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So What's The Latest On A New CBS Anchor?

M

Mark_Giardina

Guest
After months of speculation about Katie Couric leaving NBC, along with a host of other possible candidates to replace Bob Schieffer as anchor of the CBS Evening News, suddenly we don’t hear or see a thing regarding this story. So what gives?

Isn’t Schieffer going to retire by the fall of this year? And if so, wouldn’t one think that the brass at CBS would still be searching for a replacement?

Maybe this isn’t the most important media-related story going on these days, but it has to be close to the top. After all CBS has a bevy of programs in the top ten and one would think that the network would like to regain its number one status when it comes to the evening news.

Granted it will be tough to unseat Brian Williams at NBC. And the unfortunate accident that injured Bob Woodruff has put the duel anchor idea on hold for the time being over at ABC. So why CBS is dragging its feet remains a mystery.

<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>
 
> After months of speculation about Katie Couric leaving NBC,
> along with a host of other possible candidates to replace
> Bob Schieffer as anchor of the CBS Evening News, suddenly we
> don’t hear or see a thing regarding this story. So what
> gives?

We at least know that John Roberts is out of consideration.
 
> > After months of speculation about Katie Couric leaving
> NBC,
> > along with a host of other possible candidates to replace
> > Bob Schieffer as anchor of the CBS Evening News, suddenly
> we
> > don’t hear or see a thing regarding this story. So what
> > gives?
>
> We at least know that John Roberts is out of consideration.

Too bad. I thought he (John Roberts)did an excellent job on Sundays and filling in. He was my heads on choice to be, at least, part of the new CBS Evening news. I wonder what the story is. Maybe he's hard to get along with, or was caught with someone's wife, whatever, he must have gotten on the wrong side of somebody. Gotta be something there to let someone of his talent walk out the door. I don't watch CNN that much so I'll miss him.
>
 
> Too bad. I thought he (John Roberts)did an excellent job on
> Sundays and filling in. He was my heads on choice to be, at
> least, part of the new CBS Evening news. I wonder what the
> story is.

It probably became obvious to him that he was no longer under consideration for the top job. And when you've been passed over like that, it very often means that things unfortunately will go downhill for you at the current job and that it's time to head in another direction.

Hopefully Roberts can keep a high profile with CNN. It seems that Roger Mudd's career slowly faded away when he jumped to NBC, after losing out to Dan Rather as Walter Cronkite's replacement.
 
> After months of speculation about Katie Couric leaving NBC,
> along with a host of other possible candidates to replace
> Bob Schieffer as anchor of the CBS Evening News, suddenly we
> don’t hear or see a thing regarding this story. So what
> gives?
>
> Does anyone really think that, after all these years as "perky" and "cutesy" and giggling her way thru the TODAY Show, Katy Couric has enough credibility to carry off an evening news anchor slot? She is perfect at what she is doing, and I love her there, and there she should stay.
>
 
It's not a matter of what we think, but what CBS wants, and I can tell you, they want Katie.

On the other hand, I agree, she is not my first choice. But CBS is looking for someone who is relaxed and gives the news a more laid back comfy feel. Dan Rather always seemed so uptight. Perhaps CBS News is trying to get away from that.

Personally, I'd have liked to see Anderson Cooper take over, but you know? That is just not going to happen...

> > Does anyone really think that, after all these years as
> "perky" and "cutesy" and giggling her way thru the TODAY
> Show, Katy Couric has enough credibility to carry off an
> evening news anchor slot? She is perfect at what she is
> doing, and I love her there, and there she should stay.
> >
>
 
I feel CBS is highly confident that they'll land Katie Couric.

If CBS felt they had no chance to get Couric, they probably would have pulled out all the stops to keep John Roberts and offer him the "Evening News" anchor chair as part of the deal.

My guess: Katie Couric will leave NBC when her contract ends on May 31st, move to CBS (after a few weeks' vacation) and take over the "Evening News" in mid-to-late August, about a month before the "official" start of the Fall season. That will allow for any "kinks" to be straightened-out.

I also feel that under Couric, the "Evening News" will get a radical change in format. The first nine or ten minutes will be hard-news, but after that, the rest of the half-hour will be (except on busy news days or when there's a major late-breaking news story while the newscast is on the air) soft "infotainment" features. After the first ten minutes, you may be wondering if you were watching a network evening newscast or "Access Hollywood".
 
> The first nine or ten minutes will
> be hard-news, but after that, the rest of the half-hour will
> be (except on busy news days or when there's a major
> late-breaking news story while the newscast is on the air)
> soft "infotainment" features.

Isn't that pretty much what it is already? I don't consider "Eye On America" or "Friday Consumer Alert" to be hard news.

So there is some difference between a "Consumer Alert" and "Oprah is marrying Elton John" (haha). But I'm not sure there is room for either in 22 minutes of the Evening News.
 
