04/14/2008
Cooper for Couric: CBS and CNN Talking Anchor Swap?
Is an Anderson Cooper for Katie Couric network anchor swap in the works?
According to the New York Daily News: "A blockbuster trade of TV superstars was floated Friday by TV insiders as a solution to CBS' Couric problem. Cooper, CNN's prematurely gray prince of cable TV, would replace Couric as the anchor of CBS' 'Evening News.' He already is a contributor to CBS' '60 Minutes,' they said. And CNN will eventually need to replace the iconic Larry King, who is 74. Why not Couric, who remains a marquee talent despite being a $75 million flop for CBS, the insiders said. 'Take Katie off the 'Evening News,' let her do Larry King, and then let Cooper anchor,' one network source said...Asked about the speculation that Couric could be cable-bound, a CNN spokeswoman said, 'Larry is the best there is; he will be here for a long time.' While much of the water cooler talk at CBS is about Cooper, network executives are also enamored with David Gregory of NBC - the network that once employed Couric. Couric, according to various published reports, would depart after the inauguration in January - if not earlier."
Imho, CBS would be getting the better end of the deal.
Insiders suggest Katie Couric for Anderson Cooper trade [nydn]
Posted 12:20 PM EST by Andy Towle in Anderson Cooper, News | Permalink
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Fabulous!
http://towleroad.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/10/16/andersoncooper.jpg
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Apr 14, 2008 1:05:51 PM
I love Katie, as a matter of fact, that's my dog's name... but after her "softer, fuzzier side of newscasting" hit the airwaves, I tuned her out faster than political mudslinging, OJ and Britney combined. She just does not have it.
Anderson could save the day!
Posted by: Rad | Apr 14, 2008 1:31:51 PM
I think Ms. Couric has faced a great deal of sexism and reluctance to accept a female anchor since the largest share of viewers of the network nightly news are over 50-years-old. Many of those people don't seem willing to accept anyone other than a middle-aged white male.
Posted by: noah | Apr 14, 2008 1:41:17 PM
I just kissed the computer screen 8 times. Katie accidentally got one of them.
Posted by: Derek from TellingonTrixie | Apr 14, 2008 1:45:51 PM
I think it would be a mis-step for Cooper. The evening network news is a relic of the past.
Posted by: sam | Apr 14, 2008 2:04:19 PM
I understand CBS wanting this trade to happen, but I'm sure it won't. CBS and Katie would be the only ones benefiting. Anderson would get more money but he'd be tied to his desk. CNN would be replacing big ratings draw King with ratings loser Couric. CNN would have to find a replacement for Cooper who they've been using as the face and "goodwill generator" of their network as well as an anchor. And Katie sure wouldn't work as the new face. Anderson is widely liked inside and outside of the industry, whereas Katie isn't so much and she carries the taint of failure and rumors of being difficult to work with.
Posted by: TL | Apr 14, 2008 2:15:43 PM
Katie is not serious news-worthy. She's good at fluff/entertainment. Now Anderson is hard core news-worthy. And 100% hard core sexy. Anderson, would you join me for coffee this weekend?
Posted by: Matt | Apr 14, 2008 2:22:11 PM
How freaking hard is it to read a teleprompter? Who cares who is reading it.
Posted by: david | Apr 14, 2008 2:44:12 PM
I'd be pretty suprised if Anderson ever left CNN since he's said many times that he's able to do more there than he would on a 22 minute newscast on some other network.
Posted by: Nate | Apr 14, 2008 2:53:30 PM
I think that CNN spokesperson misspoke: Larry King is the worst there is.
If evening news is a thing of the past, Larry King is a thing of the 18th century.
Posted by: Paul R | Apr 14, 2008 4:02:33 PM
Well, I must be the odd one out, I prefer Katie to Anderson and, hope she can keep her gig on CBS, since, CNN is hardly the place for real news anymore, but, it does have some nice eye candy with the weather guys and a couple of the newsmen, not Cooper though for me.
Posted by: Sebastian | Apr 14, 2008 5:30:53 PM
I think Anderson would do well, but I don't think he wants to be only news reader. Have to agree with Paul R, though. Larry is terrible. Really!
Posted by: David | Apr 14, 2008 10:05:56 PM
In my Stewie Griffin voice I wanna say "Oh Yay!"
Rumor is he's gay but I don't care.
I'd eat my tv dinner in front of that anyday!!! :)
Posted by: rachiecakes | Apr 15, 2008 4:15:52 AM