Meet the Press: The Best Stay the Best?
What makes Tim Russert’s passing even more of a bummer to me is that his show was simply the best political show on network television. I hope that it maintains its level of quality even if it will never be quite the same. I’m watching The McLaughlin Group (“an American original!”) right now and it is simply so bad I can hardly stand it. I know in its day it was probably “original” and maybe even innovative. My guess is political programming in the 80’s was most likely extremely tedious and flat out dull. The McLaughlin Group and its nature of talking points being lobbed back and forth at unreasonable volumes was probably unique in comparison to other programming. Today it’s the norm. Political shows either serve to reenforce an increasingly polarized political spectrum or it feigns substantive discourse and makes up for its vapidity with volume. There is no delving beneath the surface of the events of the day. There is no exploration or insight to speak of. They are basically shows where people that are “into politics” can get their argument ammo as quickly as possible and can be entertained by watching talking heads they agree with “nail” their opponent with whom they don’t agree.
It may be harsh to call out The McLaughlin Group as an example as the show does have moments of insight and originality and it is infinitely better than most shows that have been influenced by its format. But it ain’t Tim Russert’s “Meet the Press.” Nothing else is or will ever be, but hopefully something can follow in it’s tradition.