Katie Couric will be departing in a couple weeks, but today was “CBS Evening News” EP Rick Kaplan’s final show. Earlier in the day we reported where he’s going next — to ABC News as EP of “This Week with Christiane Amanpour.” Here’s how Couric signed off tonight:
And before we leave you tonight, we want to take a moment to wish our executive producer, Rick Kaplan, the very best. This is his last broadcast at CBS News .. and while we could go on, as Rick has told me many times .. we’re tight on time. So from all of us at CBS News…THANK YOU, Rick…goodnight and good luck.
After the show, there was a gathering in the newsroom where artist Peter Max presented a drawing of Kaplan he’d created — a gift from the Evening News staff. We’re told staffers, including Couric, then headed across W. 57th St. to CBS watering hole Jake’s Saloon for cocktails.
Couric and Kaplan could be reunited at ABC. Couric is weighing a deal at Disney/ABC for a syndicated daytime show along with contributions to ABC News. Couric’s contract with CBS ends early next month.