The mourning over the untimely death of Tim Russert — host of Meet the Press and Washington bureau chief of NBC News — may continue, but the Politico, the L.A. Times and BloggingStocks are just a few of the media outlets covering the internal jockeying to sit in the host chair of television’s longest-running program. According to the L.A. Times:
Speculation on possible successors centers on three on-air personalities already under contract to NBC: David Gregory, the former White House correspondent recently given his own MSNBC show, “Race for the White House”; Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s long-running “Hardball”; and Joe Scarborough, the former congressman and host of “Morning Joe” on MSNBC, according to talent representatives who declined to speak on the record for fear of jeopardizing relationships with network management.
It’s considered less likely that NBC would reach outside for a brand-name talent, such as CBS News anchor Katie Couric or George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC’s “This Week,” the No. 2 Sunday show. Stephanopoulos is believed to have two more years on his ABC deal; a network spokeswoman would not comment.
Popular MSNBC host Keith Olbermann is likewise considered a long shot, largely because of his open espousal of liberal viewpoints.
The Politico quotes independent television analyst Andrew Tyndall as saying that NBC News political director Chuck Todd should also be in the mix. BloggingStocks notes the high-stakes nature of the decision:
Unfortunately, the time for mourning for NBC News will be brief. The network brass has to find a replacement for Russert fast because the “Meet the Press” is a huge cash cow. Advertisers pay premium rates to reach the show’s affluent audience. They are bound to worry about whether viewers will drift to “This Week with George Stephanopolous” or CBS Sunday Morning.
I believe that these analyses overlook an unorthodox choice, but one that would best capitalize and build upon the legacy of the beloved Russert:
NBC News should announce that Meet The Press will be forever hosted by Zombie Tim Russert.
It is a suggestion which may seem shocking to some, but one with multiple benefits to consider.ÂÂ
First, Zombie Tim Russert would still be a sharper and fairer questioner than David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell, George Stephanopoulos or any of the other candidates.ÂÂ
Second, returning Zombie Tim Russert to the host’s chair would be appointment television.  There be an enormous PR boost for the initial return.  There also would be the continuing possibility that Zombie Tim Russert would escalate from verbal sparring to actually attacking his guests — which, given his typical guest list, would be wildly popular.ÂÂ
Third, given the guest list, it is doubtful Zombie Tim Russert could consume enough braaaaaiiiinnnsss to be able to break free of the control of NBC News.
Zombie Tim Russert: a revolutionary choice whose time has come. All it requires to be set in motion is a phone call to the Lord of the Undead, Keith Richards.
Update: JOM-a-lanche!
Pale, twitchy, renders brains mushy and pre-chewed? Chris Matthews is your man.
*****************PSA ALERT******************
Without mentioning him by name, I know of a man who ran 3 miles a day religiously and had a resting heart rate of 42. Sudden Cardiac Death chopped him down in an instant. Cholesterol maybe? Plaque in the arteries. Check it out people. Park on the far side of the MacDonalds and get some walking in. Pass on that 4th bratwurst. Smoke a lighter brand of cigarette. Use a fluffy egg white-based frosting instead of a butter-based frosting on your cake. Eat salad with your boilermakers.
“Popular MSNBC host Keith Olbermann is likewise considered a long shot, largely because of his open espousal of liberal viewpoints.”
– Now where ever did they get that idea. Must have been his big tricked out Obamaessiah badge or something.
– That hes even in the running means his three fans and his momma really flooded NBC with a blizzard of 3 or 4 emails on his behalf.
– You look down that list of humorless ideolog hacks, and you immediately know tqo things about NBC as a news operation. 1 – Thsy have zero backup to Russert, and b – They were a one man band living off his talent.
I would really like to see Joe Scarborough to do the show.
He is the most level headed reasonable unbiased out of all of them you listed, Karl
Zombie Tim Russert would be immune to political pressure or death threats.
What about the Zombie Edward R. Murrow?
Andrea Mitchell
Speaking of Teh Scary Undead. I warned them Hobbits shouldn’t breed with trolls.
Given that a Zombie Tim Russert would be immune to political pressure or death threats, the problem that CNN had with coverage in Saddam’s Iraq would finally be solved.
The show needs someone out of the current NBC news group–certainly not Chris Matthews or Andrea Mitchell. NBC has to ask itself whether it wants to tank the show or find its next “custodian”–Russerts words, not his.
