Last night the Tony Awards were broadcast on CBS, the home of “60 Minutes” and the “CBS Evening News.” It was Diane Sawyer, however, the anchor for “ABC World News” that ended up getting a lot of screen-time during the awards ceremony.

Sawyer is, of course, married to the legendary director Mike Nichols, whose latest play, a revival of the Arthur Miller classic Death of a Salesman, won big at the Tonys last night. Nichols himself won for Best Direction, with Salesman winning for Best Revival of a play. The result: A lot of Diane Sawyer on CBS (pictured above).

Now a month in the “World News” anchor chair, ABC’s Diane Sawyer pauses briefly to talk with the AP, The Los Angeles Times and USA Today.

“I’m always startled that the sun is up,” she tells USAT of the move from mornings to evenings – and is grateful for “seeing my husband,” filmmaker Mike Nichols. “We’re going out at night.”

Sawyer demurs when asked if she prefers the sober evenings to a.m. infotainment, where she was seen jumping on trampolines. “You assume I’ve given that up!”

“I couldn’t have done 11 years if I hadn’t enjoyed the morning,” she says. But at night, viewers pay attention “in a different way. They’re expecting to be informed.”

To The Times Sawyer says the move, “wasn’t about a position for me.”

“I do think that I’m probably addicted, if anything, to stretching, and I love the idea of something that is challenging in a new way.”

And of the miles she traveled for the show already: Afghanistan, Haiti, and today to Washington to interview the president, Sawyer tells the AP’s David Bauder she wouldn’t have it any other way: “They have to restrain me. I will get on the plane at the drop of a
story.”

“I love the field,” Sawyer says. “I love to be there, sense it, experience it. I love, from my years of doing it, what people say to you and how it affects your understanding of the story.”

TVNewser dropped by ABC News investigative correspondent Brian Ross‘ book party last night at ABC’s Times Square studios. “The Madoff Chronicles” hit store shelves this week and many of Ross’ colleagues were on hand to congratulate him last night.

ABC “World News” anchors, present and future, were there. Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer along with her husband Mike Nichols stopped by to offer their congratulations.

ABC News President David Westin described Ross as “The premier investigative reporter working today,” and said, “I think it’s also a bigger occasion to celebrate the work, in general, that you do with all of your colleagues. We at ABC news couldn’t be prouder of the work that you do.”

Ross also addressed the crowd and thanked Westin and everyone who helped him along the way including senior investigative producer Rhonda Schwartz and the rest of her team. He also added, “Finally, we have to thank Bernie and Ruth.”

GMA’s Chris Cuomo told TVNewser the turnout was a testament to how much everyone at ABC News respects Ross. Another GMAer, Sam Champion also attended along with GMA’s Senior EP Jim Murphy, EP Tom Cibrowski, and “Weekend GMA” anchor Bill Weir.

Also present, “Nightline” EP James Goldston, “Nightline” correspondent Vicki Mabrey, “World News” EP Jon Banner, correspondents Betsy Stark and Andrea Canning, and EP of ABC News magazines David Sloan.

We caught up with Ross and asked him about the current state and what the future holds for investigative journalism:

More photos from the evening after the jump:

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