Scripting News: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)
wordjunky
· 1 year ago
I basically agree with the assessments with these addition observations. Keith, as much as I enjoy his daily show, seems too partisan for the job. Gregory always impressed me as a toady to the White House. I am willing to be proved wrong on that point. Andrea might work, but I believe you need to get someone with hard interview skills and I just don't know that much about her.
My out-of the-box possibility is Katie Couric. She was great at interviewing when at the Today Show, and face it, she has not been the boost CBS expected as a news anchor. Long shot, but I'd wager a couple of bucks just in case.
basykes
· 1 year ago
Amazing--I agree with you every step of the way. Chris Matthews or Joe Scarborough would be the end of Meet the Press. Stephanopoulous has his own show running in competition with Meet the Press. I would be happy with either David Gregory or Andrea Mitchell...I wonder if she would be as hard-hitting as he would.
Myrna
· 1 year ago
Andrea Mitchell gets my vote. She's energetic,informed and has charisma...and hard hitting enough to basykes. She feels like a combination of TR and Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Scott Toncray
· 1 year ago
Where is Scott McClellan on this list? :)
Chris Baskind
· 1 year ago
Olbermann is wrong for the gig, and Scarborough's show is too successful to distract him. I'd go with Andrea Mitchell, if I were NBC.
But there's no direct replacement for Russert. He was unique.
jeSAROS
· 1 year ago
I propose that NBC use new media methods to satisfy their need to provide the best news coverage possible. Crowdsourcing which is generally associated with web 2.0 and the internet is used everyday in very powerful ways. The notion that the masses are more powerful than anyone individual will rein supreme in NBC's sussession decision.
Tim Russert was a Titan.
I propose replacing Tim with the best from a very impressive crowd of NBC/MSNBC talent is the way forward.
Crowdsourcing: leveraging mass collaboration to achieve business goals
gregorylent
· 1 year ago
aaron brown ...
Robert Paulson
· 1 year ago
Very nice.
bbebop
· 1 year ago
First of all, I gotta say I'm going to miss Tim Russert. MTP was my first stop on Sunday mornings, and Tim and Chuck Todd were the only two people on NBC that would bring my fast-forwarding Tivo to halt because I had to listen to what they had to say. Sad that we sometimes don't know we had it so good until we've lost it. Tim: RIP!
Russert can't be replaced by one person. With his Moynihan and Cuomo experience, he had a deep understanding of how politics and government work. He spent time at NBC as an executive before taking over the Washington Bureau and, ultimately, Meet the Press. And as demonstrated by his two books, the man was grounded in family and place, and certainly knew who he was, what was important, and his own limitations. I can't think of one person who can bring all that to the table.
Of the internal candidates you mention, Matthews has the best political understanding, followed closely by Todd, who also seems to be the most grounded person there. Todd explains politics really well, and has a pretty clear, non-ideological ability to pick out the important upcoming events and facts, probably similar to Russert in that regard. Olbermann doesn't understand politics or government at a micro-level, and is in a great spot already. Andrea Mitchell might be a safe choice for a few years while Chuckie T gets some more seasoning and gravitas (with a little weight loss effort thrown in).
Your list of outsiders is lacking. Wolf Blitzer is a blowhard who could never, ever come close to approximating Russert. David Gergen can be great guest when he has something to say, but don't see him as an interviewer. George Stephanopoulous lost me and others as ThisWeek viewers with his over-the-top Clintonizing during the primaries. Chris Wallace? Sorry, the home team is better.
My favorite outside-the-peacock candidate is PBS's Gwen Ifill of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and host of Washington Week. Among other things, she spent five years at NBC working for Tim Russert, understands Washington and the news business, and would be seen as an honest broker by Dems and Republicans alike. Plus, NBC (and all the other networks) could use a little color in their lineups. Just sayin'...
Mojaveman
· 1 year ago
Nice list, bbebop... I like Chuck Todd the best of the current NBC stable. How can Olbermann even be on the list? Keith is entertaining, but I can't see NBC giving Keith Tim's MTP chair anymore than I could see FOX giving O'Reilly Chris Wallace's chair. MTP was a success because of Tim's hard work, knowledge, talent, and his innate sense of how to interview/interrogate a guest without seeming to be an attack dog. Olbermann is too much of a bloviating attack dog for such a post.
