This theme started being used by the CBS Evening News in 1991 and lasted until September 2006. The theme is most closely associated with the Dan Rather era of the Evening News. However, for a short time Rather had a co-anchor. In 1993 CBS made Connie Chung the co-anchor, thereby making her the first female since Barbara Walters to anchor a nightly network newscast. The pairing was not a success. There was speculation that it was a mere ratings ploy and Rather was not happy sharing the spotlight with someone. Within two years Dan Rather was anchoring alone again. This theme was also used on the CBS Morning News. It is composed by Patterson, Walz and Fox Music Productions. Although it contains the signature melody of the former theme by Trivers/Myers, all the other music is original. The three composers were after a bigger-than-life sound that transcended the local news themes with a grand sound.
Patterson, Walz & Fox – CBS Evening News close
This is the open without voiceover as used on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. During Bob Schieffer’s interim run the open was shortened by cutting out a few seconds in the beginning of the open.
In Cincinnati up to 1996 we had wcpo as the CBS affiliate and when they started to play the end of the CBS evening News they used to announce that they would play the ohio lottery numbers in 30 minutes then wheel of fortune play after this
This one is the best of the CBS News themes IMO! They also used this when they rolled credits on Friday mornings after the early morning news. This was our cue at the local CBS station where I worked at the time that we were about to go on air. We called it the “superman theme.” It was always surreal watching the meteorologist put his jacket on and everyone getting in their places as this epic theme played over the studio speakers.
This is also the Tony Dokoupil theme!!! Just heard it on KMOV Channel 4 tonight!
This theme is back for the CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil!!
I’ve never had a problem with the _music_ in this version of the theme. What has bothered me since its premiere over three decades ago now (can you believe it?) is the _recording_. It sounds to my ears like they crammed all the musicians into a small dance rehearsal hall with linoleum floors, mirrors along one wall, and glass windows along the other. The brass should resound, but instead the sound quality makes it bleat like a sheep. The woodwinds, especially the piccolo (which this piece really needs), generates a lot of noise in the upper frequencies. It’s almost as though this truly was a rehearsal take, and network brass either decided to use it as-is or simply cued the wrong tape and it stuck. If CBS were to re-record exactly this music, change not one note, in a real concert hall with appropriate microphones and proper sound baffling, it would be wonderful.
Of course if CBS were in a state of mind to make such an effort to truly improve its production, we would have a very different broadcast today, wouldn’t we?
The Eye Is Blind.
Aaaaaaaand it’s half-gone
Open no longer used, close still used
I know, but on the bright side, there’s a new opening theme with the same melody.