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Tony Dokoupil kicked off tenure as anchor of CBS Evening News with an admitted blunder
The CBS journalist mixed up a segment transition during his first day on the job on Monday, Jan. 5
"First day, big problems here," Dokoupil said on air
Tony Dokoupiladmittedly ran into some trouble during his first day on the job.
The formerCBS Morningscohost kicked off his tenure as the newCBS Evening Newsanchor on Monday, Jan. 5, when he mixed up a segment transition and called himself out on air for the obvious first-day blunder. During the show, Dokoupil, 45, attempted to introduce a segment about MinnesotaGov. Tim Walz, despite an image of ArizonaSen. Mark Kellyappearing on screen.
"To other news, as you just heard from Jill, to other news now, to Gov. Walz," hesaid, before Kelly's image was cued up. "No, we're gonna do Mark Kelly. First day, first day, big problems here."
After the slip-up, Dokoupil asked those behind the scenes if they were "going to Kelly" or "Jonah Kaplan," referring to the CBS journalist who likely reported on the Walz story. Following roughly five seconds of silence, and as a slideshow of Kelly appeared on screen, Dokoupil then began the Kelly segment.
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Michele Crowe/CBS News
Moments later, Dokoupil called Minnesota the "Great Lakes state," which is a nickname for Michigan.
Dokoupil's shift change wasannounced by the networkon Dec. 10, following the recent exits of both Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson. He is the sixth anchor of the broadcast in the last decade, with his new gig coming amid several changes atCBS Newsfollowing Skydance's $8 billion acquisition of Paramount, CBS's parent company. The merger also came afterCBS News settled a lawsuitwithPresident Donald Trump.
In October, Bari Weiss, best known for running the opinion website The Free Press, was named editor in chief of CBS News, despite not having experience running a news organization the size of CBS. She recently made headlines after havingpulled a segmentabout Venezuelan men who were deported by the Trump administration from60 Minutesbefore she claimed it needed more reporting.
Speaking with PEOPLE ahead of his new position, the anchor called his job change "exciting," while admitting that it was "a little bit terrifying" to take over the desk. "People really care about this show, and justifiably. It matters, but it's also exciting, too," he said. "I'm building off a foundation that is spectacular, and so I'm excited."
Dokoupil also addressed recent happenings at CBS, telling PEOPLE that he doesn't work for "the advertiser, a politician or the new corporate owners of CBS," but rather the "viewer."
While he began his time atEvening Newsat the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City, Dokoupil is expected to anchor from Miami, Fla., on Tuesday, Jan. 6, as part of his "Live from America" tour. In the days to follow, he'll be making his way to Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
TheCBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupilairs weeknights at 6:30 p.m. local time.
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