kkktookmybabyaway Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 So what does everyone think of this idea? It could be interesting depending on where the "stations" are -- if it's just New York, LA and Washington, D.C., then I doubt it would work. Also, could Jon Stewart be the Andy Rooney for our generation? In addition, I hope Katie Couric isn't their anchor-ette. Well actually, I do because It'd be great to see them crash and burn. And as a side note, I'm glad Brian Williams is now anchoring NBC's Nightly News. Next to Tim Russert, Williams is my favorite "Big Media" journalist... Link CBS brass plot news 'revolution' By Andrew Wallenstein CBS News is leaning toward replacing departing anchor Dan Rather with an ensemble of newscasters on its flagship nightly newscast, CBS chief Leslie Moonves told reporters Tuesday during the network's portion of the Television Critics Assn. winter press tour at the Universal City Hilton. Moonves, chairman of CBS and co-president and co-chief operating officer of Viacom, said he is considering the team anchor approach as part of a bold reinvention of the entire broadcast news division, which is under intense scrutiny in the wake of a highly critical investigation into the use of questionable documents in a September "60 Minutes Wednesday" report on President Bush's National Guard service in the early 1970s. "This is a time of change in all of network news when you have (NBC News anchor Tom) Brokaw and Rather leaving within six months of each other," Moonves said. "There's a big, big shift in the evening news and how people are looking at their news and their newsgathering, so it's a great opportunity for us." Moonves also echoed many of the recommendations made by the independent report released last week concerning the Sept. 8 "60 Minutes Wednesday" segment, including the potential appointment of an ombudsman. He credited the report with inspiring an overhaul of the newsgathering operations he described as "antiquated." "It's probably something we should have done a while ago," Moonves said. "I think the incidents of the last few months caused this to happen, and hopefully we can turn lemons into lemonade." Moonves questioned whether the traditional anchor style, which he described as "the voice of God" and "preaching from the mountain," resonates with younger viewers, who comprise a small percentage of the 30 million total viewers tuning in to network news each night. He even left open the possibility of a role in the "CBS Evening News" for Jon Stewart, host of "The Daily Show," a mock newscast that airs on Viacom-owned cable channel Comedy Central. Characterizing the strategies under consideration as more of a "revolution than an evolution," Moonves signaled what could be a radical shift for one of broadcast television's most cherished institutions, the single-anchor newscast. Chief among the changes the news division are mulling is a different format for the "CBS Evening News." Without committing definitively to any one option, Moonves discussed a variety of possible changes ranging from multiple anchors to alternating the newscast among several cities instead of one studio setting, a method ABC News employed in the late 1970s and early 1980s with anchors Frank Reynolds, Max Robinson and Peter Jennings anchoring from different cities until Jennings took over as the sole anchor in 1983. He did not disclose whether changes would be ready by the time Rather steps down March 9. The Viacom chief cited "The Early Show" as a potential model for the ensemble approach. Previously languishing in third place among the broadcasters just as "CBS Evening News" currently is, "Early" opted for a team-oriented format that includes Harry Smith, Hannah Storm and Julie Chen. "There's good news about being in third place," Moonves said. "It happened when we were in entertainment. We can try stuff." Moonves would not comment on which people might be part of such an ensemble, refusing to comment on published reports that he had spoken with NBC's "Today" anchor Katie Couric. But he did not refute the possibility that Stewart could be involved in the program. "Jon Stewart is part of our company," Moonves said. "We speak to him regularly about all sorts of different things." Moonves also issued additional support for CBS News president Andrew Heyward despite repeated questioning of his stewardship, and for the continuance of Rather as a correspondent on "60 Minutes Wednesday" after he leaves "Evening News."
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 Henry is a nazi?
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 wait, I meant Harry.
Jingus Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 I'd love Jon Stewart and Tina Fey to be co-anchors of a real news show, just for the hell of it.
bob_barron Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 So we could see Stewart completely outclass her in every way, shape and form with Tina doing her stale as hell Bush jokes to try to keep up? No thanks.
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 Did Tina Fey snub you for an autograph or something?
Jingus Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 No, I'm serious, I'd want to see them try to do a straight, unbiased, not-at-all-funny newscast just to see if they could pull it off or not.
bob_barron Posted January 19, 2005 Report Posted January 19, 2005 Did Tina Fey snub you for an autograph or something? No- she actually was nothing but nice to me last time I talked to her. I just strongly dislike her for ruining Weekend Update and turning it into horrible crap. I think Stewart and Fey could probably do a straight newscast since both have read the news for years. It would be nice to see Tina read stories about Bush and not making comments that were remotely funny in 2001 and now just make her look bitter
Jobber of the Week Posted January 20, 2005 Report Posted January 20, 2005 Too bad there isn't a "no" choice other than the Rush-tastic "lol liberal media lol" button. I voted yes anyway, because it's different. I don't think it'll bring in younger people, though. I don't know what the fuck CBS is doing trying to attract younger people, as fossils have always been their prime target aside from a couple reality shows and Letterman. And whoa, Barron turned heel on Tina Fey. Wasn't she His Own Personal Comedy Goddess just a few months ago? She was still on WU then, too.
Guest CronoT Posted January 20, 2005 Report Posted January 20, 2005 You're just asking for a mod-ass-kicking, aren't you, KKK?
iggymcfly Posted January 20, 2005 Report Posted January 20, 2005 Tina Fey is the least funny person ever. I hate her and I hope she di....OOPS, don't want to get banned.
Guest CronoT Posted January 20, 2005 Report Posted January 20, 2005 Tina Fey is the least funny person ever. I hate her and I hope she di....OOPS, don't want to get banned. Looks like Iggy is asking for one, too.
kkktookmybabyaway Posted January 20, 2005 Author Report Posted January 20, 2005 Too bad there isn't a "no" choice other than the Rush-tastic "lol liberal media lol" button. Oh bite me hippie, that was the "no" answer. In other news, where do you all think the cities in "rotation" should be, and how many cities should take part in this? (I also second the questioning of Bob's sudden Fey hatred...)
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