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Who Should Replace Bob Schieffer on Face the Nation?
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“I’m going to stay for sure through the inauguration.” That’s what Bob Schieffer, the host these last 17 years of CBS’s Sunday morning, half-hour news program Face the Nation, told TV Guide’s Stephen Battaglio at the end of 2007. “Quite frankly, I don’t know what I’m going to do after that.”
Neither does CBS News. Which must be why he told The New York Times recently that he was going to put off his retirement for an indefinite period of time at the behest of CBS News president Sean McManus.
“We’re going to have a transition period, maybe try some people out,” Mr. Schieffer said.
Phew! For a while now Mr. McManus will be busy getting Katie Couric her first presidential debate and finding a new Executive Producer for the Early Show.
Or could they have found their man, but have to wait until his or her contract expires to let Mr. Schieffer go?
Either way, they’ve been shuffling through the dossiers like mad, trying to figure out a post-Schieffer strategy. Here’s what they saw.
The Internal Promotion: Jeff Greenfield
Promoting somebody already on the CBS staff seems like a somewhat unlikely scenario. When it comes to top-tier political talent, CBS News currently has a thin bench, in part because the broadcast news division has no sibling cable news channel to help develop up-and-comers. Of those already on staff, Mr. Greenfield, a senior political correspondent, would seem like the top prospect. His knowledge of politics is encyclopedic. Then again, the 64-year-old New York native is not exactly (a) young or (b) a prototypical Washington insider—which some consider an important requisite for the job.
Another possibility: Scott Pelley. The last time around, Mr. Pelley was one of the internal finalists to replace Dan Rather. Since being passed over, Mr. Pelley, who, like Mr. Schieffer, is a native of Texas—tradition!—has continued to improve his stock with solid work for 60 Minutes. That said, CBS bosses might be hesitant to cannibalize the most successful arm of their news division. A long shot: CBS’ young and hungry Capitol Hill correspondent Chip Reid.
The Experienced Veteran: Chris Matthews
If CBS News wants someone who can step into the Face the Nation job with little hand-holding and a sizable built-in audience, they might choose Chris Matthews—the host of MSNBC’s Hardball and NBC’s Sunday morning The Chris Matthews Show.
Mr. Matthews is the ultimate Beltway blue-chipper (albeit one with enough controversy to scare off some potential F.C.C.-wary broadcasters). Reading deeply into the network tea leaves, he may soon be available. In 2003, during his commencement address at the College of the Holy Cross, Mr. Matthews thanked Bob Wright, then NBC’s chairman (and a fellow Holy Cross alum!), for helping Mr. Matthews hold onto his high-profile job at the network. In 2007, Mr. Wright retired. That would seem to leave Mr. Matthews, whose current contract is said to expire in June 2009, without one of his guardian angels at NBC. Jumping to CBS’s Face the Nation might be a highly appealing prospect to both parties. Best of all, Mr. Matthews would finally go head-to-head with his current in-house rival Tim Russert—a potential Washington blood sport that would be sure to attract tons of buzz and eyeballs.
A less likely choice: George Stephanopoulos. According to various news sources, in the summer of 2006, Mr. Stephanopoulos met with CBS News’ president, Sean McManus, to discuss the possibility of moving over to the Tiffany Network. At the time, CBS News reportedly wouldn’t offer Mr. Stephanopoulos the Face the Nation gig—a potential deal breaker. In the end, ABC matched CBS’s generous offer and Mr. Stephanopoulos stayed put. Mr. Moonves could make a second run at Mr. Stephanopoulos, though it seems hard to imagine why the seemingly content broadcaster would listen to the pitch this time around. Other possible poaching opportunities from the broadcast arena: ABC’s Jonathan Karl; PBS’s Charlie Rose; former NBC anchor Bryant Gumbel; ABC’s Terry Moran; or ABC’s Jake Tapper.
The Politico Angle: John Harris, Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen
In January 2007, CBS News announced that they were forming a partnership with Politico under which reporters from the nascent news operation would make regular and exclusive appearances on Face the Nation. That partnership appears to have frayed recently as Politico reporters have been observed appearing on rival Meet the Press. That said, according to a former network executive, the Politico honchos might still come into play.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if you saw one of the Politico stars, VandeHei, Harris or Allen, making a play for Face,” said the source. “Politico has a relationship with CBS already, those guys would love their own TV show and they have the political creds they need for that role.”
Format Buster: Al Gore and Newt Gingrich
Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, says that if CBS decides to tweak the format of the typical Sunday morning show, they should consider taking two garrulous former pols, one from the right and one from the left, who could match up evenly in a spirited weekly clash.
“If you’re talking ideal: Al Gore and Newt Gingrich,” said Mr. Sabato. “They could get their guests engaged and argue with them in a constructive way. That would be a circus. But it would be an instructive, educational circus.” Next Page >
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Let's hope they pick someone better than George Stephanopoulos.
Christ, what was ABC thinking?
Anyone but Chris Matthews, please! He has been so extremely biased in his coverage of the Democratic primary campaign that I switched to other channels for my political news. I think his job is to report on the news, not to insert his positions into it.
If they select Chris Matthews, I'll definitely stop watching.
