Disgraced television journalist Brian Williams is about to land his next gig in the industry, however, he won’t be returning to major network TV. The former anchor who once worked on NBC News and on MSNBC is now in talks to host a live Election Night special for Amazon Prime Video, according to sources who sat down for a conversation with Variety.
Wow. They must be really desperate to nab somebody with even a little bit of name recognition if they are looking to hire a known liar like Williams. Geesh. I mean, come on. There are plenty of journalists out there who have big followings on social media that would make for a better host than this guy. Scour social media and book somebody. No need to get a man with a known track record of deception to host a special on one of the most important nights of modern-day American history.
The goal is to provide a non-partisan analysis of the night’s developments. Should it go ahead, the project would represent Amazon Prime Video’s inaugural venture into news-oriented content, a field it has not previously entered, focusing instead on films, scripted series, and reality shows. However, the completion of this initiative is not yet certain, sources warned. In 2015, Williams, the respected anchor of NBC Nightly News, found himself at the center of a major scandal. For years, he had recounted a story from his time covering the Iraq War in 2003, where he claimed to have been aboard a helicopter that was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and forced down. Williams often spoke of the experience during public appearances, and it became a hallmark story of his reporting career.
However, the story unraveled when military veterans who were present during the incident publicly challenged his version. They revealed that Williams was not in the helicopter that had been hit but in a separate one that was not under fire. As the truth came to light, Williams apologized on air, admitting that he had “misremembered” the event. Still, the damage was done. NBC launched an internal investigation, leading to Williams’ suspension for six months without pay. During this time, Lester Holt took over as the anchor of NBC Nightly News, eventually being named the permanent replacement. After the suspension, NBC reassigned Williams to its cable network, MSNBC, where he hosted The 11th Hour. Though he continued his career there, the scandal left a permanent mark on his reputation as a journalist. He remained with MSNBC until his departure in 2021.
The same sources who spoke with Variety also stated that part of the reason the Amazon special is so appealing is because it will feature a wide variety of analysts and newsmakers as guests during the program, more than other shows that will be on at the same time on the same night. Part of the reason Amazon is taking this particular route is because it wants to do what other networks are failing to do, which is bring in the younger demographic of television viewers. Many of the individuals who fit in that group prefer to get news from digital platforms over the network television broadcasts.
If you are thinking that this might be Amazon’s way of dipping a toe for regular news production, that doesn’t seem to be the case as they haven’t expanded their journalist workforce by any significant measure.
Discussions suggest the potential for Williams to host a variety of guests and contributors. Planned to be streamed from a studio in the Los Angeles area, the show might kick off as early as 5 p.m. Eastern and Williams could remain on air for up to seven or eight hours, potentially longer during critical events like a tight election night. The program is designed to delve deeper into explaining significant events rather than breaking news stories. With economic pressures leading many traditional news outlets to cut back on staff, the producers have managed to secure several prominent figures for the show, aiming to create a significant, accessible broadcast with numerous well-known guests.
Sources also revealed Williams is looking for ways to expand his career outside of traditional anchoring, seeking projects where he has more direct contact and engagement with audiences.
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