The death of Tim Russert, host of the top-rated Sunday public affairs show "Meet the Press," cast a long shadow in the worlds of broadcast journalism and Washington power politics. His passing at age 58 leaves NBC minus one of its marquee players during the most closely watched presidential campaigns in years.
Russert served as the Washington bureau chief of NBC News, but his power extended beyond what that title might suggest. His influence was felt whenever the network bosses sought to make major changes on shows such as "Today" or "NBC Nightly News."
"Nothing happened at NBC News without Tim knowing about it [or] approving of it," one colleague wrote in an e-mail.
In 2001, Russert signed an unprecedented deal that would have kept him at the "Meet the Press" desk until at least 2012. The program, which the blustery and gregarious Russert had hosted since 1991, made its TV debut in 1947 -- three years before Russert's birth -- and is the longest continuously running series in American network TV history.
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.
It's considered less likely that NBC would reach outside for a brand-name talent, such as CBS News anchor Katie Couric or George Stephanopoulos, host of ABC's "This Week," the No. 2 Sunday show. Stephanopoulos is believed to have two more years on his ABC deal; a network spokeswoman would not comment.
Popular MSNBC host Keith Olbermann is likewise considered a long shot, largely because of his open espousal of liberal viewpoints.
Within NBC, a battle between Matthews and Gregory could be particularly intense, as each has spent months jockeying for favor among Russert and network executives. ("Tim was just a role model for me," a visibly drained Matthews said on MSNBC on Friday night.)
However NBC decides to replace him, though, filling Russert's shoes won't be easy. When Russert signed his long-term deal in 2001, "Meet the Press" reportedly produced a profit of $50 million.
