TW: Certainly filling the shoes of a legend is difficult at best. Tim Russert filled a relatively unique role, that of a relatively tough interviewer but whose respected position precluded politicians from avoiding him. We have more than enough partisan hacks who will toss softballs to their own side or who would ask tough question to the other side but never do since their ideological opponents merely ignore them.
David Gregory before and since his appearance always seems more interested in "covering both sides" the bane of modern journalism rather than actually deriving any comments of value from his guests. Meet the Press retains sufficient branding from which Gregory could draft in order to be tough without worrying if the guests would just avoid the show in the future. Easier said than done no doubt.
From Newsday:
"Under Gregory, "Meet the Press" simply doesn't feel like the force it was under his legendary predecessor, Tim Russert, who died last June.
The problem? Actually, problems. The new moderator often seems like he's wearing a suit made for someone else - Russert - and as a result has yet to clearly establish why he got this gig instead of anyone else in the conga line of potential successors. Gregory is terrifically polished, well-informed, a good listener and has the talking points of both sides down cold. But he also seems more intent on covering the waterfront than digging for news, or in pushing the talking heads off their talking points.
..."Meet the Press" is now the de facto safe show on Sunday morning - "safe," that is, for those being interviewed.Gregory has been handed perhaps the most important program in television journalism. It's time to start acting like the king who rules wisely yet ruthlessly. Otherwise, his legacy will match that of Garrick Utley or Bill Monroe - moderators who were highly respected but not highly feared. In this job, it's vital to be both"
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