• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

I don't want to come off as harsh, but I want to mention my choice for Peters Permanent Replacement

T

-TJ-

Guest
I don't want to come off as harsh, but I want to mention my choice for Peters Permanent Replacement

<font color=3333ff>I'm not trying to be callous and think about a replacement so soon. But I do want to mention it.

First, off, I'm so sad. ABC news is my favorite, and has been since I was in Jr. High.

It was always like a ritual to watch Peter at night. Sometimes I'd have the volume all the way up and make it a big thing. When I started working 2nd shift, I missed the program alot. I decided to start taping the reports so I could watch them when I got home. Recently I thought about re-using the tapes since I had so many, but now I'm very glad I didn't.

As we reflect on the greatness of what Peter brought to the country and to all of us in our homes as we grew up, broadcasting is a business and we must think of how to move on...... WHO could be as great as Peter?

My choice, a spitting image of Peter with his natural delievery, soft-flowing voice and excellent approach of reporting, I nominate David Muir. If you've never seen David report or anchor, I think he is the closest to Peter that you can get.

Charlie Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas just don't have the voice tone that I really care for. Ultimately, who ever they choose to become the permanent replacement, I will now stop watching ABC news.

</font>
 
The Future of World News Tonight

I'm sure the suits at ABC have been having meetings about this since they realized how serious Jennings' condition was.

Their options are:
<ul>
[*]Move someone up from within the organization.
[*]Bring a star in from outside. (Let the bidding begin.(
[*]Bring in a vet as a temporary transition anchor (Koppel to be ABC's answer to Bob Schieffer).
[*]Revamp the format (as CBS says it is planning to do).
<ul>
[*]Go back to multiple anchors.
[*]Do a magazine show rather than a straight newscast. Prime time magazine shows still get an audience. Local newscasts already have done the national stories. Maybe the network dinner-hour news is obsolete.
[*]Scrap the network newscast entirely. Feed segments (with spots) to stations to incorporate into local newscasts.
[/list]
[/list]

With all due respect, ABC needs to reinvent itself and going with a Jennings clone is ill advised. ABC became a player in network news in the late 70's because Roone Arledge went back to the drawing board. Don Hewitt did the same (repeatedly) with the Evening News at CBS. Rueven Frank did likewise with the Huntley-Brinkley Report at NBC (and failed to do so when Huntley retired).



> I'm not trying to be callous and think about a replacement
> so soon. But I do want to mention it.
>
> First, off, I'm so sad. ABC news is my favorite, and has
> been since I was in Jr. High.
>
> It was always like a ritual to watch Peter at night.
> Sometimes I'd have the volume all the way up and make it a
> big thing. When I started working 2nd shift, I missed the
> program alot. I decided to start taping the reports so I
> could watch them when I got home. Recently I thought about
> re-using the tapes since I had so many, but now I'm very
> glad I didn't.
>
> As we reflect on the greatness of what Peter brought to the
> country and to all of us in our homes as we grew up,
> broadcasting is a business and we must think of how to move
> on...... WHO could be as great as Peter?
>
> My choice, a spitting image of Peter with his natural
> delievery, soft-flowing voice and excellent approach of
> reporting, I nominate David Muir. If you've never seen
> David report or anchor, I think he is the closest to Peter
> that you can get.
>
> Charlie Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas just don't have the
> voice tone that I really care for. Ultimately, who ever they
> choose to become the permanent replacement, I will now stop
> watching ABC news.
>
 
Re: I don't want to come off as harsh, but I want to mention my choice for Peters Permanent Replacement

> I'm not trying to be callous and think about a replacement
> so soon. But I do want to mention it.
>
> First, off, I'm so sad. ABC news is my favorite, and has
> been since I was in Jr. High.
>
> It was always like a ritual to watch Peter at night.
> Sometimes I'd have the volume all the way up and make it a
> big thing. When I started working 2nd shift, I missed the
> program alot. I decided to start taping the reports so I
> could watch them when I got home. Recently I thought about
> re-using the tapes since I had so many, but now I'm very
> glad I didn't.
>
> As we reflect on the greatness of what Peter brought to the
> country and to all of us in our homes as we grew up,
> broadcasting is a business and we must think of how to move
> on...... WHO could be as great as Peter?
>
> My choice, a spitting image of Peter with his natural
> delievery, soft-flowing voice and excellent approach of
> reporting, I nominate David Muir. If you've never seen
> David report or anchor, I think he is the closest to Peter
> that you can get.
>
> Charlie Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas just don't have the
> voice tone that I really care for. Ultimately, who ever they
> choose to become the permanent replacement, I will now stop
> watching ABC news.
>

David Muir has not been at ABC all that long (maybe a year or two?) Before that he was only a weekend anchor at WCVB (Boston's ABC affiliate) and an anchor at WTVH in Syracuse before being in Boston. I can't see him being given the anchor chair for World News Tonight.

If I were in ABC's shoes I would give the nod to Charlie Gibson. I think he has done a fine job filling in for Peter Jennings. Elizabeth Vargas would be a very close second. If that does happen what happens at Good Morning America? Would he be replaced (and if so with who?) I'm not sure if I would replace. GMA would be fine with Robin Roberts and Diane Sawyer. I could see them placing David Muir in the news desk for GMA.
 
Re: I don't want to come off as harsh, but I want to mention my choice for Peters Permanent Replacement

I'm a huge Peter Jennings fan as well. He was the Cary Grant of the news industry. It will never be the same.

With that said, however, I think that John Hook of Fox10 in Phoenix is an amazing anchor. He's one of the best investigative reporters out there, he has a tremendous long standing and credible background in covering political venues, and he is really one of the best out there.

Come on John, do what it takes to go national.
 
Re: Jennings' replacement.

My first choice would be Charles Gibson to replace the late Peter Jennings.
Gibson has always struck me as being a more serious newsperson than say someone like a Diane Sawyer.

As for finding someone to fill Gibson's place on GMA, I'm sure ABC has a stable of "entertainment-type" reporters that could fit the bill.

Elizabeth Vargas would be my second choice. Besides doing a good job, it would be a coup for ABC to put Vargas in that position considering the rumors that CBS is wooing Katie Couric to anchor the CBS Evening News after her contract with "The Today Show" expires. This way Vargas and ABC would get a 'jump start' on Couric and CBS because Vargas would have had more air time and building a following of her own.

My biggest fear is that ABC would hire some anchor from one of the so-called cable networks. But I don't see that happening.

<P ID="signature">______________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted and I won't be laid a hand on.
I don't do these things to other people and I expect the same from them".</P>
 
David..

<font color=3333ff>It doesn't matter that he hasn't been there long. Notice all the reports about Peter, and you will see that people thought that ABC was crazy to hire a 27 year old for a major news slot.

I think that David has the approach and perfect voice to fill the position for the show. I don't get the same vibe from Charlie or Elizabeth.. they seem a bit stiff. I'm not nocking Charlie....I used to watch GMA, but I think he's better to stay at GMA.
</font>


> David Muir has not been at ABC all that long (maybe a year
> or two?) Before that he was only a weekend anchor at WCVB
> (Boston's ABC affiliate) and an anchor at WTVH in Syracuse
> before being in Boston. I can't see him being given the
> anchor chair for World News Tonight.
>
> If I were in ABC's shoes I would give the nod to Charlie
> Gibson. I think he has done a fine job filling in for
> Peter Jennings. Elizabeth Vargas would be a very close
> second. If that does happen what happens at Good Morning
> America? Would he be replaced (and if so with who?) I'm
> not sure if I would replace. GMA would be fine with Robin
> Roberts and Diane Sawyer. I could see them placing David
> Muir in the news desk for GMA.
>
 
Re: Kevin Newman?

How about Kevin Newman, the host of Global National News in Canada. He used to be on ABC NEWS during the mid-nineties, as a host of ABC NEWS NOW, the late night/early moring news.
 
Diane Sawyer

If for anything else,I would like to see Diane Sawyer take over World News Tonight. She has been on TV for years now,first on CBS where she anchored the morning show with Charles Kuralt in the early 80's. Also her hosting duties on 60 Minutes and Prime Time Live also make her a qualifier. She would be perfect as an anchor on World News Tonight and if they wanted to they could add Charles Gibson to the fold and thereby have a double anchor team. Which brings us to who would host Good Morning America. I think that Good Morning America could be hosted just as well without Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson in that Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson are capable of much more than standing around interviewing guests.
 
Re: The Future of World News Tonight

Don't be surprised if you see ABC move Terry Moran the white house correspondent up to the desk in NY.

> I'm sure the suits at ABC have been having meetings about
> this since they realized how serious Jennings' condition
> was.
>
> Their options are:
>
> Move someone up from within the organization.
> Bring a star in from outside. (Let the bidding begin.(
> Bring in a vet as a temporary transition anchor (Koppel to
> be ABC's answer to Bob Schieffer).
> Revamp the format (as CBS says it is planning to do).
>
> Go back to multiple anchors.
> Do a magazine show rather than a straight newscast. Prime
> time magazine shows still get an audience. Local newscasts
> already have done the national stories. Maybe the network
> dinner-hour news is obsolete.
> Scrap the network newscast entirely. Feed segments (with
> spots) to stations to incorporate into local newscasts.
>
>
>
> With all due respect, ABC needs to reinvent itself and going
> with a Jennings clone is ill advised. ABC became a player
> in network news in the late 70's because Roone Arledge went
> back to the drawing board. Don Hewitt did the same
> (repeatedly) with the Evening News at CBS. Rueven Frank did
> likewise with the Huntley-Brinkley Report at NBC (and failed
> to do so when Huntley retired).
>
>
>
> > I'm not trying to be callous and think about a replacement
>
> > so soon. But I do want to mention it.
> >
> > First, off, I'm so sad. ABC news is my favorite, and has
>
> > been since I was in Jr. High.
> >
> > It was always like a ritual to watch Peter at night.
> > Sometimes I'd have the volume all the way up and make it a
>
> > big thing. When I started working 2nd shift, I missed the
>
> > program alot. I decided to start taping the reports so I
> > could watch them when I got home. Recently I thought
> about
> > re-using the tapes since I had so many, but now I'm very
> > glad I didn't.
> >
> > As we reflect on the greatness of what Peter brought to
> the
> > country and to all of us in our homes as we grew up,
> > broadcasting is a business and we must think of how to
> move
> > on...... WHO could be as great as Peter?
> >
> > My choice, a spitting image of Peter with his natural
> > delievery, soft-flowing voice and excellent approach of
> > reporting, I nominate David Muir. If you've never seen
> > David report or anchor, I think he is the closest to Peter
>
> > that you can get.
> >
> > Charlie Gibson and Elizabeth Vargas just don't have the
> > voice tone that I really care for. Ultimately, who ever
> they
> > choose to become the permanent replacement, I will now
> stop
> > watching ABC news.
> >
>
 
Re: Jennings' replacement.

> My first choice would be Charles Gibson to replace the late
> Peter Jennings.

As is mine.


> As for finding someone to fill Gibson's place on GMA, I'm
> sure ABC has a stable of "entertainment-type" reporters that
> could fit the bill.

They could decide not to replace him at all. Robin Roberts was added to the GMA team in recent months, perhaps in preparation of moving Gibson to the WNT anchor chair permanently. A Roberts-Sawyer combo on GMA would work just fine.
 
Re: I don't want to come off as harsh, but I want to mention my choice for Peters Permanent Replacement

I agree with you on Charlie- I think he is just a pretty face, and we get enough of that on NBC. Poor Dianne is too sincere for the anchor desk- too many years on Primetime.

Off your subject, Charlie and Dianne could both be easily replaced on GMA. The Subs are actually superior to them IMHO.

If ABC was smart they would try to get Lou Dobbs off CNN. He actually asks difficult questions and doesn't back down. I don't always agree with him but I do like his style. I thought this would be a no-brainer for CBS last year but I guess Bob had earned some time behind the desk.
 
A winner from the outside if ABC looks for him

I have two words... John Seigenthaler from NBC...he has a very classy delivery that I think would gain the audience ABC is looking for. With Brian Williams in position to soil Tom Brokaw's chair for several years, this young talent may have to look outside for a good opportunity to man the anchor chair...my 0.02

Im adding an additional suggestion, if ABC wants to go in a different direction. I like the idea of the co-host as well.

John Seignthaler and Gwen Ifill => both have appeal, both have experience on doing national news casts and both are good journalists...ABC would open the door to some new looks at the news...

And Id have Ted Koppell and other senior anchor/reporters/commentators come in at the end of the show for a detailed analysis of a particular news issue (like on the Newshour when Jim interviews Sheilds and Brooks)

just my 0.04 now...LOL
 
Tonights "Nightline". Koppel leaves abc News on December 4th

He sure was great tonight on his tribute to Peter Jennings! Sorry to see him go. I had no idea he was leaving the Network & suggested he might be able to fill the Spot, not that anyone could fill Peter Jennings Shoes. Nightline had been my favorite Show for 25 Years, and I gave up on it last year. Ted is cut from the same mold as Peter Jennings, and they both will be missed!
 
Re: I don't want to come off as harsh, but I want to mention my choice for Peters Permanent Replacement

Let me throw a stupid one in here: Ron Claiborne (hey, don't knock him).

But seriously, it wouldn't be a bad idea to put in either Bob Woodruff, Bill Blakemore, or Dan Harris. Recognizeable.
 
Re: Tonights "Nightline". Koppel leaves abc News on December 4th

Although he doesn't look it, I believe Ted Koppel is nea5ring his 65th birthday.

Besides, Koppel was suposedely approached in 1983 about taking over "World News Tonight", but told then-ABC News chief Roone Arledge that he wanted to stick with "Nightline", and suggested that Peter Jennings get the job. As Arledge was looking to Jennings as a possible choice to replace the recently-deceased Frank Reynolds if Koppel refused, Jennings got the nod.

There's no doubt that Koppel would have made an outstanding anchor for "World News Tonight" or breaking-news coverage: In August of 2003, while Jennings was on vacation, New York State and parts of the Midwest were hit by a major blackout. ABC pre-empted it's late-afternoon, early-evening and prime-time schedules for continuous live coverage and Koppel anchored it, doing an excellent job.
 
Re: Tonights "Nightline". Koppel leaves abc News on December 4th

On more than one occasion I watched Ted doing a 2:30 AM live Nightline for the West Coast, as the East Coast Version was outdated. This gave me Chills. I didn't know he had resigned from abc until last Night. In my opinion he was much more of Anchor material than Brokaw or Rather could ever have been. And when I would see him filling in on World News Tonight, it too gave me chills.

> Although he doesn't look it, I believe Ted Koppel is
> nea5ring his 65th birthday.
>
> Besides, Koppel was suposedely approached in 1983 about
> taking over "World News Tonight", but told then-ABC News
> chief Roone Arledge that he wanted to stick with
> "Nightline", and suggested that Peter Jennings get the job.
> As Arledge was looking to Jennings as a possible choice to
> replace the recently-deceased Frank Reynolds if Koppel
> refused, Jennings got the nod.
>
> There's no doubt that Koppel would have made an outstanding
> anchor for "World News Tonight" or breaking-news coverage:
> In August of 2003, while Jennings was on vacation, New York
> State and parts of the Midwest were hit by a major blackout.
> ABC pre-empted it's late-afternoon, early-evening and
> prime-time schedules for continuous live coverage and Koppel
> anchored it, doing an excellent job.
>
 
Re: The Future of World News Tonight

Here are some possibilities for Peter Jenings' replacement, along with my analysis for why they might or might not get the nod.

* Charles Gibson: Co-host of "Good Morning America".

Pro: Did an excellent job as one of Peter Jennings' fill-ins. And with his anchoring of the death of Pope John Paul II, the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI, and the just-ended space shuttle mission, he proved that he also has the ability to anchor breaking-news, a requisite of network evening news anchors.

Con: Gibson and "GMA" co-hostess Diane Sawyer have a great on-air chemistry. Would ABC want to give that up, especially if Katie Couric (as has been speculated) leaves NBC's "Today" (to anchor CBS' evenbing newscast) which would likely make "GMA" numebr-one in the morning news ratings?? Also, I believe Gibson is 61, which means that he might not be in the "World News Tonight" anchor chair for more than five or six years, maybe ten if he's lucky.

* Diane Sawyer: Co-hostess of "Good Morning America".

Pro: TV news veteran, and a well-known "name".

Con: Again, would ABC News want to split up a team of co-hosts at "GMA" who have cut into the once-invincable ratings lead of "Today"?? Also, Sawyer has little experience in breaking-news anchoring. Also, she's nearing 60 and like Gibson, would likely only be at "WNT" for a few years before retirement.

* Elizabeth Vargas: "20/20".

Pro: Has also done a lot of fill-in work on "WNT" over the last few months. Naming her would mean that ABC would not have to split-up the popular "GMA" tandem of Gibson and Sawyer.

Con: Again, little breaking-news experience.

* Bob Woodward: Weekend anchor for "World News Tonight".

Pro: Has experience anchoring at ABC and could easily be moved to weeknights.

Con: Not as big a "name" as several other ABC correspondents. A long-shot.

* Ted Koppel: Host of "Nightline".

