Posted on 05/22/2007 12:48:55 PM PDT by Clemenza
NEW YORK - NBC News is dropping "Dateline NBC" anchor Stone Phillips in a cost-cutting move when his contract expires at the end of June.
Phillips won't formally be replaced. His co-anchor, Ann Curry, will continue and other "Dateline NBC" reporters will serve as on-air hosts when the newsmagazine presents stories they're working on, the network said Tuesday.
"It's been a wonderful 15 years," Phillips said in a statement issued by NBC. "I'm profoundly appreciative of the many friends and colleagues, past and present, who have been a part of the `Dateline' family. This is a great news division with a bright future. I wish the people of NBC News all the best."
He didn't immediately return a call for further comment.
Phillips was teamed with Jane Pauley, who left NBC is 2003, for much of his time at "Dateline NBC." At its peak, the newsmagazine churned out as many as five episodes a week.
The newsmagazine is probably best known now for reporter Chris Hansen's "To Catch a Predator" series nabbing suspected pedophiles. On NBC's fall schedule, the newsmagazine has only one permanent time slot — on little-watched Saturday night. It will be on three times a week in June.
NBC News has been restructuring to cut costs. Earlier this spring, it didn't renew the contract of "Nightly News" weekend anchor John Seigenthaler.
The Phillips move was similar in that the network is concentrating money on reporting and more versatile personalities. Seigenthaler, for example, was replaced by Lester Holt — who's also host of "Weekend Today." Curry is a newsreader on "Today" and reporter for "Dateline."
“IMHO I think they dropped Stone because he is not “touch,feely” enough for today’s audiences. People want feeling, the sympathetic sounding voice with personal and pitying sounding words sent out in a pitiable way. Stone reported the story, no elaboration and with no identifying touchy, feely words or body language. In my second humble opinion, I think he is the most handsome man ever to be a reporter for the MSM. Good luck Stone!”
I second your comments. I really enjoyed his delivery on various stories. A side note: several years ago, it was announced that his wife had MS. Maybe that’s one reason they’re moving to another home. So she can get around her home more easily?
Interesting, I did not know about his wife. I have MS as well but have been fortunate in that it has not totally debilitated me. Anyway, maybe we will see Stone show up somewhere later on, when we least expect him. He is definitely easy on the eye!
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