Relationship between CBS and Couric ending with a whimper, not a bang
Katie Couric was chided by David Letterman this week for thinking of leaving her job as anchor of the CBS Evening News.
"It's not like it's a temp gig," Letterman told Couric, reminding her that other anchors "ride into the sunset."
For Couric, the sun apparently sets around 2 p.m. Don't blame her, though. That anchor seat has lost a lot of value since it was occupied by Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. In fact, a case could be made that Couric traded down when she left NBC's "Today" for CBS.
Now she wants to try daytime. What's interesting is that CBS does not appear to be making a big push to keep her in the anchor chair. CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, who was instrumental in wooing Couric away from NBC to CBS, is sitting back and letting the new leadership at CBS News -- Chairman Jeff Fager and President David Rhodes, call the shots, according to people familiar with the situation.
Moonves may not want to be seen publicly pursuing someone who clearly has their mind made up. Perhaps singing "Happy Birthday" to Couric for a video the network made for her in January was as far as he was willing to go.
That Couric is consulting with her former "Today" producer (and ex-NBC Universal CEO) Jeff Zucker probably hasn't helped her relationship with her current bosses at CBS. It will be interesting to see if CBS seriously considers going after a Couric talk show or passes.
Inside CBS, attention is starting to focus on Scott Pelley as the leading candidate for Couric's job should she bolt, which seems to be a foregone conclusion.
Pelley, a "60 Minutes" correspondent, is close to Fager, who besides being chairman of CBS News continues to executive produce the newsmagazine.
Pelley has been with CBS for more than 21 years. If he is given the job, odds are the network won't have to worry about him eyeing his next big deal or wondering what else is on the horizon.
If Couric does leave, her stint at CBS will be one of the shortest for an evening news anchor. Cronkite did it for almost 20 years and Rather for more than two decades. ABC's Peter Jennings and NBC's Tom Brokaw also put in over 20 years anchoring. While ABC weathered some instability with the anchor slot after Jennings died, Diane Sawyer seems willing to take Letterman's advice and ride into the sunset. NBC's Brian Williams also seems entirely comfortable in his job.
There will be lots of analysis about Couric's run at CBS News. She did not boost ratings the way CBS would have liked. Her persona, perfect for the morning, ultimately did not work as well in the evenings. The media seemed more obsessed than viewers about her role as CBS News anchor. In daytime, she will be back in her comfort zone.
-- Joe Flint
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Photos: Top right: Katie Couric. Credit: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images. Bottom left: Scott Pelley. Credit: John Filo/CBS.
Good Riddance.
Posted by: H_Tuttle | March 25, 2011 at 04:19 PM
I use to watch Katie on the Today show every morning at the Y, so when she moved to CBS news I was happy that I could finally watch the network news with someone that I respected and thought would give a nonpartison, no liberal slant of the news. So I watch her on her first night, she said her hellos then she started in on Bush and just kept on him and kept on him. Couric turned out to be the worst of the bunch. I turned her off that night and have never watched her sence. CBS, NBC and ABC all are the exact same, a failed business model. And if you just look at what people want to listen to is the other point of view like FOX, but no way in hell with they change and give FOX a run for it's money. They just keep putting out crap like MSNBC...who in their right mind can possible buy in to Ed Shultz?
Posted by: Ron300 | March 25, 2011 at 04:19 PM
@ phoenixandrew
Bring back Dan Rather. He was the only newsman to speak the truth about Duhbya being AWOL when he was at the Texas Air National Guard.
Do you mean the forged documents that he claimed were authentic that got him fired? His partner in crime Mary Mapes vowed that she would track those documents down and vindicate her and Rather. It’s been 7 years still haven't seen the authentic documents. We’re still waiting.
Would he speak the truth about your Motown Party boy Barack warmonger Obama?
Ha Ha your Nobel Peace Prize boy is a warmonger! He is killing innocent civilians. Ha Ha this is your party boy that says one thing does another! I was told he was going to bring the whole world together lmfao!
Posted by: Ozzy | March 25, 2011 at 04:25 PM
The alphabet news services are not and have not been a legitimate source of news in many many years. It would probably be best for the nation if they stopped broadcasting any hard news information.
Posted by: Paul | March 25, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Maybe if the networks would report the news and stop with the editorals they call news, people would start to watch again...and the ratings would go up...and they could charge more for advertising. Maybe. But the networks won't do that. They will continue to report their editorals as news and lobby the Congress to give them taxpayer money to keep them from going under.
Posted by: Rodgerp | March 25, 2011 at 04:35 PM
Hopefully the new regime will understand that news is for more than the libs on either coast. Fastest way to expand the audience. There is a great big section of the nation that won't watch CBS any longer because of perceived bias. Whether it's precieved or not isn't the issue, since perception is reality to most people.
Perhaps that's why they hired Rhodes. Although the word on him is "napoleanic" in stature and nature.
Posted by: FORMER CBS | March 25, 2011 at 04:39 PM
Gorgeous Sarah may yet be President, and Couric may not be CBS Anchor no more. Once this happens, I sure will be proud to be a devoted CBS viewer all over again. Sarah and Trig and Bristol aweigh, Couric away?
