Tough Question For CBS: Who'll Follow Couric?

Judy Muller, a CBS radio and television correspondent in the 1980s, said such CBS veterans as Smith, Pelley and Mitchell would be solid choices and that Couric, who shone so brightly on "Today," had been "miscast" as an evening news anchor. She said CBS must cater to the core nightly news viewers -- those over 50 -- even though it is "a dying audience."

"In this country people prefer anchors who have reporting cred," said Muller, now an associate professor at the University of Southern California. CBS executives "were looking for glamour and were surprised when that didn't work."

Among those whom CBS is said to covet most is Anderson Cooper, 40, who hosts CNN's 10 p.m. show and moderated several presidential debates this season. Cooper, who doubles as a part-time "60 Minutes" correspondent, specializes in field reporting and brings a touch of celebrity as Gloria Vanderbilt's son.

Another key name being bandied about by insiders, agents and media analysts is David Gregory, 37, NBC's White House correspondent and an MSNBC anchor. Other NBC stars include Lester Holt, 49, the weekend co-host of "Today," and Ann Curry, 51, the "Today" news anchor and frequent substitute for Williams. But several analysts doubted that CBS would turn to another woman.

John Roberts, 51, a longtime CBS correspondent once viewed as Rather's heir apparent, is now co-host of CNN's "American Morning." He left CBS after Moonves passed him over.

CBS last week axed a number of high-profile veteran anchors at the local stations it owns as part of a cost-cutting drive. "With these huge corporate cutbacks, you can't have one person pulling in $15 million," said Rooney, who hosts a show about the media on Boston's WGBH-TV. She added: "Charlie Gibson isn't necessarily a superstar; he's super good. They need someone who really knows the news."

Couric was in Washington yesterday to interview Gen. David Petraeus. While no final decision on her status will be made for several months, CBS executives were not denying that she is likely a lame-duck anchor. But they hope to keep her in the corporate family if she leaves the evening news -- perhaps with a syndicated talk show -- because the network would be contractually bound to pay her considerable salary for another 2 1/2 years.