EXIT: Why is everyone so happy about Chuck Todd leaving Meet the Press?
NBC‘s Chuck Todd announced on Sunday that he will step down as the host of Meet the Press later this year.
And there was much rejoicing on Twitter.
Todd, who will stay on as Chief Political Analyst for NBC News, will be replaced by former White House Correspondent Kristin Welker.
Welker will become the second woman as well as the first Black journalist to moderate the program.
“It’s been an amazing nearly decadelong run. I am really proud of what this team and I have built over the last decade,” Todd said during the broadcast Sunday.
“I’ve loved so much of this job, helping to explain America to Washington and explain Washington to America.”
Today we close our show with an announcement from @chucktodd:
"While today is not my final show, this will be my final summer here at Meet the Press. … I am really proud of what this team and I have built over the last decade." pic.twitter.com/sgeUcNR3C5
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 4, 2023
Yeah, that might not be exactly what the mediocre moderator did to the longest-running show on American television.
Meet the Press celebrated its 75th anniversary last year and has gone through some format changes since it debuted in November 1947, but it’s always been focused on politics and public affairs.
Its legendary hosts have included Roger Mudd, Chris Wallace, and Garrick Utley. But the most celebrated moderator of Meet the Press is the late great Tim Russert.
Russert helmed the show from 1991 until his untimely death in 2008, making him the longest-serving host in its history.
He also set the standard for TV interviews, expanding the show’s length to an hour to allow for more in-depth discussions.
Russert was a tough act to follow for NBC News, who temporarily tasked Tom Brokaw as an interim host and tried out David Gregory, who tanked in the ratings.
Jon Stewart was even approached for the gig, but it ultimately went to Chuck Todd — who is definitely no Jon Stewart — in 2014.
Todd has received plenty of criticism over the last decade for various reasons. He may have been there for some of the biggest moments in recent history, but he made us all cringe through most of them.
Starting with the final years of President Barack Obama’s administration, Todd smirked through the 2016 presidential campaign and the election of Donald Trump.
More recently, Todd has delivered uneven performances where he occasionally holds people accountable while also letting a lot of MAGA stuff go out unchecked.
Twitter also likes to mock him for having historically horrible hair.
While Sunday won’t be his final show, the celebrations were already in full force Sunday afternoon, with a very special user leading the woo-hoo eulogies.
RIP Steve Marmel’s weekly Sunday tweet! What was once evergreen will now be but a sweet sweet memory.
what a ride, Chuckles. pic.twitter.com/o5afIlq734
— Marmel (@Marmel) June 4, 2023
Breaking News: Bye Felicia
As we bid farewell to Chuck Todd who left journalism years ago but still had a unbreakable contract, let’s look back on, two of my fav Chucky tweets. pic.twitter.com/FzXs0J8pKF
— Papi Bébé Le Strange (@Papi_B_Dubs) June 4, 2023
We won! Chuck Todd is leaving Meet the Press. 😌 https://t.co/s0Qg1jHDog pic.twitter.com/davXYrpg6w
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) June 4, 2023
Welcome change! @kwelkernbc will be WAY WAY WAY better. Chuck Todd was full of himself and brought nothing special to the table. https://t.co/iKnc8CWbct
— Laurence Tribe 🇺🇦 ⚖️ (@tribelaw) June 4, 2023
This name trending on the heels of the #ChuckTodd news is wild.
Y’all want what I want but at least I didn’t tweet it! 😂 pic.twitter.com/O9JiJ2sD1p
— yvette nicole brown (@YNB) June 4, 2023
*THIS IS AN OPINION COLUMN THAT SOLELY REPRESENTS THE OPINIONS OF TARA DUBLIN. HOORAY FOR THE FREE PRESS!
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