# Meet the Press―Replacing Russert **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863 "2008-06-13T22:08:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/21 "2008-06-14T03:22:35Z")
[QUOTE=ArizonaTeach] NBC will ask Brokaw back for this, through the election. [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/22 "2008-06-14T03:26:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Agnostic\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Agnostic\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agnostic_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/23 "2008-06-14T03:56:10Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/24 "2008-06-14T11:02:08Z")
IMO, David Gregory tends to be a bit bias. (also something about his voice annoys me) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/25 "2008-06-14T12:10:35Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/26 "2008-06-14T12:40:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/27 "2008-06-14T14:15:09Z")
[QUOTE=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. [/QUOTE] I like this idea a lot. I would also love to see Brokaw back on TV, even if it’s only on _MTP_. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/28 "2008-06-14T14:56:07Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/29 "2008-06-14T15:04:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/30 "2008-06-14T15:35:35Z")
[QUOTE=Indyellen] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/31 "2008-06-14T16:19:04Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] I’ll bet on rotating guests while they settle on who does best. [/QUOTE] I could see Brokaw until after the election (approx. 20 Sundays) , then David Gregory, once his show _Race for the White House_ winds down. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea666f/32.png) [@Two\_and\_a\_Half\_Inches\_of\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_and_a_Half_Inches_of_Fun)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/32 "2008-06-14T17:02:10Z")
If they go with David Gregory, they could add a new dance segment: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evoMTW1eso0) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/33 "2008-06-14T17:03:24Z")
Sammy Hagar ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/34 "2008-06-14T18:31:51Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/35 "2008-06-14T23:10:00Z")
How about Bob Costas? He’s an extremely bright guy, and a good interviewer. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/36 "2008-06-15T02:32:40Z")
Jon Stewart ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/37 "2008-06-15T03:16:29Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] How about Bob Costas? He’s an extremely bright guy, and a good interviewer. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/38 "2008-06-15T04:57:48Z")
Why not have Chris Wallace return to the _Meet the Press_ chair? ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/39 "2008-06-15T05:43:39Z")
Stephen Colbert. (The character, I guess) Hell, if anyone could keep the two sides out of balance, it’d be him. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863/40 "2008-06-15T15:05:08Z")
[QUOTE=Kozmik] Why not have Chris Wallace return to the _Meet the Press_ chair? [/QUOTE] Because he’s sold his soul to Faux News. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meet-the-press-replacing-russert/452863.md?page=3)