Meet the Press―Replacing Russert

[Two and a Half Inches of Fun]

Who should replace Tim Russert? I have been thinking about it, and I am not sure. Maybe Andrea Mitchell?

[Exapno Mapcase]

Katie Couric. It would give her the out she needs and everybody wants to get off the Evening News. And NBC wants her back.

[asterion]

You're kidding, right? Putting Katie Couric on Meet the Press would lose the show all the respect and credibility Russert gave the show over the last 18 years. One of the softest (and most annoying) interviewers I have ever een.

[Ike Witt]

If it were up to me, I'd say Morbo.

[Exapno Mapcase]

You're kidding, right? Putting Katie Couric on Meet the Press would lose the show all the respect and credibility Russert gave the show over the last 18 years. One of the softest (and most annoying) interviewers I have ever een.
What? You're maligning the woman who asked Barack Obama whether his feeling about having Hillary Clinton as VP was uccch?

But NBC does want her back. Don't ask me why. I just want her off CBS.

[Anomalous Reading]

One doesn't replace Russert. A person can succeed, but they can't replace.

To follow... that's tough. I'm really not sure. He's irreplaceable - far and above the best interviewer on TV and I thought that well before he died.

[zamboniracer]

Who should replace Tim Russert? I have been thinking about it, and I am not sure. Maybe Andrea Mitchell?


How 'bout Keith Olbermann?

[Bob Ducca]

I believe the job traditionally goes to the Washington Bureau Chief, so whomever is most likely to fill that post will probably be the new MTP host.

David Gregory perhaps? Chuck Todd? Keith Olbermann, as somebody mentioned, might be a good fit.

[descamisado]

I believe the job traditionally goes to the Washington Bureau Chief, so whomever is most likely to fill that post will probably be the new MTP host.

David Gregory perhaps? Chuck Todd? Keith Olbermann, as somebody mentioned, might be a good fit.David Gregory just started his own show, Race for the White House. I wonder if contractual obligations would prevent it.

Olbermann would be a good fit for MTP, but I'd hope Countdown would continue.

Andrea Mitchell sounds like an excellent choice also.

[Moirai]

I think Andrea Mitchell would make a pretty good Washington Bureau Chief. Olbermann and Gregory don't have the gravitas (yet).

[Captain Amazing]

How 'bout Keith Olbermann?

Olbermann tends to wear his biases on his sleeve a little too much for Meet the Press.

[Morgyn]

How 'bout Keith Olbermann?Much as I love Olberman, he comes across as too partisan. I don't know if he could bring the necessary objectivity, although he does seem to have a knack for asking good questions.

Chuck Todd, maybe? He's their Political Director, after all.

[An Arky]

Damn, the guy's not even cold yet!


I was thinking maybe David Gregory, as well.

[flurb]

Olbermann would be awful. The reason why the nation's highest office holders of both parties were willing to put themselves through the Russert wringer every week was that, even though he could be absolutely brutal in exposing contradictions and hounding his guests for an answer, he was widely recognized as doing so in an impartial manner. Many are not even aware that Russert got his start working for the New York Democratic Party -- the man seemed utterly devoid of partisanship.

Olbermann . . . not so much.

[RealityChuck]

Olbermann is as unlikely as Bill O'Reilly. Both have political points of view and the moderator or Meet The Press cannot be seen to be partisan. Also, I doubt Olbermann would give up Countdown -- he seems to love it too much.

David Gregory or Andrea Mitchell are potentially good choices.

[kunilou]

Damn, the guy's not even cold yet!

True, but it's also true that there will be a Meet The Press airing this Sunday morning. The show must go on.


I believe the job traditionally goes to the Washington Bureau Chief, so whomever is most likely to fill that post will probably be the new MTP host.

Not true. Bureau Chief is an administrative/executive position. (Ever hear of Christopher Isher? He's the CBS Washington Bureau Chief.) Russert is the only Bureau Chief ever to have also moderated MTP.

Andrea Mitchell seems to me like the best choice. David Gregory seems like the most probable choice. But I think Katie Couric would actually be a pretty good choice. If NBC tells her they want hard news and only hard news, she's quite capable of doing it.

In a perfect world, though, NBC would go after Bob Schieffer, not Katie Couric.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I'd suggest Chris Matthews. He goes hard after both sides and he's informed.

