Bob Schieffer (maybe) pulls out the claws against Katie Couric

I'd be surprised if there isn't an infusion of talent at CBS. It's always been older skewing but if you look at their top people: Stahl (69), Kroft (65), Safer (79), Scheiffer (74), Plante (73), Osgood (78), Bob Simon (60), are all at least 60. "Young buck" Chip Reid is at least 50 and Pelley is 53. They have a deep bench but it could be empty in five years.
It's not that the above aren't good, but they are taking up air time that could be being used to bring along the next wave.

 

In at least a couple books I've read about CBS, a lot of the blame for that is placed at the feet of Rather himself, who apparently spent a fair amount of time neutralizing anyone who looked like a threat to his pre-eminent position at the network, meaning that when it was time to replace him, there wasn't much of a pool.

 

I'm sorry, but the "deep bench" line made me laugh.

 

People take the "anchor" a bit too seriously. They're reading the news; that's it. Its not like they're "imbedded" with the 101st Airbourne flying into France.

 

It's far and away the biggest factor in whether someone watches a given newscast. I'm not an anchor so I'd love to think otherwise, but if you don't have the right anchor you're screwed.

 

And the other day, I thought I saw Roberts was now at Fox News. Sorry to hear about that.

 

I still associate John Roberts with his time on Much Music (Canadian MTV) as JD Roberts.

 

Anyone see Scott Pelley last night? Solid as a rock. The move CBS should have made 5 years ago.