ABC

Overheard in the GMA Studio

GMA_11.20.bmpAccording to sources on the set of "Good Morning America" yesterday, staffers were talking about the "get" that was Chaz Bono.

When the subject of George Stephanopoulos vs. Chris Cuomo came up, the staffers wondered if George could or would even want to pull that interview off. "It's great morning TV to have that exclusive and Cuomo pulled it off without making it feel awkward," one staffer said. "I don't know if George can do those types of interviews and This Week?"

Another expressed concern that those interviews wouldn't even happen with Stephanopoulos there. "The interviews that Cuomo is good at, George couldn't and probably wouldn't want to do. You need those for ratings and if George doesn't want to do them or can't pull them off with some sensitivity, we lose ratings," said the staffer.

A GMA insider responds to TVNewser, "This sounds like someone trying to create an issue where there is none. Both George and Chris are skilled interviewers and terrific broadcasters."

Country Music Stars a Bigger Draw than Janet Jackson for ABC News

abcjanet_11-18.jpg"Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts has had two primetime "In the Spotlight" specials this month: one leading up to the CMAs last week and the other a sit-down with Janet Jackson last night.

According to Nielsen overnights, the Janet Jackson special at 10pmET drew 6.6 million Total Viewers for ABC, coming in a distant second to CBS' "CSI: NY," which drew 13.7M viewers. The Roberts special beat out NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" by nearly 2M viewers.

Roberts's special last Tuesday, "Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville," was a bigger draw with 9.6M Total Viewers. Roberts interviewed Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw and Martina McBride giving ABC its biggest audience in that time slot for the season.

'Good Morning America' All Hands On Deck Meeting

GMA_11.19.jpgWhen you get an email with the subject line ***MANDATORY STAFF MTG.***- 11/23 @ 2PM EST! ***, you might have reason to worry. When you work for "Good Morning America," it takes on greater significance as the show is about to A) get a new co-anchor and B) get a new manager.

So after that first email went out this afternoon, with this at the end...

*** Please note, this is a mandatory mtg. and your attendance is required! ***

...GMA staffers wondered what this was all about. So EP Tom Cibrowski sent the follow-up email below, which was obtained by TVNewser.

From: Cibrowski, Tom
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
To: ABCTV GMA ALL
Subject: RE: ***MANDATORY STAFF MTG.***- 11/23 @ 2PM EST! ***

Wow, this sounds intriguing! - Because inquiring minds all want to know, this is for all of us to get together as we ALWAYS do at the end of Sweeps for some pizza and soft drinks, as we get ready to end one year and start another...there will be time to just chat, ask questions and have some laughs. There will be ice cream too.

Related: Mediaite - Sources Say Stephanopoulos Can't Keep This Week Gig If He Gets GMA

Chaz Bono to Appear on 'GMA'

ABC will have an exclusive interview with Chaz Bono, LGBT rights advocate and Cher's daughter son. Chaz Bono, formerly Chastity Bono, will speak out live for the first time as a man on tomorrow's "Good Morning America." Chris Cuomo will be conducting the interview.

Gibson Wanted Stephanopoulos for 'World News?'

NY Posts' Page 6 reports that insiders at ABC are saying Charlie Gibson was not as happy about his "World News" replacement, Diane Sawyer, as he appeared:

Gibson, 66, had been pushing ABC News president David Westin to promote George Stephanopoulos, the host of Sunday morning's "This Week," as his successor.

"He wanted George to get the job," said one source at the network. "He was shocked when he learned Diane got it, and he was really angry that she stole his thunder. As soon as she was named, it was all about Diane."

These claims were quickly dismissed by Gibson who told Page 6 that the idea of animosity between the two is "just silly" and by an ABC spokeswoman who disagreed...more colorfully: "It's all bull[bleep.] They get along just fine. They went to Walter Cronkite's funeral together. They had lunch last month."

Balloon Boy Family Floats in to New York

Heene_11.17.jpg

Their first appearance on national TV was on ABC's "Wife Swap" so it's fitting that their final interview before next month's sentencing for the balloon hoax, could end up on ABC.

TVNewser has learned the Heene family is in New York taking meetings and taping an interview with ABC. Last night, producers took the family to dinner. TMZ caught up with the Heenes outside Ocean Grill, not far from ABC News headquarters, but they weren't talking.

