“ Outta’ My Mind on a Monday Moanin’ ”
Reading as many newspapers as I can and watching multiple television news programs have long been a part of my talk show prep routine. Along with the various cable news shows, I am always certain to watch the three major “traditional” network national newscasts at 6:30 p.m. NBC, ABC and CBS, for whatever reason, in that order.
I record them so I can speed through the commercial breaks, in the interest of saving time. There is no question that the choice of featured stories has gotten very similar and repetitive across the board. It can get monotonous, and these days, somewhat depressing.
The other night there was a pleasant surprise.
The big three’s latest entry in the Nightly News Sweepstakes is someone I had not remembered seeing before he got the opportunity of a lifetime, on the network that has, for quite some time, lagged behind the other two.
His name is Tony Dokoupil, and he is the latest effort for CBS to get back in the game. He was likable from the beginning, but the number of initial technical and directing screw-ups almost appeared everyone was working against him. Things have very much turned around, and if you give him a chance (and they give him a chance), he could be very successful. Time will tell.
He caught my attention at the end of his cast the other night by talking to his audience about our Detroit Lions and grit, with the story of former Eastern Michigan defensive back Freddie McGee III and his effort to get the Lions’ attention by planting himself outside the entrance to their headquarters, with a sign asking for one shot.
This is true grit.
I’m pulling for both of them.
Paul W. Smith is host of “Focus” on WJR-AM (760) from noon to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: CBS’s Tony Dokoupil finds true grit in a Detroit Lions story | Paul W. Smith
Reporting by Paul W. Smith / The Detroit News
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