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Was Charlie Gibson really "livid?"
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There's a great post in the Daily Beast, and I urge anyone who's tuned in here at ol' TV Zone to check it out.
It's all about the Diane Sawyer-for-Charlie switch, and is a smart, inside-the-biz read. The key point -- that Charlie was "livid" Diane got the gig. He thought -- per this piece -- that George Stephanopoulos shoulda got it. And so on. . . The story was a real talker this morning.
But -- and far be it for me to question the reporting of someone else, and I'm not exactly doing that here - was he really "livid?" It seems like a terribly strong word -- you know, people are "livid" over their fuel bill, or "livid" over Paula, or "livid" over the Jets. That sort of thing.
But "livid" over someone taking over their old job when they've already got both feet out the door and knew for years that she would get it anyway, if only for payback for doing the "GMA" rock-breaking for so many years?
I'm not entirely sure...besides, Charlie is the "slow-burn" type. He doesn't do "livid" well.
Here's what I know, or believe to be true: Charlie was, in fact, angry, annoyed, and bugged that the news of his departure was leaked this week.
He really wanted the news leaked next week - after Labor Day, when everyone is back at work, and when his departure would be read by the greatest number of New York Times readers who weren't sunning themselves on Flying Point Beach.
He wanted, in other words, impact. He wanted above the fold. Instead, he got below the fold.
Ah, well. Such is cruel fate.
I'm also told that he thinks Diane leaked the news - after she signed her new deal.
Diane, you see, couldn't wait another minute. She's been so desperate to get out of "GMA" that she would be DAMNED if she was gonna make the announcement on Charlie's schedule.
Whatever. Take this or leave this. For all I know,Charlie's going postal over Diane at this very moment...
Tags: charles gibson , diane sawyer , good morning america , abc , george stephanopoulos , the daily beast