ABC picked up the tab and had an SUV take the family back to their hotel.

Rumors that Balloon Boy will appear alongside Snoopy in next week's Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade are, so far, unfounded.

We'll keep you posted on when the ABC News interview is set to air.

What's Bob Schieffer Think about George Stephanopoulos' Possible Move to GMA?

"I think George would be terrific at it. But I would just say this: 'George, I hope you know what you're gettin' into, son.'"

BobGeorge_11.16.jpg

• From Marisa Guthrie's "Go Ahead, Make My Sunday" story in B&C. More later on Guthrie's piece including the White House v. Fox News and the future of CNN's "State of the Union."

Zeroing in on George for GMA

GS_11.12.jpg

The Daily Beast's Rebecca Dana talks with "two sources close" to "Good Morning America" about the upcoming GMA vacancy. One of them says "It's George's now to lose."

Dana reports ABC News president David Westin traveled to Washington yesterday "and met with Stephanopoulos, a former Clinton aide, about the job."

Says an ABC spokesperson, "Any speculation about a decision is just that, speculation."

Speaking of Clinton, Stephanopoulos has the Secretary of State as his guest this Sunday. Also on the show, the man who almost ran against Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate in 2000 - Rudy Giuliani.

Ashleigh Banfield's Next Stop: ABC News

banfield_11.12.jpgFirst on TVNewser: Ashleigh Banfield, who made a name for herself earlier in the decade as an anchor/war correspondent on MSNBC, will be joining ABC News, TVNewser has learned.

Banfield, who has been an anchor at CourtTV/truTV since 2005, is expected to join ABC News next year. Without confirming the move, an ABC News spokesperson tells TVNewser, "We like Ashleigh Banfield and admire her work."

The most public job opening at the network is co-anchor of "Good Morning America." Diane Sawyer leaves that post next month, and begins anchoring "World News" in January. Banfield is not being looked at for that post, but rather for potential news projects down the road.

"We're always looking at ways to program news on the network and we've tested a number of presentations for expanded news," the ABC spokesperson says. Those presentations included Banfield.

It's too soon to know where that "expanded news" programming would go. Next month, ABC is moving production of daytime drama "All My Children" to Los Angeles while "One Life to Live" will take over the "Children" studio in New York in early January.

Banfield, a naturalized U.S. citizen, born in Canada, is among 65 staffers being cut by Time Warner's truTV. Her last day anchoring "In Session" trial coverage on the New York-based channel is today. The coverage will originate from CNN's Atlanta headquarters beginning Monday.

Related: The Mediabistro Interview with Ashleigh Banfield

'Nightline' Draws More Viewers than Letterman and Conan Last Week

nightline.jpgABC's "Nightline" was a #1 last week in Total Viewers and the 18-49 demo ahead of CBS' "Late Show" and NBC's "Tonight" show. The first place Total Viewer gap was only 2,000 viewers. David Letterman's program was first in the 25-54 demo.

It was also the 20th consecutive week that "Nightline" topped the "Tonight" show in Total Viewers. That's the first time that's happened since the records began being kept in 1991.

Note: CBS and NBC ratings from 11/3 were excluded from the average.

The numbers for the week of October 26:

Show Network A25-54 A18-49 Total Viewers
Nightline ABC 1.53M 1.31M 3.879M
Late Show CBS 1.59M 1.22M 3.877M
Tonight Show NBC 1.22M 1.21M 2.329M

Previously

More People Watched 'Nightline' in Late Night, Than Watched 'Leno' at 10pm

Barbara Walters to Interview Jenny Sanford

Reporter Injured in Iraq, Speaks with Soldiers Wounded at Ft. Hood

ABC Newser Returns with 'Dracula is Dead'

Roberts Awaits 'GMA' Decision

What Are ABC Affiliates Saying About GMA Shakeup?

Jake Tapper Wants to Know: What Would You Ask Pres. Obama?

