Tony Dokoupil's First Night on CBS Evening News: A Bumpy Start

A Night of Slip-Ups and Social Media Reactions

Tony Dokoupil stepped into the big chair as the new anchor of CBS Evening News on a Monday night. But things didn't go as smoothly as hoped. Viewers watched as Dokoupil, fresh from CBS Mornings, faced a series of slip-ups right from the start.

The Photo Mix-Up

First, there was a mix-up with photos. Dokoupil tried to talk about Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's decision to not run again. But the wrong picture popped up on screen. Instead of Walz, there was a photo of Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.

• Dokoupil stumbled, trying to figure out what was happening.
• He even asked out loud if they should switch to the story about Kelly or stick with Walz.
• Awkward silence followed as the wrong photo stayed on screen.

The Nickname Blunder

Things didn't get much better after that. Dokoupil made another mistake when he talked about Minnesota. He called it the “Great Lake State”, which is actually Michigan's nickname. Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”.

Social Media Reactions

Viewers didn't hold back on social media. Many were quick to point out the blunders. Comments ranged from sympathy to outright criticism.

"It was like watching a train wreck."

Bigger Changes at CBS News

This wasn't just about Dokoupil. It was part of bigger changes at CBS News. The network has seen some major shifts lately, including bringing in a new editor-in-chief. Dokoupil's move from morning to evening news was one of those changes. But his first night showed that big changes can come with big challenges.