Scripting News - Latest Comments in Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

MWR — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:32:03 -0000

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..

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

chris — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:30:06 -0000

Todd or Ifill. Olbermann and Matthews don't have a shot.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Brian Benz — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:56:37 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

freddie — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:22:01 -0000

Andrea Mitchel could be an excellent choice.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

RacerRick — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:59:56 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

carol — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:50:24 -0000

With the exception of Brokaw those listed are weak...what about Charlie Rose or Bill Moyers....Now we are talking strong talent...

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Mariva — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:23:48 -0000

I got a kick out of how you mentioned Couric twice in your "not" paragraphs.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Ken C. — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:23:11 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

David Brinkley — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:26:21 -0000

Nothing wrong with David Gregory or Andrea Mitchell. Andrea has show good objectivity and credibility. and creativity.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

joe smith — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:25:01 -0000

Please. Either Chuck Todd, Or Andrea Mitchell.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Andrew — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:11:32 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Karma Jay — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 02:21:36 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

bbebop — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:52:55 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

ethanosten — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:06:53 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

robbvaules — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:06:15 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

soapbox mom — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:59:32 -0000

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

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

dave — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:25:39 -0000

What do you think of Aaron Brown?

http://nymag.com/news/intel...

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

bbebop — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:47:20 -0000

Charlie Rose would be great, although I wouldn't want to lose his PBS show because of its broader focus.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

bbebop — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:39:32 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Scottish Lass — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:20:56 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Michael Markman (Mickeleh) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:19:24 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Darrell Moore — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:15:31 -0000

On behalf of the internets, I nominate Josh Marshall....

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Mojaveman — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:12:16 -0000

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.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Robert Paulson — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:53:47 -0000

Very nice.

Re: Who will fill Russert's shoes? (Scripting News)

Robert Paulson — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:52:32 -0000

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.