We all knew that Russerts' background was with the democratic party, but he always went for the rock bottom truth in all of his interviews, no matter where in the political spectrum his guest was coming from.
Sunday mornings will never be the same. Tim you are greatly missed.
bbebop
· 1 year ago
totally off-topic: have you posted an explanation of how newsjunk works? i may have missed it, but i'm curious how stories get selected, etc. thanks.
bill
· 1 year ago
I've gone through this very question, thinking to the many MtP roundtables.
The thing that made Tim so unique is that he was selected based on such a wide-range of skills. Maybe it is an indicator to NBC that substance ultimately matters more than style, and rather than finding another "entertainer" like Olberman or a pretty face like Brokaw/Couric, they should look at the skills brought to the table - management, teambuilding, integrity, non-partisanship, altruistic motivation, someone who can build a coalition rather than pander for ratings.
MtP was in the doldrums when Tim took over. I don't know how long it took for him to bring it up in the ratings, but being THE BOSS probably gave him a bit more leash than the typical news-star. Perhaps NBC has something there, and should look at building on that model.
As for the names previously mentioned:
Andrea Mitchell - not strong enough. You could see it in MtP roundtables and especially in her obit to Tim - she need him to make it.
Matthews - no way, why not put Fred Flintstone into the job?
Olbermann - too partisan
Katie Couric - interviewing? Are you kidding?
If NBC doesn't look outside the box, it'll be Gregory or Todd. Although Gregory looks older than Todd, they are only within a couple of years of each other (between 35 and 37 each). Todd was definitely Tim's protege, I think he was being groomed for the job. He has that passion for politics, knows A LOT about history, and despite not having a college degree (a few short from GWU) he is very smart. Gregory may come across as a bit partisan - some shouting matches with Bush press guys for which he apologized, some "uh-oh" videos parodying the prez, a bit questionable.
Tim was a formidable talent, and a unique diamond-in-the-rough for NBC. The best hope is that they stay with the unconventional, look for the skills that made him so trustworthy and hire for THAT. We'll all be better for it.
Robert Paulson
· 1 year ago
There are two jobs that need to be filled with Russert's passing: Washington Bureau Chief and MTP host. My sense is that NBC will opt to split the two roles. The decision about the MTP host will be driven entirely by ratings and I expect that there will be a committee approach to the hosting job as a way of auditioning potential long-term hosts. Gregory, Mitchell, Brokaw, and even Matthews will all get a shot at hosting, although I think in the "long-term" (a highly relative term in TV land) host will ultimately be David Gregory, although I agree that Gwen Ifill has strong potential as a dark horse choice (former NBC News reporter; she's got the reportorial chops and sufficient interviewing talent, plus is seen as an honest non-partisan broker). Other dark horse non-NBC choices are: Charlie Rose, CNN's John King, and CNBC's (yes, I know) Maria Bartiromo. My sense is that Mitchell probably ends up with the DC Bureau chief job. Watch for Chuck Todd to get his own MSNBC show and to be put on a track to take over for Gregory or Mitchell in a few years.
bbebop
· 1 year ago
Charlie Rose would be great, although I wouldn't want to lose his PBS show because of its broader focus.
Mojaveman
· 1 year ago
How about this for an out-of-the-box suggestion: Jon Meacham, editor of Newsweek. Meacham is a frequent guest commentator on MTP. He seems to stay on an even keel, and even handed.
I would like to see NBC audition several prospects by giving them the MTP chair on Sundays between now and the election. Perhaps have Tom Brokaw be the interim ex-officio host until the right candidate "wins" Tim's old chair with killer live 'audition' shows.
Darrell Moore
· 1 year ago
On behalf of the internets, I nominate Josh Marshall....
Michael Markman (Mickeleh)
· 1 year ago
Chuck is a star, no doubt. He's got the knowledge, the passion, the twinkle in the eye. He loves the game. But we haven't seen his interviewing skills yet. That's the tough one.
