ABC Nightline: Koppel, Stephanopoulos swap in the works?

[Bozita]

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/nyc-etoff0202,0,7813729.story?coll=ny-entertainment-bigpix&vote16099289=1

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Koppel, Stephanopoulos swap in the works?



By Verne Gay
STAFF WRITER

February 1, 2005, 8:21 AM EST

Few things bug a big-time TV news star as much as when a management type very nicely and politely calls up to say that the show he or she has poured his or her life into needs "freshening up." These two little words are invariably translated: "Dumb down," "Get younger viewers" and "For Pete's sake, can't you please do a few shows on Michael Jackson's jury selection?"

Thus bugged, most TV news stars grumble, then get a new haircut, and ask where they can get the phone number for Jacko's flack. But it is a testament to the power and mettle of Ted Koppel that he has taken such suggestions over the years and flung them back into the faces of the network suits with the velocity of a cut fastball.

Beyond the confines of "Nightline's" Washington-based DeSales Street studios, this trait has not always made Koppel a popular man at ABC News, but it has made him a respected one. "Nightline" has remained one of TV news' shining jewels over 25 years, while Koppel and a cadre of trusted colleagues have managed to freshen up their show without ever dumbing it down.

Now, get ready for the explosion, and, in TV news terms, this could be a particularly interesting one. Top Disney management has sought -- and last week received -- proposals from all of ABC's divisions about possible uses for the 11:30 p.m. time slot.

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[Oreo]

1. What more appropriate time

than now for one of the most important news shows in tv history to get cancelled.

Last night's show was great. Told exactly why Bush's SS plan won't work. The analysts were basically laughing at the plan. No wonder the show has to go away. I'm sure the ABC execs are getting pressure from their cronies to tone down the bush bashing.

[Bozita]

2. Koppel blistered the Bushies' credibility for their SS BS

He stuck with it for the full 30 minutes.

Ted earned his keep last night.

[Liberty Belle]

3. My letter to ABC

Thanks to Ted Koppel for running such an informative story on the President's plan to demolish Social Security, a program that has lifted millions of senior citizens out of poverty. It is refreshing to see ABC broadcasting the truth, for a change.

I was saddened to read this morning that ABC may be considering replacing Ted Koppel now on Nightline. Why is it that everytime a broadcast journalist dares to tell Americans the truth about this administration, they lose their jobs?

If ABC cancels Ted Koppel, I will e-mail each of the several thousand people in my address book and urge them not to bother watching ABC anymore, as it's becoming a shill for the White House. Hmmmm....are your executives on the White House payroll like those columnists who are taking money to run propaganda?

I hope not. Please prove me wrong by running more programs that reveal the serious flaws in this administration's policies.

MG Raftery

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Not so new...

back when they tossed Bill Maher and brought in Jimmy Kimmel, they were warning everyone that Nightline is on the chopping block and would probably run only as long as Koppel's contract.

The suits know that Letterman and Leno make a hell of a lot more money than Koppel, and don't have to send correspondents to Baghdad.

[theboss]

5. They've tried to replaced Koppel with Letterman twice over the last decade

I'm not sure what the ad rates are, but I imagien Nightline makes less money for ABC even with more viewers than the talkshows.

[Bozita]

6. kick for the afternoon crowd