Posted on 05/22/2007 12:48:55 PM PDT by Clemenza
NEW YORK - NBC News is dropping "Dateline NBC" anchor Stone Phillips in a cost-cutting move when his contract expires at the end of June.
Phillips won't formally be replaced. His co-anchor, Ann Curry, will continue and other "Dateline NBC" reporters will serve as on-air hosts when the newsmagazine presents stories they're working on, the network said Tuesday.
"It's been a wonderful 15 years," Phillips said in a statement issued by NBC. "I'm profoundly appreciative of the many friends and colleagues, past and present, who have been a part of the `Dateline' family. This is a great news division with a bright future. I wish the people of NBC News all the best."
He didn't immediately return a call for further comment.
Phillips was teamed with Jane Pauley, who left NBC is 2003, for much of his time at "Dateline NBC." At its peak, the newsmagazine churned out as many as five episodes a week.
The newsmagazine is probably best known now for reporter Chris Hansen's "To Catch a Predator" series nabbing suspected pedophiles. On NBC's fall schedule, the newsmagazine has only one permanent time slot — on little-watched Saturday night. It will be on three times a week in June.
NBC News has been restructuring to cut costs. Earlier this spring, it didn't renew the contract of "Nightly News" weekend anchor John Seigenthaler.
The Phillips move was similar in that the network is concentrating money on reporting and more versatile personalities. Seigenthaler, for example, was replaced by Lester Holt — who's also host of "Weekend Today." Curry is a newsreader on "Today" and reporter for "Dateline."
Dropped him like a...
well, like a...
I dunno, they just dropped him.
Pinging with more Dinosaur Fatalities due to tar pit activity!
Wow
Katy Couric, call your office..........
http://www.tvweek.com/news.cms?newsId=12083
Stone Phillips to Leave ‘Dateline NBC’
By Michele Greppi
Stone Phillips is leaving “Dateline NBC,” the television news magazine he has co-anchored since it debuted in 1992, and NBC News at the end of June.
Story continues below...
Ann Curry, the news anchor for “Today” as well as Mr. Phillips’s co-anchor since May 2005, is not expected to get a new “Dateline” co-anchor. There have been discussions about having correspondents that are heavily invested in certain projects, such as “Today Catch a Predator’s” Chris Hansen, playing an anchor-like role when their reports air.
“Dateline NBC” executive producer David Corvo conveyed the news Tuesday morning to a meeting at which Mr. Phillips said management had informed him of the change a couple of months ago.
Mr. Phillips’s career twist, following closely on the recent exit of weekend “Nightly News” anchor John Siegenthaler, comes as NBC News tightens its belt and demands more of its on- and off-camera staffers.
“It’s been a wonderful 15 years. I’m profoundly appreciative of the many friends and colleagues, past and present, who have been a part of the ‘Dateline family,’” Mr. Phillips said in a statement released by an NBC News spokesperson. “This is a great news division with a bright future. I wish the people of NBC News all the best.”
The spokesperson also released statements from Mr. Corvo and from NBC News President Steve Capus, who credited Mr. Phillips with a long list of accomplishments.
“On behalf of ‘Dateline,’ and all of us at NBC News, I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to Stone for all he has contributed to NBC News during his tenure here,” Mr. Capus said. “His work on ‘Dateline’ over the past 15 years has been remarkable, as evidenced by the unprecedented awards Stone and the program have won, including 39 Emmys and four Peabodys. He is a first-rate journalist and a dedicated professional whose legacy here will live on with the program he established and cares so much about.”
Mr. Phillips joined NBC News to co-anchor “Dateline” with Jane Pauley after12 years at ABC News.
“Viewers know Stone as a great reporter and anchor,” Mr. Corvo said. “But his co-workers also know him as a loyal leader and patient mentor. At ‘Dateline,’ we’ll miss the passion he brought to his work, and will do our best to live up to the standard he has set.”
After they fire all the news anchors, janitors, and secretaries, what will the executives do to amuse themselves?
“”The Phillips move was similar in that the network is concentrating money on reporting and more versatile personalities.””
IOW, Phillips was not “versatile”...an empty suit.
Ann Curry is good. I like her.
He sank like a ...... stone....... in the ratings, I guess!
Maybe he can replace the Perky Katie Couric on See BS.
Ann Curry is a cutie.
Yeah
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
LOL!
Say what you will about the man, he had one of the best journalist names ever - I mean, come on... STONE!
Yep. And then Chris Hansen comes out with that Jim Grey-esque smirk on his face.
Hey, Stone! You had this gig for 15 years! Whadayya want?
LOLOL!
Anytime there’s cuts in the DBM
it makes me all warm and fuzzy. ;o)
Sounds like the kind of thing you do just before you shut down the newsroom.
15 years is a long time in the TV network world. He lasted longer than Seinfeld, and longer than MASH.
Within three years, or thereabouts, I predict.
Play Bingo! Going after the young and restless on Friday nights.
“Ann Curry is a cutie.”
I think she’s the best news-person on television.
She can interview anyone, never have seen her act superior via her questioning. She can be funny and works “on her feet.”
I’m not surprised by this. Most animatronics are terribly expensive to maintain (even the primitive ones like Stone).
Isn’t Stone nearing 90?
I agree with you 100%....she always seems like the real deal...
I saw Stone on TV last night, and mentioned to Mr. TOL how surprised I was to see how “old” Stone looked. Oh well, I guess he will make someone a nice pet rock now. :-)
As opposed to Lesley Stahl & Judy Woodruff...who work 'on their back'.
IMHO I think they dropped Stone because he is not “touch,feely” enough for today’s audiences. People want feeling, the sympathetic sounding voice with personal and pitying sounding words sent out in a pitiable way. Stone reported the story, no elaboration and with no identifying touchy, feely words or body language. In my second humble opinion, I think he is the most handsome man ever to be a reporter for the MSM. Good luck Stone!
I predict they will create a new reality show: "So you wanna be a news anchor?" But we won't get to vote out on the winner.
Close doesn’t count.
I always had the impression that Phillips was just hired for his looks, voice and name. Lately he has been looking much older. Maybe that has something to do with it.
Over and over and over.
Stone Phillips is one of the least overtly liberal anchors around.
The network isn’t a law enforcement entity, and the perp isn’t under arrest when Hansen pops in. The arrest only happens after he leaves the house...
Pick your big chin up off the ground and get out there in the private sector Stone! Course, the wages wont be the same.
I’ve wondered how effective those tactics are in reducing the crime, and if the police manpower may be better served elsewhere.
Hey, he's a step above his model,
Max Headroom.
That show was prescient.
They can't afford for someone like John Stossel to win.
You exactly right, I have never seen his politics at all, quite refreshing really.
Just a regular newsman.
No wonder they fired him.
His siblings Paper and Scissors had no comment.
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