When I was thinking about this question earlier, though, I was struck by my realization of how singular an interviewer Tim Russert was. I kind of took him for granted, and I think I'm just now appreciating how unique he was. It's not often I feel like the death of a famous person is a real injury to their industry, but I think that's true of Russert. This is a blow to political journalism.

[kunilou]

(Ever hear of Christopher Isher? He's the CBS Washington Bureau Chief.)

In the interests of journalistic accuracy, I correct myself. CBS News' Washington Bureau Chief is Christopher Isham. ABC News' Washington Bureau Chief is Kate O'Brian.

[Mr. Moto]

I'd go with a new old idea - make it Meet the Press.

In the old days, the interviewee would be grilled by a panel of reporters. This would be a perfect time to revive this format, as there is a lot of press talent in the country from all media formats that could easily cycle through the batting order a few times a year.

Let's not replace Russert. Instead, let's craft a new show.

[ArizonaTeach]

NBC will ask Brokaw back for this, through the election.

Olbermann? Does he interview well? I ask that because I honestly don't know...all I ever see of him are his rants and commentary (sometimes the same thing), never interviews.

[Happy Lendervedder]

NBC will ask Brokaw back for this, through the election.


Is this your guess, or have you heard something?

This is a great idea, as very few people carry the journalistic weight Russert did-- especially at NBC, especially in the general election-- that Brokaw would. Plus, being semi-retired and all, what else does he have going on?

[Indyellen]

MSNBC is currently reporting that Tom Brokaw will host this Sunday's MTP and it will be a tribute to Tim Russert.

As far as a choice to replace him, I think I agree with the common thread mentioned - Andrea Mitchell or David Gregory. There aren't many people who could do it. I wouldn't mind seeing Brokaw back permanently, though.

[Agnostic Pagan]

If Brokaw would be willing to come out of retirement, that would be fantastic, especially for the election season and the start of the next administration, but I like Andrea Mitchell also.

I like Olbermann also, but he is too partisan and I like the Countdown as much as Meet the Press, and would not want to lose one for the other.

[eenerms]

IMO, David Gregory tends to be a bit bias. (also something about his voice annoys me)

[RTFirefly]

Russert had a reputation of asking tough questions that weren't all that important in the overall scheme of things. Nobody was better with a 'gotcha' pointing out the contradictions between what a guest was saying now, and what they'd said some time ago - but it all too often was one of those Washingtonian inside-baseball gotchas that most people wouldn't give a flip about.

I don't know who should take his place, but there's a clear opportunity for an upgrade here, to make MTP a hard-hitting show about stuff that voters are actually concerned about.

Anyone who's spent the past 20+ years as part of the Washington political press corps is probably a bad choice, though, because it's really hard to have a clue of what voters might be concerned about when you and all your friends are movers and shakers with stratospheric incomes.

[An Arky]

Right. These people seemingly go for each others' throats on TV, but then later laugh about it together at cocktail parties in extreme upper Northwest DC, McLean, or Great Falls. It's faker than wrestling.

[Moirai]

I'd go with a new old idea - make it Meet the Press.

In the old days, the interviewee would be grilled by a panel of reporters. This would be a perfect time to revive this format, as there is a lot of press talent in the country from all media formats that could easily cycle through the batting order a few times a year.

Let's not replace Russert. Instead, let's craft a new show.

I like this idea a lot. I would also love to see Brokaw back on TV, even if it's only on MTP.

[FriarTed]

Andrea Mitchell has the knowledge but not the presence. Matthews- too much of a blowhard & too biased (and I LIKE him- on Hardball). Gregory I like. Olberman only if they balance him with Buchanan- then they may as well not have any other guests- just an hour of debate- and that would be the end of MTP.

I edge to Gregory, but maybe it should be shared between him & Mitchell.

BUT from now through the election- Brokaw!

[Paul in Qatar]

You know, if you want to think outside the box. Someone who knows how to do TV and can fill very big shoes. Someone who can reinvent and put is own stamp on the genre. Someone who can take risks.

Jay Leno.

No, I am not kidding.

