Williams Subbing for Russert
Brian Williams is reporting for a solemn duty.
The NBC Nightly News anchor will be filling in for the late Tim Russert as the host of this Sunday’s Meet the Press, a network rep confirms.
“Brian will be hosting this weekend,” NBC News spokeswoman Jenny Tartikoff tells News, adding that no permanent replacement has been named either as host of Meet the Press or as chief of the news division’s D.C. bureau.
Sunday’s guests will be Sens. Lindsay Graham and Joe Biden, who were scheduled to appear last weekend but were preempted after Russert suffered a fatal heart attack Friday.
Last weekend, anchor emeritus Tom Brokaw substituted for Russert and led a special tribute that included longtime Meet the Press cohorts James Carville, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Mary Matlin. Russert’s chair was left empty.
Russert served for 16 years as the moderator of Meet the Press, the longest-running program in TV history and one of NBC’s most profitable, generating some $60 million in ad revenue. He was also the longest-serving host of the morning show, known for asking tough questions of politicians and journalists alike on the issues of the day.
Among those mentioned as possible candidates for the hosting gig: NBC News reporters David Gregory and Andrea Mitchell, MSNBC Hardball emcee Chris Matthews, and possibly even Williams, though that seems unlikely given his current responsibilities.
Brokaw could be a sentimental, if temporary, choice. The veteran newsman made light about such talk at yesterday’s memorial service for Russert in Washington, joking that many of the politicos and newspeople in the audience were hoping he’d get the nod.
No word yet on who may head up the Washington news bureau.
Russert’s Doctor Details Autopsy Results
Tim Russert’s personal physician spoke out for the first time since the NBC newsman’s untimely death on Friday.
Dr. Michael Newman issued a statement revealing Russert’s autopsy results, which showed that a heart attack took the life of the Meet the Press host.
“Russert, age 58, was known to have asymptomatic coronary artery disease, which resulted in hardening of his coronary arteries,” Newman said.
A fresh clot ruptured in Russert’s left anterior descending coronary artery, causing the fatal heart attack. The autopsy also revealed that NBC’s Washington bureau chief had an enlarged heart, he said.
Despite his previously diagnosed health problems, Russert managed his coronary artery disease with medication and daily exercise, said Newman, and even used a treadmill the morning he died. Russert also passed a stress test on April 29.
“At a high level of exercise he had no symptoms,” Newman said, adding that his blood pressure and cholesterol were “well controlled.”
David Beckham Wants Dad To Recover In LA
David Beckham Wants Dad To Recover In LA
Now that David Beckham and wife Victoria are back in Los Angeles following Becks’ dad’s heart attack - the soccer stud is hoping that his pops will come join him in the States.
According to the latest reports, the LA Galaxy footballer wouldn’t even be home if it weren’t at his father, Ted Beckham’s, insistence. Now, David has made it clear that he expects to see Ted on a flight to LA in the near future.
“David wants him to take it easy and get better with the family at their new home. He also wants his children to see more of their granddad. To Ted, this means absolutely everything, and he’ll travel just as soon as he is allowed to board that plane,” a family friend told the Daily Star.
In case you missed the initial story, Beckham Sr. suffered a near-fatal heart attack during the last week of September. Fortunately, everything has worked out for the best, as the 59-year-old is now in stable condition and recuperating at a London hospital.