Dan Doesn't Heart Katie

Poor Katie Couric. She had to take over a third place news broadcast and has gone absolutely nowhere with it. Former anchor Dan Rather, who had his own share of foibles, is not complimentary:

With Katie Couric doing the "Evening News," CBS has been "dumbing it down, tarting it up," Dan Rather said yesterday, bashing his unsuccessful successor in the anchor chair.

When Rather retired two years ago - possibly under pressure - the "Evening News" had fallen to a distant third place in network viewership.

After initial excitement about Couric's move from her spot as co-host of NBC's "Today" show to the nightly news, the broadcast quickly slipped again to trail its competitors.

Talking via phone to Joe Scarborough on MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Rather described Couric as a "nice person" - then let her have it.

Speculating on the program's declining ratings, Rather said, "The mistake was to try to bring the 'Today' show ethos to the 'Evening News' and to dumb it down - tart it up in hopes of attracting a younger audience."

That comment drew a response from the CEO of CBS News:

NEW YORK (AP) - CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves shot back at former CBS news anchor Dan Rather on Tuesday, saying his characterization of the network "tarting" up its newscast with anchor Katie Couric was "sexist."

Moonves, asked about the remarks at an appearance in New York sponsored by the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, called the remarks "sexist" and said he was surprised at the amount of negative coverage Couric was receiving. Couric, the first solo female news anchor, has been struggling in the ratings.

"She's been on the air for nine months," Moonves said. "Let's give her a break."

Nine months? Hey Les, I've seen you cancel sitcoms before the first commercial break. When's she going to start getting good at it?

Rather fired back calling Moonves comment "insulting and disappointing".

Kind of like Rathergate and the Texas Air National Guard story, eh Dan?