LA’s Gregory “Meet” Moderator

05 December 2008 |permalink | email article

David Gregory, long a rising star and the network’s longtime chief White House correspondent, will be the new moderator of “Meet the Press,” one of television’s most prized franchises.

After the death of the formidable Tim Russert in June, Tom Brokaw, the iconic and retired NBC anchor, was named “interim moderator” of “Meet” which in November was the leading Sunday morning public affairs program in the nation with 4.5 million viewers.

Brokaw’s Sunday guest is President-elect Obama and probably one of his last in that role.

A Los Angeles native Gregory, 38, shares with Russert a deep appreciation for sports. While the Buffalo native during football season would sign off with “Go Bills,” Gregory ended his weekday talk-show this fall during the MLB playoffs by saying “Go Dodgers.”

Gregory led the network’s coverage of the Bush presidency. He reported regularly on ‘The NBC Nightly News,’ Today,’ and for NBC News’s 24-hour cable network MSNBC and on MSNBC.com.

He quickly developed a reputation as a tough and aggressive questioner at White House press briefings. His current assignment is anchor of “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with David Gregory.”

In its 61-year history “Meet” has been the premier forum for Washington insiders to talk to the nation and each other, a position Russert handled with relish.

A more interesting story now is the fate of garrulous MSNBC host Chris Matthews, toying with running for the Senate in Pennsylvania, while continuing to host “Hardball” when many insiders speculate he’s trying to negotiate a contract extension with NBC.

UPDATE: “Meet the Press” is taped Saturday with Obama in Chicago for Sunday airing. No indication that Gregory will take part, or that NBC will finally confirm what has been widely reported.

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