Curious George

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.

Hugh_Akston

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).

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bhkad

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.

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OBL 11/24/02

Gipper

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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bhkad

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.

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OBL 11/24/02

chevydriver1123

I honestly think that no one could replace Russert

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Hugh_Akston

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.

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.

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Skip

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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independent_thinker2002

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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niftydrifty

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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