'20/20' is #1, Best A18-34 Rating in 3 Years

Expanded 'World News' Tonight

30 Years Later: Ted Koppel on Nightline's Evolution

'Nightline' Keeps It Close Against Letterman

First Big Sweeps Get: Diane Sawyer's Rihanna Interview

Robin Roberts to Interview Janet Jackson

Barbara Walters Sits Down with Sarah Palin for 5-Part Interview

Diane Sawyer Interviews Rihanna

'Nightline' on Top with Letterman, Conan in Repeats

Did Scientology Flack Try to Kill 'Nightline' Story?

Scientology Spokesman Storms Out of 'Nightline' Interview

Why the Changes Coming to GMA are not as Easy as ABC

'Nightline' Still Outdrawing Conan

Terry Moran Takes Over at Supreme Court, Continues 'Nightline' Co-Anchoring

"If They're Going for a Big Name to Replace a Big Name, Who's Bigger than George?'

ABC's Dan Harris Interrupted by Publicist

Kate Snow's Big Wet KISS

Stephanopoulos Named Sawyer's Substitute

ABC's Westin: 'We're Not Doing This to Be No. 2'

Dr. Besser Keeping Busy at ABC

The Most Famous Family Feud of the Decade

Letterman #1 Last Week, 'Nightline' #2

Layoffs at ABC News Radio

Robin Roberts Brings GMA to the CDC

Cokie on Polanski: 'Just Take Him Out And Shoot Him'

Quick Trip for Charlie: Next Stop New York

ABC's 'Nightline' #2 Last Week Despite Strong Ratings

Brian Ross: 'We Got a Rare Insight into a Chapter of American History'

"20/20" Wins Friday Night

Sawyer Filling in on 'World News' Tonight

Ashleigh Banfield Wins the GMA Co-Anchor-Off

'Nightline' is #2 for Season, #1 for Quarter

Michael Moore on ABC's Permalancers

Who Should Be The New GMA Co-Anchor? Round Four

TVNewsers Guest Hosting 'The View' This Week

Suze Orman: 'I Think I'm Gonna Win This Thing!'

ABC's 'Nightline' Continues to Do Well Against Letterman, Conan

Will ABC News Be Denied Interviews with Pres. Obama?

Who Should Be The New GMA Co-Anchor? Round Three

'World News:' Where Things Stand

Vote: Round Two of the GMA Co-Anchor Search

DC Rally Size in the Millions Erroneously Attributed to ABC News

ABC's 'Nightline' #1 Again

Your Choice For the New GMA Co-Anchor: The Top 20

Diane Sawyer's 'World News' Move More Write-Ups

Kurtz, Brown, Hartman, and Zurawik Discuss Gibson-Sawyer Announcement

GMA Weekend Celebrates 5th Anniversary

Who's Your Choice for the New GMA Co-Anchor?

Stephanopoulos Anchoring 'World News' Tonight

Nightline #1 Last Week; Tops 'Conan' 10th Week in a Row

Diane Sawyer to Anchor 'World News': Media Reactions

Diane Sawyer to Anchor 'World News': 'Another Nail in the Coffin of the Old Boys' Network'

Gibson Retires, Sawyer to 'World News': What Changed?

Gibson Retires, Sawyer to 'World News': The Viewership

Gibson Retires, Sawyer to 'World News': Statement from Brian Williams

Gibson Retires, Sawyer to 'World News': Statement from Katie Couric

Gibson Retires, Sawyer to 'World News': By The Numbers

Gibson Retires, Sawyer to 'World News': Diane's Statement

Charlie Gibson Retires, Diane Sawyer to 'World News': What Happens at GMA?

Breaking: Charlie Gibson To Step Down from ABC 'World News', Diane Sawyer to Anchor Broadcast

'Nightline' Up 35% Year-over-Year

'The Only Thing Different in Late Night'

'Nightline' Retains Top Spot with Letterman Out

With Letterman in Reruns, 'Nightline' is Back on Top

Nightline Posts Strong 2nd Place Finish

ABC's Michael Jackson Special Third in Time Slot

Nightline Drops Behind Letterman, But Tops Conan

More Michael Jackson on ABC

Nightline's Success? "A Relentless Focus on the News"

Charlie Gibson's Oil Special Outperforms NBC News' 'The Wanted'

Charlie Gibson Drills Down for the 'Truth About Oil'