[Exapno Mapcase]

As far as a choice to replace him, I think I agree with the common thread mentioned - Andrea Mitchell or David Gregory. There aren't many people who could do it. I wouldn't mind seeing Brokaw back permanently, though.
Aren't many people who could do it? Previous moderators:
Martha Rountree 1947 – 1953
Ned Brooks 1953 – 1965
Lawrence E. Spivak 1966 – 1975
Bill Monroe 1975 – 1984
Roger Mudd / Marvin Kalb (co-moderators) 1984 – 1985
Marvin Kalb 1985 – 1987
Chris Wallace 1987 – 1988
Garrick Utley 1989 – 1991

By those standards the choices are wide open. How big a name was Tim Russert in 1991, I ask you?

Brokaw is retired, but I suppose he might fill in through the election. It would be easier to phase in a new name after an interregnum. Johnny Carson took over six months after Jack Paar, following a line of guest hosts at The Tonight Show. Jay Leno did it after a weekend and got creamed for the first two years. (Leno, BTW, is one of the worst interviewers on television unless he's with one of his old comedy pals. Then he's great. But not otherwise.)

I'll bet on rotating guests while they settle on who does best.

[descamisado]

I'll bet on rotating guests while they settle on who does best.I could see Brokaw until after the election (approx. 20 Sundays) , then David Gregory, once his show Race for the White House winds down.

[Two and a Half Inches of Fun]

If they go with David Gregory, they could add a new dance segment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evoMTW1eso0

[Bearflag70]

Sammy Hagar

[gonzomax]

Russert recognized the line between getting the truth and pissing off politicians so they would not appear any more. He let Condi sail through several times. He let Cheney have free reign .
Helen Thomas should do it.

[Moirai]

How about Bob Costas? He's an extremely bright guy, and a good interviewer.

[USCDiver]

Jon Stewart

[gaffa]

How about Bob Costas? He's an extremely bright guy, and a good interviewer.
Excellent idea. I'm a big fan of the man and have no idea what his personal politics are - which is exactly what is needed for Meet The Press. His show Later With Bob Costas was the best interview program on TV.

[Kozmik]

Why not have Chris Wallace return to the Meet the Press chair?

[Gukumatz]

Stephen Colbert. (The character, I guess)

Hell, if anyone could keep the two sides out of balance, it'd be him.

[Indyellen]

Why not have Chris Wallace return to the Meet the Press chair?
Because he's sold his soul to Faux News.

[BobLibDem]

I'd go for Dan Rather. One of the best reporters of our time, unfairly hounded out of his job by Viacom/CBS.

[MsRobyn]

Bob Schieffer is too identified with CBS to have any real credibility with viewers.

Olbermann could do it, but he'd have to give up the NFL on NBC gig, and he likes it too much.

I like 5-4-Fighting's idea of having someone like Tom Brokaw in until the election. Viewers would get the experience and gravitas and it would buy NBC enough time to find a suitable replacement.

Honestly, though, it wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that NBC has had someone waiting in the wings. MtP is too important and too visible to leave it alone for too long, especially during a Presidential election cycle as significant as this one.

Robin

[twickster]

Honestly, though, it wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that NBC has had someone waiting in the wings. MtP is too important and too visible to leave it alone for too long, especially during a Presidential election cycle as significant as this one.

Except his death was so damned unexpected.

I also vote for Bob Costas. (We're deciding, right? We just let NBC know once we've hashed it out?)

[zamboniracer]

Is Costas hosting NBC's olympic coverage? The network might have too much invested in that project to replace him on that at this point.

I say they go with Brokaw, if he's willing to do it, until after the election. If he's not willing to do it, drag Ted Koppel out of his comfy, NPR/Discovery channel retirement to host it until after the election.

[gonzomax]

They could go back to old format and have 3 or 4 newsmen question a guest every week.

[MsRobyn]

Except his death was so damned unexpected.

I also vote for Bob Costas. (We're deciding, right? We just let NBC know once we've hashed it out?)

I know Russert's death was sudden, but wouldn't NBC have someone as a substitute for vacations and such?

Robin

[Moirai]

No, generally not. He only takes off one or two Sundays every year. Did.

[Morgyn]

From the descriptions of the schedule he was keeping right before he died, it sounds as if he literally worked himself to death. :(

[astro]

I liked Russert, he was a very good interviewer, but he wasn't without flaws as a host and interviewer. He often let some important pols he was grateful to have on gabble along without challenging them in the slightest (Cheney more than once early in the Bush administration) , and his little gotcha game of "You said this 20 years ago, now you're saying that" was a bit too precious at times, and wasted time jousting over non-issues.

