CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley

I'm sorry, I just don't like Scott Pelley's presenting style. I think it's his voice. He's always seemed a good reporter, but until now I've seen none of his anchoring. Brian Williams, Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric all seem more natural anchors. And given that this is billed as 'the world-class original reporting of '60 Minutes' every weeknight', Pelley's questions seem to be as basic as possible.

One of the best ever news themes. I loved it at the time and am thrilled it's back. It's total C-B-S.

LOVE the backdrop.

CBS has its mojo back. Everything is better. The pace, the focus, the anchor, the style. They hold the shot on Scott in his intro without going straight to 1/4 frame, flying graphics, animations. You listen to what he's saying. It's more measured and stripped back to the news . The OTS also seem trimmed and simplified.

They seem to know what they are doing now! Eminently more watchable, if a little 1995.

National Nine Early News w/CBS News theme, 1989 - Australia

I was watching last night too - he seems very robotic and uncomfotable and even stumbled a few times - maybe he'll improve over time.

He apparently said in 2004 when he was in the running to replace Dan Rather ',I think the audience can tell the difference between someone who is a brilliant reader of the teleprompter, and someone who has the experience and who has been in the field, who has covered the stories and knows what they're doing." I have to say I couldn't tell he had years of experience at all.

Listen - he's saying he's not an autocutie, he's not a reader, a TV star, a celeb, a host, a personality. I love it. And he's right. If you want one of those in America in the early evening, you have about 500 places to look. If you want news from a guy who knows what he's talking about, watch CBS. And people can actually tell. It helps that his body of work from decades at 60 Minutes is well recognized. The stuff about him being too stiff or whatever is just off the mark. He's just right for this program. If he was offensive in some pompous, egotistical way or something - like, say, Dan Rather - yes, you would have a problem, but this is just a nice guy who straight up wants you to know the news, it's obvious.

By the way, don't you think CBS - we're talking about a huge billion dollar business - has some idea of what they're doing? You know - and CBS knows - that Scott has never, ever anchored a news program, not at WKRP, not at K-GUN, not at Action News Topeka, Kansas like every other anchor in America. That should tell you they don't want a perfect TV "anchor"...

"From everyone at CBS News, around the world, goodnight."

I have to tell you the new music is indeed new, but a rearrangement/tweak of the 1988 package, and gorgeous it all sounds too.

And here's a clip from 1990, with the first reincarnation of the "new" theme:



And here's the majestic close from this period:

Just one of the best!

He actually says:

" For everyone at CBS News, around the world, goodnight."

Indeed


They have changed most of the miscellaneous graphics, and the titles. Now the hero panels have a large globe on the blue background, an improvement in that it has better cohesion with the other graphics, however, still disgusting.

I've noticed that the content of the newscast has changed for the better. It is more restrained and authoritative in tone, and the style of the news reports are less sensational. I think I've read that the reports are longer, and have less of the annoying voiceovers over file footage. All in all, I'd probably say that the CBS Evening News is the national newscast most serious in tone. It's like the PBS Newshour, but a little less dull.

Regarding the nature of Scott Pelley's presenting skills, I do agree that he's somewhat wooden. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, it adds an air of gravitas to everything. I'm sure he'll become more comfortable in time.

I've noticed that the graphics have been changed more than I initially thought. I don't LOVE them, they're still in tune with the American TV News Aesthetic (or rather, lack thereof), but I think they're better than what they have. The new OTS and RP Backdrop are probably the best.

Honestly, I'm impressed with the changes. Having been a longtime NBC Nightly News viewer (which has gotten increasingly slick in tone), I think I'm going to switch to CBS, in all honesty.

They've changed the opening somewhat. The new glassy globe background in the RP and full screen graphics has replaced the flat, navy blue map motif that used to be in the opening. It's subtle, but has really freshened it up.

See post above your last

There are more changes to come, including the revival of an old promo from 1989...