Afro-America Writer's space

Cross-posted @ http://afroamericawriter.blogspot.com

Crossposted on my other blog:  http://afroamericawriter.blogspot.com/

RIP Tim Russert

This is one tough post to write. In the short time I opened this blog, a reader can see I'm tough on the Media. It might be because I think some (if not many) are dumbing down the profession that holds so much accountability to its audience. But I hold a few of its members in high regard and one of those few was Tim Russert.

I can't believe he's gone. Like millions of people around the country and the world, I'm still in a state of shock that I'm not going to see Tim Russert on Meet The Press this Sunday. Not just for Sunday, the rest of the election season. This was a man who made politics fun and accessible to the everyday man. You didn't need to have an ivy-league education to understand Russert. Who can forget how he reduced the complexity of the 2000 November election to three simple words on a dry erase board: Florida, Florida, Florida!

Here I am young enough to be Russert's daughter but I never felt a generation gap in understanding him even though I pale in comparison to his intellect. I think that was the charm he brought to his viewers; a blue-collar kind of guy talking to the dignitaries of the land. And boy did he talk to them, more like grilled the truth out of them.

For my generation, his grilling but fair tactics was parodied on Saturday Night Live by the brilliant Darrell Hammond and he got the humor. He even did a fake-serious interview with fake Presidential candidate Stephen Colbert. Now that was a pundit who was in touch.

He showed how in touch he was with his best-selling book "Big Russ & Me." A story about life lessons from a father and son relationship. That book solidified his legacy of not just being one of the premiere journalists of his generation but a devoted father and son (not to talk of husband). He made many rekindle their relationships with their own fathers.

This is the second journalist I felt was taken too soon; the first was Peter Jennings. It showed how fickle life really is and to cherish every moment we're blessed with the gift. So in honor of Tim Russert's memory not just for the legacy he left for the excellence in journalism but to Dads everywhere.

On the eve of Father's Day, I would like to say Thanks Dad and MOD (My Other Dads) - I couldn't have been the fearless daughter without your guidance and my heartfelt condolence and prayers to the Russert family.

I mentioned once I was singing the blues while the writers’ strike was going on in Hollywood.  I must have read more books and magazines during those months than I ever did; and I was already an avid reader.  My favorite show, Grey’s Anatomy was also on hiatus during this time and I missed my weekly diet to check in with the “Doctors” of Seattle Grace Hospital.  Well the two-hour season finale was last night and it did not disappoint.  (What I thought of it will be in another post but first . . .)

I was never a person who jumped on board after the rest of America caught the “Grey’s Anatomy” bug; I was fan from day one.  I remember when the show started in the fall of 2005 right after “Desperate Housewives,” programming, I stuck around just to see what this hospital show was all about.  As usual, I came in with a little apprehension because at that time I thought most shows on TV sucked.  Also, I wondered how successful will another medical drama be since a few over the years I loved have either been cancelled or lust some luster. Shows that come to mind were Chicago’s Hope, City of Angels, and ER (after George Clooney left).  So my tepidity towards the new TV show was well placed.  However, the writing (the most important factor in my opinion) grabbed me the first few minutes, and the casting of the diverse actors made me an instant fan.

But I was worried if some Americans will get it and not let this great gem I have found NOT go to an early TV grave yard.  Well not to worry, month after month, the audience kept building and Grey’s became a bonafide hit.  Now “Grey’s” buzz words such as McDreamy, McSteamy, Va-jay-jay (to those living under a rock, let’s just say it refers to a certain female’s anatomy) have become everyday lexicon even the big O (Oprah Winfrey) who’s publicly made know for watching little or no TV, put her stamp of her “favorite” show to the point of using the buzz words (especially the va-jay-jay) on air.  Well, TV comedians had fun with that one.

What makes Grey’s successful is not just the medical mumbo-jumbo; that is there in abundance to make the show authentic.  However, it is the story about life and how complicated it is whether as a mother, daughter, wife, father, son, or husband and every other role one plays in this thing called life.  In one episode, a viewer could go from great comedic timing with the characters of the show and grief when a lovable character (I cried my eyes out when Denny – Izzie’s love) passes away.  It is where a so-called jerk (i.e. Alex) could have some redeeming qualities or for a person who made a mistake not to be defined by the misstep – I loved what the Nazi said to recurring character Dr. Montgomery not to let a man define her (great advice).