Replacing Russert: Williams To Host MTP This Sunday; Russert's Saturday Show Replaced By Doc Programming

No permanent decisions have been made about replacing Tim Russert as moderator of "Meet The Press," or replacing Tim Russert as NBC Washington bureau chief, or replacing him on his Saturday MSNBC show, or in any other of the many roles he held within NBC News — but still, Sunday is happening in two days, and there's an empty chair that needs filling. So, for this week, at least, Russert will be replaced on "Meet The Press" by NBC News anchor and managing editor Brian Williams.

No permanent decisions have been made, and the only other announcement that has been made about the show is two guests: Senators Lindsey Graham and Joe Biden, both of whom were supposed to appear on the MTP of June 15, 2008. The senators were slated for the first half hour, with a roundtable comprised of Dan Balz and John Harwood; no word yet on whether there will be a roundtable for this show or who will participate in it. Williams will be replaced on "Nightly News" tonight and tomorrow night by Ann Curry.

But what of Russert's Saturday show? He had taped his final show — also with Harwood — prior to his death last Friday, but MSNBC did not air it last week and will not air it this week. According to MSNBC spokesperson Jeremy Gaines, the timeslots will be temporarily filled as follows: Saturday at 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2a.m. ET - documentary programming; Sunday at 11 a.m. - live news.

Details to come when they are available.

Comments

[Liberoservative]

and I still say Engel...
get that guy out of Iraq and let him do his thing..... he is smart, good looking and rational.. great TV..and he has had the Bush admin already complain on his interview.­.. what better cred is that?

[SweetAngie]

* * * HERE'S A GREAT IDEA * * * -

Luke Russert alternates with Matt Lauer every 4th or 5th time . . . I think they would make a great working duo . . . wouldn't Tim just love to see his boy getting weened into his old job? Not sure if Luke has any dreams of this . . . and whatever his dreams are, I certainly hope he pursues them!

[SweetAngie]

I have been reading your suggestions and comments - good stuff!

1. - Brian Williams - he replaced Tommy B. and that is what he was meant to do - not a good choice - too narrow. (Sorry - he may be young but seems VERY old to me)

2. - Anderson Cooper - not a bad idea at all, as I like the idea of a young guy - but sharp, versatile, hard hitting and respectable. (don't even give me this closet stuff!)

3. - Diane Sawyer - Probably the only woman that I would consider a good choice - ageless and wonderful - not a bad idea!

4. - Keith Olbermann - Sorry! too damn serious and angry - Please don't do that to us on Sunday Morning! I want a friend in my livingroom on Sunday morning, like Tim was!

5. - David Gregory - just doesn't work for me. I like him - not hard hitting and interesting enough for this role.

6. - Chris Matthews - Love him, but too overextended with Hardball - he is Hardball!

7. - Matt Lauer - now this makes sense! For some reason, he seems to have really come into this own lately - very much like Tim Russert in some way. . . . best choice -

9. - Luke Russert - As we all know, Luke is not experienced enough to do this kind of thing.

* * * HERE'S A GREAT IDEA * * * -

[1PALady]

I think Gwen Ifill or Michelle Norris

[tweedy54]

Gwen Ifill would be a good choice. She is about as unbiased as I have seen.
But that won't ever happen!!!!!!:(:(

[hwebb54]

I think Williams should be Russert's replacement full time on MTP's. Either him or David Gregory. I think they are about the only two at NBC who can actually play it straight. Matthews and Olbermann could keep their biases out of it. Olbermann probably knows that but Matthews is so vain he probably thinks that he could hide it. Fat chance of that. He would blurt out something he isn't suppose to on the first day.

[springsm]

Play it straight??? Smooth is more like it.

[kroses98]

Williams is not "straight.­" He is "right wing." That goes to show how much people know about biases! The only ones to be able to do the right thing by Russert would be Olbermann or Chuck Todd! Both of these men have the intelligence and integrity to do an excellent job and present a program that people would want to watch. Williams can't even get ratings for his half-hour news program, because he is so boring and obviously biased toward the right.

[MrStill]

I'm probably alone here, but I always liked Tucker Carlson. I don't agree with everything he says, but at least he comes across as pretty honest. An admirable trait often missing in today's talking head types.

[hwebb54]

I could live with Tucker. He pissed me off with his "cross his legs" Hillary comment but I think he learned from it and recognized what he had done was wrong. Other than that he always tells it like it is on either the Dem's or the Republicans. He's a Libertarian anyway.

[tweedy54]

Carlson is SOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOO­OOOOO..... RIGHT WING!!

LIBERTARIAN, my a$$$..He even admits that among his CONSERVATIVE friends, HE DOESN'T KNOW ANYONE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN HIMSELF..

Plus, HE IS NOT A STRAIGHT TALKER, he is a Contrarian, ( Spelling)??!!
No matter what some some says he says the OPPOSITE.. You can look at his face and see he doesn't believe half of what he says.

