In the wake of the host change at “Meet the Press,” which became official yesterday as David Gregory bid goodbye to NBC and Chuck Todd was officially announced as the show’s new moderator, NBC News president Deborah Turness talks to The New York Times‘ Bill Carter:
[Gregory] will leave the network after a two-decade career, the president of NBC News, Deborah Turness, said in an interview on Thursday. “The time had come for this to happen,” Ms. Turness said. She said she had decided on the change after trying to reshape the show under Mr. Gregory. “The numbers just didn’t move,” Ms. Turness said, referring to ratings for the program.
Carter reports that the production side of “Meet the Press” will not see changes “for the moment at least,” with Rob Yarin staying on as executive producer. Yarin has been the EP of “Meet the Press” since Betsy Fischer Martin left the show in 2013.
As Gregory leaves NBC, his colleague Ann Curry — who was ousted from the “Today” show in 2012 — took to Twitter to send him some support:
.@DavidGregory Hoping “in place of this turmoil come confidence,integrity+dignity, heroic qualities all human beings…aspire to.”-HHDL
— Ann Curry (@AnnCurry) August 15, 2014
The New York Daily News reports that NBC nixed the chance for Gregory to have an on-air goodbye to meet the press, fearing “another Ann Curry moment.” Andrea Mitchell is set to host “Meet the Press” this week, and Todd’s first day will be September 7.