Who should replace Tim Russert on Meet the Press?

Personally, I think Chris Matthews is most up to the job but he may be a little too adversarial and politically biased to pull it off.

I also like Chuck Todd or Tom Brokaw.

Gregory (not capable)
Matthews (far too biased)
Williams (why give up the NN gig?)
Brokaw (too old)
Mitchell (maybe)
Wallace (maybe, but not sure he'd leave FOX)
Todd (don't think so)
Rose (too soft)
Abrams (don't think so)

Of everyone listed, I can only see two possibilities. Unfortunately, it doesn't matter who they go with because Russert was one of a kind and irreplaceable as far as I'm concerned. Meet the Press will go on, but I doubt it will ever be what it was with Russert at the helm. Russert wasn't opinionated (at least on camera). Of everyone listed above, they all have shown signs of being opinionated, some more than others (I'll use Chris Matthews as a prime example).

Curious George said:

Personally, I think Chris Matthews is most up to the job but he may be a little too adversarial and politically biased to pull it off.

I also like Chuck Todd or Tom Brokaw.

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Good thread. I just wish there was a multiple choice option.

Whoever takes over to begin with will have an impossible time trying to fill Mr. Russert's shoes. So, I think it should be Brokaw. A heavyweight. Nothing to prove. He has great skills and instincts but even his already legendary star would dim a bit by comparison.

Charlie Rose MIGHT be a natural. He is just as driven as Russert. In his own PBS show, the Charlie Rose Show he serves nearly the same function as TR. Rose is also an attorney. And I think he would not be intimidated by the pressure of going into the studio to replace a beloved legend. Charlie is good. Very good and solid. He DOES like to hear himself talk at times and that is aggravating at times. The one thing I'd question is whether Rose could consistently go for the jugular to get the answers out of these newsmakers.

None of the others have the journalistic, broadcasting, personality "chops" to pull it off.

David Gregory - Too opinionated. Not objective enough.
Chris Matthews - I think he is
Brian Williams - Nope.
Tom Brokaw - Interim, maybe.
Andrea Mitchell - She is a lightweight in many ways. A reporter. Period.
Chris Wallace - He could do it but he is with Fox. Would NBC risk a conservative host?
Chuck Todd - Broadcast lightweight. No personality.
Charlie Rose - As mentioned above. Maybe.
Dan Abrams - Definitely not.
Other (Tell us who!)

Joe Scarborough? Russert said it really helped him to have worked in government so he could know how the newsmakers thought. Scarborough served in Congress. He is personable and has good broadcasting chops and does a decent interview. But he has never been a reporter/journalist I don't think.

I really think their best bet would be to go back to a panel show as it was during the Lawrence Pivak days.

After all it is "Meet The PRESS."

That means multiple reporters.

It would save a lot of hurt feelings by the people on your list.

I'd like to see Juan Williams take over. Between Fox News and NPR, he reaches a large talk-radio audience and has been in publications numerous times between columns and books he's written.

He's very well-spoken, educated, and charismatic. I also think that a black political figurehead on such a strong show like MTP would really mesh well together. He has an uncanny ability to converse intellectually with both sides of the spectrum and not come to emotional drivel.

Gipper said:

I'd like to see Juan Williams take over. Between Fox News and NPR, he reaches a large talk-radio audience and has been in publications numerous times between columns and books he's written.

He's very well-spoken, educated, and charismatic. I also think that a black political figurehead on such a strong show like MTP would really mesh well together. He has an uncanny ability to converse intellectually with both sides of the spectrum and not come to emotional drivel.

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I enjoy him. I've attended meetings between he and someone I was associated with. But as much as I like him this is not a popularity contest.

He lacks the incisiveness to get a Barack Obama or John McCain to reveal inconvenient truths with their verbal answers or their body language.

He is less apt to make people squirm.

For that show we want the guests to answer tough questions.

I don't think that is Juan Williams' style.

I honestly think that no one could replace Russert

chevydriver1123 said:

I honestly think that no one could replace Russert

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I think we all agree that no one can replace Russert, but someone will need to be the host of Meet the Press. I can't see them canceling the show as popular and as long as it has been on.

Gipper said:

I'd like to see Juan Williams take over. Between Fox News and NPR, he reaches a large talk-radio audience and has been in publications numerous times between columns and books he's written.

He's very well-spoken, educated, and charismatic. I also think that a black political figurehead on such a strong show like MTP would really mesh well together. He has an uncanny ability to converse intellectually with both sides of the spectrum and not come to emotional drivel.

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I never considered Juan Williams, but it's not a bad suggestion. He is likable, people know him and I can honestly see him being more fair than most listed in the poll above.

No matter who replaces Russert, they won't be able to do both jobs (Bureau Chief and MTP host). NBC would be better off replacing his two functions with two separate people. I can't see anyone who has been named capable of doing what Russert did so well for so many years. He was a one of a kind, a dead breed if you will.

I think NBC should try to steal George Stephanopoulos away from ABC and This Week. Meet the Press is a much bigger show so I'm guessing he'd probably be interested. He could do political analysis for the evening news for NBC then, too.

Skip said:

I think NBC should try to steal George Stephanopoulos away from ABC and This Week. Meet the Press is a much bigger show so I'm guessing he'd probably be interested. He could do political analysis for the evening news for NBC then, too.

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I don't see a Clintonite getting the nod. I really don't know who should get the gig. I'll throw Bill Moyers into the discussion though.

independent_thinker2002 said:

I don't see a Clintonite getting the nod. I really don't know who should get the gig. I'll throw Bill Moyers into the discussion though.

