posted June 30, 2008 at 15:00 in Other Articles

Attention sports betting aficionados the untimely death of Tim Russert left a big hole at NBC News. Not only was Russert the head of the network's Washington bureau, and a giant among political journalists, he was also the host of the network's signature news program, "Meet The Press," which will be on the air for 61 years come November, making it the longest-running show in broadcast television history.

The network is understandably careful about who will become the next "permanent" host of the program. That designation may seem nebulous now, but NBC is looking at naming a replacement after the election. In fact, they will probably name that replacement well in advance so the new host can get acclimated and ready to take over on November 9. There is a tremendous amount of responsibility that goes with the position, and it takes someone of a certain status to keep the show as relevant as it is. Russert, as it turns out, was an ideal host, as he made the show his own, more than predecessors like Garrick Utley and Chris Wallace.

BetUS Entertainment/TV Odds

Who Will be the Next Permanent Host of "Meet The Press"?

Chris Matthews 2/1

George Stephanopoulos 3/1

Brian Williams 6/1

Tom Brokaw 10/1

Andrea Mitchell 20/1

Field 5/1

Juan Williams 30/1

Andrew Sullivan 40/1

Robert Samuelson 15/1

Stuart Taylor 11/1

Thomas Mann 11/1

Tucker Carlson 50/1

Paul Begala 50/1

Let me eliminate some people first:

I firmly believe that NBC is going to hire from within, because they wouldn't want someone identified with another network to be involved with its signature show. So you can forget about George Stephanopolous, who actually hosts the competing "This Week" on ABC. One of the things that made Russert an outstanding host is that even though he was a Democratic operative and former aide to Daniel Patrick Moynihan, he was incredibly even-handed in his moderation of the show. Stephanopolous is way too partisan for this position, as is Paul Begala, another veteran of the Bill Clinton regime.

Neither Robert Samuelson, Stuart Taylor or Thomas Mann has enough name power to assume the chair. Andrew Sullivan is brilliant, but he is not "veteran" enough to take this role right now. And Juan Williams is not part of the "family," having been a Fox correspondent for the past eleven years.

As for the rest:

CHRIS MATTHEWS (2/1 in BetUS odds) -- For pure entertainment value, the host of MSNBC's "Hardball" might be the best choice. He certainly has experience, in both government and journalism. But Matthews' style is a bit too loud for this post, and it has become painfully clear during this election cycle that he has gone into the tank for Barack Obama. For example, back in February, Matthews nailed a Texas state senator named Kirk Watson on Obama's lack of accomplishment in the U.S. Senate. He bragged about it being all over YouTube, and gloated about it for days. He has never revisited it again. He probably wouldn't pass the "neutrality test." Anybody who admits that an Obama speech "sent a chill up my leg" shouldn't be in this powerful a position during a possible Obama administration.

BRIAN WILLIAMS (6/1 in BetUS odds) -- I know that NBC had been worried about Williams' level of substance before putting him into Tom Brokaw's chair on the NBC Nightly News. I think making him the caretaker of "Meet The Press" would be a stretch right now.

ANDREA MITCHELL (20/1 in BetUS odds) -- The wife of Alan Greenspan, who has been a dutiful NBC employee for the past 30 years, Mitchell has a reporter's sensitivity and would perhaps be the best choice if you were looking for someone who was best at not "showing their hand." It would also look good for NBC to put a woman in that position, in a year when Hillary Clinton has made a major impact for women in politics. Mitchell is a genuine darkhorse.

TOM BROKAW (10/1 in BetUS odds) -- Brokaw will host the show through the election. He is a solid choice, and I wouldn't discount him being the permanent host afterward. But for how long? Does he really want that? Brokaw has already retired from NBC Nightly News, and I know the network is looking for a long-term solution.

TUCKER CARLSON (50/1 in BetUS odds) -- Personally, I would love to see him get the job. He is brilliant, and does not dring the Kool-Aid from the partisan rhetoric of Democrats or Republicans. But I think he has too many libertarian leanings for these guys, who wouldn't dream of putting a libertarian into this position on a show that celebrated the grandeur of government.

FIELD (5/1 in BetUS odds) -- Frankly, I think this might be the best play. I have this funny feeling that David Gregory might get the job. He's a tough interviewer, a fact NBC has not hesitated to highlight through clips of Gregory's occasional grilling of White House press secretaries in his role as chief correspondent. And he was at least being groomed for something, as indicated by MSNBC taking Carlson's time slot away and giving it to Gregory. While confrontational, he also has a calmness that Matthews, for example, doesn't possess. Joe Scarborough, a former Congressman, knows "the game" and has moved a little more toward the "center" in terms of philosophy. Chuck Todd is a numbers guy who has gotten some attention, though I think he's a longshot. Gwen Ifill of PBS has also been mentioned as an option if the network wants to go outside its own.

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(Charles Jay is the 2008 presidential nominee of both the Boston Tea Party and the Personal Choice Party. He says he will place odds on himself at the appropriate time. He is currently a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)