I like Jeff Greenfield for it. Or better yet, bring back retired CNN journalist Bernard Shaw. He was always one of my favorites. He has the same kind of gravitas as Schieffer. And he's 3 years younger.
NO !!!!! Say it isn't so !!!!! How can there be no Bob Schieffer after January 20, 2009 -- who is going to give the government the poke in the ribs it deserves no matter who is the President, VP, Speaker of the House and Senate President.
Possible replacements (who will never be as great as Bob but close ) should include Newt Gingrich and Donna Brazille -- two of the sharpest observers and commentators around and who would make a great team; Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post, who is just terrific; Judy Woodruff - if she would ever consider coming back to regular TV, John McCaffrey, underutilized on CNN, and yes, Scott Pelley or Jeff Greenfield.
And Donna Brazille and Gloria Borger -- as a team -- why didn't we think of that sooner ? Katie C & Donna -- better use of Katie's strengths when she first started on Today and as you can tell, I am very partial to Ms. Brazille.
Gloria Borger nonpartisan??? What a joke. She is so in the tank for the right it is disgusting.
http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/tags/gloria_borger
Yuck, yuck, and yuck. Well, Dan Balz is great but I can't see him. The Politicos are largely egotists. Lauer clearly keeps creeping right. A special yuck to Borger.
They need a younger Harry Smith (whom I loved to watch in Denver).
The only one on the list that I'd watch would be Bill Moyers.
And it must be a late April Fool's joke that they're considering Chris Matthews. The man can't shut up for a minute; he's hopelessly awful at interviewing anybody.
Isn't this a bit like arguing over who gets to captain the lifeboat from the Titanic? At a network that's laying off hundreds of people, paying Couric $15million a year to tank the ratings, and dumb down the newscast, is unconscionable. If Moonves can't figure that out, what are the odds he'll make an intelligent choice for FtN?
I hope when changes come they use Russ Mitchell -- the best of them all waiting in the wings!
If they're willing to think outside the box, I think Chuck Todd would make a great host.
If they really want quality and don't mind poaching, then they ought to be looking at the news talent on PBS. Ray Saurez, Gwen Ifill, Judy Woodruff. These people have savvy, are more in the Scheiffer mold than any of the names put forth in the article, do not carry controversy and, Gwen particularly, are great personalities.
Actually, I think the Couric idea is good. Then, for heaven sakes, do what needs to be done and give Russ Mitchell the Evening News.
I am a Katie fan on the Evening News, but this is the first "alternative" floated that I could agree with.
Well, I don't believe their story at CBS. Sure, they will
float some replacement names and do the demographics.
However, with regard to Schieffer's status, doesn't CBS
always try to keep their "stars" from showing up somewhere
sometime at another network? They held on to Cronkite's
contract indefinitely, with promises of "specials" which
never really materialized. It's their way of manhandling
their retirees.
Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA): "Well, I said that I think during this entire campaign coverage starting in Iowa and up to the present, Fox has done the fairest job, has remained the most objective of all the cable networks."
Chris Wallace. He can be tough on everyone. Of course, he wouldn't want to make the step down. (I'm sure this will get up the dander up of those who have the goofy notion of putting on someone like Moyer, etc.... That's all we need. Go from left, to far, far left) Vandehei or Greenfield would be good, too. They can ask tough questions of people from both parties. But folks like Eugene Robinson or George S. or Chris Matthews would turn it into one long commercial for the Democratic Party. Be as boring as h***.
I would suggest Mark Halperin of The Page as a better alternative to The Polticos.
Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA): "Well, I said that I think during this entire campaign coverage starting in Iowa and up to the present, Fox has done the fairest job, has remained the most objective of all the cable networks"
Don't take an intelligent, fair and balanced show and turn it into another ideologue platform for one nutcase from the right or the left. Raiding NPR is a good idea for getting some real people into the mix of ideas. Amy Goodman has brought more truth to the airwaves than any tv propagandist. If the goal is truth to the public, get Amy, if you just want to be government shills then hire anybody, including those fair people Hannity and Colmes.
Shouldn't the press take back some of that constitutional right that you were granted and actually use it to tell the truth to the citizens of this country rather than try to lie them into submission? That is too easy; make them think about what is happening to them and you help everybody!
Thanks Ari
You can not replace class, grace nor style, but here are a few that are top notch and could widen the appeal.
1. Ed Gordon
2. Rick Sanchez
3. Soledad O'Brien
4. T.J. Holmes
5. Tony Harris
Hillary will be free. Let her do it. You'll have to recheck her facts, of course.
With the way Matthews has publicly joined the Obama crew, I can't see him with a job that is supposed to be impartial. One just never knows what will be "running up" or down "his leg". I used to be a big fan but now I have to be careful of what I may have assumed was true when actually it was just his latest thril.
Bob is so perfect that they should simply take the show off the air when he retires. His comments at the end of the show are so well written and spoken, his is irreplaceable.
I agree thoroughly with Priscilla. Shieffer cannot be replaced. His thoroughness and aplomb (not to mention that he is a journalist rather than Katie Couric pretending to be one} will be a tough act to follow. Whoever gets the spot, let's hope CBS makes a better decision on Face than they have been for Evening News.