David Gregory officially announced he’s leaving NBC News, and now an NBC internal memo sent out by NBC News president Deborah Turness has confirmed that Chuck Todd will take the reins at Meet the Press.
Here’s the full text of the announcement:
Dear All,
I want to share some news about Meet the Press. After an exceptional 20 years with NBC News, David Gregory is leaving the network.
I want to express my sincerest thanks to David, who, after the death of Tim Russert, led Meet the Press for almost 6 years. Under his leadership the show has had a string of exclusives, and David has shown a remarkable gift for holding leaders to account and getting answers on issues that matter to our audience. He is an outstanding journalist whose sharp intellect and quick sense of humor have made him a pleasure to work with. I know you all join me in expressing our deepest gratitude and in wishing him the very best.
I am very pleased to announce that Chuck Todd will take the helm on September 7. There is no one with a bigger passion for politics than Chuck. His unique ability to deliver that passion with razor sharp analysis and infectious enthusiasm makes him the perfect next generation moderator of this beloved broadcast.
Chuck will ensure that Meet the Press is the beating heart of politics, the place where newsmakers come to make news, where the agenda is set. We have some exciting plans to evolve and update the broadcast under Chuck’s leadership that we will be sharing with you shortly. Chuck will continue as NBC News political director, and will hand over his roles as chief White House correspondent and anchor of MSNBC’s The Daily Rundown.
Andrea Mitchell will serve as moderator of Meet the Press this weekend, and will continue to be a central figure of the broadcast, along with some new names that we will announce in the coming days.
For nearly seventy years, Americans have turned to Meet the Press on Sunday mornings for unrivaled insights on the news stories, political battles and public affairs debates dominating the national discussion. The next-generation Meet the Press, led by Chuck Todd, is certain to be the must-watch political destination on Sundays and beyond.
Deborah
Anybody else feeling a little underwhelmed?
The Talking Penis. Yawn.
ReplyDeleteAt least he'll be easier to avoid now.
Chuck Todd's photo will be used to personify the word wimpy in the Webster's Dictionary.
ReplyDeleteMcCain and his girlfriend Lindsey will have a field day with this tool on Meet The Press.
Chuck Todd who says it is not his job to correct GOP lies, we will not be watching. These people are so out of touch.
ReplyDeleteIt is an improvement.. David Gregory had huge shoes to fill after the death of Tim Russert. He was an intellectual lightweight and seemed afraid to offend any politician.
ReplyDeleteThing that bothered me most about him was he seemed like he had questions on a note pad and that he was just going through the questions. No follow up on evasive answers, no correcting false answers or talking points.
So Chuck Todd is an improvement. I will give him a chance. Although I wanted Rachel Maddow
Different talking head, same bullshit. Also, John McCain is wondering if he'll have to share the car MTP sends for him with Lindsey or Liz Cheney.
ReplyDeleteAs a "Morning Joe" sufferer, I am totally underwhelmed. "Second verse, same as the first." And since when did Gregory hold leaders into account?
ReplyDeleteHalf a loaf, to be sure...
ReplyDeleteI have not seen one favorable comment anywhere with the selection of Chuck Todd.
ReplyDeleteHe once said it is not the job of the press to expose the lies of politicians and yet NBC gives him this important job.
His only interest is who is up and who is down. He has no interest in policy and ideas.
Chuck may as well be in politics himself; he's got that fake smile-bite down as good as any of them.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right. Had to take a second look at the graphic, I thought it was a screen grab from "The Simpsons"
DeleteMeet the Press will continue to be last in their slot on Sunday. Don't these people EVER learn? Same B.S. does not cut it. Change the name to Meet the GOP. I suppose Gregory has already signed his contract with Faux. He recently bought a multi million dollar home in DC, so he will need a job. His dancing partner, Rove, surely would help him by giving good refernces. Todd stated that "It is not my job to check facts" so, don't expect much.
