NBC denies David Gregory is out on Meet the Press replaced by Joe Scarborough

[Ichingcarpenter]

After a bad couple of weeks clunkily extracting Ann Curry as co-host of its morning infotainment show, NBC News found itself dealing with another unpleasant personnel report this week: David Gregory is on his way out as host of the network’s Sunday Beltway show, “Meet the Press.”

This week, the iPad news service The Daily ran a report that Gregory was right behind Curry in the NBC News Tumbril.

The report about Gregory is not new — it surfaced a couple of months ago (at that time, Joe Scarborough was said to be his replacement). But stone-cold denials were issued by “Meet the Press” exec producer Betsy Fischer and NBC News President Steve Capus.

Another stone-cold denial was issued this week: “The rumors recklessly reported by The Daily are categorically untrue,” NBC News said in a statement. That, even though this time, The Daily reported that “Meet the Press” anchor Tim Russert was spinning in his grave over the show’s numbers. Russert ruled the Sunday Beltway show ratings until his sudden death in June of 2008.

Last month, “Meet the Press’s” weekly rating hit a 20-year low among viewers between the ages of 25 and 54 — the currency of news programming.

On the first Sunday of June, the public-affairs show averaged 2.46?million total viewers of all ages — but just 687,000 viewers in that key age bracket — which was its smallest 25-to-54 demographic performance for a regular broadcast since July of ’92. “Meet the Press” got beat in the demographic by ABC News’s “This Week” that week — the first time it bested both Gregory’s show and CBS’s “Face the Nation” in two years.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/nbc-news-execs-deny-david-gregory-is-out-at-meet-the-press/2012/07/05/gJQATBTLQW_blog.html


It should be replaced by info commercials from the republican party and oil companies.

[calimary]

1. They should restore it to its former respectability (pre tim russert, if you ask me)

and bring Rachel Maddow in as host. Build it up as a Sunday morning progressive bulwark, a "progressive show of record." For heaven's sakes, we don't have anything of the kind. It goes from center-right to off the sidewalk into the gutter "right". Anything BUT right (as denoting correct as opposed to a political slant).

[monmouth]

10. NBC seems to be gluttons for punishment. Replacing Gregory with Scarborough would be a joke of

monumental proportions and would worsen their ratings IMO. I agree Rachel would be perfect but don't know how that would impact her own show. Having Chuck aiding in making this decision makes the situation even worse. Steve Capus must not read the critics/citizens, i.e. Jason Linkins Sunday re-cap of these shows on Sunday mornings. Perhaps the problem lies with Capus..

[dmr]

16. The problem with Rachel is all the Republicans are afraid of her!

And, from the lack of Republicans on her show despite her asking, if not begging for them appear makes their 'fraidy catness' a fact!

[csziggy]

37. Given the weighing of Sunday morning network talk shows to Republican

White me, having Rachel Maddow as host scaring off that group would be a vast improvement!

Maybe she'd get more Democrats, women, and minorities on which would reflect the population of the country better at least on NBC's Sunday morning show.

[calimary]

46. Good point. A little balancing is needed after non-stop, wall-to-wall republi-CONS

on all these shows. They always seem to get priority. I just HATE that! SO sick of it all!

We should be bombarding ALL the networks with complaints on that score.

[on point]

2. Pull it back to center and away from RW nuttery

YES! Get rid of all the group think conventional wisdom, right wing to far right wing nuts it offers up.

Put on some real genuine thinkers and not just talking heads from the echo chamber of failed policies from the last 30 years that got us into the mess we are in today

Make it worthwhile again

[mykpart]

3. I'd like to see it go back to its original format

where several members of the press together interviewed one person. Kind of like a small press conference. Even Chris "Tweety" Matthews would be better than David Gregory.

[Motown_Johnny]

4. They can't put in a former Congressman who is a shameless (R)

Not even MTP can go that far.


Gregory isn't smart enough to do that job well but ScarTissue isn't a possibilty for a replacement.


Lawrence O'Donnell would be a better choice.

[solara]

27. I'm with you on that one

Lawrence O'Donnell would be terrific

[Motown_Johnny]

29. I'm not sure I would use the word "Terrific"

but I do think he is smart enough to do the job and is also capable of calling out (D)s on their bull shit just as well as calling out the (R)s on theirs.



