Who Will Fill Russert's Chair?

We're sitting around NewsJunk HQ, talking politics and wondering when the discussion is going to turn to the game of musical chairs that must be playing out at NBC.

Think about it this way -- suppose a presidential candidate died suddenly, can you imagine that the talking heads at CNN, NBC and Fox wouldn't, between heartfelt sympathy for the family, be speculating at who the party would nominate in place of the fallen leader? Would it be Romney or Huckabee, Clinton or Edwards, or maybe someone else entirely?

More than 24 hours after Russert's sudden passing, we haven't yet heard any speculation, so we thought we might as well raise the question and run down some possibilities.

1. Keith Olbermann. Af first we thought he'd be a shoe-in, he's batting cleanup at MSNBC, he's personally responsible for them passing Fox in ratings, but he's not a terrific interviewer, and is seen as highly partisan. It's possible that he could lead NBC at some time, a few years after the election, but not now.

2. Chuck Todd is the rising young star at NBC News, and would be my personal choice. He's a no-nonsense political reporter, respects the Internet and bloggers. When he comes on everyone listens. But he's probably too young and too new to network news to fill Russert's shoes.

3. David Gregory seems most likely to get the job, he's covered the White House for six years, famously stood up to Scott McClellan, but frankly -- he's boring. Gregory would be a good choice if you think the Republican will win in the fall, but if it's Obama, you want someone bright and young and a little wet behind the ears, like Todd.

4. Andrea Mitchell is the most senior of the reporter-analysts at NBC News, and if Gregory doesn't get it, she probably will.

5. Chris Matthews probably thinks he should get it, but he won't. Same with Joe Scarborough.

6. Tom Brokaw will certainly fill in on Sunday, and maybe for a couple of weeks while the dust settles at NBC, but he's the emeritus anchor at NBC, and not likely to want to come back into the fray. They'll save him for big interviews and to deliver the obits on NBC.

We're assuming they would promote from within. If not, consider Wolf Blitzer, David Gergen, George Stephanopoulos, Chris Wallace, Anderson Cooper, Gwen Ifil, Bill Moyers, Charlie Rose and my favorite dark horse, Aaron Brown (whose contract with CNN has just expired)..

Comments

[duze]

Arianna huffington. Having a woman of her caliber would make tim proud. however, I think if is a woman it will be andrea mitchell. Please don't pick any of the losers like little georgie s. charlie g.
chuck t. david g. chris m. or keith o. please pick phil donahue, he'll do it his way and will be damn good at it.

[duze]

no one should or ever could copy tim's style. nor should they try. Whoevergets the chair and the honor to sit in it should be well respected and above reproach. my choices

1.phil donahue
2.david gergen
3.chuck todd
4. chris mathews
5. andrea mitchell
6. who ever was closest to tim.Who did he speak with regarding his work the most?

[conniedogs]

Pretty good choices. Todd and Donahue tops my list. Thanks for not including Gregory...­...what a bore.

[duze]

PHIL DONAHUE-NOW HE'S A POLITICIANSW NIGHTMARE. FAIR,SPECI­FIC,RESPEC­TED AND
MAN ENOUGH. NO ONE EVER PLAYED WITH PHIL AND NEVERWILL.

none of the young boys will ever come close to talent like phil donahue.

[duze]

Phil Donahue-perfect. Already proven, knows the ropes, respected and would represent the programming in the way it ddeserves to be respected. No fear that he will rant off like Olberman.
Everyone else is too young, except David Gergen. Of course Andrea Mitchell is great, however she tends to not push when the time comes to close the deal. Phil Donahue. PERIOD

[Bozwellian]

Phil WOULD indeed be great ...so would Aaron Brown...Ge­rgen is good, Andrea does NOT push quite hard enough...P­hil or Aaron Brown...go­od choices...­not afraid to ask the questions, push for the answers and able to do it respectfully ..Love Keith, but not at THIS time and Checky T is just a tad too young but likely the up and coming Russet protege, perhaps his role is behind the scenes oversighting for the Political crew, as does seem to be quite on top and intense in the mode of Russert.

[duze]

I think the commentators should rotate. It's too soon to tell who could even attempt to fill Tim Russert's chair and god knows it will take a long time to get used to Tim not being being there for sunday morning breakfast
.
Rotation would be the perfect way to decide who relates best to the pubic by way of ratings. Each news caster could let the public know the preceeding week who will be covering Meet the Press the following week. Rotate and let the people decide.

