NBC News President Wants An Edgier ‘Meet The Press’

Chuck Todd of NBC News is pictured before President Barack Obama makes a statement to reporters about the suspicious packages found on U.S. bound planes in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Wa... Chuck Todd of NBC News is pictured before President Barack Obama makes a statement to reporters about the suspicious packages found on U.S. bound planes in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) MORE LESS
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When he takes over as moderator of “Meet the Press” next month, Chuck Todd will be charged with reversing the Sunday morning show’s sagging ratings. If his boss has anything to say about it, he will also be expected to bring more “edge” to the struggling program.

In an interview with the New York Times published Monday, NBC News president Deborah Turness offered her diagnosis for what’s plaguing “Meet the Press”:

Her new vision for “Meet the Press” includes adding a regular panel of journalists who will question guests, something of a return to the venerable show’s original format. “The show needs more edge,” she said. “It needs to be consequential. I think the show had become a talking shop that raked over the cold embers of what had gone on the previous week. The one-on-one conversation belongs to a decade ago. We need more of a coffeehouse conversation.”

Todd was tapped as the new moderator for “Meet the Press” earlier this month, ending a tumultuous period for David Gregory, who had overseen the show’s steady decline since he took over for the late Tim Russert in 2008.

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Notable Replies

  1. So the hire the guy who says it isn’t his job to do that ?

    LOL !

  2. Chuck Todd is about as edgy as a rubber ball.

  3. So their idea of having more Conservative Hacks and Milquetoast Dems on their panels hasn’t panned out? Quelle suprise!

    How about this NBC: Have some people on who know what the fuck they’re talking about and can challenge the bullshit talking points (i.e. lies) their hack panelists spew? Rachel Maddow comes to mind.

  4. Avatar for Yarnek Yarnek says:

    Ugh. Sounds like it’s Poochie the Dog time at MTP. How long before she brings in a young, “in-your-face” conservative female co-host?

  5. Yeah, I’m soooo sure John McCain and Huckleberry will lie awake Saturday night sweating their Sunday interrogations. Ha, ha, ha…

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