Chuck Todd Prepares To Sign Off Of ‘Meet The Press’

deadline.com:

Chuck Todd opened his final broadcast as moderator of NBC News’s Meet the Press by telling viewers that it was an understatement to call the gig “an honor and privilege of my lifetime.” “This is simply the pinnacle of political journalism, something my younger self never would have imagined,” said Todd, who announced in June that he was stepping down from the role. “No matter how much of a grind that the current political climate is, wearing my down on any given day, I still always have had a ‘pinch me, I can’t believe it feeling every time I hear my name introduced as the moderator of the longest running show in the history of television.’ In fact, I used to joke my goal is not to be the last moderator of the longest running show in American history, and I have achieved that goal and then some.” Kristen Welker will succeed Todd as moderator next week.

When she does, all of the major networks’ Sunday morning shows will have a woman as moderator or co-moderator for the first time.

Todd’s final show featured California Governor Gavin Newsom and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) as guests. Todd noted that his sign off comes as both parties “find themselves at a crossroads.” “Many leaders in both parties desperately want to start looking toward the future,” Todd said. “But as you know, both parties are stuck in the present, and voters are exhausted by it.” Todd has been moderator of Meet the Press for nine years, having done more than 430 broadcasts.

His announcement in June came amid speculation that a change was imminent, after David P. Gelles was hired as executive producer last year, succeeding John Reiss.