After the shocking death of NBC's Tim Russert on Friday that stunned the political world, NBC News' signature show is now without an anchor. The LA Times says they have heard that the network is considering three hosts already under contract.
Speculation on possible successors centers on three on-air personalities already under contract to NBC: David Gregory, the former White House correspondent recently given his own MSNBC show, "Race for the White House"; Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's long-running "Hardball"; and Joe Scarborough, the former congressman and host of "Morning Joe" on MSNBC, according to talent representatives who declined to speak on the record for fear of jeopardizing relationships with network management...read on
I would say that Gregory will be the fill-in host for the time being, but in my mind, he's not strong enough to take over the show full time. Scott Collins writes that Olbermann is considered an ideologue, so he's out of the running too, but if that's the case, then The Scar should also not be a real possibility. If NBC had ever considered Chris as a viable candidate for the job, then he would have hosted MTP already as a fill-in for Russert when he took time off from the show in the past. Matthews never had a shot there and since he barely reads the tele-prompter, so I'd say he's got no shot either. NBC might give him a few shows anyway, but I don't see him as a realistic choice. I think NBC has to either promote some local talent that we haven't had a chance to see yet or look outside their circle and find a strong personality to take over the reigns of the number one Sunday talk show that brings in at least fifty million dollars a year. Chuck Todd is not the answer either so, who do you think should take over the show?