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RIP: Tim Russert
Jun. 13th, 2008 03:53 pmThe news hit me like a ton of bricks about an hour ago. I was finishing up some work so I could leave the office when Pamela popped on IM and told me.
When David Brinkley began releasing the reigns of "This Week," I was willing to loosen my loyalty to ABC News and gave "Meet the Press" a shot*. Tim Russert was always an impressive journalist that did his research, was good with follow-up questions, and showed his (and the interviewees') human side many times with a light question at the end of a grilling. It was a given that when Condi Rice was on "This Week," the interview would end with questions about the NFL (knowing that Condi was a fan, the Buffalo native liked to go to that topic before time expired).
When guests became aggravated by the questions or went on the attack, he maintained an even keel. Not only did Tim ask great questions, he allowed the guests the time to give good answers. I used to have to watch all the Sunday morning news shows to gather sound clips. Some weekends, there would be NOTHING in the news...but I could almost always count on having a good clip from "Meet the Press." Tim wasn't an "Ego Host," he was a political journalist that had a TV show.
As I look at the CBS zombie, Charles Schieffer, and the still stumbling George Stepanopolus (too lazy to look up the correct spelling now)...I know the substance that used to be available on the weekends is now gone. I love "CBS Sunday Morning" because of the feature stories, but no weekend news show will be as informative or as influential as what came from Tim's era at "Meet the Press."
* Yes, I grew up on "ABC World News Tonight" and became a news/political junkie in high school. Some friends and I used to meet to watch "The McLaughlin Group."
When David Brinkley began releasing the reigns of "This Week," I was willing to loosen my loyalty to ABC News and gave "Meet the Press" a shot*. Tim Russert was always an impressive journalist that did his research, was good with follow-up questions, and showed his (and the interviewees') human side many times with a light question at the end of a grilling. It was a given that when Condi Rice was on "This Week," the interview would end with questions about the NFL (knowing that Condi was a fan, the Buffalo native liked to go to that topic before time expired).
When guests became aggravated by the questions or went on the attack, he maintained an even keel. Not only did Tim ask great questions, he allowed the guests the time to give good answers. I used to have to watch all the Sunday morning news shows to gather sound clips. Some weekends, there would be NOTHING in the news...but I could almost always count on having a good clip from "Meet the Press." Tim wasn't an "Ego Host," he was a political journalist that had a TV show.
As I look at the CBS zombie, Charles Schieffer, and the still stumbling George Stepanopolus (too lazy to look up the correct spelling now)...I know the substance that used to be available on the weekends is now gone. I love "CBS Sunday Morning" because of the feature stories, but no weekend news show will be as informative or as influential as what came from Tim's era at "Meet the Press."
* Yes, I grew up on "ABC World News Tonight" and became a news/political junkie in high school. Some friends and I used to meet to watch "The McLaughlin Group."
