CBS May Eliminate "Evening News" Anchor If Couric Leaves: Report

According to TMZ, Katie Couric will leave CBS on her own terms and the network will likely eliminate the "Evening News" anchor altogether. Further, TMZ reiterates earlier reports that it is Couric who is frustrated with the situation that is not what she was promised when Les Moonves lured her to the network:

Sources connected to the whole CBS magilla with Katie Couric tell TMZ Katie will probably jettison the evening news anchor chair for good, but not before the election.

Here's the lowdown. CBS hasn't delivered on any of the promises that lured Couric to the network in the first place -- generally, they said they would adjust the newscast to her skills, but in fact it's almost the same Metamucil broadcast as before. We're told she's frustrated and there is "strong interest" on the part of CNN, in particular replacing Mr. King when he retires.

Though TMZ specializes in Hollywood gossip, there's every reason to believe they are right in this instance. Katie Couric has a very short path to TMZ founder Harvey Levin. Levin is an old friend and colleague of current "Extra" Senior Executive Producer Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey (they worked on "Celebrity Justice" together, and "Extra" and TMZ work out of the same office in New York). Gregorisch-Dempsey and Couric are close friends as well. For example, Gregorisch-Dempsey was quoted as such in the People report that Couric was leaving the "Today" show.

Previously: Katie Couric Turned Down "Early Show" Offer, Suggested Replacing Larry King In Meeting With CBS Executives

Comments

[truthyguy]

It couldn't be Couric's fault the news ratings suck. She was only given a huge salary, substantial staff and endless promotion. Beginning with that handicap of course she was doomed to failure.

[willo]

Who cares? It's just a lieing bunch of crap anyway. Canceling the whole phony "News" farce alltogether would be even better. We're tired of getting CIA propaganda , crammed down our throat.

[peacehappens]

CBS hasn't broadcast real news for years, many years. I get my news from Amy Goodman, "Democracy, Now!", Bill Moyers, The Nation, and the internet. Gave up on corporate owned news a long time ago.

Bye-bye Katie, Bye-bye CBS.

[InofTouch]

you gave up on CBS when...in the late 90's and or 00's

[SuiginTou7]

um, would anyone notice?

[UncleJimbo]

It's not the Anchor that needs to be eliminated it's whole Ship! The concept of the "Evening News" died with CNN and the advent of the 24 hour news cycle!

[rowana]

Have the general public send in news clips and reports of news, like on You tube, even if it scares people or offends them. Is there is a blackout on real stories? Do expose news like in the WaterGate days. Let everyone grab video cams, cellphones, and record events where they are happening to people. Let people go undercover and film ripoff artists! Let a family take a video cam to a government office to try to get veteran's benefits, or state benefits. The news of the war should all be on one channel, 24-7 and if a person wants it, go for it. It is like the media wants to sell us the war and get it- we are not buying! I'd rather know why a group of Hispanics killed a white boy recently in Chicago for his bike. Where is that on the news? Why is the parole board keeping thousands of old law prisoners (mostly white) in Ohio prisons, costing hundreds of millions when they are eligible for parole? How about news on the lives of real Americans! And what is going on in US federal prisons? Talk about stories and scams! Everybody got upset about Arabs getting mistreated while Americans in our prisons are mistreated every day. Can we have some AMERICAN ONLY news for a damned changed? We have our own problems here and why are we expected to have sympathy and a guilt complex for everybody else in the world? Rowana, Ohio

[provgrays]

Keep the anchor throne and give it to Lara Logan. No one can match her international reporting experience, knowledge and integrity.

[SuiginTou7]

Lara would be better off in the field, no that's not a bad choice. I agree with you, that she would be more than just a pretty face. But how's this as an idea, Lewis Black, I'd tune in.

[InofTouch]

so you want to replace one celebrate with another.

[DeanLowe]

Why keep a good reporter behind a desk?

[Durango]

CBS get a clue.

Hire a JOURNALIST. Even if he/she has bad hair. Let the anchor act as senior editor.

Hire 20-50-reporters around the globe. Hire Arabs in the Middle East, Chinese in China etc. Let them loose to find stories in their countries or regions. Get rid of the nightly "medical miracle" stories designed mostly to pump up bio-med stocks.

Concentrate on news and most importantly, background and context. Don't wait until there is a coal mine disaster in China to report on working conditions there. Find out what people are thinking in Moscow, Cairo. Give your viewers insight on the world.report on historical, cultural, social backgrounds of the different peoples and nations of the world.

Get rid of the cult of celebrity. Treat your reporters as reporters. Don't ask their opinions or allow them on other networks and shows where they can pontificate. Treat them as responsible professionals.

What you are doing isn't working. Try something different. Try reporting NEWS. And try getting as close to the TRUTH as you can possibly get. No matter how the current Administration or the powers that be want to spin you.

[DeanLowe]

"Real journalists" don't do journalism from behind a desk.

[Durango]

Real editors sure as hell do!

[BlueBoomer]

Your second sentence says it all...problem is THERE AREN'T VERY MANY REAL JOURNALISTS OUT THERE ANYMORE...just talking head "personalities".

My choice would be Harry Smith (no good OR bad hair to worry about in his case!)... He can write well and his delivery can be whatever the story calls for: sincere, serious, reassuring, affable...AND he's not full of himself... Plus, he's done his time in the grueling AM slot...time for him to be allowed to follow Charlie Gibson's lead...He's EARNED it at CBS.

[Durango]

I forgot.

Watch your ratings soar. People are desperate for real news.

[InofTouch]

But are they desperate enough the to watch at 6:30/ 5:30 central.....are you going to watch that half hour of your time that you have or others when they normaly have three big headlines and majorty just recaps.

