Brian Williams to host next "Meet the Press"

By Paul J. Gough

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - "NBC Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams will fill in for late "Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert on Sunday, but the network signalled it would take its time to replace the multitasking newsman.

Russert, who was also NBC's Washington bureau chief as well as a frequent commentator on the network's various news shows, died suddenly of a heart attack last Friday, aged 58.

NBC News president Steve Capus said Thursday that the news division was still in mourning, and it was likely that NBC News talent would moderate "Meet the Press" on a revolving basis.

"I just don't think there's any way we would ask anyone to go into any of the roles on a permanent basis. It would be too much, too soon," Capus said. "The only way I can contemplate it is, thinking for people who could step up temporarily."

Nor will a decision be made quickly on the bureau-chief job. NBC is leaning heavily on Russert's deputy bureau chiefs, Wendy Wilkinson and Brady Daniels.

"There are a lot of roles, both formal and informal, that need to be considered," Capus said. "That's why it's safe to say that there's no one person that can do all of it. Tim left us as he was at the top of his game. It took someone with Tim's enormous skills and qualities as a human being to juggle all those things and do so brilliantly."

Capus said he was leaning to filling the roles in-house, although he said it was a tough transition from the remembrances and memorials to thinking about the next phase.

"We're hanging on to each other awfully tight these days and operating with a healthy respect and love for Tim," Capus said.