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TV's highest paid stars, starting with Charlie Sheen
by Allison Waldman, posted Aug 5th 2008 8:03AM
On Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen plays a vulgar playboy, a shallow guy who's more interested in booze, women and having a good time than being responsible and working hard. The role has earned him a couple of Emmy nominations and a lot of money. A lot of money. In fact, in a new poll from TV Guide, Charlie Sheen is the highest paid actor on TV, making $825,000 per episode; in a season of 23 shows, that comes out to nearly $20 million. That's more than he could make in the movies, and unlike films, Charlie can keep on raking it in on Two and a Half Men for years. The show is a huge hit in syndication, so more episodes will simply mean more money down the road.
Right behind Charlie on the list is fellow CBS leading man, CSI's William Petersen. He's making $600,000 an episode. He's only doing ten episodes this season, but since he's also an executive producer on the series, he's probably making even more.
Temporary Tim Russert replacement named
by Kristin Sample, posted Jun 22nd 2008 6:23PM
There's been speculation about who will replace Tim Russert on NBC's Meet the Press. David Gregory, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Katie Couric were a few of the rumored possibilities. Jovie Baclayon of E! Online reports that Tom Brokaw will be temporarily replacing the tragically-lost news anchor. NBC announced today that the former Nightly News anchor and South Dakota native would take over moderating responsibilities on Sunday mornings. He will guide discussions through the November presidential elections. Steve Capus, NBC News President, made this statement about Brokaw's decision to step in: "To have someone of Tom's stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers."
After 21 years helming the program, Tom Brokaw retired from NBC Nightly News in 2004.
Tim Russert died of a heart attack last week on June 13th. He was 58.
[via Yahoo TV]
Katie Couric has her own YouTube channel - VIDEO
by Joel Keller, posted Jun 17th 2008 1:02PM
Lately, the only Katie Couric most people have been seeing is the one that's depicted in the picture to the right: serious, sober, possessing whatever gravitas she can muster in her role as anchor of the CBS Evening News. But where can you see the goofy Katie, the one that people came to know -- and some got sick of -- for fifteen years on the Today show?Why, on YouTube, of course! In fact, Katie has her very own page on the leading video sharing site, where she posts extended Evening News interviews and behind-the-scene footage. The behind-the-scenes stuff is where you see Katie at her most impish, doing things like snapping Larry King's suspenders as he leads her to the set of his show, singing with Bette Midler, and meeting with mommy bloggers in her office (check out the huge Warhol-esque portrait of herself she has hanging near her desk!).
Who's replacing Tim Russert?
by Joel Keller, posted Jun 16th 2008 12:01PM
I'm sure a lot of you were scratching your heads over the weekend, wondering how Tim Russert's passing merited the all-encompassing, presidential-like coverage it got, especially on his home network of NBC. He's only a reporter, right? Why the wall-to-wall coverage? Well, first of all, it seems that by all accounts, Russert was one of the most well-liked people in the news business, so the outpouring might have been a function of people mourning a friend who was taken from them too soon. But, I have another, more off-beat theory as to why NBC did a broadcast version of sitting shiva for Russert: it was because they have no idea how to replace him.Think about it: he wasn't only the longtime moderator of Meet The Press, where he took the venerable show and rejiggered its format, making him the face of the show. He was also NBC News' Washington bureau chief and the main political voice for the network. "It's going to take four or five people to replace Tim," CBS' Bob Schieffer told The New York Times.
For now, though, the immediate question is who will replace him on Meet The Press. Speculation is already underway.
CBS, ABC and NBC to hold cancer telethon; Couric returns to Today
by Joel Keller, posted May 28th 2008 11:20AM
If you watched the network morning shows this morning, you've seen the shocking sight of the Big Three evening news anchors -- Brian Williams, Katie Couric, and Charlie Gibson -- appearing on each show ... together! Gasp! How can that happen? Don't the networks have contract clauses and armies of lawyers to prevent these things from happening?Well, I guess the lawyers tend to stay home when a good cause is involved. The anchors went on the news shows this morning to announce a cross-network telethon called
Bob Schieffer sticking with CBS News a little bit longer
by Allison Waldman, posted May 27th 2008 12:43PM
For once the info coming from CBS News is not about whether Katie Couric's job is in jeopardy. Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer has decided not to retire after all; he's staying with CBS News indefinitely.The veteran newsman, who'll be 72 this year, had announced his retirement. He was going to leave the Black Rock as of the January presidential inauguration. Now he's decided to postpone the rocking chair. According to TV Week, the network didn't have to twist his arm; the deal was easily and simply done. All Schieffer had to do was get his wife Pat's approval and he was able to tell CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus asked him not to step down as planned with the inauguration of a new president that he would remain.
Chris Wallace doesn't want Katie Couric's job
by Allison Waldman, posted May 18th 2008 3:02PM
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Chris Wallace is on the short list for replacements if -- more likely when -- Katie Couric departs the CBS Evening News anchor desk. Wallace, son of the CBS elder statesmen and 60 Minutes attack dog Mike Wallace, has been host of Fox News Sunday since 2003. But the guy isn't interested. "As much as I grew up in CBS and as much as I associate that anchor chair with Walter Cronkite and the history of broadcasting, I have never been so happy as I have working the last four-plus years at Fox. I suspect I've had a much better last couple of years than Katie Couric."