If they're going outside... I'd want to recruit Bill Moyers ahead of any of the others you mention. Again w/ Gergen--he's knowledgeable, but can he do a good interview. Blitzer, Stephanoupoulus, and Wallace have already shown they aren't nearly as good as Russert. They've already flunked their auditions.
Gregory is shallow and boring. His defense, after McLellan's book, that the press actually did a good job of standing up to the White House propaganda machine on Iraq disqualifies him instantly. His next career move should be to follow Tucker Carlson onto Dancing with the stars. We've seen him dancing. He's better than Tucker.
bbebop
· 1 year ago
I agree with you about Gregory, although I thought he revealed a certain deepness in his commentary on Friday after Russert died. It made me think there may be more to him than we've seen. His new show is an abomination, but I figured the producers put it together, not Gregory himself. Anyway, I think what he's missing is something Russert clearly had: authenticity.
Scottish Lass
· 1 year ago
On my wishlist for MTP for a witty, insightful host would be Jeff Greenfield. CNN's political shows haven't been the same since he went back to CBS.
bbebop
· 1 year ago
I agree that Jeff Greenfield might be a good choice. He's good but totally lost since CBS is such a non-factor in campaign coverage.
I agree with bbebop's first comment. Here are my two cents.
#1 choice: Chuck Todd!!!!! (w/o the facial hair - sorry...) Great analytical skills but what about his interviewing skills - unknown but probably pretty good.
2. Brokaw &/or Mitchell (or Al Hunt?) for a while until Todd is a bit more seasoned (and gets some interviewing experience)
3. Gwen Ifill (but not as insightful as Todd)
And, for reasons mentioned in previous comments:
ABSOLUTELY NOT Gregory, Scarborough, Blitzer, Gergen, Couric or Wallace (all disastrous).
Also, not Olbermann, Matthews, Stephanopoulos, or Couric.
_________
Best pick: Chuck Todd
Mariva
· 1 year ago
I got a kick out of how you mentioned Couric twice in your "not" paragraphs.
robbvaules
· 1 year ago
I am an Olbermann fan, but he wouldn't be a fit.
At this point, I think Brokaw needs to step in for the rest of year. He has the respect and bigger wheels than Russert to step in without question.
The choice doesn't need to be made now.
Ethan Osten
· 1 year ago
Keep in mind that they need someone who is good at actually /interviewing/ people, since that's the whole appeal of Meet the Press. That strikes out Olbermann and Matthews right there; they're just not regarded as impartial enough to conduct the sort of interviews that MtP does. Mitchell and Gregory are the conservative choices, but neither are really very good at interviewing either; especially Gregory, who is just boring.
Don't expect them to bring in Blitzer, Stephanopoulous, Wallace, either. These are people who all competed with MtP, and lost. NBC's interest here is to maintain MtP's viewership as much as possible; bringing in people like them, who have proven they couldn't do it, wouldn't seem sensible. Besides, why would they? They already have great jobs on shows that are nearly as well-respected.
I wouldn't count on Todd. Cooper, Ifill, Rose - they all have good positions now, especially Rose, who is practically an institution on PBS (though he'd certainly have the interviewing abilities).
I'd love to see Aaron Brown, too. But I just can't imagine it happening, somehow.
jgerry
· 1 year ago
Brokaw until the end of the year hosting MTP, for sure. It's a great call on two sides because not only should he get it, he's the only one who can do it.
I expect Andrea Mitchell will get the nod for bureau chief. Here's hoping Chuck Todd can hone his skills to take over when she's done. I don't want to say she's old, but she is kind of old. Personally I'm ready for Chuck Todd now, but I suspect NBC, and the older viewers who tend to follow politics, are not.
Whoever earlier said Jon Meacham should host MTP -- that's a really insightful, off the wall choice. He's clearly brilliant, and has a demeanor that might work very well in a role as host. I really want to read his last book, but I couldn't stomach reading a whole book about religion. I am told that it's scholarly and brilliant.
Andrew
· 1 year ago
Gregory and Mitchell are my two thoughts as well. Chuck Todd doesn't have the experience yet - how many interviews has he done? While bright, he's the equivalent of Natalie Morales when she moved onto the Today show. Likeable, great future ahead but needs more interviewing experience.
joe smith
· 1 year ago
Please. Either Chuck Todd, Or Andrea Mitchell.
