David Gregory Will Host "Meet The Press"

David Gregory

Surprising no one, NBC made it official Sunday: David Gregory will take over the moderator's chair on "Meet The Press."

Referring to the death of the show's previous host, Tim Russert, NBC News President Steve Capus said in a statement: “We lost a legend this summer, and today we hand the program over to someone who has a true appreciation and respect for the ‘Meet the Press’ legacy, and a keen sense of what it needs to be in the future."

As the announcement was made, ABC's George Stephanopoulos, host of "Meet The Press" competitor "This Week," posted some firmly tongue-in-cheek advice for Gregory, including this: "Don't sit Doris Kearns Goodwin next to David Broder. Long story."

Gregory is a solid choice for the job, but his appointment comes at a time when the news business in general, and NBC News in particular, are being buffeted by rough economic seas. NBC Universal recently announced 500 layoffs, including many in the news division.

Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images for Meet The Press