SCHIEFFER's Anchor Stint At 4 Months, With No End In Sight

(From The Philadelphia Inquirer -- By Gail Shister)

After four months, 68-year-old CBS EVENING NEWS interim anchor BOB SCHIEFFER still has no idea how long his hitch will last.

Ever the good soldier, he's not complaining, but...

"Obviously, there has to be some sort of endgame here one of these days. I've told them I'll do this for a while. They've given me no guidance as to how much longer it's going to go on."

Initially, Schieffer, who survived an aggressive bout of bladder cancer two years ago, envisioned the anchor stint lasting two to three months. "Clearly, we've run past that. I'm trying to be supportive."

The moderator of CBS's FACE THE NATION has been working without a timetable since taking over for DAN RATHER on March 10th.

Even with an open-ended calendar, Schieffer insists he's enjoying the tale of two cities -- FACE is in WASHINGTON; EVENING NEWS in NEW YORK.

"It's fine. So far, so good. It's very interesting work. I'm trying to help in every way I can. I signed on to do this. They asked me to do it, and I told them I would."

Cutting back his work week has helped. Schieffer began taking off Fridays last month, and is on vacation this week. (JOHN ROBERTS, still considered a front-runner for an anchor slot, is subbing for him.)

No comment from CBS about the premiere of EVENING NEWS' new format.

What that format will be is still very much a mystery to the troops. Some are pushing for multiple anchors, others for a solo replacement.

Newest name making the rounds is that of recent CNN departee BILL HEMMER. Coanchor of AMERICAN MORNING and a 10-year CNN VETERAN, Hemmer left June 17th "to pursue other opportunities." He couldn't be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, EVENING NEWS remains mired in third place in the weekly NIELSENS.

EVENING NEWS averaged 6.6 million viewers last week, compared with 7.7 million for ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT and 8.1 million for leader NBC NIGHTLY NEWS.

It was NBC's 52d consecutive victory, and 30th under new anchor BRIAN WILLIAMS. NIGHTLY's last 52-week streak was in 2000-2001, with TOM BROKAW.