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Still waiting for morning partner, ABC's Roberts gets prime-time spotlight
NEW
YORK
-
Robin
Roberts
is
comfortable
in
the
knowledge
that
when
ABC's
"Good
Morning
America"
makeover
is
complete,
she
will
keep
her
seat
at
the
anchor
desk.
She
just
doesn't
know
who
will
be
sitting
next
to
her.
As she waits, ABC is showing her some love. Roberts is the centerpiece for two prime-time specials this month: a Tuesday night hour featuring country music stars and an interview with Janet Jackson that will air on Nov. 18. The Jackson interview is the type of important "get" for which Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters used to compete.
The specials could be read as both internal and external signs of Roberts' importance to the news division. She's worked at ABC News or cable sister ESPN since 1990 and her contract expires in the spring.
ABC News President David Westin expects to choose Diane Sawyer's replacement as "GMA" anchor in December, spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said. Sawyer is taking over for Charles Gibson at "World News" at the end of the year.
Like most people at ABC, Roberts is keeping mum about the search ("I haven't seen a list yet") and certainly won't express a favourite. Two people thought to be contenders - George Stephanopoulos and Chris Cuomo - have filled in as co-anchors in recent weeks.
Even though she's been a "GMA" anchor since 2005, Roberts, 49, acknowledges that Sawyer's experience and stature makes her a first among equals.
She expects that to change.
"I always want to be a team player," said the former Southeastern Louisiana basketball star. "I'm not making any demands, or feeling like, 'Ah-ha, now it's my turn.' I'm the nice one. I do throw some elbows under the basket, though."
ABC's morning show is a longtime, yet profitable, No. 2 to NBC's dominant "Today" show, and Roberts doesn't seem to expect the coming anchor change will bring with it a dramatic format shift.
"I have my routine in the morning and when it changes a little bit, I feel off-kilter," she said. "I can't imagine any sweeping changes, but you're always evaluating what your audience wants."
Roberts ...[next page]
As she waits, ABC is showing her some love. Roberts is the centerpiece for two prime-time specials this month: a Tuesday night hour featuring country music stars and an interview with Janet Jackson that will air on Nov. 18. The Jackson interview is the type of important "get" for which Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters used to compete.
The specials could be read as both internal and external signs of Roberts' importance to the news division. She's worked at ABC News or cable sister ESPN since 1990 and her contract expires in the spring.
ABC News President David Westin expects to choose Diane Sawyer's replacement as "GMA" anchor in December, spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said. Sawyer is taking over for Charles Gibson at "World News" at the end of the year.
Like most people at ABC, Roberts is keeping mum about the search ("I haven't seen a list yet") and certainly won't express a favourite. Two people thought to be contenders - George Stephanopoulos and Chris Cuomo - have filled in as co-anchors in recent weeks.
Even though she's been a "GMA" anchor since 2005, Roberts, 49, acknowledges that Sawyer's experience and stature makes her a first among equals.
She expects that to change.
"I always want to be a team player," said the former Southeastern Louisiana basketball star. "I'm not making any demands, or feeling like, 'Ah-ha, now it's my turn.' I'm the nice one. I do throw some elbows under the basket, though."
ABC's morning show is a longtime, yet profitable, No. 2 to NBC's dominant "Today" show, and Roberts doesn't seem to expect the coming anchor change will bring with it a dramatic format shift.
"I have my routine in the morning and when it changes a little bit, I feel off-kilter," she said. "I can't imagine any sweeping changes, but you're always evaluating what your audience wants."
Roberts ...[next page]
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