Posted by: anatolepushkin | March 25, 2011 at 04:45 PM
At 41 years of age, I had a taste of Cronkite and transitioned to getting my news from the internet. I will say, however, that I returned to seeing the evening news when Bob Schieffer was anchoring. Why they didn't keep him on is just puzzling.
Posted by: Robert | March 25, 2011 at 04:46 PM
Well, hey, who would REALLY want to bang that? I mean, she may not be Helen Thomas, but at least have SOME taste...
Posted by: Mark Matis | March 25, 2011 at 04:47 PM
Disclaimer: I don't like the perky one.
Who watches network news anymore? Perhaps Slate, Huffington, MSNBC, et all, would like to cut "that check" for the perky liberal one. She did to the anchor chair what Bill Clinton did to the Oval Office. An experiment which diminished the role. Cronkite respected the position and the role, he did not espouse his liberalism until after retirement.
Imagine Katie asking this question :
"Mr. President, as one who is very intelligent and quite articulate, and in addition to the avg. American struggling with the current economy, Do you feel it is wise for the First Family to vacation in European luxury resorts and frequently feasting on lobster? Do you understand the frustration of a large electorate who does not relate to flying separate jumbo jets to Hawaii because a schedule change?"
"Mr. President, which previous president authorized and initiated a military action on foreign soil, while visiting another international country?"
Fat chance of that happening, we just want to be perky, toothy, and ask a Republican VP choice if they are literate. "what newspapers do you read?"
Why not ask Joe Biden, who do you think is the "cleanest" up and coming politician today? Or "have you ever asked for a curry donut?" at Duncan D's.
Mainstream outlets lost because of their expressed arrogant views, and other choices exists.
Posted by: JW Stallings | March 25, 2011 at 04:52 PM
*
doesn't matter - I don't watch CBS news. OHhhhhhhhh, maybe this is whhhyyyy.
Posted by: Your Neighbor | March 25, 2011 at 04:53 PM
an overrated, left-wing overpaid old little troll
Posted by: npg | March 25, 2011 at 04:54 PM
Who care's??? We're all on the net screw watching the Networks their BORING & STUPID :p
Posted by: icetrout | March 25, 2011 at 04:55 PM
@ booch221 ~ Katie Couric exposed Sarah Palin for the fraud that she is, for that this nation should be forever grateful!
===========
Quite the opposite, dear! Couric's liberal and bias reporting was exposed to the world... Get lost, Couric!
Posted by: Christy C | March 25, 2011 at 04:58 PM
I wonder- is scott pelley as anti-freedomite swine as the perky wench is? Is he a rabid anti-American vile nasty vermin democrat pig sort? Or is he closer to being a journalist than about anyone in media? It will really require an AMERICAN in the seat to draw viewers back, because really,we just want ALL EVIL PIGS TO DIE.
Posted by: amplitude jones | March 25, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Although the Perky one sucks, the problem with CBS news is, CBS news. It rivals Tass and Pravda. I can barely stand Fox news, but when I try to view ANY of the other propaganda news outlets, my brain starts leaking out of my ear in seconds.
Please, hire Obama. He doesn't think, reads off a teleprompter well, and his politics might be more mainstream than CBS extreme, plus we could get rid of the moron as president........
Posted by: Ernaldo T | March 25, 2011 at 05:00 PM
"Who cares? She is nothing more than a talking head. Lets face it, any bozo who can read a teleprompter can be a news anchor."
Why stop at news anchor? We've got a child acting as president, doing worse than a newscaster.
Posted by: Mark | March 25, 2011 at 05:02 PM
Prissy Pelley? I think not.
Posted by: c. b | March 25, 2011 at 05:13 PM
Old .Leftist.Multi-Millionaire and Perky do not go together. Perky .Perky,Perky go into the South Hampton sunset and keep your lefty views to yourself. You were not a reporter you were a kool-aid drinking hack! Good-bye and good riddance may we never see the likes of you again. Did I mention that you were Perky?
Posted by: John Horan | March 25, 2011 at 05:17 PM
Who cares? She was never perky, she was never cute and she sure as hell was never a journalist. Maybe she can spend her time developing that muslim Cosby show she prattled on about.
Posted by: sablegsd | March 25, 2011 at 05:29 PM
She was an entertainment daytime interviewer and perky Katie. She was not and never will be a impartial type serious Anchor.
She was perfect where she was before this gig.
Hopefully she understands that rather than working under an umbrella of impartiality and high jacking the likes of a Sarah Palin that was gracious enough to give her an interview.
her credibility went out the window with that high jack. She never did the same to a Liberal because she is a progressive.
Posted by: Mike | March 25, 2011 at 05:30 PM
I think she should team up with Martha Stewart and Diane Sawyer. I have to admit, the bleach blond Fox bimbos get switched off sometimes too.
Posted by: SS | March 25, 2011 at 05:43 PM
It's about time. This woman is a disgrace to journalism. She's become part of the so-called elite who think they have the rest of us all figured out. Wrong, loser.
Posted by: Finally | March 25, 2011 at 05:45 PM
Looks like the mascara gum monster is outta here!
Posted by: Todd | March 25, 2011 at 05:45 PM
Love seeing another white liberal out of work -
Posted by: jim e | March 25, 2011 at 05:50 PM