Pro: ABC could ask Koppel to consider postponing his retirement for a year or two and ask him to leave "Nightline" and take over "WNT" for a year or two as an "interim anchor", much like the arrangement under which Bob Schieffer is anchoring the "CBS Evening News". Also outstanding in breaking-news coverage (John Lennon assasination, 2003 New York blackout).

Con: Would Koppel indeed "take one for the team" and postpone his retirement for a couple of years?? And if Koppel were to become "interim anchor" or "WNT", ABC would still have to figure out what to do on a long-term basis.

* Terry Moran: ABC White House Correspondent

Pro: Many network news anchors (Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, Frank Reynolds) were White House correspondents prior to taking the anchor desk.

Con: I don't think I've ever seen him do much anchor desk work as a substitute on "WNT" or "GMA".

* Kevin Newman: Anchor of "Global National" on Canada's Global Network.

Pro: Former ABC correspondent. Has proven himself as anchor on Global. I also think he's in his late thirties, which means he could be at the anchor desk for perhaps as long as 25-30 years. If ABC wants someone for the really long-term, Newman might be the man.

Con: More familiar with his native Canada than the U.S. (but then again, so was Peter Jennings). Anchoring a network newscast in Canada is different than here in the 'States.

* Ashligh Banfield: Former NBC/MSNBC correspondent

Pro: Became well-known for her coverage of September 11th and it's aftermath. Also in her late thirties; again, her being hired by ABC would be a really long-term move.

Con: Has not been on network television for a couple of years. Might not be as well-known now as she was three years ago.

My guess: You'll see the "World News Tonight" anchor job to go one person, but the job of anchoring breaking-news and special events for ABC going to someone else.

Elizabeth Vargas will get the anchor chair on "World News Tonight", but Charles Gibson will be given the job of anchoring live special events and breaking-news. That way, Gibson will stay at "GMA", but also get to anchor special events (i.e. the 2006 midterm elections, the 2008 campaign, and live "crisis" coverage), a task at which he has proven to be superior at over the last few months.
 
Re: Diane Sawyer

> If for anything else,I would like to see Diane Sawyer take
> over World News Tonight. She has been on TV for years
> now,first on CBS where she anchored the morning show with
> Charles Kuralt in the early 80's.

Actually, it was Bill Kurtis who anchored the CBS morning show in thye early 80's. Incidentally, Kurtis would be very good, as well. He has his own production company and does a lot on A&E.
 
Re: The Future of World News Tonight

I think, as another poster put it, that network news needs to change to remain relevant. The same old formula of having someone sit at an anchor desk and read stories off a teleprompter is stale, and has been for years.

Having said that, I think if WNT continues in its present vein, they should rotate anchors. There's no reason why one pretty face should occupy that chair...allow many of ABC's up and coming news stars to sit in the chair for a while. Throw in an occasional Charlie Gibson, Elizabeth Vargas or Bob Woodward, and it would at least keep the newscast fresh. Viewer loyalty might not be there, but viewer loyalty being what it is, I think ABC would be wiser to go the fresh route.

If, however, ABC were to decide on a permanent anchor, here's an idea: MSNBC's Lester Holt. Got his anchoring chops in Chicago, and is a steady presence on the set, moreso than the breathless urgency exhibited by Brian Williams or John Segenthaler. I think Holt would be a great choice, and he'd be the first permanent black anchor of a network newscast since Max Robinson.
<P ID="signature">______________
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." - Robert Heinlein

dan</P>
 
Re: Diane Sawyer

Actually, Diane Sawyer co-anchored CBS' morning show with both Charles Kuralt and Bill Kurtis.

With Kuralt, it was an attempt to extend Kuralt's popular "Sunday Morning" franchise to weekdays, the only difference being that the feature pieces were shorter and that there were national news updates on the hour and half-hour; and local news updates at :25 past.

It's my understanding Kuralt was taken off the weekday show because he had to give up his popular "On The Road" segments to host the weekday show. The network at some point decided that Kuralt should start doing "On The Road" again, but did allow him to keep doing "Sunday Morning", which by that time had become quite successful.

When Kurtis replaced Kuralt, it became more like the other networks' morning shows. With the exception of a couple of weeks in mid-1982 (exact date?), when it nosed-out "Today" for second place ("Good Morning America" was far and away in first place in the morning ratings race back then), ratings of "The CBS Morning News" were always far behind the competition.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom