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Who will follow Peter Jennings?
Now what? An appropriate time of mourning must pass, but sooner rather than later, ABC News will name a replacement for Peter Jennings, who died Sunday of lung cancer.
An argument can be made that Jennings is irreplaceable, but “World News Tonight” needs an anchor, and “Good Morning America” host Charles Gibson can’t keep pulling double duty forever.
Unlike CBS, which is still trying to figure out not only who but how many anchors will be hired to replace Dan Rather, ABC will select a solo anchor from a remarkably deep bench.
Gibson, 62, seems like the strongest contender. He’s smart, comfortable on the air and quick on his feet. Plus, he has years of reporting experience.
Rotating replacement duty has thus far been shared with Elizabeth Vargas, 42. Bob Woodruff and Terry Moran — both fortysomethings — also pop in from time to time. Of that group, Woodruff has the strongest foreign reporting credentials, which ABC News traditionally considers essential for an anchor.
What about Diane Sawyer? Once considered as a possible co-anchor for Dan Rather on CBS News (that ill-fated job went to Connie Chung, poor thing), the 59-year-old “GMA” anchor could surface as a contender — although her glamorous image could work against her.
Former ABC News weekend anchor Aaron Brown might have been a contender, had he not jumped ship to CNN a few years ago. Ditto Chris Wallace, now a staple on Fox News.
Whoever lands the job will have huge shoes to fill. Comparisons will be inevitable and difficult to withstand.
Pam & Tommy Lee: Officially the worst
OK, I’m officially sicker of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee than I am of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. I never, ever thought any couple could grate on my nerves like Tom and Katie, but I was wrong. So wrong.
Aren’t you sick of Tattoo Rocker and Baywatch Babe? These two, for some strange reason, assume we care whether they love each other or not. Maybe someone does, but not me.
Lee is currently promoting his NBC reality show “Tommy Lee Goes to College,” which debuts Aug. 16. To stir up interest in possibly the most uninteresting reality show ever, he’s been telling every media outlet he can find that he’s still in love with his ex-wife.
Anderson, the star of Fox’s painfully unfunny sitcom “Stacked,” has been countering that she’s not in love with him. Although they have managed to have their picture taken in lip-lock pose many times.
He says they’re going to remarry; she says, “Not really.”
As far as I’m concerned, both of these lovelies can jump on Oprah’s couch, but I’m not paying attention.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: News coverage
Comments
By Jo Hannon
August 13, 2005 09:06 AM | Link to this
I found you. Thanks for the info. I totally agree with you about TCruse, etc. How over are those people!!! On "E" this A.M. they showed clips of this absurd T Lee College show. Why would anyone watch this?!! I wonder about the mentality of the young today. I guess I was the only one that "sort of" liked The Law Firm, the first time I have watched a reality show. Shows how little I know.........JO