We depart from our regular Connecticut centric programming on this day 293 of the Biden administration to report a story with ramifications that may well extend far beyond the walls of that hallowed space known as NBC News and the specific confines of the 11p.m. east coast broadcast hour on MSNBC.
Brian Williams, the former New Jersey firefighter, Carter White House intern – and international journalist without a college degree and an outsized collection of repp ties – who for many years has held presidents, kings and dictators to account whilst stepping down in 38 different countries on this planet we call earth – and is best known for his latter day Murrow like presence behind the anchor desk, which includes a predilection for long sentences filled with informative asides about American history, architecture, and geography, has decided to call it quits, to leave the place he has called his professional home for these past 28 years, which if you calculate with any degree of mathematical prowess, we think you will agree, comes out to nearly three decades.
Williams’ departure from the peacock network has been rumored for months ever since news leaked that Rachel Maddow might also leave her full time hosting duties in 2022. Some reports indicated Williams wanted to take on MSNBC’s 9p.m. hour, but that the network is more interested in moving Nicolle Wallace to prime time. Those issues remain unsettled – at least in public – as does the question of who will replace Williams at 11p.m. The Williams announcement could be the first domino in a carefully managed changing of the guard at MSNBC.
At 62, Williams says he is not done with TV, but says he will take a few months off before whatever is next for him professionally.
