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New York Magazine

Report: NBC Wanted Jon Stewart to Host ‘Meet the Press’

Oct 9, 2014  •  Post A Comment

“Before choosing [journalist Chuck] Todd, NBC News President Deborah Turness held negotiations with Jon Stewart about hosting ‘Meet the Press,’ according to three senior television sources with knowledge of the talks,” reports Gabriel Sherman on the website of New York Magazine’s Daily Intelligencer column.

The story reports: “One source explained that NBC was prepared to offer Stewart virtually ‘anything’ to bring him over. ‘They were ready to back the Brink’s truck up,’ the source said. A spokesperson for NBC declined to comment. James Dixon, Stewart’s agent, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.”

The article adds: “Stewart, whose Comedy Central contract extends through next year, declined NBC’s aggressive courtship. He probably recognized that much of his audience wouldn’t rush to turn on their televisions early on a Sunday morning. As Todd told a reporter last month, it’s a tough time slot for the young folks: ‘Are they rejecting the brand or are they just not getting up?’ ”

jonstewartNBC reportedly wanted Jon Stewart (seen here hosting his Comedy Central show) to host “Meet the Press,” which is the longest continually running national TV show in the U.S. It debuted Nov. 6, 1947.

4 Comments

  1. Are they serious? NBC News has jumped the shark as far as I’m concerned–and I am using the pop culture reference since it seems NBC/Universal/Comcra… er, Comcast is treating the news as mere entertainment now.

  2. Oddly, this idea was brilliant and utterly stupid at the same time.

  3. I can’t believe that networks pay the big bucks to bone headed executives to come up with ideas like this. Stewart is a massive talent, but even Stewart is smart enough to know how stupid an idea it was and realizes he’s the king of the hill right where he is.

    The second worst idea….Chuck Todd!

  4. To answer the question at the end of the article: They are not getting up that early, and if they did, they probably wouldn’t watch that kind of show anyway. They are too busy being dumbed down to be interested in expanding their intellect.

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