Tom Brokaw may be anchoring Meet the Press through the November elections, but NBC has left open the question of who’ll be sitting in the chair come Inauguration Day.
Early money was on NBC correspondent David Gregory, but network sources say the stock of NBC political director Chuck Todd is on the rise to replace the legendary Tim Russert.
Todd, who previously was editor of the online tipsheet the Hotline and had little TV experience before joining NBC last year, got a lot of airtime during the extended primary season and developed a big following on the Web on such sites as Chucktoddfacts.com and Vivachucktodd.blogspot.com. Few observers missed the tableau of Brokaw, Brian Williams, and Todd overlooking Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at Denver’s Invesco Field. The buzz: Was this NBC’s future?
Todd would be a host in the mold of Russert: an unflashy shoe-leather journalist who loves the minutiae of politics, knows the numbers and trivia, and lives for the Washington game.
A dark horse in the race: Frank Sesno, who once hosted the CNN Sunday show Late Edition. “He’s serious, sincere, objective, and conveys that everyday-Joe aura that made Russert a draw,” says Michael Turk, who founded a Facebook group to “Draft Frank” for the host position.
This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.
Who’ll Take Russert’s Place?
Tom Brokaw may be anchoring Meet the Press through the November elections, but NBC has left open the question of who’ll be sitting in the chair come Inauguration Day.
Early money was on NBC correspondent David Gregory, but network sources say the stock of NBC political director Chuck Todd is on the rise to replace the legendary Tim Russert.
Todd, who previously was editor of the online tipsheet the Hotline and had little TV experience before joining NBC last year, got a lot of airtime during the extended primary season and developed a big following on the Web on such sites as Chucktoddfacts.com and Vivachucktodd.blogspot.com. Few observers missed the tableau of Brokaw, Brian Williams, and Todd overlooking Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at Denver’s Invesco Field. The buzz: Was this NBC’s future?
Todd would be a host in the mold of Russert: an unflashy shoe-leather journalist who loves the minutiae of politics, knows the numbers and trivia, and lives for the Washington game.
A dark horse in the race: Frank Sesno, who once hosted the CNN Sunday show Late Edition. “He’s serious, sincere, objective, and conveys that everyday-Joe aura that made Russert a draw,” says Michael Turk, who founded a Facebook group to “Draft Frank” for the host position.
This article first appeared in the October 2008 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.
More>> Capital Comment Blog | News & Politics | Society Photos
Most Popular in News & Politics
A DNC Official Will Run for Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Seat
Want to Search Donald Trump’s Truth Social Posts? A New Site Is Here to Help.
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
FBI Building Now on Track to Leave DC After All, Whistleblower Leaks Texts Suggesting Justice Department Planned to Blow Off Federal Court Orders, and NPS Cuts Leave Assateague Island Without Lifeguards
The Washington Nationals Just Fired the Manager and GM Who Led Them to a Championship. Why Has the Team Been so Bad Since?
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
Arlington Unleashes Robots on Its Sidewalks
Gayle King on Giving Her First Commencement Speech at UMD
Trump Denies He Doodled Naked Lady for Epstein, Youngkin Visits Iowa, and Dan Snyder’s Old House Got Even Cheaper
Senate to Big Bird: Drop Dead; Trump Orders Coca-Cola to Use Sugar; and We Found Great Taiwanese Lunch at a Gas Station
No, You’re Not the Only One Dealing With DCA Flight Anxiety
“Christ or Chaos”: A Conservative Church With Political Ties Comes to Washington
A Look Inside the Spy Museum’s Long-Awaited Vault Collection
Trayon White Wins Election to Replace Trayon White, Trump Claimed His Uncle Taught the Unabomber, and We Tried Some Canadian Snacks