The problem with today's media is that you need to be a softball interviewer in order to get people on the show. If they think you will challenge them they just go to another show. There are to many media outlets now so the Pols don't need to face a tough interview just to get their message out.


Russert was good at his job because he would make them repeat their lies before moving on. He didn't stick on the subject and he didn't just pass the lies over either. He gave people a chance to clarify their position and then he moved on. I'm not sure Mr. O'Donnell is capable of that. I would love to see him have the chance though.

[kentuck]

5. I think they are looking...

As soon as they find the right person, Gregory will be out.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Rove's puppet needs to go

I refuse to look at that slime and agree that even big mouth Tweety would be infinitely better - although I don't think Tweety would let anyone else on there get a word in edgewise.

I may be wrong but for some bizarre reason, am thinking they might either stick Schmuck Todd or Andrea Greenspan in there. I remember back after Tim Russert died and all the floats of possible replacements and I had figured Andrea was a slam dunk for it (and would be a sister-in-arms-by-spouting-rethug-talking points with Creepy Crawly who airs on CNN).

[kentuck]

7. I think Chuck Todd or Savannah Guthrie might be possible replacements...

I think they would look for someone younger, but with enough experience, and has not yet been branded as a right-winger or a far-leftist. Guthrie, being a woman, might be a stretch, but she holds her own in interviews, I have noticed. Deservedly or not, Chuck Todd is perceived to be very knowledgeable in political matters.

Personally, I would prefer someone like Chris Hayes or Lawrence O'Donnell, both very intelligent.

For political reasons, I do not think they would choose Rachel Maddow, even though she is qualified for the position.

Then again, they may decide to ride out the storm with "Slim" Gregory?

[BumRushDaShow]

9. Well since Todd is the NBC Political Director

I had originally expected that he would be "it" (from the younger set).

Unfortunately, since Chris, Lawrence, Rachael, et al are more "analysts" or "commentators", they would probably not go in that direction using them unless they wanted to radically revamp their format. I.e., you need someone who can interview, moderate, and corral an ensemble, and keep them on topic. They really can't show a strong bias in any sense but need to be able to cull out the crap and get to the facts. The "analysts" and "commentators" are best at monologues. Alternately, this is where Tweety - with his weekend show - seems to establish more of the juggling/round-table type of format of a MTP. His weathervane attitude that he keeps imposing on himself seems to keep him from swinging too far left or too far right (since he'll espouse both left and right views in a random fashion).

Of course, they could even stick Brian Williams in there, although the MTP host generally only did that role, with occasional correspondent appearances.

In any case, Gregory has GOT to go. He just irks me to no end, ironically moreso than someone like John King (if I was forced to choose between the 2 competing staff - and as it is, CNN already dumped King off his own show because of ratings problems like Gregory).

These news organizations need to stop chasing the Faux Snooze crowd which = crazies + those who monitor the crazies (which sadly = ratings for Faux, although people are finally tiring of them - i.e., they lost some 200,000 viewers the last quarter).

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

8. I guess the addition of bookcases on the set didn't help.

Scarborough would make Gregory look like a genius.
No wonder they are vigorously denying it.

[warrior1]

11. Chris Hayes

or Melissa Perry. Maybe Al Sharpton.

[old guy]

12. Martin Bashir?

[Auntie Bush]

49. I second that! Love Martin!

[scardycat]

53. I third that! Love Martin too n/t

[KeenObserver]

13. David Gregory

So, "stone-cold denials"...what's the distinction between David Gregory and Ann Curry? Gender/race? NBC needs to clean up its act with the FIRING of Steven Capus, NBC News President.

[Fawke Em]

14. If he's replaced by Joe Scarborough, ratings will go even lower.

The point, dear NBC, is that we don't want to see any more right-wing hacks.

[PassingFair]

15. I'd like to see Shepard Smith away from Fox News. Plus....

He kinda looks like one of those "Thunderbirds" puppets, which amuses me.

[msu2ba]

19. He really does!

I'm embarrassed I never noticed that before. Thanks.

[MADem]

23. Good eye! +1,000! nt

[independentpiney]

36. Wow he really does look like one of the Thunderbirds

I used to love those shows. I'd have a hard time watching him doing the news with that thought in my head now.

[Little Star]

38. That would be sweet.

[Spazito]

17. I hope the rumor is true...

Gregory totally sucks at the job, imo. If NBC was smart they would boot him and put Rachel Maddow in instead. Whenever she is a guest on Meet The Press, their numbers go up I believe.

