Tom Brokaw Named Temporary Press Replacement
A familiar face will be sitting in the seat on Meet the Press left tragically vacant by Tim Russert’s death.
Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw has been chosen to temporarily take over moderator duties on the Sunday morning news program, the network announced Sunday. The veteran reporter will lead the politically driven discussions through the November election.
“To have someone of Tom’s stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers,” said NBC News president Steve Capus in a statement.
Brokaw, 68, stepped down as anchor of the NBC Nightly News in 2004 after 21 years. Current NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams filled in on today’s broadcast of Meet the Press.
Russert died of a heart attack on June 13 at the age of 58.
Temporary Tim Russert replacement named
There’s been speculation about who will replace Tim Russert on NBC’s Meet the Press. David Gregory, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Katie Couric were a few of the rumored possibilites. Jovie Baclayon of E! Online reports that Tom Brokaw will be temporarily replacing the tragically-lost news anchor. NBC announced today that the former Nightly News anchor and South Dakota native would take over moderating responsiblities on Sunday mornings. He will guide discussions through the November presidential elections.
Steve Capus, NBC News President, made this statement about Brokaw’s decision to step in: “To have someone of Tom’s stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers.”
After 21 years helming the program, Tom Brokaw retired from NBC Nightly News in 2004.
Tim Russert died of a heart attack last week on June 13th. He was 58.
[via Yahoo TV]
Spike Doing Time Traveler Thing
Spike Lee did Clockers. In keeping with the theme, his next project: Time Traveler.
Per Variety, the filmmaker will cowrite and direct the drama based on the memoir by Ronald Mallett, the physicist famed for working on plans for a real-life time machine
The 63-year-old Mallett was one of the first African-Americans to receive a doctorate in theoretical physics and currently teaches at the University of Connecticut. But he’s perhaps best known for his obsession with bending time to his own will.
His inspiring pursuit was documented last year on an episode of public radio’s This American Life. When he was 10 years old, Mallett’s father died suddenly of a heart attack and ever since, Mallett sought to make time travel possible so he could rewind to that fateful day and change his dad’s fate.
“[It’s] a fantastic story on many levels [and] also a father-and-son saga of loss and love,” Lee told Variety.
Lee apparently has a soft spot for time traveling.
The helmer was previously attached to the Fox thriller Selling Time, about a man who trades years off his life expectancy for the chance to relive the worst day of his life. He’s since exited that project. Lee’s next film is Miracle at St. Anna, about a division of all-black soldiers trapped behind enemy lines during World War II.
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.”