FGS
Posted on 02/02/2005 6:44:06 AM PST by MindBender26
CBS is taking the safe, very safe course with Rather replacement.
Washington bureau chief Bob Schieffer, often called "the voice of God," is all but certain to be named interim anchor on "The CBS Evening News" when Dan Rather steps down next month. Of course Rather is leaving to they don't have to fire him.
Schieffer, 67, will provide a smooth interum transition between Rather and a new, possibly multi-anchor program. Schieffer will anchor from New York, probably until late spring or early summer when the new format could ready. If accepted, the it would be a repeat of the Roone Alridge "News Troika Team" approach of the 70s.
Meanwhile, The "suits" at CBS News, led by division president Andrew Heyward, have been meeting behind closed doors (and closed minds) to work on a variety of anchor and format proposals.
White House correspondent John Roberts, once viewed as a possible heir to Rather, remains in the running as a member of the cast. Suits are looking inside and outside CBS to fill the roster of possible "charming anchor" candidates, all younger.
Also, over the hill CBS newsman Roger Mudd 76, is very angry at CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves comments that the single anchor format is over the hill.
You're probably right. Besides, they won't be able to hire anyone with even an ounce of integrity, anyway.
I hope they have the dignity not to do a teary farewell for the shamed Ted Baxter- I mean Dan Rather.
oh wait... CBS?.. dignity?... nevermind
FGS
Unless they hire a fair and balanced person to be a member of the potential multi-anchor team, they will not gain many viewers back.
I would watch CBS again (since I don't have Fox News at home and no cable in the room itself...and I hate running to the lobby to watch FNC) if they would bother to hire a person well-respected by people having a variety of viewpoints, a person who clearly tries very hard to be objective.
A Jim Lehrer, for instance. A Brit Hume.
But, Schieffer as interim anchor is NOT a good sign. Not a good sign at all. He makes Dan look non-partisan.
I would be okay with Scott Pelley. I generally like his reporting.
Oh, how is my "great news stories" mailing coming along? I really appreciate you doing something like that for me. I am patient, but can't wait to get it to study some pieces.
What happened to the remaining three of the Memogate four? Last I heard they were still working at Black Rock though they had been asked to resign.
LOL, what happened to perky Catie?
They're going for the "Tweeners", the group between the first day of retirement and the last day of lucidity. They hope to build on the senile demographic which Dan already has locked up.
Did anyone see Schieffer on Hardball last night and how he said we didn't have a National Election in November ... that a few States decided the President and the rest of the States were stuck with their choice??
Apparently, this strategy was so successful that I have never heard of it in my life." I have never heard the term "News Troika" but he means Roone Arledge who was the originator of Monday Night Football and eventually became the head of ABC news. His concept was, basically, to make any tv production become a "show" rather than just a "football game." Multiple cameras, big celebrity guests, instant replay, etc.....a real big production instead of just a simple show. It worked for him and Monday Night Football.
You realize what this means, don't you?
It means they had absolutely NO plans to retire Rather. They are floundering around because they never thought he would be gone.
And I wonder what John Roberts thinks about all this? He may yet bolt.
I did!
He's a smary little pinhead.
He showed his true colors with that comment
YAWN, and I mean that literally
Mr. Personality. Yikes.
Geez. No wonder we newspaper types look down on television reporters. :)
j/k. Thanks for the update.
If the anchors did their jobs instead of performing pointless banter, it would be fine.
I'd hate to see Laura be forced to be objective. She's better on radio.
No improvement there.
But I guess expecting an improvement at CBS is like expecting to win the lottery.
She is really terrific on radio, but she would bring fairness to their news which would be great. I try not to ever miss her show on 8 PM on WABC in NY.
Excellent observation. They obviously have had to "speed up" the replacement process, indicating they did not expect him to leave so quickly.
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