[mirza]

The TMZ story is the Couric spin on the whole affair---CBS has a different spin and who knows the real story

[AdultFilmLegend]

CBS should cancel CBS.

[MACinCHI]

Then only news better than the departure of syrupy-sweet Katie Couric from the anchor chair would be to hear that the FOX News(?!?) Channel would be replaced by a test pattern. But I imagine Rupert Murdoch would find a way to make that partisan as well.

[gakabani]

This is a necessary step to state to the American people that the Evening News as such is no longer but propaganda. CBS, like the others, will tumble on their own falsehood and stupidity.
Dan Rather did good in telling us the real objectives of 21 News Media, simply propaganda and lies.

[InofTouch]

even the ones that post the weblinks like in this site too

[gakabani]

Yes, I truly agree with you!

[Bulbul]

CBS, hire Elizabeth Vargas as Katie`s replacement, she would be so much better. Topic will be news and and no one can accuse CBS as being sexist !

[situationcritical]

This is WONDERFUL news. Truly news worth hearing. The only better new announcement I can think of is that CBS will announce Dan Rather back in his old slot.

[InofTouch]

It seem people aren't welling to let go of the older folks and I take you were watching Dan Rather while he was still in third place reporting about missing records.

[raker]

What an odd phenomenon. Bryant Gumble's Today Show did well in the ratings so CBS hired him away from NBC. Same thing with Katie. The thing is, we really disliked Gumble, and we feel fairly neutral about Couric, so we didn't watch them on CBS. (Shudder.) Now, we have Matt Lauer 's Today Show incomprehensibly leading the ratings. Here's hoping CBS hires Lauer and puts him on their well-worn path to oblivion.

[BlueBoomer]

I thought I was the only one who can't stand (and never could) ALL of the Today Show people...since forever...It has a wierd feeling like a semi-amateur production, ala 1950's, populated by a combination of hosts who are either arrogant or twinkies or both.

CBS: Put Harry Smith in Walter's chair...I think you'll find it will be a good fit, and he's earned it.

[cw9580]

Katie Couric was DOA. Let's see. Weird Dan leaves and Bob Schieffer takes over temporarily and ratings go up significantly - beating the new young abc anchor team of Vargas and Woodward.
Good old Charlie Gibson steps in at abc and ratings move up and he's now number one.
What did Moonves learn?

But he had to make a BIG move for his opportunity to make a change that would ....well change the dismal fate of CBS News. Despite the evidence against Couric making it and common sense, it was done. Alan Berger represented his client (Couric) very well.

Reasoner - Walters. The Howard Cosell Variety Show. Super Train. TV executives somehow always stumble into another universe where people understand them there.

[InofTouch]

Apprently you have to get them from your own network

cause it work well with charlie gibson who was from Good Morning America and anchoring World Nightly News.

If that the case then Harry Smith, come on down.

[kisamija]

Enough of the Katie Couric news ALREADY!!!!

[InofTouch]

Leave Katie Alone....WOW so Katie the new britney apprently

[Libsrule]

I had to stop reading after I almost sent orange juice through my nose after reading the part where it said, "- generally, they said they would adjust the newscast to her skills,"

HER SKILLS???

WHAT SKILLS?

They don't need to kill the anchor spot JUST BRING IN A REAL JOURNALIST!

STOP WITH THE INFOTAINMENT NEWS!

Start with real news, real journalism, and do what the press was always supposed to do, ask the government HARD QUESTIONS and not let go until you get answers.

NOT bring in Rush Osamabinlimbaugh for a stint in your first week!

Katie is the single stupidist person to get an anchor job and had no business being there. She's a grinning idiot with NO real journalistic chops.

If CBS were to do real news and act like a responsible journalistic outfit, their ratings would go through the roof, but this infotainment crap just doesn't cut it and Les needs to be sent back to the front desk answering phones and giving directions to the bathroom.

[InofTouch]

Easy to forget that Katrina vanden Heuvel was on the next day after rush, but please let your hatred for someone you have no connection other then a political blog continue.

[Hagrid]

Good. I did not like her 60 Minutes interviews....such a putz.
There are many VERY qualified reporters, as opposed to a daft talking head.

Christiane Amanpour, Leslie Stahl, Happy Smith...so many actual reporters to choose from.

[ohiomark]

If CBS cancels the CBS Evening News. I'm pretty sure nobody would miss it.

Have you checked the ratings?

[InofTouch]

not unless your old....apprently these whipper-snappers move on without a care and crying for history when it a effect them today.

[ugmold]

Why not, they report nothing anyway...on the other hand maybe Howie Mandel can take the job, or Bozo the Clown...Alf, Erkel...

[verlaine]

Les "the Moron" Moonves has an opportunity to turn a lemon into lemonade.

If Katie gets fired , some women may wrongly conclude her failure as anchor was due to sexism. If Moonves has a brain he'd replace her with a truly accomplished female journalist such as Judy Woodruff, Lesly Stahl, Margaret Warner, Gwen Ifill, Andrea Mitchell, or Cynthia McFadden.

Katie failed because Moonves chose to go with a rock star personality instead of a bona fide journalist.

[engineer68]

Nice list but please not Andrea Mitchell.

[wrabbitt]

Just another news program,wasting a half hour . Its mostly commercials any way so who will notice? i watch news on 5 other channels any way at any time. And whats on line is better you can watch what you want (or not watch).

[verlaine]

Les Moonves belongs behind a cash register at McDonald's and not behind a desk at CBS for his breathtakingly clueless decision to hire Katie Airhead Couric.