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Bill is pretty good. but Amy Goodman is better.

I'm saddened to hear of anyone dying. but Russert was bad. his "journalism" was weak. too often, he'd repackage a corny talking point, re-phrase it as a question, and not press the interviewee when he/she dodged the question. and he did it every week. that's not journalism.

Russert was better than many names listed in the poll choices, but MTP would be a better show with nearly anybody capable of basic critical thinking, and most of all, someone not fearful for their career because of probing questions. I don't blame Russert, though. I am pretty timid myself, in my own job. I like to work. It serves to misinform everyone else, though.

here's what an interviewer not castrated by the corporate media is like:

Democracy Now! | Bill Clinton Loses His Cool in Democracy Now! Interview on Everything But Monica: Leonard Peltier, Racial Profiling, the Iraqi Sanctions, Ralph Nader, the Death Penalty and the Israeli-Palestinian Con

Curious George said:

Personally, I think Chris Matthews is most up to the job but he may be a little too adversarial and politically biased to pull it off.

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And Tim Russert wasn't? :lol:

Chris Matthews Uses Death of Russert to Display Elitism
By John Stephenson | June 14, 2008 - 13:10 ET

Watch this video where Chris Matthews displays his utter lack of class with Keith Olbermann. While almost every other journalist and blogger on both sides of the political spectrum are giving condolences and highlighting Russert’s deserved credit of being one of the most fair and unbiased journalists of today’s media, Chris Matthews used the opportunity to go off on an anti-war rant. He added insult by comparing him to the “American people” in the sense of being fooled by the Bush administration into supporting the war. Besides displaying how opposite he is than Russert on the subject of bias, he had to go on and add his own elitist touch by presenting himself as a superior journalist.

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Tim Russert | NewsBusters.org

Here's an indication of Chris Matthews' objectivity, or the lack of it.

independent_thinker2002 said:

I don't see a Clintonite getting the nod. I really don't know who should get the gig. I'll throw Bill Moyers into the discussion though.

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He's on PBS for a reason. No offense to him, but he isn't a hard news guy.

galenrox said:

Only possibility has got to be John Stossel.

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He hasn't shown an abiding interest in politics.

galenrox said:

Only possibility has got to be John Stossel.

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Can't stand that guy. Please, God, no.

bhkad said:

Chris Matthews Uses Death of Russert to Display Elitism
By John Stephenson | June 14, 2008 - 13:10 ET

Tim Russert | NewsBusters.org

Here's an indication of Chris Matthews' objectivity, or the lack of it.

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He called Russert a Patriot and in touch with the average American. I didn't see the elitism.

galenrox said:

I would beg to differ, it's his abiding interest in politics that cost him greatly in terms of his public career.

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That and his permanent hearing damage caused by asking a wrestler if it was fake.

niftydrifty said:

Bill is pretty good. but Amy Goodman is better.

I'm saddened to hear of anyone dying. but Russert was bad. his "journalism" was weak. too often, he'd repackage a corny talking point, re-phrase it as a question, and not press the interviewee when he/she dodged the question. and he did it every week. that's not journalism.

Russert was better than many names listed in the poll choices, but MTP would be a better show with nearly anybody capable of basic critical thinking, and most of all, someone not fearful for their career because of probing questions. I don't blame Russert, though. I am pretty timid myself, in my own job. I like to work. It serves to misinform everyone else, though.

here's what an interviewer not castrated by the corporate media is like:

Democracy Now! | Bill Clinton Loses His Cool in Democracy Now! Interview on Everything But Monica: Leonard Peltier, Racial Profiling, the Iraqi Sanctions, Ralph Nader, the Death Penalty and the Israeli-Palestinian Con

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Amy Goodman has yet to show an ability to appeal to more than a small segment of the population despite having been on the air for decade.

Goodman is best known as the principal host of Pacifica Radio's Democracy Now! program, where she has been described by the Los Angeles Times as "radio's voice of the disenfranchised."

Amy Goodman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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She seems to like occupying the broadcast journalistic niche left open by the mainstream media players.

I think the relevancy of these kinds of shows is diminishing.

I don't ever, ever, EVER watch political shows on TV. I'd gnaw my own leg off too avoid pundit shows.

I know MTP wasn't as awful as Cross Fire, but I just don't think my generation gets its political coverage from the TV. We use the internet.

Doc Howl said:

And Tim Russert wasn't? :lol:

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Tim Russert was one the most non biased commentators I have ever seen.....Only you would think he is bias..........

I don't believe you can replace a Tim Russert but one interesting guy might be Wolfe Blitzer.........

Navy Pride said:

Tim Russert was one the most non biased commentators I have ever seen.....Only you would think he is bias..........

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:lol:

Like I said, he was the chief softball pitcher for the Bush Administrator.

Navy Pride said:

I don't believe you can replace a Tim Russert but one interesting guy might be Wolfe Blitzer.........

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May as well choose Barbara Walters. I mean, if you're going for inanity.

new coup for you said:

I think the relevancy of these kinds of shows is diminishing.

I don't ever, ever, EVER watch political shows on TV. I'd gnaw my own leg off too avoid pundit shows.

I know MTP wasn't as awful as Cross Fire, but I just don't think my generation gets its political coverage from the TV. We use the internet.

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I gather that means you like pre-processed news over the real thing, first hand?

A previous format was to have several journalists questioning one or two newsmakers.

Meet the Press - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia