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Katie Couric to announce Tomorrow, 4/5/06

> According to the story here:
ht> tp://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060405/media_nm/media_couric_dc_7
>
> Couric will announce during her 15th anniversy show on
> 'Today' that she is taking the anchor desk at CBS.
>
> THIS IS THE ACTUAL ANNOUNCEMENT, where we can finnally put
> all the speculation to bed (yay).

I wonder if we are going to get to see a farewell sendoff on Today like they did Barbara Walters when she moved from the Today Show to the ABC News with Harry Reasoner in 1976.
 
> > According to the story here:
> ht>
> tp://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060405/media_nm/media_couric_dc_7
>
> >
> > Couric will announce during her 15th anniversy show on
> > 'Today' that she is taking the anchor desk at CBS.
> >
> > THIS IS THE ACTUAL ANNOUNCEMENT, where we can finnally put
>
> > all the speculation to bed (yay).
>
> I wonder if we are going to get to see a farewell sendoff
> on Today like they did Barbara Walters when she moved from
> the Today Show to the ABC News with Harry Reasoner in 1976.
>
Let the celebrating begin at both networks--a divestiture and investiture all rolled into one.
 
Re: Katie Couric To CBS: Smart Move!

While I congratulate Ms. Couric on her new job, let’s not break out the champagne just yet.

On the positive side, CBS already has a competitive news organization and, with the right anchor, might be able to regain the audience lost during the Dan Rather years. CBS would have a major struggle to take viewers away from NBC, but it’s not impossible for the network to have a shot at number #2 rated ABC.

ABC meanwhile finds itself in the unfortunate position of having one anchor recovering from war wounds, while the second is preparing for a new baby. So unless Bob Woodruff recuperates before Elizabeth Vargas goes on maternity leave, ABC will have to find replacement anchors to fill in. The most logical person for that job would be Charles Gibson. But with Couric leaving the “Today Show”, the brass at ABC are salivating over the idea of “Good Morning America” becoming the number one rated morning show, so it’s very unlikely that Gibson will be moved, even temporarily to host “World News Tonight”.

As for Couric, a great deal has been written about whether she has the credentials to go from a morning host to network news anchor. Critics seem to forget that Couric started out in news before landing the “Today Show” job. Plus she brings to CBS something that network has lacked for years; charisma. The days of Walter Cronkite are over. What you have now on both the national and especially the local level are news readers. Couric can certainly read from a tele-prompter.

From a career perspective CBS and Couric made the right move. The network gets a well-known individual and Couric gets the opportunity to prove her critics wrong by showing them she’s more than just a “perky personality”.

Besides even if you are not a Katie Couric fan, who else on television today has her name recognition and the ability to draw viewers to CBS?
With all due respect to John Roberts, yes he paid his dues at CBS and should have been considered for the anchor chair. But go out and ask the public who is John Roberts and I’m willing to bet a majority of people never heard of the guy.
 
Re: Katie Couric To CBS: Smart Move!

> > As for Couric, a great deal has been written about whether
> she has the credentials to go from a morning host to network
> news anchor. Critics seem to forget that Couric started out
> in news before landing the “Today Show” job. Plus she brings
> to CBS something that network has lacked for years;
> charisma. The days of Walter Cronkite are over. What you
> have now on both the national and especially the local level
> are news readers. Couric can certainly read from a
> tele-prompter.

This isn't the issue here. After 15 years on THE TODAY SHOW, viewers know Katie as an anchor for a morning talk show! The majority of the general viewing audience doesn't go into retrograde about what Katie did in the 80s or 90s, they perceive her for what she's doing now.

Tell me something...why do people still "Trust Walter" even though he has been away from the CBS EVENING NEWS for gosh knows how many years? Is it because he delivered the news and kept the 'showbiz' saccharine to a minimum?

