CBS Seeks Opinions (Dr Phil creator) in Search for an Evening News Anchor

[Newsjock]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/23/business/media/23cbs.html?

The development of a permanent successor to Dan Rather on the "CBS Evening News" has been shrouded in secrecy, but a meeting last Tuesday at the headquarters of the network's parent company, Viacom, suggests that CBS is canvassing opinions from people well outside the news division.

One of the six attendees was Terry Wood, who developed the "Dr. Phil" talk show and "The Insider," a celebrity news program, and who now supervises those programs as an executive at Paramount Television and King World Productions, both Viacom divisions. Ms. Wood, in a high-profile flourish of corporate synergy, was responsible for the recent CBS prime-time special in which Dr. Phil (Phillip McGraw) interviewed Pat O'Brien, the host of "The Insider," about his treatment for substance abuse. She is a close associate of Leslie Moonves, the chairman of CBS.

... The meeting was described last week by three people, each of whom had either participated in it or been told about it, but who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it. One of those individuals agreed to describe it after having expressed disappointment that people from the entertainment side of Viacom were being given a voice in the affairs of CBS News.

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[Enraged_Ape]

1. I think this means that Rob and Amber will be co-anchors

I was afraid of that.

[MuseRider]

3. The sad thing is

I would not be surprised by that and most likely they would be well accepted by both the other "journalists" and a wide audience.

[Pithy Cherub]

4. They are going for the "ultimate" solution:

Dr. Phil... All the words were there: synergy, Dr. Phil, entertainment, Dr. Phil, exclusives with out of control drunk guys, Dr. Phil, Pat O'Bien may be getting a promotion to cover more infotainment, Dr. Phil. Dr. Phil CBS's ultimate solution.

cbs: Cash Before Standards. :rofl:

[johnfunk]

18. Shades of "Network!" Okay, if that's the direction they wanna take...

... there's only ONE choice for anchor of the CBS Evening News:

He's as mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore...
This is the CBS Evening News with
LEWIS BLACK!

[Enraged_Ape]

19. Man,wouldn't that be great

I'd be watching every night. I guarantee it.

[Shallah Kali]

27. I too would watch network news again if Black was there!

A big boo to CBS for going for entertainment VS an actual newsperson. Hey I have an idea since CBS wants ratings not real news - they could make it a reality show with everyone and their dog trying out for CBS news anchor like American Idol. Actually I am surprised they haven't done this yet {shudder}

[WI_DEM]

2. wouldn't surprise me if they created a "tabloid" evening news show

to try and reach those critical younger viewers--who they THINK want to see nothing but trash on TV.

[stevedeshazer]

5. From CBS News to CBS Irritainment

Maybe they can get Laura Ingraham or Ann Coulter to anchor. :eyes:

[xxqqqzme]

6. imagine how low this has gone

The network of Morrow & Cronkite - unbef*ckinglievable!

[calimary]

8. Edward R. Murrow and William Paley are probably already spinning in

their graves. It was Bill Paley who made it plain that the news division was SEPARATE, and not expected to be a profit center. It was just supposed to get the truth. It was the center jewel in the crown of the then-Tiffany Network. The news division was beyond reproach. GAWD, how far they've fallen. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they even recruited Britney and Kevin to "do" the "news." Or, maybe, well, you DO realize that Dennis Miller is available now, AND he has name recognition...

I have a better idea, actually. If they're going for entertainment and "synergy" and all that program consultant crap-talk, why don't they just steal Jon Stewart? That way, at least they'd still be brokering truth while being ridiculously entertaining. .

[MisterP]

7. Dr. Phil has a creator? He's Frankenstein's monster!

[AnneD]

9. Oh Brother...

I can see the next reality based CBS program...Eye on the next Anchor.
As for me, my vote is for Helen Thomas. I like my newscasters nice and pruney. Those wrinkles mean they've been there/done that and not so easily fooled or dissuaded. The more of a curmudgeon they are the better. Reality sux at the moment, so I like my news straight up, no sugar coating.

[hoffmanmotors]

10. And that's the way it is....

A few years after Harland Sanders sold his interest in KFC he felt compelled to bring a lawsuit against them because he felt they were screwing up the product that he had developed. Sanders won his lawsuit and the court ordered KFC executives to be (in effect) retrained by the colonel. If Only Walter Cronkite and the many great newsmen who were the CBS News back in it’s heyday could sue CBS and force them to be retrained in what the news business is all about.