The reason Russert stood out is that are relatively few trained interviewers in mass media news who can focus on the topic at hand, and not be sidetracked, and this was his greatest strength, that he could not be sidetracked no matter how many logs an interviewee threw in his way.

There's no decent interviewers out there. Hopefully someone will grow into the spot.

[Spoke]

The reason Russert stood out is that are relatively few trained interviewers in mass media news who can focus on the topic at hand, and not be sidetracked, and this was his greatest strength, that he could not be sidetracked no matter how many logs an interviewee threw in his way.

Legal training.

Another lawyer is needed, for hard-nosed cross-examinations of the politicians. Preferably someone with Tim's working-class roots, but that's probably too much to hope for.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Russert's law background was also what inspired his technique of confronting subjects with past statements. He conducted his interviews somewhat like a cross-examination. He somehow also had the ability to be able to tack somebody down like a butterfly and dissect them without ever coming across as unnecessarily hostile, confrontational, angry or biased. He had an almost ineffable ability to never seem like a jerk or like he was trying to get somebody. It never appeared egoistic. Getting indignant or hostile with Russert would just make the subject look like an asshole. That's not replaceable. There are people who could be tough, but I can't think of any who could so successfully pull off the Columbo act.

A lot of people have mentioned Olbermann. I think he wears his biases on his sleeve too much, and I think there arer times when he tips too much over into demagoguery to maintain the credibility necessary for the job, but the one bright spot in giving him the spot is that it would make Bill O'Reilly eat his heart out.


Here's a though. I know he works for CNN, but how about Andy Cooper?

[Kozmik]

Because he's sold his soul to Faux News.Of course, Faux News. Now, with the passing of Tim Russert, the best political anchor we have is Bill O'Reilly.

[Mr. Moto]

A lot of people might think I'm crazy for suggesting this, but if NBC decides to go with a single host, they might try to woo Brit Hume from Fox. And that's about the only person at Fox I'd say that about.

Hume runs a show there where he isn't afraid to air his opinions - it is advocacy journalism, and so no problem for him to do so. Even with that, though, he interviews people well, asks tough questions, and is fair to people across the political spectrum. He had that reputation at ABC as well.

For the sort of show Meet the Press is, he's well suited for the job.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I disagree that Hume is fair. He's a shill for the GOP.

[Mr. Moto]

Well, a lot of people might have had that argument about George Stephanopolous, who hosts a similar show on another network. Consider his recent employment history. And consider too that the aforementioned Tim Russert worked for Senator Moynihan and Governor Mario Cuomo before going into journalism.

Face it, there is a revolving door between politics and journalism, and if we accept that people of one political party might go back and forth, we shouldn't get bent out of shape when members of the other party do the same.

And this doesn't even apply to Hume, frankly, who went from being a reporter to being a commentator, essentially. If he goes to a network weekend commentary, analysis and interview show, there shouldn't be any big problem - except in your mind, which we may fairly dismiss.

[What the .... ?!?!]

I disagree that Hume is fair. He's a shill for the GOP.

I was going to commend you for acknowledging that Olberman is a biased demagogue but then ............

I have no doubt that the Edward R. Murrow of the Angry Left (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/23/080623fa_fact_boyer?currentPage=all) is lobbying for the job though.

[Diogenes the Cynic]

I was going to commend you for acknowledging that Olberman is a biased demagogue but then ............
But then what? I told the truth about Brit Hume?
I have no doubt that the Edward R. Murrow of the Angry Left (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/23/080623fa_fact_boyer?currentPage=all) is lobbying for the job though.
Olberman does not pretend not to be biased, he dips only occasionally into demagoguery, and he at least has the saving grace of not being a liar, unlike the majority of screamers on the right.

I doubt he's trying to get the job, though. I think it's more likely to go to someone like Brian Williams or Andrea Mitchell.

[Morgyn]

I was going to commend you for acknowledging that Olberman is a biased demagogue but then ............

I have no doubt that the Edward R. Murrow of the Angry Left (http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/23/080623fa_fact_boyer?currentPage=all) is lobbying for the job though.Olberman has stated, on his show on both Thursday and Friday, that he not only doesn't want the job, he doesn't consider himself qualified for the job.

[Mumio]

I heard earlier today that Tom Brokaw will be taking over the job, at least through the election.

[Paul in Qatar]

I'm tellin' ya' Leno.