I don't buy into your'charisma' argument either. The current staff at CBS has just as much 'charisma' as Katie does. The only difference is...the majority of them are "out in the field where the news is happening" and NOT co-hosting a morning news/talk show...behind a desk!


> Besides even if you are not a Katie Couric fan, who else on
> television today has her name recognition and the ability to
> draw viewers to CBS?

Oh...let's see...OPRAH? MEREDITH VIERA? JOHN STEWART (I admit I'm stretching with that last one). Anyway....having 'name recognition' is one thing. Being able to convince some of us that KC is more than just a swimmer in the 'morning show co-host-anchor pool' for 15 years is quite another!

> With all due respect to John Roberts, yes he paid his dues
> at CBS and should have been considered for the anchor chair.
> But go out and ask the public who is John Roberts and I’m
> willing to bet a majority of people never heard of the guy.

I guess "name recognition" goes a lot farther on your side of the television screen than talent, credibility and actual experience? Can I make you a "fluffernutter" sandwich and a glass of milk? Then you can sit back and enjoy....Ms. Perky do the nightly news?

argytunes
 
Re: Katie Couric To CBS: Smart Move!

While I respect your opinions, you are contradicting yourself. You make the argument that Katie is nothing but a morning host and, if I am reading your post correctly, you believe she doesn’t have the credentials to anchor the CBS Evening News. Then, a few sentences later you suggest Oprah as a possible candidate for the job.
 
Re: Katie Couric To CBS: Smart Move!

> While I respect your opinions, you are contradicting
> yourself. You make the argument that Katie is nothing but a
> morning host and, if I am reading your post correctly, you
> believe she doesn’t have the credentials to anchor the CBS
> Evening News. Then, a few sentences later you suggest Oprah
> as a possible candidate for the job.
>

I believe your original question was "Who else on TV had the name recognition that Ms Couric does?" So I provided 3 alternates. There are certainly several others. So if you're gonna give everybody a shot at being a nightly network news anchor....why not offer the job to Oprah or John.......not that they'd take it.....or even consider it!

For the 2nd time....I bear no malice toward Ms Couric nor her new Fall position at CBS. My issue is that CBS already has several thoroughbreds in its stable who ARE CURRENTLY DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB! If you don't believe me...take a look at the increase in their numbers? Sure...they're still behind NBC and ABC....but slower growing 'stocks' often retain higher dividends than "a momentary flash in the pan!"

argytunes
 
Re: Katie Couric To CBS: Smart Move!

I think CBS is simply joining in on the bandwagon that cable news networks have been using for years. The "star" of the news show has ceased to be the news and instead has become the "personality" delivering it.

Look at MSNBC, it's "Scarborough Country." Etc... On CNN it's "Anderson Cooper
360", notice the placement of the names. I recall and old "Mary Tyler Moore" episode where Mary derides Ted for wanting his name BEFORE the name "Six O'Clock News." It wasn't done, it was a JOKE.

So you can see how far we've come in 30 years<P ID="signature">______________
Once I figured out the meaning of life....Then I forgot to write it down.</P>
 
Re: Katie Couric To CBS: Smart Move!

> Tell me something...why do people still "Trust Walter" even
> though he has been away from the CBS EVENING NEWS for gosh
> knows how many years? Is it because he delivered the news
> and kept the 'showbiz' saccharine to a minimum?

You need to keep in mind a majority of evening news viewers are in the 55-dead demo. I'm sure some remember Wally.
 
Re: Katie Couric To CBS: Smart Move!

> I think CBS is simply joining in on the bandwagon that cable
> news networks have been using for years. The "star" of the
> news show has ceased to be the news and instead has become
> the "personality" delivering it.
>
> Look at MSNBC, it's "Scarborough Country." Etc... On CNN
> it's "Anderson Cooper
> 360", notice the placement of the names. I recall and old
> "Mary Tyler Moore" episode where Mary derides Ted for
> wanting his name BEFORE the name "Six O'Clock News." It
> wasn't done, it was a JOKE.
>
> So you can see how far we've come in 30 years

Hi Markxxx!

TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN! You made perfect sense to me.

Just an afterthought I had when you brought up the 'Ted Baxter' thing....isn't it interesting how many of the "reputable news shows" have evolved into nothing more than primetime entertainment!

argytunes
 
"Network" Predicted The Current State Of TV News

> > I think CBS is simply joining in on the bandwagon that
> cable
> > news networks have been using for years. The "star" of the
>
> > news show has ceased to be the news and instead has become
>
> > the "personality" delivering it.
> >
> > Look at MSNBC, it's "Scarborough Country." Etc... On CNN
> > it's "Anderson Cooper
> > 360", notice the placement of the names. I recall and old
> > "Mary Tyler Moore" episode where Mary derides Ted for
> > wanting his name BEFORE the name "Six O'Clock News." It
> > wasn't done, it was a JOKE.
> >
> > So you can see how far we've come in 30 years
>
> Hi Markxxx!
>
> TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN! You made perfect sense to me.
>
>
> Just an afterthought I had when you brought up the 'Ted
> Baxter' thing....isn't it interesting how many of the
> "reputable news shows" have evolved into nothing more than
> primetime entertainment!
>
> argytunes
>

Instead of Mary Tyler Moore, I believe that the movie "Network", which was made how many years ago?, predicted what TV news would eventually turn into. And that movie hit the nail right on the head.
 
> > > According to the story here:
> > ht>
> >
> tp://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060405/media_nm/media_couric_dc_7
>
> >
> > >
> > > Couric will announce during her 15th anniversy show on
> > > 'Today' that she is taking the anchor desk at CBS.
> > >
> > > THIS IS THE ACTUAL ANNOUNCEMENT, where we can finnally
> put
> >
> > > all the speculation to bed (yay).
> >
> > I wonder if we are going to get to see a farewell
> sendoff
> > on Today like they did Barbara Walters when she moved from
>
> > the Today Show to the ABC News with Harry Reasoner in
> 1976.
> >
> Let the celebrating begin at both networks--a divestiture
> and investiture all rolled into one.
>
I'm not at all happy about Katie Couric going to CBS; I agree
with those who argue that the evening news is a different kettle
of fish than the morning shows. But aren't we coming full circle?
The original network anchors--Douglas Edwards, John Cameron Swayze,
and John Daly--were little more than news readers; only Daly had
significant reporting experience (of course, given the technology
of the late '40s/early '50s, visuals were largely film taken days
earlier). In fact, Edwards' newscast, for most of its run, was
titled "Douglas Edwards With The News," and Swayze's had the sponsor's
name in the title: "Camel News Caravan." And don't forget that
all three moonlighted as game-show hosts (Daly on What's My Line?
from 1950-67, Edwards on Masquerade Party in 1953, Swayze on Who
Said That? from 1948-54).

The only difference between the '50s and now is that news was
considered a throwaway back then; television (and the public)
supposedly takes news more seriously now...and it's going to be
very difficult for the public to accept Katie as a serious journalist,
no matter what her prior credentials. As for myself, I'll stick with
Brian Williams.
 
Re: "Network" Predicted The Current State Of TV News

The writers of the movie “Network” must have either worked in TV news, or had a crystal ball, because I agree with your observation that what was once considered serious news on the three major networks, and even local television, has turned into a milder version of “Entertainment Tonight, or “E”.

With regards to Katie Couric being named as the new anchor of The "CBS Evening News", personally it doesn’t matter to me because I will continue to watch Brian Williams on NBC. I just believe that network does a better job of reporting the news than its two major rivals.

Certainly CBS has experienced and professional people that could fill the anchor’s chair. But one has to understand that’s not what the network was looking for. They wanted someone with name recognition and Couric fit the bill.

<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>
 
Re: "Network" Predicted The Current State Of TV News

Well, if Bob Schieffer threatens suicide on television, well you know...