The show needs to find an intimidating personality, not some shrill squawker. Chuck Todd seems very fair, but he’s too nice a guy. For an older guy, consider Brit Hume. For a younger guy, consider Ari Fleischer. Both are no nonsense; I could see each of them raking guests over the coals. Off hand, I cannot think of a heavy-weight woman for the task, but I haven’t thought about it much. Couric? She’s very likable, but she belongs back on morning TV. Maybe they could pair up Ann Coulter and Hillary Clinton? Hah.
Oh, cool, let’s give the spot to Mr. Tingly leg, who even gave Slobberman pause when Chris used the opportunity of eulogizing Russert on Slob’s program to label Russert a dupe of Bu$Hitler.
MTP and NBC will then just careen down the tubes.
SAM
When Laura Ingraham puts on her lawyer cap, she can grill with the best of ’em. Congenial but tough – Dennis Prager hands down (“I value clarity over agreement”). Tough but maybe too partisan – Hugh Hewitt.
Yes, I’m naming radio people, but I believe the 3+ hour shows they have to sustain are a better training ground for interviewing then the prancing showboys we see in Olbermann and Matthews.
Without mentioning him by name, I know of a man who ran 3 miles a day religiously and had a resting heart rate of 42. Sudden Cardiac Death chopped him down in an instant
I once saw a piece about this guy and his wife who advocated a near starvation diet (of carboard and flax seed, I think) and said that exercise and extremely low calorie diet was the key to longevity.
The greatest thing about that plan? When death comes, you are SO READY for it.
As for health – you know, you always hear about healthy people dropping dead, and I see everyday extremely fat people in horrible health driving their little scooters around Walmart shopping for chips and cookies and pork rinds, and I just gotta wonder what’s up?
Off hand, I cannot think of a heavy-weight woman
Candy Crowley? Rosie O’Donnell? Roseanne Barr? Cathy Bates? There’s lot’s of heavyweight women you could hire to grill cheeseburgers.
Wait a minute. Did you say “grill politicians”?
My vote is actually for Olberman, because I can’t wait to see the Kosleft freaking out and calling him a screaming right wing hater Republican lap dog if he inadvertantly manages to end a sentence spoken to a dem politician with a question mark. Cuz you know, that’d be biased and all…
Hell, I’d take the gig — as long as I didn’t have to talk to people or be on camera.
Which would have about the same effect as a post-Russert MTP anyway.
Wait a minute. Did you say “grill politicians�
Served with fava beans and a nice Chanti.
Sorry. Like your stuff generally. But this is less irreverent than sickening.
Protein, you’ve misfired as Transfat.
Darleen:
I like Laura Ingram in her Fox segments; but I confess that she doesn’t do well when she subs for O’Reilly. She’s like a rightward Alan Colmes–she ends up talking over guests and testifying herself. It’s fine on radio, but it’s appearance on television is much less appealing. Just my two cents. In all her appearances, I wish she’d stay more matter of fact because is quite good and hasn’t turned shrill like Ann Counlter.
Hewitt and Prager, I shrug. Nationally, they’re just not prominent enough. I just thought of another NBC guy–Pete Wilson (?). That guy was all over the place in the Gulf War and then he just seemed to disappear. I think they still have him hidden in a closest at NBC. I just rememember how credible he was–all answers, all facts, and no nonsense.
It’s this sort of off-road thinking that keeps me coming back to PW.
NBC would face some logistical challenges– the need to have the studio temperature at 40 to keep Zombie Tim Russert fresh, the need for a dedicated make-up artist– but these are not insurmountable.
Keep up the good work.
apetrelli,
Sorry you feel that way. It’s a commentary on the fact that Russert is not yet buried, but the general media that lionizes him is already speculating — based on the jockeying of his ostensibly grief-stricken colleagues. In contrast, my point #1 is that an undead Russert is a better host and journalist than his supposed replacements. It’s fairly clear to me who the real ghouls are in this tale.
..but there are already so many zombies on tv… I cant stomach another one.. even if it’s zombie Russert…
I say they go with Megyn Kelley.. At least then I can just turn down the sound and enjoy the soothing eyecandy..
Karl, if you have to ‘splain it (which you didn’t) … perhaps apetrelli isn’t ready for the big-boy table.
If Olbermann’s only disqualifier is that he is too far left, maybe NBC can come up with a more centrist interviewer from outside the network like, say, Hillary.
But apetrelli knows piety only takes one type.
How about Karl Rove? Just for the head-exploding entertainment value. Nah, they’ll probably go with someone safe and centrist like Paul Begala.
Isn’t it interesting just how few reputable, accomplished people there seem to be to fill the slot?
Following in Russert’s footsteps, you know they’re scouring the directory of Democratic congressional aids, and no doubt they’ve retained the services of the entertainment division to get the atmospherics right. All in all it adds up to a Hollywood approved selection…wonder who Babs Boxer has on staff?
But gee, putting Olbie on with the NFL games was such a raging success…
As for health – you know, you always hear about healthy people dropping dead, and I see everyday extremely fat people in horrible health driving their little scooters around Walmart shopping for chips and cookies and pork rinds, and I just gotta wonder what’s up?
Carin,
It’s a secret society. Only they know the perfect chip/cookie/pork rind ratio for maintaining both their figure and their dependence on others for post evacuative clean-up (if you get my drift, and I sincerely hope you don’t)
I think the next National Treasure is going to be about the “scooter people”. You know, secrets hidden on Moon Pie wrappers, clues etched on Peanut M&M’s.
That’s as reverent as I get.
Olberman barely rates a guest spot on The Love Boat
“#Comment by ahem on 6/16 @ 6:47 am #
What about the Zombie Edward R. Murrow?”
Smoker.
That’s a no-no.
At first I saw the joke and thought “too soon,” but I got the point soon afterwards. I’ll bet they put Tom Brokaw in for now because at least he has some gravitas left, and they will probably have to look outside the network for a replacement. No one there now, that I know of (and I watch msnbc so rarely I cannot claim to have deep knowledge on their staff), is qualified to take over.
“#Comment by alppuccino on 6/16 @ 9:25 am #
Olberman barely rates a guest spot on The Love Boat”
Maybe he could do a remake called “Das Hassboot”.
Yeah, but he’ll be the lead in “The New New Fantasy Island”. The highlight, though, will be Obama running out of his office yelling “The CHANGE! Boss! The CHANGE!”
Let’s just drop the pretense altogether and let Obama Girl host MTP.
Of maybe Miss Teen South Carolina.
What about the zombie Walter Cronkite?
Or Homer Simpson.
– Cast my vote for Chris Wallace. He is made in the same mold as Russert, no nonsense, straight to the point, smoth speaking style, and I’ve only ever seen him physically backed up once, when Weird Bill went Captain Queeg on him in “teh interview®”.
– Hes actually the most center of the road, and argues for both sides of the aisle if he thinks something being overdone or handled unfairly. Not the Lefty partisan his father is. I recall once a year or so ago, I forget the kerfluffle of the moment, Nut Mike said something incredibly biased and obviously stupid, and Chris answered an on-the-air question by saying; “I have no idea what he was thinking when he said that. Sometimes my dad lets his party loyalties deeply effect his thinking”. You can’t get much more tough and balanced than calling your own famous dad out in front of a national audience.
– But not much chance it will happen. FOX probably doubled his salary and contract the day Russert died to lock him up on FOX news Sunday.
Kent Brockman!!!11!111!1!!!
Sorry. Not that funny.
[…] for Russert’s replacement, there’s a bit of a horse race going, on that point, just now. Personally, I can’t imagine that anyone currently on Staff at […]
Not that funny. And besides, there are not enough brains in politics to keep Zombie Tim Russert going.
Sorry, Mikey, but the zombie Walter Cronkite is the asshole who convinced America it had lost the war in Vietnam, when, in fact, it hadn’t.
Actually, I think there’s something to hiring Olbermann: he would hasten the demise of the network.
Yay!
“I would really like to see Joe Scarborough to do the show.
He is the most level headed reasonable unbiased out of all of them you listed, Karl”
LMAO!! Dude, that was good!
If anyone saw Tim’s son on the Today show this morning handling his grief w/ incredible dignity and humor and he was saying clear long sentences of explanation of why the family seems to be rebounding very well and the kid was ultra cool and composed about it all. Not a fan of ol’ Tim and but miss him and see his eventual replacement potentially very much there in his son Luke.
Gregory…if memory serves, wasn’t he the guy who chose to follow GWB’s speech at Jackson Square by questioning the wrong black people about government responsibility?
Their response, live on t.v.; “They told me to get to get out. I chose to stay.”
#19, I get the feeling that Kelly wouldn’t be all that adept at hiding her feelings and putting out that cool, lib vibe. She pretty much speaks her mind.
#36, Don’t even think it. Although he would be a great choice to follow Russert he, along with Brit Hume, are my faves and I would think that Wallace would eventually get Brit’s job if he hangs in there.
Nope. Not Gregory. It was Dean Reynolds with ABC. Link attached just because it’s so damn funny to look back on.
http://newsbusters.org/node/1201
Freek’in Brilliant!
A troilka, Murrow, Cronkite and Russert, the 3 Zombies MTP.
I probably already tried to plug here. ,
Attend seminars offered by your institution in topics like grant writing, funding, special grants, tenure review, teaching improvement. ,