More trouble for David Gregory and 'Meet the Press'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brian Williams (L) from "NBC Nightly News" and David Gregory (R) from "Meet the Press" participate in the panel for NBC News during the NBC Universal sessions at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, California January 10, 2010. REUTERS/Phil McCarten (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) - RTR28QDL
David Gregory’s tenure at “Meet the Press” has suffered another blow after the show’s long-standing producer, Chris Donovan, quit after 12 years and defected to work for ABC rival George Stephanopoulos at “This Week.”
Donovan, who started at ABC last week, was fed up with embattled Gregory and the direction of “Meet the Press,” sources tell Page Six, which has sunk to third place in the ratings, behind CBS’ “Face the Nation” and ABC’s “This Week.”
One source said, “There is a tense atmosphere at ‘Meet the Press.’ Gregory is dismissive of the staff, and is often hard to reach or approach.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“He is famously the only host on Sunday morning TV who won’t pick up the phone to seal the deal to get a big guest. There’s nobody else on TV, and certainly on Sunday mornings, who thinks they are too important to do that. It is tough on the producers.”
Donovan said, “I had an incredible run at ‘Meet the Press,’ and left only because I was given an amazing opportunity at ABC News. Any suggestion that I was mistreated is not true. I have a great relationship with David.”
Gregory also told Page Six, “I think the world of Chris Donovan, and I know, having spoken to him today, that he did not say nor does he feel what is being attributed to him.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NBC has been doubling down to protect Gregory following a Washington Post report that NBC News hired a “psychological consultant” for him, who interviewed his wife and family to help him connect better with his audience.