Let's hear it for Brokaw as he hands baton to Gregory
If David Gregory is indeed named the new host of NBC's Meet the Press, as the Huffington Post has reported today, that is by far the best in-house choice the network could have made.
Gregory, as I have said before at this blog, has been at outstanding White House reporter, and he should have received bonus pay on election night for performing as both MSNBC anchorman and babysitter to a desk full of windbag cable hosts led by Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews.
But with the shift to Gregory expected to take place on Sunday, let us now also sing the praises of Tom Brokaw celebrating the masterful job he has done not just of moderating Meet the Press but leading the network news division through a time of crisis since the unexpected death of Tim Russert in June.
When TV goes into overdrive the way it did in the wake of Russert's death, reporters and anchors often take on symbolic roles. And so it was with Brokaw, the retired NBC anchorman, assuming the role as head of mourning for the NBC News family.
Brokaw was the first on the air in the immediate aftermath of Russert's death, and he forged the template for virtually all that followed, describing his colleague as "the true child of blue-collar Buffalo - who was always in touch with that ethos. ... Tim loved his family, his faith, his country and politics."
Brokaw set the stage again at a moving memorial service, opening and closing the event, and often embracing other speakers as they returned from the podium. He gave the proceedings grace, stature and a heart.And what a job he did as host of Meet the Press.
In terms of ratings, Brokaw actually drew a larger audience than Russert in leading the show to a 28 percent margin of victory over its nearest Sunday morning competition, ABC's This Week. Browkaw's version of Meet the Press drew 4.491 million viewers a week in November -- 974,000 more than This Week. Its lead over last place Fox News Sunday was 2.956 million viewers.
And Brokaw made news of his own on the show, with such interviews as that of former Secretary of State Colin Powell who told the retired NBC anchorman that he was endorsing Barack Obama rather than John McCain in large part because of what he saw as Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's lack of qualifications to be vice president.
Brokaw is expected to hand off the baton on Sunday's telecast, which will feature an interview with President-elect Barack Obama that all but guarantees the interim host will leave on a high note. (According to AP, the succession is not yet set. While Gregory is negotiating with the network to take the helm of Meet the Press, a contract has not yet been signed.)
Even in this era of snarky media commentary, Brokaw's performance is one thing we should be able to celebrate without qualification. We can also give some praise to NBC management for having handled Brokaw's retirement in such a way that the network has a honored anchorman emeritus. And give some kudos to current anchorman Brian Williams for graciously deferring to the man who he replaced at the NBC News anchor desk.
Tom Brokaw has been a class act, and the winner is not just NBC News with its big Sunday morning ratings. We are all winners for the high level of information and conversation he brought to the nation in a landmark election year and troubled economic time.
Comments
Brokaw a class act? Only if you drop the first two letters from the description. Far more of a pompous windbag than Keith O. & Tweety put together. He's also basically stupid--the original "pretty face" on network news, who couldn't carry the late Peter Jennings' cue cards. And fundamentally dishonest after spending the entire election season slobbering all over the McGeezer-Mooseburger ticket while protesting his neutrality.
I thought you had a brain, Z, but this sort of fawning idiocy has me seriously doubting it.
Posted by: lobachevski | December 3, 2008 1:11 AM
I think NBC has made a great choice with David Gregory. He has shown his versatility a White House Correspondent, panelist on Meet the Press, fill in host on Today and host of the recent election coverage. MSNBC did a much better job than big borther NBC. Congatulations David, looking forward to many more years of a great program with you at the helm.
Posted by: Tom in NH | December 3, 2008 10:04 AM
In spite of my disdain for your inability to avoid wearing your political slant on your sleeve, I do concur with your view that Mr. Gregory is a very good choice for Meet the Press. Brokaw has showed a Zurawik like lack of objectivity in recent months and Gregory has consistently risen above such yellow journalistic standards.
Posted by: tom | December 3, 2008 11:25 AM
Can't say I agree Z. A class act in news reporting is judged by fairness and objectivity, which are two traits blatently absent from Mr. Brokaw's reporting as well as that of NBC and MSNBC.
Posted by: PD | December 3, 2008 1:15 PM
I think Ted Koppell would be a better choice, I dont think anyone currently at NBC or MSNBC can carry that show. Mr. Brokaw will be back.
Posted by: Brian | December 3, 2008 4:50 PM
would like to know how too talk to new president-elect
Posted by: eugene | December 6, 2008 6:50 AM
I just heard Tom Brokow tell President elect Obama, that he should raise the gas tax to $4.00, per gal.This really bothers me, that Brokow, with his bobbly head, has the nerve too suggest such a stupid remark, when there are people who are on their asses and with out jobs. This is the problem with the disconnect,from morons, as Brokow has become. I have lost all respect that I have had for him, as a writer, journalist and talking head. Please hand him a pink slip. Regards Da Guthrie Boston Ma.
Posted by: Daniel Guthrie | December 7, 2008 11:03 AM
Great article. Brokaw is a class act. He took over a crucial journalistic institution at a historic time and, as you point out, he did an excellent job.
Of the old three anchors--Rather, Jennings, Brokaw--Brokaw was the one with a degree in political science. He never directed attention to himself. He just did a great job.
At Meet the Press doing a good job means asking your guests questions from the perspectives of his or her opponents. Some of Obama's opponents believe in raising the gas tax. You can disagree with the view while still acknowledging that the journalistic who raises the question is doing a good job.
Hi Tim, Thanks for the comment. I really do think Brokaw has been just great through all of this. Z
I could not agree more Mr. Zurawik. Brokaw did his usual masterful job. I will look forward to him doing more in depth documentaries--Brokaw Reports.
Posted by: Tim | December 7, 2008 1:02 PM
have been watching NBC Nightly News for 45 years. The main reason was Tom Brokaw and now Brian Williams. At 61 I enjoy the style and context of the Nightly News broadcast. As for David Gregory being named host of Meet The Press, I am sure he will be an outstanding moderated and asset to NBC.
Hi Don, Thanks for the comment. I think the hand-off from Brokaw to Williams -- and now to Gregory -- was and is very important. Doing it right matters -- as opposed to the mess Dan Rather created at CBS. Z
Posted by: Domenic J Mangano | December 7, 2008 1:19 PM
lobachevski, I salute you. You tell it like it is. Brokaw lost all credibility with me during the '08 presidential campaign, during which he displayed a surprisingly blatant, unveiled bias toward McCain. No person with that much lack of objectivity should ever have been given the Meet the Press job in the first place. I'm relieved to see him go. I just hope that David Gregory is able to retrieve the courage he USED TO demonstrate by asking tough questions and pressing for answers.
Posted by: olnd | December 7, 2008 11:40 PM