Plus ,'LIBERTARIAN", is nothing but a buzz word that talk show host use, TRYING NOT to be labeled, but it isn't difficult to see where they lean!!!!

[kroses98]

Yeah, "MrStill," you are very "alone" here!!!

[1PALady]

Very much alone!

[sherbug]

Completely alone

[tweedy54]

JOKING????­????????!!­!!!!!!!RIG­HT????????­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!

[Calylily]

I disagree.

If you have watched Matt Lauer in the recent months . . . . he has developed and blossomed, and in so many ways, he's outgrown his role on the Today Show.

I think replacing Tim Russert would be an excellent choice - however . . .
someone here just mentioned Anderson Cooper . . . I don't know why I didn't think of him either!

[hwebb54]

Anderson is a great news man but he has some issues. He needs to come out of the closet and get it over with that way no one is gossiping anymore about him.

[springsm]

And you listen to the gossip? I don't consider sexual orientation as I listen to a journalist. My gosh. Small minds.....­....

[kroses98]

Matt Lauer is a tad conceited and a "light weight" for such a "heavy weight" program as "Meet The Press," as is Anderson Cooper. Both are also quite boring, in my opinion, especially in comparison to Tim Russert who was extremely dynamic!

[mediamarv]

Sorry, but "heavy weight" program? It is nothing more than yet one more op to spread the week's talking points. Russert was so predictable that you only needed to prepare for one follow up question and then spend the rest of the time getting your messages out.
I use MTP as the perfect example of media manipulation in my MediaTraining seminars (ignore the plug) and Russert never failed me.

Cooper is probably the best choice since he wants to be liked and won't rock the boat.

Please feel free to disagree.

[apoyo]

Jon Stewart

[hwebb54]

George Bush.

He'll be looking for a job soon.

[cmdrgmh]

Matt Lauer would make a good Washington Bureau Chief and MTP Mod. He does good insight interviews like tim with the video evidence, and he's very fair. He has also been at NBC for a long time.

[4wehttam]

I think Brian Williams is THE perfect choice. He's calm, objective, smart, not a gotcha type and is young and charismatic.

[springsm]

Brian Williams stops short of giving the truth in news. He has also given MCCain a pass. I don't trust B. Williams any farther than I can spit...and that isn't far. Tim Russert also gave the gop passes this year, while he hacked away at HRC with catty and petty questions. BW likes to pontificate. Try Matt Lauer...at least he will give it a good try and not get up there with this psuedo sincere look on his face.

[kroses98]

They are BOTH Right-Wing shills, and boring!!!

[StrayTalk]

Taking on the important issues of our time...Mee­t the Best: Willard Scott and Bryant Gumbel --together again !

[widollar]

John Harwood has the talent, insight, intelligence, patience and politeness to handle the job very well.

[dezbaby]

absolutely
perfect choice

[kroses98]

OH, please!!!! You are just grasping at straws now!!!!

[ebanks84]

I really don't believe we have a qualified female to take his spot. We need someone with his charisma and patience to eventually get the truth out. I think Chris Matthews could be the one, after some grooming of course.

[ObserverinVancouver]

Chris Matthews would be a joke. I like to hear what the interviewees have to say. With Chris they'd never get a word in edgewise.

Gwen Ifill would be a much better choice.

[1PALady]

Gwen Ifill or Michelle Norris

[hwebb54]

I think Katie Kouric could do this job but I don't know how she would be treated. When asking confrontational questions, it usually pays to be a man in the news business. It's not fair but it's the truth. Tim Russert was a large man so he dominated people with his presents along with his questions. I can't see Katie pushing someone to answer tough questions.

[chitown8]

Gwen Ifill she is great on PBS.

[Calylily]

I think Meet the Press should go for someone YOUNGER . . . a great mind, but younger than some of the people that are being suggested.

Look, Tim Russert started out when he was 17 years younger - he was a relatively young man. Look at what he did - he revolutionazed the show by making it something new and different.

With Tim gone, I think that is what is needed again. PLEASE, not an old guy! Don't bore us to death on Sunday morning. We can't have Tim back, but instead, let's have some great new young spirit who can keep it relavent, strong and interesting.

No matter how old Tim Russert would become, he never got old. He was a young spirit - and that is why we loved him!

[apoyo]

Jeremy Scahill

Matt Taibbi

[EnragedLiberal]

Matt would be an excellent choice, although he is glaringly unaccepting of Bullshit and openly progressive. Although Tim was apparently Democrat (I say apparently, because it seemed like he was a GWBull admin supporter and softballer up until the last year or two) he kept that under his hat. Right-leaning viewers would find it too easy to dismiss Matt as a "liberal" because he would be unable to add his surgical and illuminating retorts to the MTP process.

[kroses98]

Who cares about them? Matt would be great!!!