While NBC has been mired in a public bloodbath over job changes among some high-profile employees, ABC has quietly and smoothly managed the job transition between two of its biggest on-air personalities, Charlie Gibson and Diane Sawyer. Not only did Sawyer's replacement of Gibson last month as anchor of 'World News' occur with a minimum of fuss and strife, but it also has met the network's goal, at least so far, of a ratings boost for the nightly newscast.

So Diane Sawyer took over for Charles Gibson last night on ABC's World News. I don't know how "important" her first episode was. She's filled in on the show before and obviously wouldn't suddenly start yelling expletives or start drooling. She handled herself fine (though if I want to see a chick read the news I watch Katie on CBS). What did everyone else think?

'Good Morning America' bid a fond farewell to Diane Sawyer this morning as the anchor prepared to leave the show and take over 'World News' for Charles Gibson.

Sawyer has been a fixture on 'GMA' for the past 10 years and served as news anchor for more than 2,800 shows. Her stint on 'World News' begins Dec. 21.

Watch the video after the jump.

This just in: 'Good Morning America''s Chris Cuomo can start sleeping in a bit later.

According to the AP, Cuomo is leaving his morning post and heading over to '20/20,' where he will co-host with Elizabeth Vargas.

This may finally complete the shuffling over at 'GMA,' which, as we reported earlier this week, has Diane Sawyer leaving her spot to take over 'World News.' ABC executives are expected to announce Sawyer's official replacement, George Stephanopoulos, this afternoon, according to the NY Daily News.

The Washington Post is reporting that George Stephanopolous has been offered the co-host job on Good Morning America.

He hasn't take the job yet, but if he does he will replace Diane Sawyer, who we told you was going to take over for Charles Gibson when he vacates the anchor chair on World News. Gibson's last day will be Friday, December 18 and Sawyer's first day will be on Monday, December 21.

Part of the negotiations between Stephanopolous and the network revolve around the Sunday morning show he does now, This Week. He wants to keep that gig too while he works Monday through Friday on GMA. If he decides not to take the job for some reason, then current host Chris Cuomo could get the job (it must be odd to be the second choice even though you've done the exact job for a while). Whoever gets the spot will be co-host along with Robin Roberts.

Including tonight's broadcast, Charles Gibson will occupy the anchor's chair at 'World News' just 11 more times before signing off permanently on Dec. 18, according to Variety.

In a statement posted on ABC's blog, 'The World Newser,' Jon Banner, executive producer of 'World News,' lauded Gibson, who has anchored the program since 2006. He noted how ABC is "preparing to see our very good friend and anchor off as he begins a new journey."

To the three of you who still watch the news on a regular basis, here's some news you would have seen coming.

ABC World News' lead anchor Charlie Gibson has announced his retirement. He will leave the show on Dec. 18 and Diane Sawyer will take over the anchor's chair on Dec. 21.

He has only been the station's lead news anchor since May of 2006 when he stepped in for Bob Woodruff who sustained injuries from a roadside bomb in Iraq. Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas replaced World News Tonight anchor Peter Jennings who left due to medical reasons.

Charlie Gibson may be leaving ABC News' top job, as nightly 'World News' anchor, voluntarily at the end of the year, but that doesn't mean he's making nice with his successor, Diane Sawyer.

A report in the New York Post cited anonymous sources at ABC News as saying Gibson is openly hostile toward his former 'Good Morning America' co-host. "Charlie has always given Diane the stink eye," an unnamed ABC insider told the Post. "He bad-mouths her openly and often."

Charles Gibson retires from ABC's 'World News,' Avril Lavigne books 'American Idol,' AMC renews 'Mad Men' and more of today's top TV headlines.

When Peter Jennings passed away and Bob Woodruff was injured, one of the names that popped up as a replacement on ABC World News was Diane Sawyer. Now, a couple of years later, that's actually coming true.

ABC has announced that Charles Gibson will step down as anchor of the show in January. Sawyer will take over for him. Of course, that means that Sawyer will step down from her hosting gig on Good Morning America. No, I don't think there's any chance that Gibson will switch places with her and go back to GMA, but who the heck knows (ABC is using the word "retires"). Gibson does say that he wants to continue working with ABC News in some way.

So we have two big stories here: two women as network news anchors (Sawyer and Katie Couric at CBS) and the question of who will replace Sawyer in the morning. Or maybe they'll just stick with three hosts/co-hosts (Robin Roberts, Chris Cuomo, and Sam Champion). Who do you think should take over on GMA?

I'm not sure if anyone else in the world is experiencing this, but every time I watch ABC World News with Charles Gibson, something happens that confuses and scares me a little.

During the commercials, the vocal track is completely silent, and all I hear is the music track.

Walter Cronkite is a tougher act to follow than letting Metallica open for William Hung.

But now that the news legend and former most trusted man in America has passed on to that big newsroom in the great beyond, America needs someone else to trust. They need someone they can depend on to get the hard, cold facts about the important stories that truly affect their lives. They need someone to cut through the political haze of misdirection and mediocrity that cloud almost every major news story like a lingering beer fart.

That man is ... Jon Stewart. Don't like it? Blame the rest of the news media for not doing a better job.

Think about this for a moment: who is the person on television that viewers trust the most to get their news from? Someone from the cable news channels? One of the network news anchors?

Time conducted a survey across the country, asking people who the most trusted newscaster is now that Walter Cronkite is gone. Not really sure why Cronkite matters in this context because he hadn't been a newsman in quite some time, but it's interesting to see all of the statistics by state. You probably won't agree with who came in first with 44%.

This isn't just the week for prime time Emmy nominations, we also have the nominations for news.

Here's the list of news and documentary Emmy nominations. There are many categories, including several for the cable news channels, but a few of the big nominations include Charlie Gibson's interview with Sarah Palin for Outstanding Interview (really?), NBC Nightly News coverage of Tim Russert's death for Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story, 60 Minutes taking three of the four nominations in the Outstanding Feature Story in a News Magazine category (Primetime took the other), and three nominations for The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric.

[via TV Newser]