Nightline #1 For Fourth Straight Week

ABC's Terry Moran to Spend a Day in the Life of Pres. Obama

Three Weeks at #1 for Nightline

ABC News' Michael Jackson Special Takes Third to All-Star Game, 'Law & Order' Re-Run

Bob Woodruff's Iraq Return Dashed by Sandstorms

10 Minutes of Video for $200K, Then There's That Exclusive Interview

Sandstorm Delays Bob Woodruff's Iraq Report

Bob Woodruff Returns to Iraq

ABC News Pays $200,000 for Jackson Video

ABC News Crew Confronted in China

ABC News Plans for Michael Jackson Memorial

GMA Weekend Crew - Independent Minds

Nightline #1 in Late Night Last Week

Stossel on Story Bump: "I Hate It That ABC Didn't Run My Piece"

'How To Get An Interview With the Post-Coup President,' By Jeffrey Kofman

"Nightline" Beats "Letterman" and "O'Brien" For Third Straight Night

ABC News Adds "20/20" Michael Jackson Special Tonight

"Nightline" Takes First with Michael Jackson News

ABC's Health Care Special: Reviews

Terry Moran Explains "Stupid" Comments About Farrah Fawcett

Health Care Special Last At 10, But First at 11:35

ABC Rushes Barbara Walters Special On Farrah Fawcett

Read more on TVNewser >

And Now the News...About TV News
TVNewser in Your Inbox
Mobile Version
RSS Feed
Our Blog Network

BayNewser

WebNewser

PRNewser

TVNewser

MediaJobsDaily

AgencySpy

GalleyCat

FishbowlNY

FishbowlDC

FishbowlLA

UnBeige

MobileContentToday

TVNewser Staff
Managing Editor:
Chris Ariens

Editor:
Kevin Allocca

Contributors:
Gail Shister
Alissa Krinsky


Email

Twitter

About
Anonymous Tips

  TVNewser twitter feed loading...

View twitter directly

Follow TVNewser on Twitter



Internsmall9-17.jpgIntern at TVNewser

Archives

November 2009

October 2009

September 2009

August 2009

more...


Links

Broadcasting & Cable

BuzzMachine

FTVLive

Inside Cable News

The Live Feed

Media Decoder

NewsBlues

NewscastStudio

Newslab

Romenesko

TV Barn

TV by the Numbers

TVNewsCheck

TVSpy Watercooler

TVWeek

Variety

Z on TV

Topics

ABC

Al Jazeera

BBC

Bloomberg

CBS

CNBC

CNN

FNC

Fox Biz

HDNet

HLN

MSNBC

NBC

truTV


Awards & Accolades

Cable News Wars

Couric Watch

Exclusives That Aren't

Events

Funny

Generalities

Evening News Ratings

Morning Cable Ratings

Morning Media Menu

Morning Show Ratings

Morning Show Wars

Network Newsing

Now & Then

Ratings

Revolving Door

Site Announcements

State of the News Media

Studies & Research

Sunday Shows

The Ticker

Top Stories

WebNewser

Year in Review


09/11/06

2008 Conventions

A Year Of Katrina

Bird Flu

Court Cases

Hurricane

Iraq

NAB-RTNDA

Obits

Olympics

Politics

The Pope

Questions

Supreme Court

Job Listings

Featured Listings

Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
WNYC Radio
New York, NY

Assistant to the CEO
Fast Growing Firm
New York, NY

HR Generalist
WNYC Radio
New York, NY

Account Executive - Denver
The Bump
Denver, CO

ADVERTISEMENT


mediabistro.com l Member Benefits l Jobs l Freelance Marketplace l Courses l Events l Forums l Content
mediabistro Blogs: Media News l TVNewser l GalleyCat l UnBeige l FishbowlNY l FishbowlLA l FishbowlDC l PRNewser l AgencySpy
MobileContentToday l WebNewser l BayNewser l MediaJobsDaily l mbToolbox
Site Map l Advertising/Sponsorships l Partners l About Us l Contact Us/Help

internet.commediabistro.comJusttechjobs.comGraphics.com

Search:

WebMediaBrands Corporate Info

Legal Notices, Licensing, Reprints, Permissions, Privacy Policy.
Advertise | Newsletters | Shopping | E-mail Offers