Tim Russert was a well-known family man. He wrote a memoir about his dad, "Big Russ and Me," which was a New York Times bestseller. His second book, "Wisdom of Our Fathers," chronicled "lessons and letters from daughters and sons." It also topped the book charts.

So it's not surprising that searches for Russert's father and his wife, Maureen Orth, have lifted since his death. But it's Russert's 22-year-old son Luke who has emerged as a focal point for the intense interest surrounding the newsman's closest kin.

Over the past several days, demand for Luke Russert's name, his Facebook page, and his photos has catapulted upwards. Mentions of Luke's recent graduation sparked searches for "luke russert boston college." On Monday, he spoke at length about his father with Matt Lauer on NBC. The gracious interview triggered a rise in queries for "luke russert today show."

Contributors to the Buzz were particularly taken with the "Today" talk. The New York Daily News praised its "un-mawkish" quality. Mahalo launched a page for the Massachussetts graduate that's devoted entirely to the TV segment. A U.S. News & World Report blogger went so far as to call for Luke to replace his dad on "Meet the Press." "We're starting the bandwagon," the post declared.

Whether or not the bandwagon gets going, the young Mr. Russert has certainly done his dad proud.