Stephanopoulos to GMA

[imhomerjay]

And some reports indicate the plan may be to reduce the fluff level with George in place. Time will tell how that does or doesn't play out.

That said, most of the morning show hosts over the decades haven't had experience being morning show hosts--it's not like there's a college major in hosting morning news programs. You take the skills attained elsewhere and apply them; the level of success depends on how well each individual can apply those skills.

 

[kms575]

I'd love to see less fluff for sure. I'm so tired of seeing every Tiger Woods mistress crawl out of the woodwork and show up on morning TV.

 

[DToTheJ]

... most of the morning show hosts over the decades haven't had experience being morning show hosts--it's not like there's a college major in hosting morning news programs. You take the skills attained elsewhere and apply them; the level of success depends on how well each individual can apply those skills.

With that said, can anyone explain how former NFL running back Tiki Barber is settling in on "The Today Show"?

 

[imhomerjay]

I'd love to see less fluff for sure. I'm so tired of seeing every Tiger Woods mistress crawl out of the woodwork and show up on morning TV.

Given the pride with which the Nightline execs talk about covering the Michael Jackson story, something tells me stories like Tiger will be classified, for their purposes if not everyone's, as "not" fluff. Not saying I agree or disagree at a personal level, just observing what's been said about how they view that previous story. Could "fluff" be more "cooking" segments and that ilk be what's meant by "fluff" in that context?

Then again, I've never felt, as a viewer, that being able to do one type of thing means one is somehow incapable of doing something else. To name a current example, I never saw how the fact that Charlie Gibson could manage a cooking segment or a lighthearted segment would mean he couldn't do the evening news (and judging by the lack of crashing-and-burning in the ratings, even drawing close to/even with NBC at times, there wasn't some mass rejection of him for having interviewed Kermit the Frog).

 

[bpatrick]

Nor Tom Brokaw, who went from the "Today" show to "NBC Nightly
News" and was number one for a good chunk of the time he anchored.

I guess "fluff" means Tiger Woods' mistresses, cooking segments, and
Kermit the Frog, rather than issues such as the economy, health care,
or Afghanistan. But I suppose when you're on up to four hours (like "Today")
it could get pretty boring to devote the entire time to serious issues. And
the morning shows were never intended to be "Meet The Press" for two or
four hours. It's just the perception--rightly or wrongly--that people have of
the hosts of those shows: Katie=fluff, Charlie=substance. Not that it's
accurate at all.

My problem is not one of who's "fluff" and who's "substance"--I don't particularly
like any of the evening anchors: Katie, Brian, or Diane, whereas I did like Brokaw
and Charlie. So I'm looking for a new outlet, be it Wolf Blitzer, the BBC, or whatever.

 

[DToTheJ]

Never thought I'd see the words "Tiger Woods," "mistress" and "fluff" in the same sentence in that context...

 

[bpatrick]

Well, I don't exactly think Tiger and his supposed affairs
have quite the importance as whether or not people have jobs
or affordable health care.

 

[brian4]

I'm wondering if ABC News brass is setting up Good Morning America to be the feeder for World News Tonight? Getting their early morning viewers used to someone and then move them to evenings? Some points:

• I'm surprised that Charles Gibson retired in less than 4 years. I thought he would be around for at least another 2 years. Is it possible that Charlie was given a finite time in The Big Chair?
• It was a huge deal when Diane Sawyer and Gibson joined GMA. I took the day off of work just to watch it. Sawyer could have been promised The Chair sometime in the future.
• I think that George Stephanopoulos must have been promised The Chair in order to give up This Week.
• I don't think you can compare Sawyer with Katie Couric, other than both are women who hosted network morning shows. Couric is impressive but Sawyer has an incredible resume built on hard news and insider politics.

Bottom line, I'm interested who takes This Week and how long Sawyer does World News.

 

[dustintv]

Least us not forget that Charlie Gibson stole the job of anchor of World News Tonight from an injured man and a pregnant woman. He was not at all Jennings replacement, Woodruff and Vargas were. Both were quite remarkable especially Vargas as ABC wanted to take WNT in a different direction.

As for Stephanopoulos I agree with the smart political pretty boy who keeps getting TV work sentiment. He reminds me of Tucker Carlson in that sense just minus the bow-tie.

 

[imhomerjay]

Oh please. Charlie didn't steal a darned thing. He didn't decide to make the change to the show; when they asked him to take over after conditions beyond anyone's control, he did. It may have been unfortunate what happened, but it was no more stealing a job than it was stealing to be filling in for the ailing Peter Jennings.

As for looking for ulterior motives about anyone's leaving....really, why can't we accept that someone just wanted to retire? There isn't always some boogeyman lurking behind the scenes pushing someone out the door. He achieved what he said he wanted to, and who can blame someone for wanting to enjoy a quieter life doing whatever they want without the tiring obligations of that job?

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

Agreed, Imhomerjay. The two-fer of Woodruff's near-catastrophic injury and Vargas' pregnancy contributed to the change at "World News Tonight" in the winter of 2005/spring of 2006. IIRC, CBS (then led by Bob Schieffer) had nearly over-taken "WNT" when David Westin made the decision to offer the job to Gibson...additionally, I believe Gibson stated up front that he would anchor for only a set amount of time before retiring (I think he stated after the 2008 election he would be looking to exit).

 

[JeeperOne]

George Stephanopoulos is more of a guy who fits on World News than on GMA.

Which is why I (In another thread elsewhere on this board) brought up Jeremy Hubbard as a possible replacement for Diane Sawyer.

I say this because having seen him not only on his various Nightline reports, but even when he was anchoring the weekend news on then-FOX O&O KDVR 31 here in Denver (Jeremy's last stop before moving on to ABC), Jeremy just sees to have the face that just says Good Morning (Or whatever time of day it happens to be when he's on the air) without him ever having to say a single word. His skills as a reporter however are about the same as any other journalist out there.

In short, it seems as though the brass may have done well in replacing Charlie with Diane on WNT, but struck out when it came to finding a suitable successor for Diane Sawyer on GMA. Having said that however, only time will tell.

Cheers

 

[JeeperOne]

I'd love to see less fluff for sure. I'm so tired of seeing every Tiger Woods mistress crawl out of the woodwork and show up on morning TV.

Dr. Phil has GOT to be licking his chops & doing a million "I Told You So" 's. One for every woman who has ever had more than a passive interest in married celebs & other public figures.

He's also got to be seeing his ratings skyrocket (Especially in areas where his show is seen in the mornings) as well since the scandal broke out.

Sorry. Couldn't resist that one.

But back to the topic at hand, a reduction of the fluff on GMA simple will not fly with viewers. Why do you think Tiki Barber is on the Today show to begin with?

Cheers

 

[formeraa]

Point taken; however, from what I understand, Roker is doing the same kind of fluff pieces on The Weather Channel that Stephy is expected to do on "GMA" starting next year.

Sadly, you're right. I actually tried to watch Al Roker's show the other day and it is flat out BAD!