Tim Russert was the face of Sunday morning television. Russert, who passed away Friday from a sudden heart attack, was an ever-present staple in the weekly routines of millions of Americans who made “Meet the Press” a part of their Sunday mornings. When 10:00 am rolled around every Sunday, and that familiar theme music began to play, audiences knew that they were in for an education on public affairs by way of one of the great television newsmen. Historically, Russert will go on to join David Brinkley and Charles Kuralt as one of the defining presences of Sunday morning talk. Brinkley, who anchored ABC’s “This Week” for fifteen years, and Kuralt, who hosted “CBS News Sunday Morning”, were men who brought their own unique styles and methods to the distinctively American past time of the Sunday morning talk show. Likewise did Mr. Russert.

Since 1991, Russert had been delivering tough, direct questions to his guests, be they Democrats or Republicans. In a day and age where so much is made of political bias within the media, Russert was a pillar of integrity who showed no favoritism towards one particular person or party over another. Russert has been remembered on numerous networks since his death for his journalistic reliability, his passion for politics, and for the extreme love and admiration he showed for his family and his friends. NBC no doubt is trying to tackle the insurmountable task of finding a replacement for “Meet the Press”. Russert’s friend and colleague Tom Brokaw would be a likely and appropriate candidate for the time being. His moderating duties on Sunday’s “Meet the Press” tribute to Russert was an act in dignity, respect, and admiration not only for Russert, but for “Meet the Press” as a television institution. But the fact is no one will ever capture the on-screen stature Tim Russert displayed.

His unexpected death has brought to viewers across the country one of the sad realizations that sometimes occurs with those we get so accustomed to seeing on television as part of our daily and weekly schedules: that we do not realize how great these actors, actresses, journalists, or news anchors are until they are no longer around to be there for us at that same time every week. Russert was one of these. One of the greats.