I had written that:

> The first nine or ten minutes (of a Katie Couric-anchored "CBS
> Evening News" broadcast) will be hard-news, but after that,
> the rest of the half-hour will be (except on busy news days or
> when there's a major late-breaking news story while the
> newscast is on the air) soft "infotainment" features.

PTBoardOp 94 wondered:

> Isn't that pretty much what it is already? I don't consider
> "Eye On America" or "Friday Consumer Alert" to be hard news.

No.

What I think you'd see during the final two-thirds of a typical evening's Couric-anchored "CBS Evening News" would be segments on celebrity news ("Here's the latest on the split between Lance and Sheryl"), pop culture ("Who will win the Grammy's later tonight here on CBS?"), and Couric doing live interviews, often with show-biz types ("Joining us by satellite from Television City in Hollywood is Bruce Willis, star of the new movie '16 Blocks', which opens tomorrow...").

It would be a radical change from the eras of Douglas Edwards, Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and even Bob Schieffer.
 
> I had written that:
>
> > The first nine or ten minutes (of a Katie Couric-anchored
> "CBS
> > Evening News" broadcast) will be hard-news, but after
> that,
> > the rest of the half-hour will be (except on busy news
> days or
> > when there's a major late-breaking news story while the
> > newscast is on the air) soft "infotainment" features.
>
> PTBoardOp 94 wondered:
>
> > Isn't that pretty much what it is already? I don't
> consider
> > "Eye On America" or "Friday Consumer Alert" to be hard
> news.
>
> No.
>
> What I think you'd see during the final two-thirds of a
> typical evening's Couric-anchored "CBS Evening News" would
> be segments on celebrity news ("Here's the latest on the
> split between Lance and Sheryl"), pop culture ("Who will win
> the Grammy's later tonight here on CBS?"), and Couric doing
> live interviews, often with show-biz types ("Joining us by
> satellite from Television City in Hollywood is Bruce Willis,
> star of the new movie '16 Blocks', which opens
> tomorrow...").
>
> It would be a radical change from the eras of Douglas
> Edwards, Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and even Bob
> Schieffer.
>
I don't think that it would go THAT far. I do believe that Katie would definitely do more live interviews during the newscasts.
 
> >> >
> >> >
> > It would be a radical change from the eras of Douglas
> > Edwards, Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and even Bob
> > Schieffer.
> >
> I don't think that it would go THAT far. I do believe that
> Katie would definitely do more live interviews during the
> newscasts.
>
I can't stop CBS from hiring Katie Couric, but I don't have
to watch her either; frankly, I think her image is far too
"cutesy" for any credibility on the evening news.

Why isn't anyone mentioning Aaron Brown?
 
> Why isn't anyone mentioning Aaron Brown?
>
Aaron Brown doesn’t have the “Glamour Look” that the networks are searching for these days. They want either Barbie or Ken-type anchors. You know the type that you like to bring home to Mother, while Mom is away on vacation. Look at NBC and ABC as examples. Brian Williams, handsome dude. Elizabeth Vargas, great looking! Even though both are excellent journalists, do you think they would have got this far in broadcasting had they lacked the looks they have?

Look at your local TV news operations. How many anchors and reporters on staff look like just regular normal people? I bet you most of the staff is made up of guys with lots of hair, good looks and buff bodies, while the women are the types you wanted to go out with in high school but was afraid to ask.

Aaron Brown might be more than qualified to replace Bob Schieffer, but CBS is not going to hire the guy.

<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>
 
Hi everyone:

> Look at your local TV news operations. How many anchors and
> reporters on staff look like just regular normal people? I
> bet you most of the staff is made up of guys with lots of
> hair, good looks and buff bodies, while the women are the
> types you wanted to go out with in high school but was
> afraid to ask.

To me, the women all look like the professionals they are.

> Aaron Brown might be more than qualified to replace Bob
> Schieffer, but CBS is not going to hire the guy.

I'm gonna go out (Perhaps REALLY out) on a limb here and suggest that ARMEN KETAYAN is being brought over from CBS Sports - TO ANCHOR THE NEWS.

Sounds pretty far fetched I know, but if ya remember where & how BRYANT GUMBEL got HIS start, it doesn't seem that way.

Just a crazy thought :/

Cheers :)

Pat<P ID="signature">______________
patspodcast03a.jpg

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P>
 
Hi everyone:

> > Why isn't anyone mentioning Aaron Brown?
>
> Too cerebral.

He puts me to sleep.

Now if CBS were producing a "Nightline" type show before Letterman, THEN I could see them landing him. Otherwise, no.

That said though, he IS the most qualified of all the network people available.

Just my opinion :/

Cheers :)

Pat
<P ID="signature">______________
patspodcast03a.jpg

http://patspodcast.blogspot.com/
Radio? Uhh.....What's THAT?? :)</P>
 
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