CBS Drops Tony Dokoupil After Issues on First Live ‘Evening News’

CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil faced challenges during his inaugural live broadcast. He publicly acknowledged “big problems” on air, signaling a technical mishap. This moment was later edited out in the episode’s streaming version.

Technical Issues Mar Tony Dokoupil’s Debut

During the live show, Dokoupil encountered an issue with his teleprompter. This occurred between reports on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s capture and a segment about Senator Mark Kelly. He was heard saying, “First day! First day, big problems here,” while attempting to correct the mistake.

In the unedited live broadcast, he further confused viewers by asking, “Uh, are we going to Kelly here? Or are we going to Jonah Kaplan?” This led to a brief silence on air. However, in the streaming version, this stumbling moment was seamlessly edited out, creating a smoother transition into the next stories.

Streamlined Presentation in Streaming Version

In the uploaded version on CBS’s website, Dokoupil smoothly changed topics without referencing any issues. He mentioned, “All right, now to another one of today’s top stories,” and proceeded with the news about Secretary Hegseth and Senator Kelly. This editing choice highlights the network’s effort to maintain a polished image.

Commitment to High Journalism Standards

In the lead-up to his first show, Dokoupil made a public appeal for viewers to hold him accountable. He expressed a desire to uphold the integrity of journalism, emphasizing that he wishes to reflect the realities and concerns of everyday Americans.

• Dokoupil emphasized: “You come first. Not advertisers or politicians.”
• He aimed to be transparent, stating he would admit mistakes openly.

The former host of CBS Mornings succeeded the controversial Bari Weiss as Evening News anchor last month, stepping into a role previously held by esteemed journalists like Walter Cronkite and Katie Couric. Dokoupil’s commitment to accountability and higher journalism standards marks a new chapter for CBS Evening News.

The program airs weeknights on CBS, and ratings and viewer reactions will be closely watched as Dokoupil settles into his role.