David Brinkley
· 1 year ago
Nothing wrong with David Gregory or Andrea Mitchell. Andrea has show good objectivity and credibility. and creativity.
Ken C.
· 1 year ago
How is it that Keith Olbermann is too partisan, but Andrea Mitchell, who was in the tank for Bush on the Plame case, is not too partisan? To say nothing of her multiple ethical lapses.
carol
· 1 year ago
With the exception of Brokaw those listed are weak...what about Charlie Rose or Bill Moyers....Now we are talking strong talent...
RacerRick
· 1 year ago
Andrea can't host a show (see today show this AM).
Aaron Brown would be awesome!! And I'm way right of Winer so it says something that both of us would like AB.
My money is on Katie Couric.
freddie
· 1 year ago
Andrea Mitchel could be an excellent choice.
Brian Benz
· 1 year ago
IMHO Matt Taibbi would be a great choice, he's young and fresh, has a great interview style, and is not afraid to ask the tough questions.
chris
· 1 year ago
Todd or Ifill. Olbermann and Matthews don't have a shot.
MWR
· 1 year ago
Bill Moyers would be a great choice. Someone with brains and an inquiring mind to draw out those interviewed. That eliminates so many others! Aaron Brown is another great idea!!! He was always fantastic that way. Very bright and articulate and innovating. Anderson Cooper is such a disappointment..and uneven ..sometimes a reporter ..sometimes going for the entertainment and lightweight..
All Comments
Keith, as much as I enjoy his daily show, seems too partisan for the job.
Gregory always impressed me as a toady to the White House. I am willing to be proved wrong on that point.
Andrea might work, but I believe you need to get someone with hard interview skills and I just don't know that much about her.
My out-of the-box possibility is Katie Couric. She was great at interviewing when at the Today Show, and face it, she has not been the boost CBS expected as a news anchor. Long shot, but I'd wager a couple of bucks just in case.
But there's no direct replacement for Russert. He was unique.
Tim Russert was a Titan.
I propose replacing Tim with the best from a very impressive crowd of NBC/MSNBC talent is the way forward.
Crowdsourcing: leveraging mass collaboration to achieve business goals
Russert can't be replaced by one person. With his Moynihan and Cuomo experience, he had a deep understanding of how politics and government work. He spent time at NBC as an executive before taking over the Washington Bureau and, ultimately, Meet the Press. And as demonstrated by his two books, the man was grounded in family and place, and certainly knew who he was, what was important, and his own limitations. I can't think of one person who can bring all that to the table.
Of the internal candidates you mention, Matthews has the best political understanding, followed closely by Todd, who also seems to be the most grounded person there. Todd explains politics really well, and has a pretty clear, non-ideological ability to pick out the important upcoming events and facts, probably similar to Russert in that regard. Olbermann doesn't understand politics or government at a micro-level, and is in a great spot already. Andrea Mitchell might be a safe choice for a few years while Chuckie T gets some more seasoning and gravitas (with a little weight loss effort thrown in).
Your list of outsiders is lacking. Wolf Blitzer is a blowhard who could never, ever come close to approximating Russert. David Gergen can be great guest when he has something to say, but don't see him as an interviewer. George Stephanopoulous lost me and others as ThisWeek viewers with his over-the-top Clintonizing during the primaries. Chris Wallace? Sorry, the home team is better.
My favorite outside-the-peacock candidate is PBS's Gwen Ifill of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and host of Washington Week. Among other things, she spent five years at NBC working for Tim Russert, understands Washington and the news business, and would be seen as an honest broker by Dems and Republicans alike. Plus, NBC (and all the other networks) could use a little color in their lineups. Just sayin'...
We all knew that Russerts' background was with the democratic party, but he always went for the rock bottom truth in all of his interviews, no matter where in the political spectrum his guest was coming from.
Sunday mornings will never be the same. Tim you are greatly missed.
The thing that made Tim so unique is that he was selected based on such a wide-range of skills. Maybe it is an indicator to NBC that substance ultimately matters more than style, and rather than finding another "entertainer" like Olberman or a pretty face like Brokaw/Couric, they should look at the skills brought to the table - management, teambuilding, integrity, non-partisanship, altruistic motivation, someone who can build a coalition rather than pander for ratings.
