NBC' "Meet the Press" is still the most-watched news show of all the Sunday/public-affairs programs, but almost two years since the death of Tim Russert, 'MTP' has lost its cachet as 'appointment-TV for political news junkies.
David Gregory is a steady, talented and capable newsman, but lacks the zip and passion that was Russert's personal trademark. That's not a knock on Gregory; almost anyone replacing Russert was bound to get unfair comparisons, but after a year and a half of hosting, Gregory has failed to capture the rapture that was a 'MTP' staple. It's just another Sunday news show, albeit most of the time, still #1, although ABC' "This Week" has picked up ground, as has CBS' "Face the Nation," with Bob Schieffer.
Russerts' relentless dogma and his signature full-screen quotations' for politicians to mull and ponder was a solo act that Gregory has now tried to capture by his own technique, but he simply can't pull off the task. And when he tries to perform a 'Russert-esque visual, it doesn't work. (Like on Sunday, when at the conclusion of the show, Gregory plugged the USA-Canada hockey game with a banal, almost shameless, "Go USA 'all the way!'". It was a virtual copycat of Russerts' "Go Buffalo Bills!" cheer and not very genuine at that, but good try.)
Gregory is very good at interviewing and has pinpoint style on follow-up questioning, but he lacks serious control on the best part of 'MTP', its political round table. Again, on Sunday, for example, Congressman Eric Cantor and Congresswoman, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, kept interrupting one another, at times over-talking to the point of utter-annoyance, and Gregory failed to halt the verbal quagmire. Seconds later, journalists Ron Brownstein, (National Journal) and Kattie Kay, (BBC Washington correspondent) also talked over one other and Gregory simply looked aloof and was unable to take command. Nothing earth-shattering, but the burst of over-babble amounted to a Fox News-like out-of-control, shout-a-thon, that didn't look or sound very cogent.
To his defense, Gregory is still working feverishly hard to install his own style and pace of the show; again, he is taking over for a newsman that was one of NBC's best, and its unfair, still, to compare him to Russert. Practically-speaking, Russert was bigger than 'MTP'; he was the networks' ace political point man--their Ted Koppel, and NBC lost a vital part of its news division air-talent.
In time, Gregory will put his own personal stamp on 'Meet the Press', but for now, the show hasn't recaptured any of its Sunday luster, which isn't to suggest that its not a good show; just nowhere near the height and status it held when Russert was the captain of the ship.
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I don't like David Gregory or his wife (who has ties to Fannie and Freddie) but comparing him to Russert isn't fair.
ReplyDeleteEveryone knew NBC News would slowly begin to disintegrate after Russert's passing and that's precisely what's happening.
Comcast will make serious changes when they assume control of the network. A lot of very high profile and very highly paid people will disappear. The new owners have to pay for the deal somehow and that's how it's done.