Larry King signs extension that takes him into 2011
by Jane Boursaw, posted Apr 23rd 2008 9:39AM
Doesn't it seem like Larry King is aging at about five times the normal rate? I keep thinking he must be in his 90s, but in reality, he's only 74. And it looks like he'll be around a while.According to a TVNewser report, CNN and King have agreed on a contract that will keep the suspender-clad one with the network through June 2011. For the record, he'll be 77 -- but he'll probably seem like he's 153.
A recent New York Times story speculated that ratings-challenged CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric might be eyeing King's CNN slot. "Couric discussed several things she might do if she left the anchor post, according to the executives, including a daily talk show to be syndicated by CBS, or replacing Larry King in a prime-time position on CNN," notes the Times story. Not so, a CNN spokesperson told TVNewser. "Larry is the best there is. He'll be here for a long time."
Couric may be traded for Cooper (and an intern to be named later)
by Joel Keller, posted Apr 15th 2008 9:41AM
With the rumors swirling around that Katie Couric may leave (or be removed from) the CBS Evening News soon after the 2008 election, speculation of what she might do and who might take her place has also been in the air. The latest speculation by insiders, though, is an interesting one, so interesting that it just might make complete sense.According to the New York Daily News, "TV insiders," whoever they are, think that a trade of sorts might take place: Anderson Cooper comes to CBS to anchor the Evening News, while Couric goes to CNN to host a talk show in the 10 PM slot where Anderson Cooper 360 currently resides. The idea is to have Couric eventually take over for Larry King.
TV Squad Daily with Brigitte - VIDEO
by Brigitte Dale, posted Sep 26th 2007 5:05PM
Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.
Today: on TV Squad Daily:
Today: on TV Squad Daily:
- Making our country proud: it's Miss USA vs. Katie Couric.
- Simon Cowell's criticism saves lives!
- China is cracking down even more on TV content, including banning provocative noises.
Katie Couric to talk about everything on Tuesday
by Bob Sassone, posted Sep 22nd 2007 8:06AM
Much has been said about Katie Couric and her year behind the anchor's desk on The CBS Evening News (some of it by Couric herself in a controversial New York interview). But now a journalist is going to interview Couric and she's going to talk about everything that's going on with her and with the news biz in general.
Veteran newsman Marvin Kalb is going to interview Couric as part of the Kalb Report Series, which is produced by George Washington University, Harvard's Joan Shorenstein Center, and The National Press Club. The interview will take place live on stage next Tuesday at The National Press Club, in front of students and members of the NPC.
Dan Rather suing CBS for $70 million
by Bob Sassone, posted Sep 19th 2007 5:21PM
What, Eddie Haskell suing someone isn't enough for you today? OK, how about this: former CBS anchor Dan Rather is suing CBS for $70 million. Also named in the suit are CBS CEO Les Moonves, Sumner Redstone, and former CBS news chief Andrew Heyward.
The lawsuit claims that the network forced him to step down from The CBS Evening News and did not give him enough time on 60 Minutes. He also claims that because of all this, the network aired a "biased" and "incomplete" investigation into the National Guard story and seriously hurt his reputation. New York Times reporter Jacques Steinberg broke the story earlier this afternoon. Rather is currently an anchor on HDNet.
Now let's see if Katie Couric (or Harry Smith, if he's still filling in) reports this story on tonight's show.
Happy Anniversary Katie!
by Bob Sassone, posted Sep 5th 2007 8:06AM
So much controversy about Katie Couric taking over The CBS Evening News. And now here it is a year later (she started on September 5, 2006), so I have to ask: how do you think she's doing?I'll admit I had my doubts and might have even expressed them here, but in reality, I think she's doing fine. She can't do anything about the ratings, and the show was in third place long before Couric took over. As Bill Maher said when he was asked at the time how Couric was going to do, "I think she'll read the teleprompter fine." And she's done a fine job. Sure, there were some odd growing pains, like addressing the audience by saying "Hi everyone," the "Picture of the Week" and "First Person" segments that were dropped, and it looked a while there like they were going to end each episode by showing her legs, but the show has gotten a lot better.
Katie goes to Iraq on her first anniversary
by Richard Keller, posted Aug 30th 2007 11:30AM
What would you do if you were Katie Couric and the first anniversary of your stint as anchor of the CBS Evening News was fast approaching? Would you have a big party to celebrate, get drunk, and dance wildly in your underwear in the middle of Fifth Avenue in New York City? Or, would you suit up in some body armor and report from Iraq?
Personally, I'd frolic in my underwear. Katie is forgoing that frivolity and going to Iraq.
Next Tuesday and Wednesday Couric will be anchoring the news from Baghdad, which will be her first time in the war zone.
Out of the Blogosphere
by Bob Sassone, posted Aug 18th 2007 9:09AM
The secret that everyone already knew. - Hurricane Dean is coming, and that means the news networks are going crazy.
- Get ready for a ton of "How are Katie Couric and Meredith Vieira doing one year later?" stories (Sept. 5 for Katie, the following week for Meredith).
- Paris Hilton has a new line of children's clothing.
- Here's video of Alex Trebek screwing up on the Jeopardy! set and swearing.
- The art of the TV Mashup.
- Jaime Weinman shows up some of TV's most depressing intros.
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