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NBC Finally Stops Dithering and Picks Gregory
But maybe this kind of seismic move asks too much of NBC brass. The president-elect himself has gone for retread professionals from the Clinton era to staff his own cabinet, but he appoints them with such firm bravura he makes them seem the obvious choice. Which brings us back again to the NBC standbys whose names keep popping up, people like David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell, and political director Chuck Todd. The rap on the smart, analytical Todd is that he’s not enough of a character, but he probably would be over time. As the years went by his goatee would become the characterological equivalent of Russert’s extra twenty pounds.
If all else fails and they want to keep it in the family, they can always recruit Alec Baldwin from 30 Rock. He’s not completely ignorant of public affairs. He’s already in the building. And he’s not just a character, he knows how to play one on TV.
Tina Brown is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast. She is the author of the 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles. Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines and host of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown. She has written for numerous publications, including The Times of London, The Spectator, and The Washington Post.
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Andrew Young's Revenge
Tina Brown is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast. She is the author of the 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles. Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines and host of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown.
Introducing Beast Books
Tina Brown is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast. She is the author of the 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles. Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines and host of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown.
Politicians Gone Crazy
Tina Brown is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast. She is the author of the 2007 New York Times best seller The Diana Chronicles. Brown is the former editor of Tatler, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and Talk magazines and host of CNBC's Topic A with Tina Brown.
photoshock
Ms. Brown, you have hit the nail on the head with this witty and pithy commentary on the state of the NBC network.
Surely, there is a replacement out there that can fill the slot of an anchor job for NBC without all the hype and hoopla that Tim Russert gave to this job.
Rachel Maddow, is an excellent choice and one which I would gladly welcome. A breath of fresh air and also a person who has the interviewing skills that are needed for the desk of that most superior position.
Should the NBC airheads get this choice right I will start to watch the show again, bet you not though!
apparently
An article going to the heart of the problems at MSNBC!
There's a distinct gap between the true journalists (Brokaw, Whitaker etc) and the television personalities like Olbermann
and Matthews that the network will have to address - sooner or later. The internal war is so evident to regular watchers and makes the old cola wars between Pepsi and Coke look tame. My guess is that in a time when things are turning austere that the journalists will win out and Brokaw can return to the ranch in peace rather than shame. Maddow is interesting but not all of us have warmed up to her. Unfortunately for her, she was positioned too close to Olbermann both in time slots and in viewpoint.
Oh, as for HItchens, please! He's every bit as bad as O'Reilly and a distinct argument for waterboarding.
prisrob
Rachel Maddeow is a perfect replacement- thought about her while viewing her show last week.Wouldn't that upset the whole apple cart? Lol Go with it, Tina Brown- right on!
anonsnark
David Gregory dancing with Karl Rove perfectly shows what is wrong with anybody whom NBC might choose if they are staying in character as perfectly illustrated by your article.
Maddow would be a fine choice as would Josh Marshall. In the end, though, the key will be to get somebody who isnt ready to trade access for his or her soul (gregory) or read talking points as if they're gospel truth (anybody on fox and most on the other networks)
Personally, my dream host would be Jack Cafferty, LOL. can somebody please liberate him from his mouse hole on cnn?
Maryam
While I'm not sure how in the world you can think Van Susteren is even remotely competent or charismatic enough for Meet the Press, I'm with you on Rachel Maddow.
mdesade
Great point about Russert. I had always felt that he was almost sacred to anatagonize his guests..., asking them to respond to quotes from various publications..., one of the reasons I stopped watching Meet the Press. It was almost like- I did not say this, dont get mad at me, this is what they are saying, how do you wish to repond to 'them'?
SLoneNY07
Totally agree with you on Rachel Maddow... She's great. My girlfriend, who would cringe when I watched Hardball or Countdown, has come to love Rachel's show. In addition to not being as inane as Matthews or abrasive at Olbermann, she isn't afraid of debating the issues intelligently with people who vehemently disagree with her.
As far as Van Susterenenenen (thanks John Stewart), not sure what you're going for there. She is a total whack job and her daily interviews with Sarah Palin are creepy...
sedonakaren
I have been thinking this for some time, and am SO glad that someone else agrees with me. Rachel Maddow's new show is the BEST, and it's the only cable news show I can think of where I learn NEW information that no one else has. THIS WOMAN DOES HER RESEARCH. She is a female Tim Russert!
Andrea Mitchell is "nice," but continually gets tongue-tied. David Gregory is rude and seems to lack respect for women. In addition to that, I can't get that picture of him dancing with KARL ROVE at a White House Press Event, out of my mind!
Chuck Todd would be good. He's a breath of fresh air, too. Loved his "number crunching" during the election. Very intelligent young man, and likeable. But I think Rachel is the one who is ready NOW.
loudem
Finaly someone points out the nonsense that is Meet the Press. Its tired old left/ right point of view is un inspiring and leaves us knowing less then when we started. Fareed's GPS is exactly where we should be going. Bright individuals with global views, challenging our understnading and widening our dicourse. Thank Ms. B
Miss you madly on the tele.
NOLABOLA
A panel with Hitchens, Zakaria, and Boies? I'll watch that any day of the week.
mrkuhl
What about Tina Brown for the Russert position. If you watched her TV interview show you know that she is comfortable interviewing people from all walks of life. And her life as a journalist (Vanity Fair, Talk, etc.) only adds to her credentials. An attractive, well-spoken, intellectual, international woman could make Meet The Press interesting once again.
SUEC716
100% RIGHT ON! I have been talling anyone who would listen that Rachel would be the BEST!!GO!
bettyboop50
Rachel is the "Change we can Beleive in" Tim Russert. I came to this conclusion after she so deftly and politely carved up the pompous, snivelling, pumpkinhead named David Frum on her show October 13. I sent an email to Meet the Press the following day that we have found Tim's repelacement. David Gregory is a lightweight!
missbelladog
Er, about van Susteren. Anyone who could interview the Palin's with such gullibility is no journalist. And just who are Todd Palin's "contractor buddies" who built their house for them?
Larkinvos
Tina, I agree with your main points,
but Greta van Susteren????
Only if her interview subject were
the "first dude."
Thank you.
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