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ABC Zeroes In on George
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ABC News President David Westin traveled to Washington Thursday and met with George Stephanopoulos, who has emerged as the heir apparent to Diane Sawyer as host of Good Morning America, Rebecca Dana reports. But Stephanopoulos is also trying to keep his Sunday job.
ABC News President David Westin has zeroed in on This Week host George Stephanopoulos as his preferred choice to succeed Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, according to two sources close to the show.
Westin traveled to Washington yesterday and met with Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton aide, about the job. Said one source: “It’s George’s now to lose.”
An ABC News spokesperson said, “We’re working toward a decision and are right where we hope to be in the process. Any speculation about a decision is just that, speculation.”
If Stephanopoulos isn’t able to hold on to This Week, ABC senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper and Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran are seen as inside favorites to replace him.
While in Washington, Westin presented Stephanopoulos with a surprise award from the International Center of Foreign Journalists.
Stephanopoulos has been seen as the lead candidate for the job. Other possible options for the time slot have been floated, including giving it over to ABC’s entertainment division or bringing in a less conventional host like Kelly Ripa or soap star Cameron Mathison. But Westin’s trip to Washington signals that the deal is near done, and sources at the network expect an announcement within the week.
One potential sticking point in the negotiations is the future of This Week, ABC’s perennial second-place Sunday show. One source close to the anchor said Stephanopoulos is hoping to remain at the helm of that show, too—perhaps as a kind of fall-back in case things don’t work out at GMA.
If Stephanopoulos isn’t able to hold on to This Week, ABC senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper and Nightline co-anchor Terry Moran are seen as inside favorites to replace him.
Good Morning America is stuck in a deep second place behind NBC’s Today show. Although the ABC morning show crept up to within a few thousand viewers of Today a few years ago, when Sawyer and Gibson co-hosted the broadcast, it has since fallen off. The show, by far the most lucrative at ABC News, is expected to suffer further declines when Sawyer leaves for World News in 2010.
Still hanging on in contention for Sawyer’s job is Chris Cuomo, who joined GMA as the show’s news anchor in 2006, when Charles Gibson left to take over World News. Cuomo, son of former New York Governor Mario and brother to New York Attorney General Andrew, is seen by some as the likely choice if negotiations with Stephanopoulos do not work out. That both contenders are associated with prominent Democrats has helped to add a campaign vibe to the contest for Sawyer’s anchor chair. There is a rumor floating around ABC that Mario Cuomo has placed some calls on his son’s behalf (the same rumor that surfaced three years ago when Chris aspired to join GMA).
In an interview with The Daily Beast, the former governor said he hadn't gone to bat for his son.
“I have desires and wishes and hopes, but I don’t see a role for myself” in the decision-making process, he said. “I know Stephanopoulos. I know Christopher. Christopher has been excellent at everything he’s done, I think he will continue to be excellent at everything he does.”
Cuomo professed impartiality in the whole process.
“All [ABC executives] have to do is go to the Internet,” he said. “They don’t have to speak with me and find previous comments I’ve made about him.”
Rebecca Dana is a culture correspondent for The Daily Beast. A former editor and reporter for The Wall Street Journal, she has also written for The New York Times, The New York Observer, Rolling Stone and Slate, among other publications.
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Big mistake. Stephanopolous doesn't have the empathetic side (or at least he hasn't shown it to date) required of a morning show anchor. These are nominally news shows at best and require less political insight, which is GS' strong suit, than a willingness do "stupid story of the day" interviews and commentary. Does George really want to do balloon boy family interviews? Do we want him doing them?
My wife, a GMA die hard, said, "I loved waking up to Charlie. I love waking up to Diane. I don't want to wake up to George."
Putting GS in the anchor chair may be the gift Today has been waiting for.
Today has Matt Lauer. This is good.
He is ALL "Today" has. Matt should relocate to ABC
OH, I HOPE HE will do BOTH!
- I say this as a devoted GMA and This Week fan :
This is good news! :)
I can't believe George would even consider moving to GMA--that he would even want it. Like Diane, he seems much more suited to hard news--not the dreadful drivel that is morning TV. Stay put, Georgie boy--don't do it!!
George would do better on GMA. But for heavens' sake, replace him with Jake Tapper. Nobody from the current incarnation of Nightline should be rewarded for anything they're doing. They messed up Koppel's creation beyond recognition.
Tapper's on his way to Fox.
I would hate to see George leave his Sunday show. One reason I watch This Week is because he has been an insider in an administration. I still miss Tim Russert. No one today comes close to his considerable ability on Meet the Press when he was at the helm.
Yeppers. Russert made a place in the TV stone that will not ever be filled. A difficult thing to do in this age. But what he had doesn't come around often.
I sincerely hope that George Stephenopolous is able to maintain his program on Sunday, as well as take on the program on "Good Morning, America. He is fantastic, as host for the Sunday program, and would definitely bring more listeners in for the daily "Good Morning, America". He is a superb host and one that I will turn on, every weekday.
I adore George Stephanopolos, so thrilled at this prospect. I think he impresses as mega intelligent and trustworthy, balanced, kind but firm, and calm. However, appreciating wrywriter's comment re: do we want him doing the fluffy stuff. Couldn't we leave that for Chris and Robin?