[gauguin57]

11. John Roberts has been a wonderful anchor on weekends for YEARS.

What in the hell do they have to think about. He's got experience, brains and gravitas. He's the perfect anchor.

Eff CBS if they don't pick him.

[CANDO]

12. My vote is for Keith Olberman!

But they wouldn't dare do that, he might tell the truth from time to time.

[gratuitous]

13. All right! I'll do it

Fuckin' CBS. I tried not to put my hat in the ring, because I know you guys like battling it out with NBC for last place in the ratings. But if you're going to pull this kind of desperate shit as a means of getting my attention (there can be no other explanation), then you've got it, bitches.

Just remember my rules: Keep the entertainers far, far away from my news division. The other side of the planet will do, though you know I'd prefer it to be the other side of the moon. People want to see mindless celebrities celebrating themselves? They can watch Letterman.

No commercials for products that people can't buy. Tell the pharmaceutical companies to go screw themselves. Or take their advertising budget and fold it back into R&D and pass the savings on to the consumer.

NOBODY tells me we got something wrong. We screw up a story? I'm on first thing the next night to do the retraction. Keep your mealy-mouthed lawyers and fretting executives in their gilded penthouse suites, thank you very much. And it has to be a REAL screw-up, not some dumbass's ginned-up bit of fakery. Are the facts right? Is the story true? Those are the guidelines and I don't give a flying fuck if it's not in the "right" font.

That'll do to start. Fax me a draft contract and we'll go from there.

[IChing]

14. Nuzak: What the mainstream media are giving us is elevator news

Dr. Phil good grief is deciding? "What were you thinking?" to quote the idiot shaman.

[Javaman]

15. What I find amazing...

I honestly believe that the viewing public is salivating for a real news program.

Imagine if you will, CBS takes a real gamble and goes back to original style new reporting.

Ironically, it would be looked upon as "cutting edge" news reporting. Just the news, no bullshit. No fluff, no light news, light gabbing, just news.

Frankly, I believe it would do very well.

I can dream...

edit for spelling

[gtar100]

16. That's the perfect tag line for their "new" news program

"Just the News....no bullshit"

Man, I'd turn the TV back on just to see that.

[hoffmanmotors]

17. Bad News

We recently ran a "fake news" story on this subject on our website:

[daleo]

20. How about Max Headroom?

I think he's still around somewhere. It would fit the times.

[KansDem]

21. Whoever they pick...

I'll bet they'll look good in their underwear. That seems to be the criteria for selecting new anchors...

[coffeenap]

22. Let's change the whole idea of evening news: AMY GOODMAN

Then we will have a real person reading real news. A novel idea, yes?

[Fleshdancer]

23. since news is dead anyway, why not do American Idol - Anchor edition?

We can get a Simon Cowell wannabe to yell at all the prompt readers each night, let the Americans vote, and then give the one million dollar contract to the idiot that wins. We'll keep said idiot for one whole year and then we'll do it all over again. *sigh*

[Piperay]

24. Why not just hire Dr. Phil

he can ask hard questions, he could get Chimp on and ask him just 'exactly what were you thinking when you invaded Iraq or were you thinking at all'??? Dr. Phil could tell chimp that he 'wouldn't be any stupider if he cut his own head off' (I heard Dr. Phil tell someone that once).

[Thor_MN]

25. * is a fake Texas A-hole, Dr. Phil is a real Texas A-hole.

Other than that, I put them is the same category in my book, namely, A-holes.

I can't stand listening to either of them talk.

[KamaAina]

26. How's self-censorship workin' for ya, Les?

The way you guys report the "news" makes me madder than a wet possum who just missed her bus!

[Endangered Specie]

28. I vote for Andy Rooney

;)

[MADem]

29. I think they should steal Carole Simpson from ABC

She is sharp, experienced and level headed. I saw her give a commencement address at Howard a few years back and she blew me away. We need some common sense and a reporter's perspective behind the anchor desks, not fluffed up newsreaders and spokesmodels...

[leQ]

30. i'll second that!