Tony Dokoupil mixes segment transitions in debut ‘CBS Evening News’
New CBS Evening News host Tony Dokoupil experienced a mishap during his official debut broadcast Monday, mixing up a segment transition and acknowledging the mistake live on camera.
During the broadcast Monday evening Dokoupil was looking for a transition between segmentsmixing up a story about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
The on-air confusion was evident as Dokoupil said, “In other news, as you just heard from Jill… and also in other news now to Governor Walz, no, we’re going to do Mark Kelly.” He then said, “First day, big trouble here,” before moving on to the Kelly segment.
The Kelly story was about the Arizona senator possibly being demoted from his retired rank of captain in the Navy. The segment reported that the Navy issued a so-called letter of censure to the Democrat for his participation in a video calling on soldiers to defy illegal orders, without specifying which orders he had in mind. The report noted that the Navy called what the former fighter pilot and astronaut did an act of sedition.
Dokoupil then transitioned to the Walz segment, saying, “Now we go to Minnesota, a surprise announcement from the Great Lake State there today, Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate.”
On Saturday, Dokoupil made an early debut on the US military operation in Venezuela, two days before his scheduled launch on Monday. He was named the new anchor of “CBS Evening News” following Bari Weiss’ takeover of CBS News, spurred on by new Paramount chief David Ellison.
In a video on New Year’s Day, Dokoupil outlined his mission as the show’s new anchor, promising to put the “average American” first.
“Too many stories, the press has missed the story,” he said. “And it’s not just us. It’s all traditional media. Because we’ve taken into account the perspective of advocates, not the average American. Or we’re putting too much weight on the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.”
He continued, “I report for you, which means I’ll tell you what I know, when I know it, and how I know it. And if I’m wrong, I’ll tell you so too.”
