Brian Williams Returns Today..To MSNBC

Brian Williams launches his new career with MSNBC on Tuesday at 3pm (Eastern) — but sources tell Page Six at the NY Post he’s already been causing trouble by calling the shots behind the scenes of the flailing network’s recent shake-up.

“Brian has been going to town at MSNBC,” said a TV insider. “He’s dictating personnel changes.”
Pat Burkey — Williams’ executive producer at NBC’s “Nightly News” who remained when Williams was suspended and Lester Holt got the gig — was relegated this week to executive producer in charge of afternoon news coverage at MSNBC.

“Pat’s going with Brian, but it’s being looked at like a demotion,” said a source. Burkey began working with Williams in 2000 back on MSNBC. Sam Singal has been named the new “Nightly News” EP.

Izzy Povich, MSNBC’s VP of talent and development who previously was a producer for Lawrence O’Donnell, is being shifted to executive producer of MSNBC morning news coverage as part of the shake-up this week.

“Izzy and Pat are a formidable team — and they both have the distinction of having been with MSNBC on our very first day in 1996,” network president Phil Griffin wrote in a memo.

Williams returns Tuesday as a “breaking news anchor” on MSNBC after a six-month suspension from NBC. He attended daughter Allison’s wedding on Saturday, Page Six exclusively reported.