ABC News Shakeup: James Goldston New 'Good Morning America' EP, Jeanmarie Condon New 'Nightline' EP

ABC News appointed two new executive producers for "Good Morning America" and "Nightline" on Friday, filling the gap left by "Good Morning America" executive producer Jim Murphy, who is leaving to run Anderson Cooper's new daytime talk show.

James Goldston, who was the executive producer of "Nightline," was named senior EP of "GMA," replacing Murphy. Jeanmarie Condon, Goldston's chief deputy, was promoted to "Nightline" EP.

Under Goldston, "Nightline," which once seemed perpetually destined for the chopping block, adopted a more populist tone and switched to a multi-anchor format. In the process, it steadily rose in the ratings, and now regularly beats its talk show rivals.

As the New York Times' Bill Carter points out, ABC is likely hoping that Goldston can make ratings lightning strike twice as he takes on the network's white whale, the "Today" show.

Comments

[LARRYCO]

04:20 PM on 02/28/2011

Why won't they televise the shakeups?

[Coronakid]

02:44 AM on 02/28/2011

ABC, NBC, CBS, and XOF should just go off the air.

[f0rTyLeGz]

01:24 AM on 02/28/2011

ABC ought to shake up Nightline and fire Terry Moran and Cynthia McFadden. They should turn it over to Dan Harris and let him make ALL the decisions.

[Maxx Webber]

12:46 AM on 02/28/2011

Wait a minute ...... These two shows are still on the air?

[Roland19]

08:12 AM on 03/01/2011

Actually, that was the first thought I had, too.

[Paris55]

07:26 PM on 02/27/2011

The only show that I watch on ABC is the View, and I am beginning to disklike it. ABC, if you want to get higher ratings, please consider the following:

- move Diane Sawyer away from the anchor desk on the nightly news. There were so many other
women you could have hired.
- Erase Elisabeth Hasselbeck fm her stints on GMA.
- Barbara Walters should be behind the View as Exec Producer only. Not in front of the camera.
- Replace Elisabeth and Sherri Shephard on the View.

Sit back and watch the View's ratings soar. Right now the View's ratings look good because there is no competition. Remember they fall second to CBS' Young & the Restless in daytime. Many of the shows fans are tired of Barbara Walters and the tabloid format now taken and are jumping ship.

[Flymast]

05:38 PM on 02/26/2011

I stop watching ABC, including their evening news and morning programs around May of 2009. They began to lean to the right with the Tea Party movement and I grew tired of watching Diane Sawyer "squinch her eyes" about every topic as if the sky was falling. I was particular upset that Ms. Vargas did not get the nightly news gig which I thougth she was more than qualified for and for which it was time for this move by ABC. In the last year and a half I have not watched no more than 10 minutes of the ABC network.

[Clevelandinwi]

12:34 PM on 02/26/2011

Question: Why has couric been fairly successful and sawyer such an abject failure? Sawyer is so much better at the job than couric - so why? The network? Really?

[Clevelandinwi]

12:31 PM on 02/26/2011

Real journalist or more transfers from disney (land or world).

[Joseph Schmoe]

08:49 PM on 02/25/2011

...from the network that brought you the reality news show "Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic."

They gutted their news years ago and now they're suprised no one wants to watch entrails.

[ladeangelis]

06:24 PM on 02/25/2011

I stopped watching GMA when Elizabeth Hasselbeck appeared. If they can give her a job, they don't have much class.

[JFaye]

01:15 AM on 02/27/2011

Not sure how much it has to do with class in bringing EH on board ... but I stopped watching GMA the day it was announced. Has she made her first appearance yet? Also, ended my morning cup of coffee (2nd cup) with the View ... too much noise with senseless ramblings.

[JTWallace]

04:53 PM on 02/25/2011

I've channeled through and have even tried to watch the morning news only to keep channeling. Another reason I can't watch most of the news man/woman hosted news segments, is the sqeaky voices and others that sound lik quacking ducks. If you turn your head and listen, You'll wince. Don't these women do anything or listen to their voices?

[NewmanKitten]

01:17 PM on 02/26/2011

My husband used to say the same thing - until he got digital hearing aids that leveled out what he was hearing.

Go get your ears checked. You might be surprised.

[LicentiousMaximus]

04:53 PM on 02/25/2011

Why aren't there quotation marks around 'news'?

[PanWithUs]

02:06 PM on 02/26/2011

Good point. But to be fair shouldn't all newscasts these days be referred to as "news"?

[mmm pecan pie]

04:23 PM on 02/25/2011

I haven't watched ABC news since Diane Sawyer went to 6pm and George went to Mornings. Gone are the days of real news with Peter Jennings, may he rest in peace.

[Clevelandinwi]

12:32 PM on 02/26/2011

Very nicely stated.

[jtabs]

03:48 PM on 02/25/2011

Bring back Koppel.

[Mary Karius]

03:16 PM on 02/25/2011

anyone who gives Elizabeth Hasslebeck any credibility ought to be fired

[Clevelandinwi]

12:33 PM on 02/26/2011

No one can give the 'talkingpointsmachine' credibility.