Ifill for Meet The Press?
Jossip posts rumors about NBC staffers wanting Gwen Ifill to host Meet The Press…
When Tim Russert died in June, leaving the Meet The Press chair open, we quickly weighed in with the most likely candidates to take over. (Brian Williams filled in one week, and Tom Brokaw is manning the chair through the election.)
On that list was Washington Week host Gwen Ifill, the former NBC staffer who’s been at PBS since 1999. But given everything we’d been hearing, it seemed unlikely Ifill would be named to the spot, for, among other reasons, the simple fact that she’s a woman. (Our well-informed sources’ words, not ours.)
But inside NBC, Ifill is the great hope for staffers. As one source describes the climate, Ifill is “well liked, knows politics, and is a terrific broadcaster”; Gregory and Todd can only claim two out of the three (and you can probably guess which two applies to either of them).
Does this mean Ifill is headed to MTP? Not quite. But would NBC staffers be overjoyed if she was offered the job? Absolutely.
August 6, 2008 at 4:32 pm
She’d certainly e better than Gregory or Todd…and anyone else I can think of currently employed by DNC.
I like Gwen Ifill. I think she’d do well.
August 6, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I can only think of one reason. Ratings.
Meet the Press is for people who do not understand what is going on.
Ifill cannot fit the shoes of Tim Russert or Tom Brokaw. She would bore the audience to death.
Meet the Press has already lost some viewers since Russert’s death. This would be just another nail in the coffin.
August 7, 2008 at 10:28 am
I’ve only seen Gwen Ifill on TV a few times, as as Bruce suggests, she does seem boring.
Political news is boring enough to many people, so they may need someone with a little more charisma in that position. But I guess they could give her a chance and see how it goes.
August 7, 2008 at 10:28 am
“and as Bruce suggests”
August 7, 2008 at 11:32 am
Boring choice! I vote for Chuck Todd, the new golden boy of MSNBC.
August 7, 2008 at 8:39 pm
I’m certain that while she was working for NBC, Gwen filled in for Tim…more than once. She was great. She is very fair. Gregory and Todd are both tainted.