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Friday, August 4, 2006
Katie’s ‘CBS News’ will have opinions
“The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric” is going to have opinions — not Katie’s opinions, mind you, but opinions nonetheless.
A new segment titled “Free Speech” will become part of CBS’s nightly newscast on Sept. 5. This opinion and commentary segment is intended to create “a candid and robust dialogue among viewers” about important issues, according the the show’s producer.
“But we’re not looking to pit one side against another or to broadcast shouting matches — there’s already more than enough of that on television,” said executive producer Rome Hartman. “And it won’t be a collection of the ‘usual suspects’ or ‘talking heads.’ “
“Free Speech,” according to Hartman’s plan, will feature a diverse group of voices commenting on an array of subjects. One night, the segment might feature a well-known national figure speaking on a current issue in the news; the next night, someone might offer a humorous take on a trend in the culture. Other nights, current sub anchor Bob Schieffer will serve up his personal take on Washington and the world.
In the past, news programs have fiddled with adding commentary — and most of the fiddling has failed. Point-counterpoints with Bill Clinton and Bob Dole died in a matter of weeks on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” So it will be interesting to see if the latest opinion/commentary segment survives on CBS’s weeknight news.
TV’s “Miami Vice” star returns …
When Don Johnson’s new WB drama “Just Legal” debuted in 2005, it didn’t get much of a reception. It was well-reviewed, but viewers just didn’t come in necessary droves.
But the soon-to-be-gone WB network has decided that the hit movie “Miami Vice” has probably renewed interest in Johnson, who starred in the original TV series, so they’re bringing back “Just Legal” for an end-of-summer — and end of network — run.
On “Just Legal,” Johnson played a grumpy, burned out criminal defense lawyer who becomes a reluctant mentor to a brilliant, 19-year-old legal prodigy, played by Jay Baruchel. The few episodes that aired were promising, and Johnson was superb in the role.
Take a look Sunday at 6 p.m. when “Just Legal” makes its brief return. You’ll get a hint at what made Johnson such a hot property when he was Sonny Crockett.
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