[theblueAmerican]

Judy Woodruff. A woman would be great. If not a woman then Chuck Todd. He's good. NBC needs to search and take it's time. For the time being Tom Brokaw would be the right choice. Give it some time. Can't be Keith Olberman or Joe Scarbourgh or even Chris Matthews. Tim had an air of fairness. Don't get me wrong. I like the other guys but I also enjoy their bias. But Meet the Press has to be fair. Maybe Katie Couric. It would help her grow that aura of journalist. Yes I know she is a journalist but she needs that air of being one. It does seem to help in the moderator has political and law experience. I want someone objective. Someone is out there. NBC just has to find that person.

[booksnmore4you]

It will take 4 or 5 people to replace Russert.

[bennySF]

David Gergen. He is a stickler for facts, not spin, and has the credibility of having worked in the White House for both parties. He has the gravitas to win the respect of those he interviews, and the American public will trust him in the same way they did Tim Russert for his integrity and journalistic standards. He's a professor at Harvard and has impeccable credentials.

[gmo2]

An excellent suggestion. I think bennySF's reasoning is excellent. Gergen would be better than most of those profiled. I will say that Chuck Todd would also be a good choice, but I don't know if he has the breadth. Bill Moyers may not be tough enough. David Gregory may get it, but would not be a good choice. His interview questions are not crisp and he lacks good follow-up. Stephanopoulus is a joke.

[Bozwellian]

David Gregory come s off as TOO FLUFFY these days more than ever before and his present show showcases it..he does NOT really seem to have a good handle/control of it and almost seems NOT to fully "care"..He came off better in days at the WH/in the press corps there asking questions.­.when he does his bits on TODAY and now his own show, no "edge" to it...Couri­c is NOT the best choice, she lacks the edge as well. Chuck TOdd perhaps , but would need to be put in over time to grab the audience more fully but does seem to have a grasp in the Russert mode and seemed to be a protege of TR's in that mode...Rot­ate after Brokaw does a few weeks, but with Donahue, Gergen, Todd, and would indeed court Aaron Brown...go­ing to be a tough act to follow, and they do have to get it right !!!

[sphi]

Aaron Brown or Richard Engel.

[NTO08]

I like Brown, but he was on Amy Goodman's show and she ripped him a new one.

[1PALady]

Knowing the shoes that they would be attempting to fill, I think that Phil Donahue or Dan Rather would be good.

[PKSSK]

Aaron Brown would be awsome. He is brilliant, articulate and sorely missed since he left CNN!!! Another brilliant, articulate and street smart journalist who would be a great fit is Al Hunt of Bloomberg News.

[camp1234]

Please choose Chuck Todd. Andrea Mitchell sounds like a jealous

women who is intimidated by other powerful women.Exam­ple Mrs. Clinton.

Mr Olberman is very sexist. Mr. Matthews is worst. The young man

who called the Clintons a pimp is not fit to be on TV.

I have stopped watching all of them.

[brwnizofmine]

I think David Shuster would be better than Chuck Todd. I think David has more of an inquisitive nature. Chuck Todd seems unsure of himself.

[camp1234]

I don't agree, Mr.Shuster made a serious mistake when he referred to the Clintons as

pimps. His statement was unforgivable. MSNBC did not handle sexist statements well.

Mr. Todd seems like a younger version of Mr. Russert. I just hope that if he is chosen

he doesn't become partisan. He should be neutral as a good journalist . He would

be respected. I have lost respect most of MSNBC pundits.

[1PALady]

I've seen nothing about Chuck Todd that suggests that he can fill Tim's shoes. I've seen no sign of any skills as an interviewer.

David Shuster likes to do the homework, comes prepared, he's the one. Just like Tim. Chuck is just the numbers guy, behind the scenes mostly.

[brwnizofmine]

I really loved Tim Russert, he was just the greatest. My personal favorite would be Gwen Ifil. I think it's needed and now is the time to fill one of these slots with a minority. We do not have enough people of color heading up any of the shows.

[Bozwellian]

Have to agree that Gwen WOULD be GREAT ...and that would indeed be a good milestone for the program...­..Of they go the roation route for starters, she should definitely be in on the rotation line up and again hope the draw in Aaron Brown who came off non partisan and principled (CNN made a mistake in losing him !!)

[jade7243]

I leaning towards a PBS type.... Gwen Ifill, Bill Moyers even Jim Lehrer.

Chuck Todd is too superficiial although he is great with the numbers, but his "commentary" during this primary season is woefully lacking any original thought. I don't see him able to think outside the box.

Chris Matthews is too much of a blowhard as is Joe Scarborough.

MTP needs someone smart, inquisitive and doesn' t run too hot or cold.

[chitown8]

I Agree Bill Moyers or Gwen Ifill. They are great even Charlie Rose.

[NTO08]

Gwen would be a good choice, although I doubt she'd want to give up Wash. Week gig. Otherwise, maybe David Gregory.