MtP was in the doldrums when Tim took over. I don't know how long it took for him to bring it up in the ratings, but being THE BOSS probably gave him a bit more leash than the typical news-star. Perhaps NBC has something there, and should look at building on that model.
As for the names previously mentioned:
Andrea Mitchell - not strong enough. You could see it in MtP roundtables and especially in her obit to Tim - she need him to make it.
Matthews - no way, why not put Fred Flintstone into the job?
Olbermann - too partisan
Katie Couric - interviewing? Are you kidding?
If NBC doesn't look outside the box, it'll be Gregory or Todd. Although Gregory looks older than Todd, they are only within a couple of years of each other (between 35 and 37 each). Todd was definitely Tim's protege, I think he was being groomed for the job. He has that passion for politics, knows A LOT about history, and despite not having a college degree (a few short from GWU) he is very smart. Gregory may come across as a bit partisan - some shouting matches with Bush press guys for which he apologized, some "uh-oh" videos parodying the prez, a bit questionable.
Tim was a formidable talent, and a unique diamond-in-the-rough for NBC. The best hope is that they stay with the unconventional, look for the skills that made him so trustworthy and hire for THAT. We'll all be better for it.
I would like to see NBC audition several prospects by giving them the MTP chair on Sundays between now and the election. Perhaps have Tom Brokaw be the interim ex-officio host until the right candidate "wins" Tim's old chair with killer live 'audition' shows.
If they're going outside... I'd want to recruit Bill Moyers ahead of any of the others you mention. Again w/ Gergen--he's knowledgeable, but can he do a good interview. Blitzer, Stephanoupoulus, and Wallace have already shown they aren't nearly as good as Russert. They've already flunked their auditions.
Gregory is shallow and boring. His defense, after McLellan's book, that the press actually did a good job of standing up to the White House propaganda machine on Iraq disqualifies him instantly. His next career move should be to follow Tucker Carlson onto Dancing with the stars. We've seen him dancing. He's better than Tucker.
http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/47406/
#1 choice: Chuck Todd!!!!! (w/o the facial hair - sorry...) Great analytical skills but what about his interviewing skills - unknown but probably pretty good.
2. Brokaw &/or Mitchell (or Al Hunt?) for a while until Todd is a bit more seasoned (and gets some interviewing experience)
3. Gwen Ifill (but not as insightful as Todd)
And, for reasons mentioned in previous comments:
ABSOLUTELY NOT Gregory, Scarborough, Blitzer, Gergen, Couric or Wallace (all disastrous).
Also, not Olbermann, Matthews, Stephanopoulos, or Couric.
_________
Best pick: Chuck Todd
At this point, I think Brokaw needs to step in for the rest of year. He has the respect and bigger wheels than Russert to step in without question.
The choice doesn't need to be made now.
Don't expect them to bring in Blitzer, Stephanopoulous, Wallace, either. These are people who all competed with MtP, and lost. NBC's interest here is to maintain MtP's viewership as much as possible; bringing in people like them, who have proven they couldn't do it, wouldn't seem sensible. Besides, why would they? They already have great jobs on shows that are nearly as well-respected.
I wouldn't count on Todd. Cooper, Ifill, Rose - they all have good positions now, especially Rose, who is practically an institution on PBS (though he'd certainly have the interviewing abilities).
I'd love to see Aaron Brown, too. But I just can't imagine it happening, somehow.
I expect Andrea Mitchell will get the nod for bureau chief. Here's hoping Chuck Todd can hone his skills to take over when she's done. I don't want to say she's old, but she is kind of old. Personally I'm ready for Chuck Todd now, but I suspect NBC, and the older viewers who tend to follow politics, are not.
Whoever earlier said Jon Meacham should host MTP -- that's a really insightful, off the wall choice. He's clearly brilliant, and has a demeanor that might work very well in a role as host. I really want to read his last book, but I couldn't stomach reading a whole book about religion. I am told that it's scholarly and brilliant.
Aaron Brown would be awesome!! And I'm way right of Winer so it says something that both of us would like AB.
My money is on Katie Couric.