They’re just fun to watch:
(Former CBS anchorman Dan) Rather sparked (a) controversy during a radio appearance Monday morning when he said CBS executives have attempted over the past year to lure viewers to the “CBS Evening News” — which has plummeted in the ratings — by “dumbing it down and tarting it up.” He said they have tried to graft the ” ‘Today’ show ethos” onto the program, which just happens now to be anchored by former “Today” star Katie Couric.
Reaction was swift if not bright. Leslie Moonves, CBS corporate chief, shot back yesterday with an alleged defense of Couric that, in standard executive fashion, was really a defense of Moonves, the man who created the broadcast for Couric in the first place. He seized on the word “tarting” and called Rather’s remark “sexist” — an attempt by Moonves to blur the issue.
Prolly no love lost between Moonves and Rather in any case: Moonves initially supported the “Rathergate” national guard memo story which cost Rather his career and the network its credibility in the run-up to the 2004 national election. After reading the internal post-mortem of the scandal, the CBS chief exec saved his own skin by easing Rather into retirement and then shoving four other high level managers linked to the scandal entirely off the corporate lifeboat.
In Rather’s absence, Moonves engineered Couric’s move to the CBS flagship nightly news, an eminence from which she has overseen the descent of the show’s ratings from merely awful to execrable. Rather has managed with his “tarting up” language to simultaneously draw attention to the fact that CBS is in a tailslide, eliminate whatever residual good will he had at the network and cast himself as something of a pig – neat trick.
Keep shooting, fellahs. Some of you are still moving.
Cap’n
I remember watching a cowboy-comedy more years ago than I care to think about. One scene in this movie involved rival gangs shooting it out in a railroad passenger car.
One (1) row between them.
No one was hit by a bullet.
The story of CBS-Rather-Couric and their little dust up reminds me of that movie.
Trust me that I have some inside info when I say that the reporters at CBS blame Katie Couric herself for the ratings tanking.
Captain’s Quarters has an interesting analysis on this, too, especially the sexism angle (not Dan Rathers’).
I love it when the left eat’s its own.
I don’t watch any of the evening newses. I did catch a glimpse of Katie one night, who was sitting prettily on a desk, reading from a stack of papers held in her hands, smiling brightly at me. That’s about all I saw. I didn’t listen; I knew she would read me bunk.
I dunno if sexism plays a part, or not. I would like to think I care more about what is said than who is doing the saying.
Is it any different for cable news? Lots of lovely ladies at FoxNews delivering the updates, and I certainly don’t mind watching/listening to them. Mebbe there’s a different standard for those who don’t have cable (like my folks) who might prefer Manly News?
BTW, you’re being pretty prolific lately, Lex. Thanks!
Roger L. Simon sez “Tarting up” and “Dumbing down” ain’t it: “…what’s behind the declining ratings is that no one needs the evening news anymore, no matter who is delivering it. The evening news is pernicious. It assumes people are too stupid to go find the news themselves when they want it and must have it spoon fed to them by some pompous ass, male or female.”
He then goes on to say that he finds Paris Hilton more interesting and newsworthy than Dan Rather.
Me, too.
“…cast himself as something of a pig…”
Please Lex, let’s not stoop to insulting the pig.
I do wonder if all the network news broadcasts are down an equal overall percentage based on ratings during the Dan Rather days – using that as the benchmark for comparison.
Because I agree with Craig – I don’t watch network news anymore. And barely watch cable news for that matter.
Execrable.
I love this word!
schadenfreude (sp?)
Kris, Agree network news is way past it’s prime…give me Brit Hume and the Fox News Info-Babes anytime…
A thought/inspiration…how does this sound?… The Lex Tarts…always did like Tarts…has possabilities. Best
Snake Eater,
The Fox News Info-Babes lost something when Kiren left for (shudder) CNN.
To follow your thought, the Lex Tarts all have to be packing heat, the larger the caliber, the better.
I’ll wager, that if Harris Faulkner was sitting in Walter Cronkite’s seat, ratings would skyrocket.
Jane Skinner is the one who first caught my eye toward Fox. Then Patti Ann Browne. Then all the rest…. (sigh)
Pretty, plus Character! (at least that’s what I think–hope?)
You know, for me it’s always been about CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo.”
Although I hear she’s high maintenance. Which I’d be OK with that. For a while.
MSM news is definitely not what it used to be! I enjoy Fox News Info-Babes too, Snake. Michelle Malkin is a little cutie with a lot to say… and she says it well.
One can catch her on “O’Reilly” or on-line. Fox’s babes are balanced by a great line-up of news guys, whom I enjoy.
Snake – Lex Tarts has a certain ring to it, at least as seen thru the scope of a large caliber weapon (I like it SeniorD, I like it).
Speaking of that, I’m going to start learning how to fire a weapon this weekend. First time in my, ahem, young life. I have my choice of handgun or rifle – have selected handgun (have no idea what KIND yet). I’ll be taught by a trained marksman and professional instructor – my mom’s S.O.
So…this Lex Tart will be packing heat soon boys, very soon…be afraid, be very afraid.
Kris,
“Don’t shoot your eye out!”
Snake- roger all on Fox Info Babes (FIBs).. Still dreamin o’Genie though.
B2
Most weekdays I haven’t even left work yet when the 3 network’s evening news come on. I can safely say I’ve seen Couric once since she’s been on. Not impressed, she should’ve stayed with Matt.
I get my news mostly from the internets, because everything there is true.
Plus, somewhere there’s a clip of Daily Show correspondent Samantha Bee doing a story about NILFs (roughly–News I’d Like to ****, which is not safe to completely spell out on a family blog). Skippy may have had a link to it once. Very funny.
Written to CBS on their website:
“Oh, you have Couric presenting news? Didn’t know… You see, after your network went hyper-liberal ond openly attacked the President of the United States with false National Guard documents I, like many other American’s, simply removed your entire network from my cable TV menu. Sorry, didn’t know you guys were still broadcasting… Hey, good luck with that!”
Oops, was that my outside voice? I couldn’t help it! It just sliped out.