just put Pat Buchanan in the spot. It would make as much sense.
Katie Couric is a good choice but she just dissed an NBC reporter so I don't think she has a shot.
iva @ 44:
I like him too but he is not an interviewer. He answers questions. He doesn't ask them. It would be too different for him. Seems like a very likable fellow though.
MedfordTim @ 43:
Absolutely agreed! Three to four true journalists, no pundits. If you have no background in journalism, but are instead a political operative who's out of work, you're automatically disqualified.
Of course, this would also have disqualified Russert (and Stephanopoulos, for that matter).
Dan Abrams for the MTP slot?
More importantly, imo, is who's going to be the new NBC Washington bureau chief?
Jon Stewart. I'm serious.
Of the three mentioned only Gregory could even be considered a serious contender.
Scarborough and Matthews are each cartoonish in their own way. Squinty Scarborough is an ideologue without any redeeming charm or polish. Matthews, who only operates at full volume, is incapable of having a thought occur in his head that does not immediately erupt from his mouth.
Why not change the name of the show, as well? Meet the Press, seems rather quaint and antiquated -- as if they are actually committed to holding the bastards responsible. If all the are going to do is present right wing assholes to try to sell the public on the merits of shoving bamboo shoots up some prisoner's finger nails, they should call it, Nazis on Parade, or something similar.
Today on Nazis on Parade, we talk to Dick Cheney about his new ethnic cleansing plan for a neighborhood near new.
Mysterious Traveller @ 49:
I don't think she's a good choice. I just believe they're thinking about it.
She dissed Bob Schieffer the other night, too. Maybe she just wants to be unemployed.
I think a colorful Mexican piñata would be nice. Then they could pipe in Roger Ailes' voice and nobody would ever guess!
ambz @ 10:
I concur.
even though i don't watch mtp, how about bill moyers?
How about bringing Tom Brokaw out of retirement?
It'll be a General Electric corporate and MIC tool like Russert was no doubt. The sooner teevee dies the better for democracy.
I sure they don't go for some bland-put-me-to-sleep person like Lester the molester Holt. Gwen Ifill could be alright. She would be the same style as Russert but without the Mary Matlin friendship.
replace the show with Road Runner cartoon. Let Chris Matthews chase the coyote off the cliff.
The panel idea -- could be rotating panels -- is the best solution (if we can't have Rachel Maddow)
Dick N. Uranus?
MedfordTim @ 44:
You're absolutely right. They should rotate out panels of actual reporters (real ones who have won Pulitzers & stuff) from major newspapers. No pundits. An example of one would be Dana Priest of Washington Post. The producers could prep them for the scheduled guests, but have no celebrity anchor or moderator.
David Shuster, but SY Hersh would be interesting
Oreilly? Ha ha ha ha ha ha Oh shit.
A younger version of Helen Thomas.
iva @ 45:
Me too. And what I have learned over the past couple of days was that Russert sought Chuck out and hired him about 14 months ago. He took Chuck with him to at least one debate, the repub one in Fla. He was grooming chuck for something.
We all remember Tim with his vote counts and keeping score in 2000. Well, right now Chuck Todd is known for his ability to figure out which states each primary candidate needed to win etc. I think Tim saw something he really liked in Chuck and maybe saw him as a future replacement for himself when he retired some day.
I think David Shuster or Chuck Todd.
David Gregory is the perfect fit for the job. Of all the on-air personalities on that network, he is easily the closest to Russert's style and what is needed for that kind of program. The fact that he has shown no partisan views and is not overly opinionated are definitely assets.
Olbermann would be a good choice, but I agree that his partisan views take him out of the running. Joe Scarborough would also be a decent host, but is also disqualified due to his partisan views.
I like Chris Matthews, but he would be a bad choice. He gets too caught up in the controversial stuff and the water-cooler politics and just seems too opinionated to host a show like MTP.
Chuck Todd has a great political mind, but he doesn't have the goods to be a host.
I would bet the house on Gregory if the next Meet The Press host is going to be someone who is currently on MSNBC.
NBC has a golden opportunity and if they pick Joe Scarborough, it would be like taking a crap on a Rembrandt. The man is stupid, rude, and worst, he's arrogant, and that is one thing that MTP has avoided and should continue to avoid. Russert, for all the leaning and narrative-following, was never an arrogant asshole to his guests or co-anchors, and Scar can't help it. If he senses he's being cornered with truth he doesn't like, he belittles and mocks, and that's so not a feature of a serious newsman. If they go the route of Joe "Intern-Basher" Scarborough I'm never watching MTP ever again and might switch off NBC for good too.
Matthews is on his way out anyway and would be even more of a buffoon in this setting, Gregory's a bendy wimp and can't control his own panel half the time. Andrea Mitchell isn't the most horrible outcome, but I don't think she'd set the world on fire either.
I'd love to see Keith or Rachel up there, but Keith has committed the cardinal sin of being right and enjoying it, and though Rachel is my idol and I would have her baby, GE isn't about to put an open homosexual in that spot, WAY too scary for them still. They'll use every other reason in the book, but that's the real one.
They need someone with integrity and charm, and more in each of those categories than Russert himself. Bill Moyers and Gwen Ifill meet both those qualifications. Even Dan Abrams could fit the bill. David Schuster already fucked himself over for the time being, but he would have been good.
Whoever it is, it needs to be relatively fresh blood. Brokaw, Williams, Koppel all are institutions, but institutions get too comfy with their institution-ness. Needs to be someone who'll prove that they are worthy of this position by being a real journalist, not another talking head.
Mister Anderson @ 373:
This is exactly how I feel about Chuck Todd. He's not ready yet. In fact, he may never be ready.
Until he hosts a show and proves he has the ability to handle such a job, you can't just make him the host of the most prominent political show on TV no matter how much the guy knows about politics.
katie @ 433:
Maybe the fact that she leans hard left might be a good enough reason why she isn't a good fit for the job. I'm hard left, but I just don't think it would be appropriate to have someone hosting a show like MTP who is overly partisan.
I like Rachel and almost every MSNBC personality (sans Tucker and Buchanan), but some of these people's views have to disqualify them from the running. To convince yourself that her being gay is the only possible reason that she wouldn't be the host of MTP is you blinding yourself from all of the actual reasons why she wouldn't be picked.
Bill Moyers would be another good interim host, but he's too old. Tim Russert was only 41 when he took over MTP, so NBC is likely to pick someone in that age range. It won't be Joe Scarborough, Chris Matthews, Rachael Maddow or Keith Olbermann though. Chris Matthews doesn't belong on TV period. He's the worst anchor at MSNBC.
Natalie @ 354:
LOL what a stupid statement. Maybe you should take your own advice.
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