Tim Russert, We'll Miss Ya

Esteemed author and political journalist Tim Russert has passed away at the age of 58 while doing what he loved most, working at the Washington bureau of NBC News. I first watched Meet the Press to not only learn about politics but to connect with my father, an investment banker who worked long hours and often traveled for business while I was growing up.

By spending time with my father having intellectual conversations and discussing each other's interests, I learned to pursue what I loved most: film and journalism (topics of our frequent discussions).

Russert not only helped me connect to my father, he wrote about it (well, not us specifically) as a best-selling author of Big Russ & Me: Father and Son: Lessons in Life and Wisdom of Our Fathers: Lessons from Daughters and Sons.

I looked forward to hearing Russert's insight and wry Irish-Catholic delivery on NBC and will miss his take on the state of affairs. Like a Fordham classmate challenging my political beliefs or a funny uncle or priest (yes, there are some) sharing a story, Russert had contagious enthusiasm his viewers and interview subjects couldn't deny. It wasn't hard to observe he relished meeting the press but he threw no softballs and stayed fair (and balanced, I might add) in the process.

To quote the Not Too Shabby boys at the Upright Citizens Brigade (where I'm a student of comedy), "This Sunday, there's gonna be a very special edition of Meet the Press with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and JFK. It's gonna be in heaven...our loss is God's gain".

We'll miss you, Little Russ.

(Happy Father's Day, Dad!)