ReplyDeleteThis is like going from the curb down the sewer drain to the gutter of a toxic waste dump…
ReplyDeleteWhen ratings go negative, maybe NBC Universal stockholders will finally get it.
Deborah seems much more excited about this than I am....guess that's her job, but sheesh.
ReplyDeleteChuck Todd is at best a panelist and occasional host. He has shown no leadership, except where it seem scripted. He does the eye sulk when the situation doesn't go his way. Andrea Mitchell is a tad better, but she has been in the disappeared section of the day so long, I worry that she doesn't have the support troops to be strong.
ReplyDeletePfffffffftttt.....
ReplyDeleteTodd has been explicit that it is not his job to call out or challenge outright falsehoods. He will sit and nod agreeably at whatever republican talking points the great parade of aging white male gasbags want to spout. Whoop-de-doo.
ReplyDeleteAlso? "The next-generation Meet the Press, led by Chuck Todd, is certain to be the must-watch political destination on Sundays and beyond."
Bwahahahahah!
"Todd has been explicit that it is not his job to call out or challenge outright falsehoods."
DeleteI saw him say this & was just dumbfounded. I knew that was how he did his job, I just would have never thought he'd just openly state it on air.
Walter Cronkite wept.
Trading Cream of Wheat for Quaker Oats. Yawn...
ReplyDeleteDavid Gregory, as host of MTP, made me want to bang my head against a wall. I stopped watching years ago. Chuck Todd, in my opinion, will do no better and I will still refuse to watch. Dr. Rachel Maddow would have been a most excellent choice but I'm selfish enough to want her to stay at 9 pm on MSNBC each weeknight so I can watch her show. Five hours of Rachel each week versus one hour--that's a no-brainer to me.
ReplyDeleteSo agree w/you 5:21 a.m. Rachel is the best and I try never to miss her show. Always so educational, factual and she corrects errors IF she makes them (which isn't often).
DeleteShe's far better than any of the other shows out there. And, she doesn't have John McCain on her show (thank god!). I'll wager she has invited him and he's declined.
He's probably scared to death of her as he knows she'd nail his ass!
Are you telling me that Sarah Palin didn't get the View job and didn't get the job replacing David Gregory on Meet the Press? Something is wrong here, must be the Sarah Palin Curse.
ReplyDeleteMaybe now he'll shave the cheesy goatee and try to look like a professional. I won't be watching to see it though. Ratings for MTP are going to rank !
ReplyDeleteWhy they didn't get Melissa Harris Perry, I will never understand. She already works for them and she has an audience.
ReplyDeleteTexasMel
Personally, can't stand this guy. Always comes off as a right-wing shill. What has happened to real, unbiased journalism. Won't be watching anymore than I watched Gregory.
ReplyDeleteMurkyWaters
I don't know what happened to Todd. Back in 2008 he seemed really informed and reported without bias, imo. Now he's turned into a douche nozzle and seems to be part of the "both side do it" even when they don't. I still won't watch this show.
ReplyDelete(Twitter) @meetthepress
ReplyDeleteHave fun guys & gals. ;-)
One douche replaced by another douche.
ReplyDeleteChuck Todd has never impressed me and I'll never watch 'Meet the Press'...didn't before him and assuredly won't now.
ReplyDelete5:59 I think you mean 'tank' vs 'rank'!
ReplyDeleteChuck Todd is a squirrelly little twerp, IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI love the wording of the letter Deborah had published. It really drives home how much faith they've had in Gregory for six years, but picking Chuck Todd is insuring the end of MTP, which would have been a good thing after Russert's Death. Quit when you're at the top.
ReplyDeleteRIP MTP. AKA "The show where John McCain and Miss Lindsey get their fox news talking points aired on network tee vee.
Edward R Murrow must be spinning in his grave, sad what's become of Journalism.
Cannot stand the guy! Suggest he shave that thing off his face! Creepy looking!
ReplyDelete