Brokaw to Replace Russert

NBC has anointed Tom Brokaw as Tim Russert's heir on "Meet the Press" through the 2008 election, the network announced today. "I feel right at home," said Brokaw, who has appeared on the public affairs show since the Watergate days. But Brian Williams—who took over NBC's Nightly News when Brokaw stepped down in 2004—was at the helm today, and he wasn't up to snuff, writes the Swamp's Jon Crewdson.

Russert—who had a rep for railing into politicians who changed their minds—would have lit into Obama for refusing to accept public campaign financing, and McCain for reneging on his promise to ban offshore oil drilling. But Williams' show bordered on the "soporific," writes Crewdson. Brokaw needs to step it up to keep audiences from flipping over to ABC's George Stephanopoulos. (More Tim Russert stories.)