SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

At a time when ABC news is dealing with the Iraqi attack that left anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt critically injured, there’s finally some good news.

“World News Tonight” co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas and her husband, singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, are expecting their second child in late summer.

Vargas and Cohn have a son Zachary, 3, and Cohn has two children from a previous marriage Max, 14, and Emily 11.

“This is joyous news for Marc and our family,” Vargas said. “At the same time, our immediate concern remains with Bob [Woodruff], [wife] Lee, and the entire Woodruff family as we hope and pray for continuing good news about his recovery.”

“I told Elizabeth that during such a difficult time for all of us, it’s good to get such wonderful, life-affirming news,” said ABC News President David Weston.

Vargas, who also co-anchors the ABC newsmagazine “20/20,” will continue to anchor both broadcasts through late summer.

Vargas, 43, and Woodruff, 44, debuted as co-anchors of ABC News’ evening newscast in January 2006. Woodruff is currently being treated at Bethesda Medical Center for injuries he sustained during an IED attack in Iraq on Jan. 29.

Diane Sawyer and Charles Gibson will continue to fill in for Woodruff until the end of February as he recovers. When the timetable for Woodruff’s recovery becomes clearer in the coming weeks, ABC News will announce further interim plans for substitution on the broadcast.

ABC News President David Westin sent the following update on Bob Woodruff and Doug Vogt to his ABC News colleagues Wednesday, Feb. 8:

“Both Bob and Doug continue to make progress on their different roads to recovery. Yesterday Doug moved into an outpatient facility at Bethesda Medical Center where he will stay in the coming weeks. He is still under the treatment of the doctors there, but this is a positive step on his road to recovery.
Bob is also making progress. The doctors are keeping him sedated for now to help with the healing of his various injuries. They do adjust the levels of his sedation from time to time, and they have been pleased with how he responds even with somewhat lowered sedation.
This remains a long process, but I will continue to let you know when there are important developments.”

Bob Woodruff’s brother David Woodruff discussed Bob’s condition on “Good Morning America” today.

David has been by Bob’s side since the ABC anchor was brought to the military hospital in Germany. Bob is now on his way home to the United States.

“We got a lot of great news this morning,” David Woodruff said. ” He’s improved markedly over the night. He looks much better than he looked the day before. (The doctors said this morning) his signs are great, probably as good as can be expected at this stage.”

Woodruff is still heavily sedated and at this point it is too early to tell what his prognosis might be. He suffered broken ribs, a broken shoulder and skull fracture. He also had some facial wounds on one side of his face.

“The doctors said at the beginning of this, this is not going to be a sprint. This is going to be a marathon,” David Woodruff said. “And we’re committed to making sure we’re there running that marathon with him.”

David Woodruff also cleared up some confusion about what happened after his brother had been hit.

“Bob had come down through the hatch. (Producer) Vinny (Malhotra) picked him up by his lapels. (Bob) opened up his eyes and said, ‘Am I alive?’ And at that point he started to feel the pain. He used some colorful language and said ‘This hurts a lot’ and then he became unconscious.”

The family has been reading the postings on the ABC Web site.

(Bob’s wife) Lee wanted me to tell everyone how much she appreciates the support from everybody, from the team at ABC, from all her friends, family and all the people out there who are praying for Bob and (camaraman) Doug (Vogt),” David said. “I know Doug’s wife would say the same thing.”

For years, networks have used the slot after the Super Bowl to pump up ratings for new or fledgling series.

But seldom has a network tried to bump up a series seen primarily as a chick show during the testosterone-charged event. ABC entertainment head Stephen McPherson told critics at the winter press tour that basically he believes the Super Bowl is less about rabid football fans and more about families sitting down to watch TV.

“We chose (‘Grey’s Anatomy’) because it’s one of the best shows on television, and it’s gaining momentum. It’s doing some of the most amazing work in drama that I think is being done anywhere right now. We feel like it’s an asset that is only growing, and we wanted to expose it to a larger audience and keep that momentum growing.

It’s also the first show that’s ever been shown after the Super Bowl in its regular time spot.

Heather Graham went from ubiquitous poster girl for ABC’s “Emily’s Reasons Why Not” to the invisible woman after just one airing of her tepid comedy.

What happened, inquiring critics wanted to know during the ABC executive session with entertainment president Stephen McPherson.

“Well, we had spent the majority of the big long-lead advertising money before we even saw a script. You have to measure your patience based on how you believe in the creative, and there we felt like, unfortunately, it was not going to get better.”

They could have saved a boatload of money if they just listened to the TV critics last summer….

Fans of “General Hospital” take note: Tristan Rogers returns as Robert Scorpio, the role he originated over two decades ago.

Rogers pops in beginning January 27 for a February sweep storyline.