Leslie Moonves on the Chemistry Between Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell
For Variety’s latest issue, we asked CBS chairman-CEO Leslie Moonves to write a tribute for “CBS This Morning” co-anchors Gayle King and Norah O’Donnell, among the 50 people to make our New Power of New York list. Here’s why King and O’Donnell represent a new generation of movers and shakers that capture the best of Manhattan.
One of the things we’re most proud of at CBS is how “This Morning” has brought hard news back in the morning, and in a very inviting way. If you watch that show from 7 a.m. to the first local break, you can leave the house feeling up-to-date on the most important news you need for the day.
It all starts with a truly amazing team. Gayle and Norah bring different things to the table with Charlie Rose. Norah is a solid, proven journalist. Gayle is an experienced news anchor who represents the Everywoman, and who comes in with the sensibility to ask the questions that everybody at home wants to ask. You never feel like anybody’s trying to hog camera time. They genuinely like each other.
Gayle is a terrific broadcaster who has just now exploded. She has also become a really important person in the New York social scene, and is a great ambassador for CBS. Norah is a world-class journalist who has been given the chance to show that she has a great personality, too. She can do “60 Minutes” pieces with ease, and delivers big interviews.
Norah, Gayle, and Charlie are just a great mix. You can’t ever plan for people to have chemistry, so it’s just great when it happens.
Leslie Moonves is chairman/CEO of CBS Corp. Read our full New Power of New York List here, as well as tributes for Savannah Guthrie (by Matt Lauer), Chelsea Clinton (by Bill Clinton) and Ivanka Trump (by Jared Kushner).
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