Don't like Today show at all.
Will miss Sawyer.
This Week is fabulous with GW and so much better than Meet the Press. Big mistake for him to leave This Week for GMA. This Week has raised his bona fides; it has become a real Sunday not-to-be-missed. Tapper is smart but totally humorless.
I hope this does not come to pass. Chris Cuomo is genuine and talented and just terrific. He makes us laugh and always hits just the right note, be it serious or silly. He's just a great guy who I would always welcome to my home. Stephanopoulos is pompous and phony, in that government kind of way. You know "thank you for sharing your views with us" when what he really means is "we don't give a shit what you think." He's a great haircut. There's a reason we don't watch This Week. He's no Gwen Ifill. He's no Tim Russert. He's just a paper doll.
I'm all in favor of whatever George decides. He is one of the most respected newsmen today. And he's not afraid to ask the questions we want answers to. He may have some kind of political past, but so what? Don't YOU have some kind of past?
Please leave Diane on the am show and put George in the evening news. I watch ABC news and don't want Diane at all. I quit watching CBS cause I didn't like Katie
I don't mind Diane on the evening news, but I object heartily to losing George from Sunday morning to GMA. He is a serious journalist, and shouldn't be asked to do the sort of insipid, "TEARY" stories that GMA has come to feature, let alone having to cook and cheer on the Friday series.
All things in their place. The current GMA folks are good at what they do. Chris Cuomo is great. Don't fix something if it ain't broken. Let George stay where he is - on Sunday morning and as a visiting commentator on GMA and the evening news.
Oh No! He's perfect for "This Week" and would just be another tool of the irrelevant if he moves to GMA. I suspect he's too savvy where he is, and they want to kick him downstairs. Don't do it!!!
The problem for George is that GMA is the traditional stepping stone to get to the ABC World News, and if he wants that, he has to go through GMA. It's crappy, but that's what the execs think should happen.
Personally, I don't think George belongs on a morning show--he's all politics all the time to me.
I like George on This Week and I would like to see him stay there. George doesn't have the fluff factor that is necessary for morning TV.
His wife Ali briefly co-hosted a morning show several years ago, so, GMA with George and Ali might be interesting (might drive them to divorce though).
george is being fired to the basement
I just love Bill Weir from weekend GMA - he is quick and amusing, and has the man-in-the-street people skills needed for morning TV. Love George but GMA is just not right for him.
Stephanopoulos in that time slot is a disaster. He'll come across as fake, because everyone knows it's not his thing. Raise your hand if you want to hear about weight-loss tips from George Stephanopoulos early in the morning.
Stay at This Week and become your own legend ... yeah, maybe the money is better at GMA for now, but how will it work out long term?
Chris Cuomo or Terry Moran will probably get the evening news after Diane Sawyer anyway. They're more charismatic. Stephanopoulos is best suited to do political news.
NewsBusters -- Report: Liberal Dem George Stephanopoulos Edging Out Liberal Dem Chris Cuomo for Anchor Slot
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whitlock/2009/11/13/report-liberal-de m-george-stephanopoulos-edging-out-liberal-dem-chri
This is wonderful news. I never watch Good Morning America.
I'm still trying to figure out why Bill Weir, the weekend anchor of GMA, didn't get hired in 2006 (Cuomo's spot). Wouldn't that have been a natural ascension? Then, I heard Weir was in contention for this new spot, and I kept my fingers crossed that they would take the second chance to get it right.
I used to love GMA, and Diane Sawyer, but she has gotten a little too syrupy for my morning cakes. I just think Weir is polished, has a fast wit, and handles interviews extremely well. He and Robin have great chemistry. Why has his name dropped off the list? George looks visibly out of water during the light segments. Is there still time to change that up? Please?
why george, why can't it be terry in the GMA
Why not give the GMA job to George Will?
Then we could call it GMI---"Good Morning Idiots".
Better yet, give the GMA gig to money grubbing Sarah Palin and call it Good Morning Patriots!
Good idea---The more people see of her, the more people know she's the biggest liar in the country.
I have a hard time understanding all the enthusiasm for This Week. Any show that features chronically misinformed and biased George Will has to go back to the drawing board, as far as I'm concerned. MTP is not what is was under Russert, but I think David Gregory will perhaps in time become less timid.
David Westin is clueless and does not care about real news. I personally watched him visit ABC's London bureau and then fire half the news gathering staff a few weeks later. ABC has already slashed its ability to hold valuable conversations with meaningful analysis and putting Stephanopolous at GMA is just a joke. George is too smart for that position and is desperately needed carrying a real Sunday conversation. Westin cares about infotainment and its really sad that he thinks this way. He hurts the country by marginalizing ABC's credibility and lack of commitment of informing citizens about the world. News is a public service not a personal arts and crafts project. Get your act together Westin.
For my money, This Week with Stephanopoulos is the best Sunday morning news program and his talent wasted and not suited to Good Morning America. The fact that Kelly Ripa, a polar opposite of Stephanopoulos, may also be in contention for the GMA slot says it all, ABC doesn't have a clue about what they are doing.
Who cares, the show is irrelevant. GS would do well to stay away. Here's an idea, get Barbra Walters to sit in for DS.
Thank you.
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