Bryant Gumbel, back to network television news? Catching up this Sunday morning with an item from my pending file originally bumped by Barack Obama's Joe Biden announcement, back in August former NBC News President Michael Gartner, who in 1991 made Tim Russert the moderator of Meet the Press, recommended that NBC now resurrect veteran left-winger Gumbel, whom he hailed as “smart” and “quick,” and give him the Sunday morning interview program.
In his weekly Friday column at the end of the Olympics (“NBC's Costas golden; Meet the Press next?”), USA Today founder Al Neuharth urged NBC to pick Bob Costas, who hosted the games from Beijing, to replace interim host Tom Brokaw. Below the August 22 column, the paper ran a reaction from Gartner, now principal owner of the Iowa Cubs minor league baseball team:
Bob Costas -- or Bryant Gumbel. Both are smart, quick, and do their homework. Either would excel. But it's not my call -- or Al's.
The news media's reputation is safer because it's not Gartner's call.
Gartner was President of NBC News from 1988 to 1993.
Screen shot is from a December 10, 2005 appearance on the late Tim Russert's weekend show on CNBC.
Gumbel, the former co-host of NBC's Today and CBS's Early Show, is now host of HBO's monthly Real Sports news magazine program.
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Is he kidding?
October 19, 2008 - 05:36 ET by Gat New YorkWhile we're talking about unqualified sportscasters why not consider Chris "Mad Dog" Russo?
I'd take Russo over Gumbel
October 19, 2008 - 06:50 ET by NewsbusterbrownI'd take Russo over Gumbel any day of the week.
“There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.” - Ronald Reagan (1964 Republican Convention)
Bryant Gumbel?????? Good
October 19, 2008 - 06:40 ET by motherbeltBryant Gumbel??????
Good Freakin' Grief!
Talk about a lightweight! A male Katie Couric who wants to be taken "seriously."
They can change the name of MTP to "The Early Today Sunday Show."
NBC will explode -- a good thing, I think
October 19, 2008 - 08:39 ET by ThisnThatYeah, but think about the chaos this would create all throughout the NBC family. There are a lot of people who believe they deserve the MTP chair; and they believe they have worked hard to earn that right. If Dumbel is selected, the in-fighting will tear NBC apart, something I would love to see.
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MB, if hiring Gumbel will accomplish what Red Jeep...
October 19, 2008 - 08:56 ET by ThalpyMB, if hiring Gumbel will accomplish what Red Jeep suggests, I'm for it. I've detested that arrogant, condescending twit for years and if making him the host of MTP will put the final nail in his coffin, that's just alright!
Racist SOB
October 19, 2008 - 07:25 ET by ChasvsThat's what Bryant Gumball is!
STOP OBAMA NOW!
Bet Gumbel could take
October 19, 2008 - 07:32 ET by Red JeepBet Gumbel could take viewership from 3.5 million a week to a 1 million or less.
Gumbel is close to being the
October 19, 2008 - 08:12 ET by rimskyGumbel is close to being the most arrogantly biased media celeb ever.. IMHO. His on camera demeanor is haughty. Gumbel is no Tim Russert. Not even close.
Bryant Gum-ball
October 19, 2008 - 08:17 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsI knew nothing about Bryant Gumbel but noticed his idiocy when, immediately after the 1989 SF earthquake, he was walking around the streets, asking panicked people what they thought of the baseball game being cancelled because of it. They looked at him like he was an alien.
D
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I heard his first choice
October 19, 2008 - 08:48 ET by JerryI heard his first choice was Che Guevera, but he was not available.
Bryant Gumbel??? GOOD GRIEF! That just proves beyond a shadow of a doubt how skewed their "non-biased" world view is.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).
Bad judgment
October 19, 2008 - 09:22 ET by nkviking75You know what's scary for Iowans like me? At one time Gartner ran the state's largest and most influential newspaper, the Des Moines Register. AND later on he was on the Board of Regents.
And this state goes first in the primary/caucus season.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Bryant
October 19, 2008 - 10:27 ET by iveseenitallBryant Gumball = RACIST! Remember his comment about the Republican Convention?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
He also said something
October 19, 2008 - 10:49 ET by JerryHe also said something about the winter olympics being too white.
When asked if he went to war with Iraq to derail the impeachment vote: “I don’t think any serious person would believe that any President would do such a thing." - President Clinton (Dec 1998).