[kentuck]

18. Gregory is lazy...

He does little research. His guests are usually his buddies at MSNBC or the usual suspects. He asks no probing questions. You know even less after watching his show than when it began. I would not give him my vote.

[Spazito]

21. I agree, it is more like an echo chamber for the repubs...

and the only time Gregory is moved to question his guests is if they are from the left, imo.

[RKP5637]

28. Yep, Rachel Maddow would be great!!! n/t

[gateley]

33. She'd be perfect! Although she's liberal, she's so objective and fair. nt

[LaydeeBug]

20. This is where they should put Ann Curry. She is great at the news. nt

[MADem]

22. They should hire Ashleigh Banfield--she'd rip her guests a new one!

That's some TIVO TV when she gets going!

Press the Meat is short on female and minority representation. They will not fix their numbers until they fix their guest list.

It's not rocket science.

Their audience used to be made up to no small extent of thoughtful Democrats and independents. Sure, some Republicans watched (if their friends/reps were on) but most of those asshats were watching Faux or meeting their buddies in the pro shop before teeing off.

Democrats are disgusted at the one-sided coverage, that is why the show is sliding. They need a moderator who looks a bit more like America, and they need the GE board to leave that moderator the hell alone and not bully him or her to tout the Corporate Party Line.

[mentalsolstice]

24. Replace him with Tamron Hall.

She needs a place to shine!

[Auntie Bush]

50. Camaron Hall is great!

[Dalai_1]

25. I hope those viewers who are no longer

watching MTP will all vote for President Obama.. that is a good omen
for us!

[RKP5637]

26. David who? I quit watching MTP immediately after the first show. Yep, it was like

a republican info commercial.

[avebury]

30. I would like to see Martin Bashir.

He is not afraid to hold his own, call BS BS when appropriate and he would ask tough questions with follow ups.

[tularetom]

31. Why replace it with republican/oil company ads?

That's pretty much what it already is.

The only advantage is that david gregory would be gone.

[Ichingcarpenter]

52. That was sardonic. why not do it like the old days when

they had 3 newsmen each week asking the questions
and almost never the same guys.

[bluedigger]

32. Another vote for Martin Bashir.

I like Rachel and L O'D, but they have too much partisan political baggage. Bashir would be great.

[gateley]

34. He would be geeat! I think Rachel is more of a political wonk, though, and

I think she can be amazingly objective.

[underpants]

35. The bubble - Gregory isn't conservative ENOUGH? sheesh + Chuck Todd must be PISSED

the NBC White House correspondent (Russert, Gregory, etc.) has always been considered the next host of Meet the Press

[stlsaxman]

39. Best Option: Cancel the show.

.... done!

[NRaleighLiberal]

40. Impossible to rescue the patient. Pull away the life support.

Only someone like Bill Moyers could actually carry out something of a decent job with that sort of show, but it would never be allowed on the MSM.

[mzmolly]

41. Scarborough?

A former Republican congressmen? Yeah, that would give the show more cred.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

42. We live in a different era

Republicans used to go on shows like Meet The Press. They were nuts in those days too but at least they had the nerve to face questions. Now under Gregory, the show has gone from Meet The Press to Fluff The Meat and despite Gregory's reputation as a mild and fluffy questioner, Republicans like Mitt Romney still won't go on his show. Republicans now feel they can get away for the most part with appearing on Fox and having Dick Morris suck their toes below camera range while interviewers kiss their ass on the set. I think NBC probably feels that in order to get Republicans to come on the show for their audience, they have to become Fox. Maybe they're right. But who will watch such a love fest except Republicans? I think they need to go in the other direction. If Republicans won't come on the show, then only invite Dems and get a hard-nosed journalist with credibility to host the show.

[Arkana]

43. Oh good. Replacing stagnant pond water with raw sewage.

How conscientious of CBS.

Give Dan Rather his job back, you hacks!

[ailsagirl]

44. Keith!!!

I know, I know...

[annabanana]

45. Aw c'mon guys.. Give it to Rachel. Shake the joint UP!

please please please?

[Johonny]

47. I can't tell the two apart

far all I know they already made the change. Bland uninteresting media non-personalities all look a like to me.

[LiberalFighter]

48. I vote to have Luke Russert take it over

so the show gets killed.

[itsrobert]

51. Alec Baldwin

for new host.