Presidential Funeral Affords Three Sightings of Wandering Sage, Brokaw

NBC Nightly News last night offered three separate soundbites of Tom Brokaw, first in its opening coverage of the Ford funeral, then in an interview by Brian Williams, then in a special section of excerpts of eulogies. The royal placement, which gave even Henry Kissinger lower billing, continues the NBC pattern, of wheeling Brokaw in to hold forth (usually predictably) on major events, and would seem to reflect Brokaw’s reluctance to let go and Brian Williams’ filial feelings; his manner when Brokaw appears is somewhat servile. I wonder what the servility masks, but no matter, it’s a misuse of precious airtime.