In all seriousness, everything is going tabloid these days sadly.


> The writers of the movie “Network” must have either worked
> in TV news, or had a crystal ball, because I agree with your
> observation that what was once considered serious news on
> the three major networks, and even local television, has
> turned into a milder version of “Entertainment Tonight, or
> “E”.
>
>
 
> The original network anchors--Douglas Edwards, John Cameron
> Swayze,
> and John Daly--were little more than news readers; only Daly
> had
> significant reporting experience (of course, given the
> technology
> of the late '40s/early '50s, visuals were largely film taken
> days
> earlier). In fact, Edwards' newscast, for most of its run,
> was
> titled "Douglas Edwards With The News," and Swayze's had the
> sponsor's
> name in the title: "Camel News Caravan." And don't forget
> that
> all three moonlighted as game-show hosts (Daly on What's My
> Line?
> from 1950-67, Edwards on Masquerade Party in 1953, Swayze on
> Who
> Said That? from 1948-54).
>
> The only difference between the '50s and now is that news
> was
> considered a throwaway back then; television (and the
> public)
> supposedly takes news more seriously now...and it's going to
> be
> very difficult for the public to accept Katie as a serious
> journalist,
> no matter what her prior credentials. As for myself, I'll
> stick with
> Brian Williams.
>
Did you like Tom Brokaw? He also spent time on the Today show, while I was in high school. He then went to the NBC Nightly News -- nobody accused him of not being qualified because he was on Today. He certainly did his share of "fluffy" interviews, but nobody then said he was unqualified to be the Evening anchor.

If you don't care for Katie, then say so. But don't hide behind the talk-show argument. It simply rings hollow -- unless you're willing to state that Tom also should never have been the evening anchor.
 
Re: "Network" Predicted The Current State Of TV News

> Well, if Bob Schieffer threatens suicide on television, well
> you know...
>
> In all seriousness, everything is going tabloid these days
> sadly.

And Katie is the perfect catalyst for that movement at CBS News.
>
>
> > The writers of the movie “Network” must have either worked
>
> > in TV news, or had a crystal ball, because I agree with
> your
> > observation that what was once considered serious news on
> > the three major networks, and even local television, has
> > turned into a milder version of “Entertainment Tonight, or
>
> > “E”.
> >
> >
>
 
Formeraa asked:

> Did you like Tom Brokaw? He also spent time on the Today
> show, while I was in high school. He then went to the NBC
> Nightly News -- nobody accused him of not being qualified
> because he was on Today. He certainly did his share of
> "fluffy" interviews, but nobody then said he was unqualified
> to be the Evening anchor.

But Tom Brokaw, even during his years on "Today", was perceived by most people as having a "hard-news" image. Most people would perceive Katie Couric as not having a "hard-news" image.

One other tidbit: Meredith Vieira, who is rumored to be Couric's replacement (with official word due at any time), is the hostess of the syndicated version of "Who Wants To Be A Milionaire?" (although she'll likely have to give it up).

A former "Today" co-host, Hugh Downs, emceed the game show "Concentration" for ten years (1958-68), even though for six of those years (1962-68), he also co-hosted "Today".
 
Re: "Network" Predicted The Current State Of TV News

> The writers of the movie “Network” must have either worked
> in TV news, or had a crystal ball, because I agree with your
> observation that what was once considered serious news on
> the three major networks, and even local television, has
> turned into a milder version of “Entertainment Tonight, or
> “E”.

There was only one writer for "Network": Paddy Chayefski. He was not in network news, but was a writer for TV from its earliest days. He wrote "Marty," which went on to be an Oscar-winning film for Ernest Borgnine, and a slew of other movies. His last movie was "Altered States," based on his novel of the same name.

