Who Will Replace Tim Russert?

[DynamiteRave]

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/105260/With-Tim-Russert's-Death-NBC-News-Must-Replace-a-Man-of-Many-Roles

All I could said was, "Oh God, not Katie Couric"

[MTK]

I would put my money on David Gregory

[SmootSmack]

Those are big, big shoes to fill. Short of Tom Brokaw, I really don't know who wouldn't be under a tremendous micrsocope. Perhaps Brian Williams.

My guess is they'll rotate, perhaps through the election

It might be kind of cool if they did it old school style, when they actually met the press

[dmek25]

if all else fails, im available

[saden1]

Originally Posted by dmek25

if all else fails, im available

You're bias but you have my support. You can use me as a reference, I got some imaginary clout with NBC higher ups.

[FRPLG]

I'm not a big fan on Gregory. He strikes me as the liberal version of Bill O'Reilly. I remeber reading a news blurb about Russert actually dressing him down at dinner one night when he was a jerk to the server. They need to find a guy who can at least bring the same dignity and respect that Russert did. If they can find someone.

[FRPLG]

David Gregory Mouthed Off to a Waitress, Got Scolded by Tim Russert / Jossip

Just checked to make sure I wasn't crazy. I don't care about his politics much but I do care that Russert thought enough to speak up in this situation. I like Russert a lot and if Gregory was enough of an ass to deserve an ass-chewing then he gets a big thumbs down from me.

[saden1]

It won't be Keith Olbermann that's for sure. Honestly, I rather like Matt Lauer and would love to see him get the job.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by saden1

It won't be Keith Olbermann that's for sure. Honestly, I rather like Matt Lauer and would love to see him get the job.

LAuer seems like a decent enough guy and does seem like a level headed guy. I wonder if he has the politcal chops for the job though. The failed experiment of Couric on CBS might persuade them to go in another direction rather than transplanting another Today show vet.

They are not going to find someone who can do the job as well as Russert did in all honesty.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

LAuer seems like a decent enough guy and does seem like a level headed guy. I wonder if he has the politcal chops for the job though. The failed experiment of Couric on CBS might persuade them to go in another direction rather than transplanting another Today show vet.

They are not going to find someone who can do the job as well as Russert did in all honesty.

Gravitas is the word that comes to mind with Lauer or rather the lack of it. The thing that distinguished Russert was a kind of nerdy interest in Washington. Lauer seems more like Southern California to me.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

LAuer seems like a decent enough guy and does seem like a level headed guy. I wonder if he has the politcal chops for the job though. The failed experiment of Couric on CBS might persuade them to go in another direction rather than transplanting another Today show vet.

They are not going to find someone who can do the job as well as Russert did in all honesty.

I find his interviewing skills to be pretty good. He is not too confrontational but he also ask the tough questions and more importantly tough followups to questions. He's definitely not there in terms of skills but neither was Russert when he got started. Given time I think he would be capable.

[70Chip]

I wanted to start this discussion but wasn't sure when it would be appropriate to do so. I like Chuck Todd. He seems non partisan and his knowledge and enthusiasm would make him work as hard as Russert did to maintain the integrity of the show. If you watch MSNBC, he has gottten a lot of air time over the last 6 months. Definitely a rising star. However, I suspect NBC will take a more cautious approach and give the show to a placeholder like Brokaw or Andrea MItchell or rotate hosts as someone else suggested until a permanent host is found. Gwen Ifill is also a strong possibility, I suspect. I hear Chris Matthews is angling for the gig but the over the top approach that has made Hardball the flagship of the cable network is not considered appropriate for Meet The Press, which is a television news standard and requires a certain dignity. Maybe if Matthews got a guest shot or two and behaved himself he might have a chance.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

I wanted to start this discussion but wasn't sure when it would be appropriate to do so. I like Chuck Todd. He seems non partisan and his knowledge and enthusiasm would make him work as hard as Russert did to maintain the integrity of the show. If you watch MSNBC, he has gottten a lot of air time over the last 6 months. Definitely a rising star. However, I suspect NBC will take a more cautious approach and give the show to a placeholder like Brokaw or Andrea MItchell or rotate hosts as someone else suggested until a permanent host is found. Gwen Ifill is also a strong possibility, I suspect. I hear Chris Matthews is angling for the gig but the over the top approach that has made Hardball the flagship of the cable network is not considered appropriate for Meet The Press, which is a television news standard and requires a certain dignity. Maybe if Matthews got a guest shot or two and behaved himself he might have a chance.

I put Matthews in the same boat as Gregory and O'Reilly. In fact I have read he is as much of a jerk as Gregory and O'Reilly are. The job should go to some who knows politics and can stand above the fray of it all as much as possible. I don't see a lot of possible replacements who strike me as able to do that.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I put Matthews in the same boat as Gregory and O'Reilly. In fact I have read he is as much of a jerk as Gregory and O'Reilly are. The job should go to some who knows politics and can stand above the fray of it all as much as possible. I don't see a lot of possible replacements who strike me as able to do that.

Chuck Todd is the closest thing intellectually, but I'm not sure he has that gravitas. Russert was able to stand tough because of his experience with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, IMO. After dealing with him, no one else scared him. I'm not sure that Chuck has that quality. Regardless of who they hire, the show is going to go through a transitional phase. Twenty years ago the Brinkley Show was the industry standard and after he passed they have sort of been struggling. It may be time for Geoerge Stephanopolous to step up and establish himsel as the "Sunday Morning Guy".

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Chuck Todd is the closest thing intellectually, but I'm not sure he has that gravitas. Russert was able to stand tough because of his experience with Daniel Patrick Moynihan, IMO. After dealing with him, no one else scared him. I'm not sure that Chuck has that quality. Regardless of who they hire, the show is going to go through a transitional phase. Twenty years ago the Brinkley Show was the industry standard and after he passed they have sort of been struggling. It may be time for Geoerge Stephanopolous to step up and establish himsel as the "Sunday Morning Guy".

I think Steph does a decent job and in time if continues along he may grow into being our next Russert but for the time being he is stuck still being a "Clinton" guy in a lot of people's mind. That'll pass with time and he'll be seen as more independent.