“CBS Mornings” Host Tony Dokoupil to Take Over “CBS Evening News”
If there is one thing you can count on in the world of broadcast journalism, it’s that the anchor chair at the Tiffany Network (CBS) is apparently made of pure Teflon – because nobody seems to stick to it for very long. In the latest round of television musical chairs, anchor Tony Dokoupil and “CBS Evening News” are the words on everyone’s lips. CBS has officially tapped the “CBS Mornings” co-host to take over the anchor desk, tasked with the Herculean effort of saving a broadcast that has been languishing in third place for what feels like an eternity.
“CBS Evening News” Has Been Unsteady at Anchor Desk for 2 Decades
The “CBS Evening News” has become the industry’s favorite revolving door. Since the Dan Rather era ended in 2005, the network has cycled through anchors faster than Leonardo DiCaprio had cycled through girlfriends. Now, the hopes of the network rest on the shoulders of the 44-year-old Dokoupil, who is trading his morning coffee for the evening headlines starting January 5.
The Bari Weiss Experiment
This shakeup isn’t just about a new face on camera; it’s about a massive shift in leadership strategy. Bari Weiss, the founder of “The Free Press” and the network’s newly minted editor-in-chief, handpicked Dokoupil for the gig. Weiss, who has never worked in television before (a fact that has critics raising eyebrows all over Manhattan), claims Dokoupil is the antidote to the public’s eroding trust in media. She stated to RBR in part:
“We live in a time in which many people have lost trust in the media. Tony Dokoupil is the person to win it back… Americans hungry for fairness will see that on display night after night.”
Weiss is leaning heavily into the narrative that Americans are craving “old school journalistic values.” Whether Dokoupil, who has faced his own share of recent controversies, can actually deliver on that promise remains to be seen. But it is clear that Weiss and CBS President Tom Cibrowski are betting the house that his “authentic and unafraid” style will resonate with viewers who have tuned out in droves.
A Legacy of Ratings Freefall
To understand the pressure on Tony Dokoupil, “CBS Evening News” needs to be looked at in the context of its competition. It’s pretty grim. The broadcast currently trails ABC’s “World News Tonight” and NBC’s “Nightly News” by a humiliating margin, pulling in an average of just 4 million viewers compared to ABC’s 7.7 million. But then again, that’s mostly due to David Muir (and his clothespins.)
The previous experiment – a dual-anchor setup featuring John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois – lasted less than a year. It was a disaster that saw the network shed over half a million viewers. Before them, Norah O’Donnell, Jeff Glor, Scott Pelley, and Katie Couric all tried to stop the bleeding. Couric’s tenure was particularly brutal, dropping viewership by nearly 30%. Dokoupil isn’t just stepping into a job; he’s stepping into a crisis management role.
Controversy and Chemistry
Dokoupil’s ascension is fascinating – and risky – considering he was at the center of a massive internal firestorm just months ago. His controversial interview with author Ta-Nehisi Coates regarding the Israel-Hamas war reportedly caused a meltdown inside the network, with leadership admonishing him for not meeting certain editorial standards. For Weiss to elevate him now sends a clear signal: CBS is done playing it safe. They actually want the noise.
Meanwhile, the morning show he leaves behind is facing its own uncertainty. With Dokoupil out, rumors are swirling about a complete overhaul of “CBS Mornings.” What happens now to Gayle King and Nate Burleson? Sources suggest the chemistry simply wasn’t working, and the network is ready to blow it all up and start fresh. According to Radar Online, TPTB at CBS have been considering Hoda Kotb.
Can the “Morning Energy” Translate to Evenings?
The biggest question is whether Dokoupil’s morning show energy – usually lighter, looser, and more conversational – can translate to the gravitas required for the evening news. He will be the youngest solo anchor in primetime broadcast news, a title previously held by NBC’s Tom Llamas. CBS is clearly hoping his youth and “compassion” will attract a demographic that isn’t currently buying denture cream.
It’s a bold, perhaps desperate, move. But in an era where the evening news feels like a relic of a bygone time, maybe a little desperation is exactly what CBS needs. Good luck, Tony Dokoupil. Looking at the history of that anchor seat, you’re going to need it.
