Get ready for more of the “Goateed Guru.”
According to multiple network sources, MSNBC is in the process of developing a weekend political show to be moderated by Chuck Todd, the network’s political director and chief White House correspondent.
Last year, in the wake of Tim Russert’s death, network executives seriously considered Mr. Todd to take over the moderating duties on Meet the Press.
Ultimately, however, Mr. Todd lost out to David Gregory, a more seasoned TV newsman, who had significantly more experience than Mr. Todd sitting in the anchor’s seat and doing one-on-one interviews with top newsmakers in Washington.
The new show on MSNBC, to debut in late spring, would give Mr. Todd more experience as a political moderator and provide him with a good opportunity to develop his long-form interviewing skills. At the same time, it would give MSNBC an original political program to show off on a weekend schedule that is currently dominated by crime documentaries and taped content.
According to sources, the specifics of the show—live vs. taped, one-on-one interview vs. a panel of guests, half-hour vs. an hour, Saturday vs. Sunday—are still being worked out. Presumably the show will originate out of NBC’s Washington D.C. bureau, where Mr. Todd is stationed. Staffing has yet to be determined.
Mr. Todd, 37, was widely considered one of cable news’ breakout stars during the election. Prior to joining NBC he was the editor in chief of Hotline and had spent most of his career in print media. He came to prominence during the 2008 political campaign, when his encyclopedic knowledge of electoral mechanics became a great asset to MSNBC and NBC News during the hotly contested and drawn out Democratic primary.
Recently, Mr. Todd along with co-author Sheldon Gawiser published a book entitled How Barack Obama Won: A State-by-State Guide to the Historic 2008 Presidential Election.
A senior network executive confirmed the news. An MSNBC spokesperson declined to comment.
