I watched "Meet the Press" Sunday morning. I figured the entire program would be a Tim Russert tribute and it was just that.
Russert, who died of a heart attack Friday at age 58, was the driving force behind that program and NBC's political coverage. He was the guy assigning stories, making hires, editing copy, shaping coverage.
You could see that NBC's staffers were shaken by the loss and you couldn't help feel sympathy for them.
When the funeral is over and the tributes end, the folks at NBC are going to have to decide what to do with "Meet the Press." Russert, who anchored the show for 17 years, will be a tough act to follow. An interim host will be assigned, I'm sure, but you wonder if this is a chance to take the program in a different direction.
As much as I respected Russert's work and enjoyed the show, I wonder if it's time to explore adding different voices and taking us "outside the Beltway" in order to get context on what's happening in Washington. Maybe they could rotate the hosts, take the show on location or do regular "town hall" meetings were "average citizens" get to ask the questions.
It will be fascinating to watch the developments.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
