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Charlie Gibson overseas, ‘World News’ changes names
As of today, there’s no “night” in “World News Tonight.” The network has dropped the time reference because, execs feel, it limits the perception of the news, which actually is available 24-7 online.
It was a big enough deal that ABC News handed out coffee mugs with the new title to more than 100 of the nation’s TV critics.
Anchor Charles Gibson answered questions from the assembled crowd via satellite from a dock in Cyprus. He’s been overseas covering the new crisis in the Middle East, proving right off the bat that he’s going to be one of those anchors who like to be on site for the big story.
“I always carry my passport in my briefcase, but I forgot it this morning when we left Israel and had to send someone back for it,” Gibson said. “I’m sure Peter Jennings never forgot his passport.”
There’s been a lot of debate about the wisdom anchors traveling to hot spots, especially at ABC in the wake of former anchor Bob Woodruff’s near-fatal injuries in Iraq. Besides security, there have been questioned about just how much an anchor’s presence lends to the story.
“Having an anchor there calls more attention to the story, and it’s a tremendous learning experience for me as a reporter,” Gibson said. “It gives you a better sense of how people are thinking. But I’m mindful that we have people in the region who know the beat and cover it best.”
As for the security issue, Gibson said Woodruff and other journalists who’ve been injured or killed overseas are always on his mind.
“We take as much precaution as we can, but this is what I do and love to do,” he said. “I want to see what’s going on, but I’m going to do it in as prudent manner as I can.”
From serious to silly
ABC’s new sitcom, which used to be titled “Let’s Rob …” but now is tentatively titled “The Knights of Prosperity,” has the singular distinction of having Mick Jagger in the pilot. The premise is that a bunch of low-life losers decide to break into Jagger’s Manhattan apartment and rob him. The show’s creator/producer Rob Burnett said they never expected Jagger to say yes when they sent him the script, but he turned out to be an eager participant.
“We shot his scene when he was on tour in New Zealand,” Burnett said. “He couldn’t have been nicer or more professional. He ad libbed, and he had a lot of energy. It was a breeze.”
Jagger appears only in the show’s first episode and only for the first few minutes. But it’s a tour de force nonetheless. Mick in a sitcom … what a concept.
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