CBS chief says Rather comments were ’sexist’
David Johnson June 12th, 2007
CBS CEO Leslie Moonves has said that Dan Rather’s remarks about the CBS Evening News were “sexist.” The flap started when Rather told Joe Scarborough in a phoner on Morning Joe that “the [network's] mistake was to try to bring the Today Show ethos to the Evening News, and to dumb it down, tart it up in hopes of attracting a younger audience.” Rather did also say that Katie Couric was a “nice person,” but Moonves appears to have interpreted Rather’s “tart” remark as a personal shot at Couric and not directed at the entire newscast product, which Rather bemoaned for playing up topics such as celebrities over war coverage.
Update: Here’s the video of the Rather interview from MSNBC.com
15 Comments Add your own
1. Bob | June 12th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Evening news broadcasts couldn’t continue to have audiences that are mainly over 60, Moonves said, otherwise “the evening news will die.” REALLY! Talk about inappropriate comments.
2. Mary Ann | June 12th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
What would Moonves said, if it was a women who said those things about Couric?
She is the worst news caster on TV. She lost her appeal while on the Today Show and then she from bad to worse.
Couric is a self centered female who cares about nothing more then the money she is making.
Do us all a favor take her off the air!
3. Mary | June 12th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
“Evening news broadcasts couldn’t continue to have audiences that are mainly over 60, Moonves said, otherwise “the evening news will die.”
This is so very offensive to the over 60 generation! Perhaps dumb goes farther than Rather thinks. Moonves seems to have the corner on that market.
4. Anonymous | June 12th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
There is a consistent effort to delegitimize any and all criticism of the Evening News as sexism against women. It would be easy to compile the quotes if anyone wants to bother.
5. Rob | June 12th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Gunga Dan’s words for Katie C. might be harsh - as were Walter Cronkite’s words for Dan after he left (which is why on the surface this might be sour grapes) - but Rather has a point. When Katie came over they tried an experiment with changing up the program and by all appearances they’ve failed hard. CBS simultaneously launched a new anchor with a new format and a new set and expected everyone to just change gears from Bob Schieffer’s personable, folksy style to Katie Couric without missing a beat.
Not only did it not happen but what ground Schieffer gathered after he took the helm was lost within months and now CBS at times appears to be the fourth horse in a three horse race.
Now Les Moonves is essentially telling people he’s the ‘Decider’ and he’s “staying the course” with Katie Couric.
6. NICK | June 12th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Yes I remember those days when our Katie covered the war in Viet Nam with Marta Gellhorn. How she could hold her own with Edward R. Murrow. How she stood her ground against those tanks in China ‘89.
The girl ain’t got no teeth!!!
Rather caused a flap with Bushies because he was and is a threat to their way of doing business.
Our girl Katie runs behind the pack, where it’s safe,
among the turds.
Note to CBS: Jon Stewart has you all beat because you have made a joke of yourselves!!!
STOP TRYING TO MAKE THE NEWS A MONEY MAKER!!!
WE ARE NOT STUPID!!
Katie & CBS are where they belong: among the
feces- UNLESS THEY CHANGE!!
7. PATTY | June 12th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
I agree with Dan, Dan was a true Anchor and I do believe he was screwed, they said farwell to all these other pions, who can not even read correctly but have cute smiles, Catie sucks! she cannot hold a candle to Dan, I am waiting to see her in Iraq with a bullit proof vest, Dan was always reporting from the front lines, these Anchors today take off if they break a nail, God bless you Dan you are a true American Hero.
8. ! | June 12th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
“a tart”?
at 180lbs. that’s one large tart
9. Safran | June 12th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
We have a tag for “broohahas?”
10. Anonymous | June 12th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Dan didn’t call Katie a tart, in fact her name appeared nowhere in that part of the discussion. He talked of a general trend of
11. Anonymous | June 12th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
That was weird. As I was saying, he talked of a general trend of dumbing down the news, tarting up the news, and covering more celebrity stories.
That hasn’t stopped hundreds of headlines crying, “Rather: Couric ‘Tarting Up’ News,” but all those headlines are demonstrably false. Not like Rather hasn’t received this kind of treatment before, though.
12. Anonymous | June 12th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Also, it’s brouhaha.
13. jane | June 12th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
I like the new Couric format, their special weekly spots, the on the moment pertinent interviews at her desk. I think she interviews well, as she always has. Give it some time to develop and try to look at the show with an open and unjudgemental mind.
14. Richard | June 12th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Its like arguing the quality of the dance band on the Titantic.
“Evening News” is a relic from another generation. Audiences will continue to erode. It will not be Katie’s fault.
15. güzel resimler | June 29th, 2007 at 6:07 am
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