Charles Gibson by Ina Mae Astute/ABC, Brian Williams courtesy NBC and Katie Couric by Andrew Eccles/CBS
The "big three" networks are putting ratings wars aside for at least one day in September when ABC, NBC and CBS will each "Stand Up to Cancer" by airing a fund-raiser to benefit research.Each of the nets will donate one hour of commercial-free, primetime coverage to the telethon simultaneously, says Variety. Each of the networks' evening news anchors — Charles Gibson, Brian Williams and Katie Couric (whose husband died of colon cancer in 1998) — made the rounds on each network's morning shows today to promote the telethon, on which they will all appear as well.The fund-raiser will air Sept. 5 and will feature live performances from music artists as well as appearances from film and TV stars, none of which have been announced at this time. — Adam Bryant
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Katie Couric by John Paul Filo/CBS
For the second consecutive week, ratings for the CBS Evening News have reached a record low. TVNewser.com reports that the broadcast averaged 5.3 million total viewers, and just over 1.5 million in the 25-54 demo — an all-time low. The week prior, the broadcast, anchored by Katie Couric, attracted 5.39 million viewers and 1.69 million adults 25-54. They are the lowest numbers recorded for the program since Nielsen began tracking network evening newscast ratings during the 1987-88 season. — J.R. WhalenRelated:• If Couric Exits CBS, Who Could Fill the Anchor Chair?
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Larry King courtesy CNN
TVNewser.com reports Larry King has signed a contract extension with CNN that keeps him at the network through 2010.CNN did not comment on the specific terms of the contract, namely whether it includes King hosting Larry King Live (weeknights at 9 pm/ET, CNN) through 2010. Recently, it has been speculated that CBS anchor Katie Couric may be eyeing a move to CNN to host the interview show if she were to leave her post on CBS Evening News. — J.R. WhalenRelated:• Buzz Builds That Couric Is Eyeing Exit from CBS
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Anderson Cooper courtesy CNN, Harry Smith by John Filo/CBS, Diane Sawyer by Ida Mae Astute/ABC
If Katie Couric does leave the CBS Evening News anchor chair, here are the leading candidates to replace her and what they bring to the table.
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Katie Couric by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com
Katie Couric, who isn't even halfway through her five-year/$15-million-per pact with CBS, may vacate the Evening News anchor chair the instant the ink is dry on the next U.S. president's inauguration papers (assuming there are papers to be signed when one becomes leader of the free world). According to the Wall Street Journal, with Evening News ratings floundering and Eye execs under increasing pressure to cut costs, Couric could be gone by January 2009 — and, as previously reported, perhaps sliding behind Larry King's desk at CNN. (Who could replace Katie at CBS? Read The Biz for the likely candidates.)A CBS News rep responded to this latest buzz by saying, "We are very proud of the CBS Evening News... and we have no plans for any changes regarding Katie or the broadcast." Couric herself issued this statement: "I am working hard and having fun. My colleagues continue to impress me with their commitment to the newscast, and I am very proud of the show we put on every day." What...
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Hillary Clinton courtesy CBS
Jeers to Katie Couric for her puffy interview with Hillary Clinton on 60 Minutes. Some critics suggest (to use one of Couric's favorite phrases) the CBS Evening News anchor lacks gravitas, and she certainly didn't prove them wrong with such featherweight questions as "Do you like Barack Obama?" and "Someone told me your nickname in school was 'Miss Frigidaire' — is that true?" ("Only with some boys" was Clinton's deft response.) And Couric's how-do-you-do-it-all softballs seemed more suited to an early-morning infotainment show than a prime-time newsmagazine. Clinton's secrets to staying healthy? She sanitizes her hands with Purel, drinks lots of water and eats plenty of hot peppers. Come back, Dan Rather — all is forgiven!
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Katie Couric courtesy CBS
Wednesday on CBS Evening News, Katie Couric asks 10 presidential contenders to weigh in on the issue of politicians making for strange bedfellows — namely, with people who aren't their spouse. According to the New York Daily News, when asked about the public's reservations about backing a cheater, Hillary Clinton says, "I can certainly understand [that]. That is their perfect right. But I think that would be a tough standard for most [figures] of American history to be able to meet." (Who might she be alluding to...?)Another qualified perspective came from Rudy Giuliani, who admits, "I'm not perfect. I've made mistakes in my life — and not just in that area. I try to learn from them so I don't repeat them." Citing his Catholic upbringing, he then said, "I mean, we're all sinners. We're all struggling.... We ask for forgiveness."
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CBS Evening News frontwoman Katie Couric can be seen aping Dan Rather in a new video circulating on the Internet. (Watch it here.) With the camera rolling and as she prepped for a remote broadcast, Couric is seen saying, "I'm going to be like Dan Rather on YouTube," referring to a clip that circulated last month showing Rather fiddling with his overcoat and fussing over his appearance. "Geez, don't you think he deserves a little payback?" Upon completing her shtick, Couric declares, "This tart is ready to go!" — an allusion to dismissive remarks Rather directed at her this past June.What do you think? Did Dan have it coming, or did Katie cross the line of journalistic integrity?
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Question: I have seen a few criticisms of Brian Williams' decision to host Saturday Night Live, people saying that as a newsman he would be denigrating his integrity, Edward R. Murrow would be spinning in his grave, yada, yada. I normally don't watch the show, but as a (print) journalist, I was curious to see Williams' performance. I think there's a line between pandering yourself for cheap laughs and showing an ability to poke fun. In my opinion, Williams did a great job of demonstrating the latter. He was really entertaining and showed comedic ability, and it's not like now I'll no longer find his news reports credible. Perhaps this would've been unthinkable in the days of Walter Cronkite or even Tom Brokaw. But even if this was just a gimmick for NBC Nightly News to reach out to a "hipper" audience, I can't help but be happy and relieved for Williams. It must have felt like Lorne Michaels approached him to try skydiving for the first time. And to know he survived it without serious ...
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Tim DeKay and Ally Walker in Tell Me You Love Me by Doug Hyun/HBO
• The racy Tell Me You Love Me bedded only 910,000 viewers with its Sunday debut, falling 53 percent below HBO's month-prior average in the time slot and coming up way short versus the premieres of, say, John from Cincinnati (3.4 mil), Big Love (4.6 mil) and Rome (3.8 mil). As a result, lead-out Curb Your Enthusiasm drew its lowest season-premiere audience ever, 1.17 mil.• Monday's season-ender for TNT's The Closer delivered 9.2 million viewers, setting a new all-time high for an ad-supported cable series telecast (besting The Closer's Season 3 opener).• Katie Couric's jaunt to Iraq enlisted 5.46 mil, matching Evening News' previous all-time low.• Nick's iCarly accumulated 13 million viewers over its entire premiere weekend.
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