The trend towards entertainment taking over news was starting even back in the 1970's, when "Network" was written and filmed. It didn't take too much of a crystal ball to predict that ratings and the almighty dollar would soon supplant journalism and credibility in importance.
<P ID="signature">______________
The Pab Sungenis Project - http://www.lowbudgetradio.com</P>
 
Re: "Network" Predicted The Current State Of TV News..thank you, thank you...

I have held that opinion for YEARS! "Network" would be required viewing for anyone even remotely involved in teh biz. ---- It is one of the best movies of its or all time. Peter Finch, William Holden and Faye Dunaway...plus a solid cast of character actors and the brilliant writing made this one of my all time faves.
 
> > The original network anchors--Douglas Edwards, John
> Cameron
> > Swayze,
> > and John Daly--were little more than news readers; only
> Daly
> > had
> > significant reporting experience (of course, given the
> > technology
> > of the late '40s/early '50s, visuals were largely film
> taken
> > days
> > earlier). In fact, Edwards' newscast, for most of its
> run,
> > was
> > titled "Douglas Edwards With The News," and Swayze's had
> the
> > sponsor's
> > name in the title: "Camel News Caravan." And don't forget
>
> > that
> > all three moonlighted as game-show hosts (Daly on What's
> My
> > Line?
> > from 1950-67, Edwards on Masquerade Party in 1953, Swayze
> on
> > Who
> > Said That? from 1948-54).
> >
> > The only difference between the '50s and now is that news
> > was
> > considered a throwaway back then; television (and the
> > public)
> > supposedly takes news more seriously now...and it's going
> to
> > be
> > very difficult for the public to accept Katie as a serious
>
> > journalist,
> > no matter what her prior credentials. As for myself, I'll
>
> > stick with
> > Brian Williams.
> >
> Did you like Tom Brokaw? He also spent time on the Today
> show, while I was in high school. He then went to the NBC
> Nightly News -- nobody accused him of not being qualified
> because he was on Today. He certainly did his share of
> "fluffy" interviews, but nobody then said he was unqualified
> to be the Evening anchor.
>
> If you don't care for Katie, then say so. But don't hide
> behind the talk-show argument. It simply rings hollow --
> unless you're willing to state that Tom also should never
> have been the evening anchor.
>
Yes, I liked--and watched--Tom Brokaw, but keep in mind that he
had already established himself as a serious journalist as NBC's
White House correspondent during Watergate. Likewise, no one
seems to have a problem with Charlie Gibson when he anchors
"World News Tonight"--he is perceived as a hard-news-related
broadcaster.

Down in the next post, Joseph Gallant points out that Hugh Downs
was host of the "Today" show and the game show "Concentration,"
simultaneously from 1962-69. But "Today" did not have the same
news image (more of an infotainment show) in Downs' day. It
wasn't until he began doing "20/20" in 1978 that anyone--thanks
to the ABC PR department--really perceived him as a serious journalist.
I say "anyone"--not "everyone."

My point in bringing up the anchors of the '50s is that we seem to
be coming full circle, back to personalities. I was trying to show
that television news wasn't taken as seriously then; most people got
their news from newspapers, not television. But nowadays it's the
other way around; the newspaper may be an endangered species (television,
too, if the Internet becomes the prime source of news). Viewers,
especially those of us over 50, are looking for people we can trust
as journalists (and don't give me the "advertisers don't care for
people over 50" argument because it would take a miracle to get a
large audience of under-50s for the evening news on any broadcast
network, regardless of anchor, and Katie herself turns 50 next year).

Being a former morning-show host has nothing to do with the public's
acceptance. Brokaw did NBC Nightly News for more than 20 years, and
Gibson should have been Peter Jennings' replacement. But do you
remember Barbara Walters' co-anchoring with Harry Reasoner on ABC
(1976-78)? She was never taken seriously as a hard-news anchor.

And yes, I will admit it: I don't care for Katie, don't think she
has credibility re hard news, and will not be watching when she
moves to CBS.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by bpatrick on 04/07/06 12:43 PM.</FONT></P>
 
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